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Zhang X, Yang Y, Zhao H, Tian Z, Cao Q, Li Y, Gu Y, Song Q, Hu X, Jin M, Jiang X. Correlation of PD-L1 expression with CD8+ T cells and oxidative stress-related molecules NRF2 and NQO1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Pathol Clin Res 2024; 10:e12390. [PMID: 38992928 PMCID: PMC11239754 DOI: 10.1002/2056-4538.12390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Oxidative stress and the immune microenvironment both contribute to the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, their interrelationships remain poorly understood. We aimed to examine the status of key molecules involved in oxidative stress and the immune microenvironment, as well as their relationships with each other and with clinicopathological features and prognosis in ESCC. The expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), CD8, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor-2 (NRF2), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) was detected using immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from 176 patients with ESCC. We employed both combined positive score (CPS) and tumor proportion score (TPS) to evaluate PD-L1 expression and found a positive correlation between CPS and TPS. Notably, PD-L1 expression, as assessed by either CPS or TPS, was positively correlated with both NRF2 nuclear score and NQO1 score in stage II-IV ESCC. We also observed a positive correlation between the density of CD8+ T cells and PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, high levels of PD-L1 CPS, but not TPS, were associated with advanced TNM stage and lymph node metastases. Moreover, both PD-L1 CPS and the nuclear expression of NRF2 were found to be predictive of shorter overall survival in stage II-IV ESCC. By using the Mandard-tumor regression grading (TRG) system to evaluate the pathological response of tumors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), we found that the TRG-5 group had higher NRF2 nuclear score, PD-L1 CPS, and TPS in pre-NACT biopsy samples compared with the TRG-3 + 4 group. The NQO1 scores of post-NACT surgical specimens were significantly higher in the TRG-5 group than in the TRG 3 + 4 group. In conclusion, the expression of PD-L1 is associated with aberrant NRF2 signaling pathway, advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastases, and unfavorable prognosis. The dysregulation of PD-L1 and aberrant activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway are implicated in resistance to NACT. Our findings shed light on the complex interrelationships between oxidative stress and the immune microenvironment in ESCC, which may have implications for personalized therapies and improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Yanan Yang
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Hongying Zhao
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Zhongqiu Tian
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Yunlong Li
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Yajuan Gu
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Qinfei Song
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Xiumei Hu
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Mulan Jin
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
| | - Xingran Jiang
- Department of PathologyBeijing Chao‐Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingPR China
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Abstract
PURPOSE The transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master regulator widely involved in essential cellular functions such as DNA repair. By clarifying the upstream and downstream links of NRF2 to DNA damage repair, we hope that attention will be drawn to the utilization of NRF2 as a target for cancer therapy. METHODS Query and summarize relevant literature on the role of NRF2 in direct repair, BER, NER, MMR, HR, and NHEJ in pubmed. Make pictures of Roles of NRF2 in DNA Damage Repair and tables of antioxidant response elements (AREs) of DNA repair genes. Analyze the mutation frequency of NFE2L2 in different types of cancer using cBioPortal online tools. By using TCGA, GTEx and GO databases, analyze the correlation between NFE2L2 mutations and DNA repair systems as well as the degree of changes in DNA repair systems as malignant tumors progress. RESULTS NRF2 plays roles in maintaining the integrity of the genome by repairing DNA damage, regulating the cell cycle, and acting as an antioxidant. And, it possibly plays roles in double stranded break (DSB) pathway selection following ionizing radiation (IR) damage. Whether pathways such as RNA modification, ncRNA, and protein post-translational modification affect the regulation of NRF2 on DNA repair is still to be determined. The overall mutation frequency of the NFE2L2 gene in esophageal carcinoma, lung cancer, and penile cancer is the highest. Genes (50 of 58) that are negatively correlated with clinical staging are positively correlated with NFE2L2 mutations or NFE2L2 expression levels. CONCLUSION NRF2 participates in a variety of DNA repair pathways and plays important roles in maintaining genome stability. NRF2 is a potential target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Chang Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, China.
| | - Qiang Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, China.
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Arora M, Kumari S, Kadian L, Anupa G, Singh J, Kumar A, Verma D, Pramanik R, Kumar S, Yadav R, Chopra A, Chauhan S. Involvement of DPP3 in modulating oncological features and oxidative stress response in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20222472. [PMID: 37531267 PMCID: PMC10500228 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20222472] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to therapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a critical clinical problem and identification of novel therapeutic targets is highly warranted. Dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP3) is a zinc-dependent aminopeptidase and functions in the terminal stages of the protein turnover. Several studies have reported overexpression and oncogenic functions of DPP3 in numerous malignancies. The present study aimed to determine the expression pattern and functional role of DPP3 in ESCC. DPP3 expression was assessed in normal and tumor tissues using quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR and corroborated with ESCC gene expression datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The cancer genome atlas (TCGA). DPP3 stable knockdown was performed in ESCC cells by shRNA and its effect on cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle, apoptosis, and activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway was assessed. The results suggested that DPP3 is overexpressed in ESCC and its knockdown leads to reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and inhibited migration of ESCC cells. Additionally, DPP3 knockdown leads to down-regulation of the NRF2 pathway proteins, such as NRF2, G6PD, and NQO1 along with increased sensitivity toward oxidative stress-induced cell death and chemotherapy. Conclusively, these results demonstrate critical role of DPP3 in ESCC and DPP3/NRF2 axis may serve as an attractive therapeutic target against chemoresistance in this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sarita Kumari
- Laboratory Oncology Unit, Dr. BRA-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Lokesh Kadian
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Geethadevi Anupa
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Jay Singh
- Laboratory Oncology Unit, Dr. BRA-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anurag Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepika Verma
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Raja Pramanik
- Department of Medical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajni Yadav
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anita Chopra
- Laboratory Oncology Unit, Dr. BRA-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam S. Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Hsieh CH, Kuan WH, Chang WL, Kuo IY, Liu H, Shieh DB, Liu H, Tan B, Wang YC. Dysregulation of SOX17/NRF2 axis confers chemoradiotherapy resistance and emerges as a novel therapeutic target in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:90. [PMID: 36310172 PMCID: PMC9618214 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00873-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide with a dismal overall 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. The standard first-line therapy for advanced ESCC is concomitant chemo-radiation therapy (CCRT); however, patients usually develop resistance, resulting in unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, it is urgent to identify the mechanisms underlying CCRT resistance and develop effective treatment strategies. Methods Patients’ endoscopic biopsy tumor tissues obtained before CCRT treatment were used to perform RNA-seq and GSEA analysis. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and promoter reporter analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship between SOX17 and NRF2. Xenograft mouse models were used to study the role of SOX17/NRF2 axis in tumor growth and the efficacy of carboxymethyl cellulose-coated zero-valent-iron (ZVI@CMC). Results In this study, a notable gene expression signature associated with NRF2 activation was observed in the poor CCRT responders. Further, IHC staining of endoscopic biopsy of 164 ESCC patients revealed an inverse correlation between NRF2 and SOX17, a tumor-suppressive transcription factor with low expression in ESCC due to promoter hypermethylation. Using ChIP and promoter reporter analyses, we demonstrated that SOX17 was a novel upstream transcriptional suppressor of NRF2. In particular, SOX17low/NRF2high nuclear level significantly correlated with poor CCRT response and poor survival, indicating that the dysregulation of SOX17/NRF2 axis played a pivotal role in CCRT resistance and tumor progression. Notably, the in-house developed nanoparticle ZVI@CMC functioned as an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases to restore expression of SOX17 that downregulated NRF2, thereby overcoming the resistance in ESCC. Additionally, the combination of ZVI@CMC with radiation treatment significantly augmented anticancer efficacy to inhibit tumor growth in CCRT resistant cancer. Conclusion This study identifies a novel SOX17low/NRF2high signature in ESCC patients with poor prognosis, recognizes SOX17 as a transcriptional repressor of NRF2, and provides a promising strategy targeting SOX17/NRF2 axis to overcome resistance. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00873-4.
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Tamari S, Menju T, Toyazaki T, Miyamoto H, Chiba N, Noguchi M, Ishikawa H, Miyata R, Kayawake H, Tanaka S, Yamada Y, Yutaka Y, Nakajima D, Ohsumi A, Hamaji M, Date H. Nrf2/p‑Fyn/ABCB1 axis accompanied by p‑Fyn nuclear accumulation plays pivotal roles in vinorelbine resistance in non‑small cell lung cancer. Oncol Rep 2022; 48:171. [PMID: 35959810 DOI: 10.3892/or.2022.8386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Adjuvant cisplatin‑vinorelbine is a standard therapy for stage II/III lung cancer. However, a poor survival rate of patients with lung cancer is attributed to vinorelbine resistance arising from ATP‑binding cassette (ABC) sub‑family B member 1 (ABCB1) and phosphorylated Fyn (p‑Fyn) overexpression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. NF‑E2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the ABC family and activates the nuclear transport of Fyn. The present study evaluated the roles of the Nrf2/p‑Fyn/ABCB1 axis in vinorelbine‑resistant (VR) cells and clinical samples. To establish VR cells, H1299 cells were exposed to vinorelbine, and the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the H1299 cells was determined using a DCFH‑DA assay. The total and subcellular expression of Nrf2, ABCB1 and p‑Fyn in VR cells was evaluated. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the subcellular localization of p‑Fyn in VR cells. A cell viability assay was used to examine whether the sensitivity of VR cells to vinorelbine is dependent on Nrf2 activity. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 104 tissue samples from patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery followed by cisplatin‑vinorelbine treatment. The results revealed that persistent exposure to vinorelbine induced intracellular ROS formation in H1299 cells. p‑Fyn was localized in the nucleus, and ABCB1 and Nrf2 were overexpressed in VR cells. ABCB1 expression was dependent on Nrf2 downstream activation. The decreased expression of Nrf2 restored the sensitivity of VR cells to vinorelbine. In the surgical samples, Nrf2 and ABCB1 were associated with disease‑free survival, and p‑Fyn was associated with overall survival (P<0.05). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that Nrf2 upregulates ABCB1 and, accompanied by the nuclear accumulation of p‑Fyn, induces vinorelbine resistance. These findings may facilitate the development of drug resistance prevention strategies or new drug targets against non‑small cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeyuki Tamari
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Toshi Menju
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Toshiya Toyazaki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Hideaki Miyamoto
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Naohisa Chiba
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Misa Noguchi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ishikawa
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Ryo Miyata
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Hidenao Kayawake
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Satona Tanaka
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Yoshito Yamada
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Yojiro Yutaka
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nakajima
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ohsumi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Masatsugu Hamaji
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Date
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606‑8507, Japan
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The KEAP1-NRF2 System and Esophageal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194702. [PMID: 36230622 PMCID: PMC9564177 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of many cytoprotective genes. NRF2 activation is mainly regulated by KEAP1 (kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1) through ubiquitination and proteasome degradation. Esophageal cancer is classified histologically into two major types: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). ESCC harbors more genetic alterations in the KEAP-NRF2 system than EAC does, which results in NRF2 activation in these cancers. NRF2-addicted ESCC exhibits increased malignancy and acquisition of resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, it has been recognized that the development of drugs targeting the KEAP1-NRF2 system based on the molecular dissection of NRF2 function is important and urgent for the treatment of ESCC, along with efficient clinical screening for NRF2-addicted ESCC patients. Recently, the fate of NRF2-activated cells in esophageal tissues, which was under the influence of strong cell competition, and its relationship to the pathogenesis of ESCC, was clarified. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge of the KEAP1-NRF2 system and the treatment of ESCC. We propose three main strategies for the treatment of NRF2-addicted cancer: (1) NRF2 inhibitors, (2) synthetic lethal drugs for NRF2-addicted cancers, and (3) NRF2 inducers of the host defense system.
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Wang Z, Wu S, Zhu C, Shen J. The role of ferroptosis in esophageal cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:266. [PMID: 35999642 PMCID: PMC9396912 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02685-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers with high mortality rate around the world. Although the treatment strategy of this disease has made great progress, the prognosis of advanced patients is not ideal. Ferroptosis, a novel regulatory cell death model, that is different from traditional apoptosis and characterized by increased Fenton reaction mediated by intracellular free iron and lipid peroxidation of cell membrane. Ferroptosis has been proved to be closely linked to a variety of diseases, especially cancer. This review aims to summarize the core mechanism of ferroptosis in esophageal cancer, the regulation of ferroptosis signaling pathway and its current application. At the same time, we emphasize the potential and prospect of ferroptosis in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Collectively, targeting ferroptosis pathway may provide new insights into the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimin Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China.,Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Linhai, China
| | - Sikai Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China.,Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Linhai, China
| | - Chengchu Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China. .,Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Linhai, China.
| | - Jianfei Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China. .,Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Linhai, China.
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8
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Kadian LK, Arora M, Prasad CP, Pramanik R, Chauhan SS. Signaling pathways and their potential therapeutic utility in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:1014-1032. [PMID: 34990001 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02763-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is a complex gastrointestinal malignancy with an extremely poor outcome. Approximately 80% of cases of this malignancy in Asian countries including India are of squamous cell origin, termed Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC).The five-year survival rate in ESCC patients is less than 20%. Neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (NACRT) followed by surgical resection remains the major therapeutic strategy for patients with operable ESCC. However, resistance to NACRT and local recurrence after initial treatment are the leading cause of dismal outcomes in these patients. Therefore, an alternative strategy to promote response to the therapy and reduce the post-operative disease recurrence is highly needed. At the molecular level, wide variations have been observed in tumor characteristics among different populations, nevertheless, several common molecular features have been identified which orchestrate disease progression and clinical outcome in the malignancy. Therefore, determination of candidate molecular pathways for targeted therapy remains the mainstream idea of focus in ESCC research. In this review, we have discussed the key signaling pathways associated with ESCC, i.e., Notch, Wnt, and Nrf2 pathways, and their crosstalk during disease progression. We further discuss the recent developments of novel agents to target these pathways in the context of targeted cancer therapy. In-depth research of the signaling pathways, gene signatures, and a combinatorial approach may help in discovering targeted therapy for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Kadian
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - M Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - C P Prasad
- Department of Medical Oncology (Lab), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - R Pramanik
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S S Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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Dai H, Wei Y, Liu Y, Liu J, Yu R, Zhang J, Pang J, Shao Y, Li Q, Yang Z. Pathway-Based Analysis Revealed the Role of Keap1-Nrf2 Pathway and PI3K-Akt Pathway in Chinese Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients With Definitive Chemoradiotherapy. Front Genet 2022; 12:799663. [PMID: 35548450 PMCID: PMC9081370 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.799663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the major type of EC in China. Chemoradiotherapy is a standard definitive treatment for early-stage EC and significantly improves local control and overall survival for late-stage patients. However, chemoradiotherapy resistance, which limits therapeutic efficacy and treatment-induced toxicity, is still a leading problem for treatment break. To optimize the selection of ESCC patients for chemoradiotherapy, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and genome landscape of a Chinese ESCC cohort of 58 patients. TP53 was the most frequent mutation gene, followed by NOTCH1. Frequently, copy number variants were found in MCL1 (24/58, 41.4%), FGF19 (23/58, 39.7%), CCND1 (22/58, 37.9%), and MYC (20/58, 34.5%). YAP1 and SOX2 amplifications were mutually exclusive in this cohort. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the YAP1 variant and BRIP1 mutant were identified as adverse factors for OS. Patients with PI3K-Akt pathway alterations displayed longer PFS and OS than patients with an intact PI3K-Akt pathway. On the contrary, two patients with Keap1-Nrf2 pathway alterations displayed significantly shortened PFS and OS, which may be associated with dCRT resistance. Our data highlighted the prognostic value of aberrant cancer pathways in ESCC patients, which may provide guidance for better chemoradiotherapy management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghai Dai
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yanjun Wei
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yunxia Liu
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruoying Yu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | - Junli Zhang
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Yang Shao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China.,School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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10
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Dai H, Wei Y, Liu Y, Liu J, Yu R, Zhang J, Pang J, Shao Y, Li Q, Yang Z. Pathway-Based Analysis Revealed the Role of Keap1-Nrf2 Pathway and PI3K-Akt Pathway in Chinese Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients With Definitive Chemoradiotherapy. Front Genet 2022; 12:799663. [PMID: 35548450 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.625867/full] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the major type of EC in China. Chemoradiotherapy is a standard definitive treatment for early-stage EC and significantly improves local control and overall survival for late-stage patients. However, chemoradiotherapy resistance, which limits therapeutic efficacy and treatment-induced toxicity, is still a leading problem for treatment break. To optimize the selection of ESCC patients for chemoradiotherapy, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and genome landscape of a Chinese ESCC cohort of 58 patients. TP53 was the most frequent mutation gene, followed by NOTCH1. Frequently, copy number variants were found in MCL1 (24/58, 41.4%), FGF19 (23/58, 39.7%), CCND1 (22/58, 37.9%), and MYC (20/58, 34.5%). YAP1 and SOX2 amplifications were mutually exclusive in this cohort. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the YAP1 variant and BRIP1 mutant were identified as adverse factors for OS. Patients with PI3K-Akt pathway alterations displayed longer PFS and OS than patients with an intact PI3K-Akt pathway. On the contrary, two patients with Keap1-Nrf2 pathway alterations displayed significantly shortened PFS and OS, which may be associated with dCRT resistance. Our data highlighted the prognostic value of aberrant cancer pathways in ESCC patients, which may provide guidance for better chemoradiotherapy management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghai Dai
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yanjun Wei
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yunxia Liu
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruoying Yu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | - Junli Zhang
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Yang Shao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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11
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Exosome-derived miR-200a promotes esophageal cancer cell proliferation and migration via the mediating Keap1 expression. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 477:1295-1308. [PMID: 35137328 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04353-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that exosomes bearing certain microRNAs (miRNAs) are related to the physiological functions of different types of cancer cells. Our study aimed to elucidate the role of miR-200a in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We observed that miR-200a expression is higher in esophageal carcinoma cells, tissues, and exosomes than in normal cells and healthy tissues. We showed that exosome-shuttled miR-200a promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal cells and inhibits apoptosis, thereby leading to the progression of ESCC. We showed that miR-200a exerts its effects through its interaction with Keap1, thus altering the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Our results suggest that exosome-shuttled miR-200a might be useful as a biomarker for prognosis in patients with ESCC.
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12
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Scarborough JA, Scott JG. Translation of Precision Medicine Research Into Biomarker-Informed Care in Radiation Oncology. Semin Radiat Oncol 2022; 32:42-53. [PMID: 34861995 PMCID: PMC8667861 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The reach of personalized medicine in radiation oncology has expanded greatly over the past few decades as technical precision has improved the delivery of radiation to each patient's unique anatomy. Yet, the consideration of biological heterogeneity between patients has largely not been translated to clinical care. There are innumerable promising advancements in the discovery and validation of biomarkers, which could be used to alter radiation therapy directly or indirectly. Directly, biomarker-informed care may alter treatment dose or identify patients who would benefit most from radiation therapy and who could safely avoid more aggressive care. Indirectly, a variety of biomarkers could assist with choosing the best radiosensitizing chemotherapies. The translation of these advancements into clinical practice will bring radiation oncology even further into the era of precision medicine, treating patients according to their unique anatomical and biological differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Scarborough
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland,OH; Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Program, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Jacob G Scott
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland,OH; Radiation Oncology Department, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 10201 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland, OH.
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13
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Gao H, Tang P, Ni K, Zhu L, Chen S, Zheng Y, Wan Y. Inhibition of Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein 1 promotes the progression and drug resistance of lung adenocarcinoma. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11908. [PMID: 34466284 PMCID: PMC8380428 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11908] [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: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is a common malignant carcinoma of respiratory system with high morbidity and mortality. Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein 1 (Keap1), a member of the BTB-Kelch protein family, has been reported as an important molecule in several cancers. However, its potential role in tumor is still controversial. Here we aim to clarify the effect of Keap1 on the biological characteristics and chemotherapy resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods Immunohistochemistry was conducted to compare Keap1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and matched non-cancerous tissues, and the correlation between Keap1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. Subsequently, the stable A549 and H1299 cell lines with Keap1 knockdown or overexpression were constructed using lentivirus. The roles of Keap1 on the cell proliferation, migration, invasion and drug resistance were investigated by colony formation assay, cell proliferation assay, wound scratch test, transwell invasion assay and drug sensitivity assay, respectively. Results Keap1 was lowly expressed in tumor tissues compared to matched non-cancerous tissues, and its expression was correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Early stage (I) tumors without lymph node metastasis had higher levels of Keap1 expression compared with late-stage tumors (II, III) with the presence of lymphatic metastasis. Colony formation assays showed that Keap1 knockdown promoted the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells, and the cell growth curves further confirmed this feature. In contrast, wound scratch and transwell invasion experiments showed that Keap1 overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasive malignancy. The IC50 for cisplatin and paclitaxel were significantly increased by Keap1 knockdown in A549 and H1299 cell lines. Conclusion Keap1 knockdown promotes tumor cell growth, proliferation, invasion, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance in LUAD. It may be a potential tumor marker to guide the staging and treatment of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Gao
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peipei Tang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kejie Ni
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lun Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Song Chen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yulong Zheng
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yufeng Wan
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
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14
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Akaishi R, Fujishima F, Ishida H, Tsunokake J, Yamauchi T, Gokon Y, Ueki S, Fukutomi T, Okamoto H, Takaya K, Sato C, Taniyama Y, Nakamura T, Nakaya N, Kamei T, Sasano H. HO-1 in lymph node metastasis predicted overall survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2021; 5:e1477. [PMID: 34264023 PMCID: PMC8955080 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymph node metastasis is one of the pivotal factors of the clinical outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT). Both the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) are frequently upregulated in various human malignancies and associated with resistance to chemoradiation therapy, subsequently resulting in adverse clinical outcomes. However, the Nrf2 and HO-1 status in lymph node metastasis and their differences between primary and metastatic lesions are unknown. AIMS To examine the levels of Nrf2 signaling proteins and HO-1 in primary and metastatic lesions of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using immunohistochemistry. METHODS AND RESULTS We immunolocalized Nrf2 signaling proteins in 69 patients with lymph node metastases, who received NACRT with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin before esophagectomy. We also compared the findings between primary and metastatic lesions. Residual lymph node metastases were detected in 30 patients and among them, both primary and metastatic lesions were available for evaluation in 25 patients. Subsequently, we correlated the results with patients' survival. Nrf2, HO-1, and the Ki-67 labeling index were all significantly lower in the patients with lymph node metastases than in those with primary tumors. Carcinoma cells with high HO-1 levels were significantly associated with pathological resistance to NACRT. These results suggested that overall and disease-free survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were significantly associated with both pN2 and high HO-1 levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Protein expression in the Nrf2 pathway was significantly lower in patients with lymph node metastases than in those with primary lesions. HO-1 levels in lymph node metastases could be used to predict the eventual clinical outcome of patients with esophageal cancer receiving NACRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryujiro Akaishi
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Hirotaka Ishida
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junichi Tsunokake
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takuro Yamauchi
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yusuke Gokon
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Ueki
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Fukutomi
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Okamoto
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kai Takaya
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Chiaki Sato
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yusuke Taniyama
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nakamura
- Department of Health Record Informatics Information Security, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Naoki Nakaya
- Department of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University Graduate School, Koshigaya, Japan
| | - Takashi Kamei
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
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15
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Panieri E, Saso L. Inhibition of the NRF2/KEAP1 Axis: A Promising Therapeutic Strategy to Alter Redox Balance of Cancer Cells. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 34:1428-1483. [PMID: 33403898 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Significance: The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (NRF2/KEAP1) pathway is a crucial and highly conserved defensive system that is required to maintain or restore the intracellular homeostasis in response to oxidative, electrophilic, and other types of stress conditions. The tight control of NRF2 function is maintained by a complex network of biological interactions between positive and negative regulators that ultimately ensure context-specific activation, culminating in the NRF2-driven transcription of cytoprotective genes. Recent Advances: Recent studies indicate that deregulated NRF2 activation is a frequent event in malignant tumors, wherein it is associated with metabolic reprogramming, increased antioxidant capacity, chemoresistance, and poor clinical outcome. On the other hand, the growing interest in the modulation of the cancer cells' redox balance identified NRF2 as an ideal therapeutic target. Critical Issues: For this reason, many efforts have been made to identify potent and selective NRF2 inhibitors that might be used as single agents or adjuvants of anticancer drugs with redox disrupting properties. Despite the lack of specific NRF2 inhibitors still represents a major clinical hurdle, the researchers have exploited alternative strategies to disrupt NRF2 signaling at different levels of its biological activation. Future Directions: Given its dualistic role in tumor initiation and progression, the identification of the appropriate biological context of NRF2 activation and the specific clinicopathological features of patients cohorts wherein its inactivation is expected to have clinical benefits, will represent a major goal in the field of cancer research. In this review, we will briefly describe the structure and function of the NRF2/ KEAP1 system and some of the most promising NRF2 inhibitors, with a particular emphasis on natural compounds and drug repurposing. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 1428-1483.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Panieri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer," University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer," University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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16
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Choe JH, Mazambani S, Kim TH, Kim JW. Oxidative Stress and the Intersection of Oncogenic Signaling and Metabolism in Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cells 2021; 10:606. [PMID: 33803326 PMCID: PMC8000417 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) arise from both stratified squamous and non-squamous epithelium of diverse anatomical sites and collectively represent one of the most frequent solid tumors, accounting for more than one million cancer deaths annually. Despite this prevalence, SCC patients have not fully benefited from recent advances in molecularly targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Rather, decades old platinum-based or radiation regimens retaining limited specificity to the unique characteristics of SCC remain first-line treatment options. Historically, a lack of a consolidated perspective on genetic aberrations driving oncogenic transformation and other such factors essential for SCC pathogenesis and intrinsic confounding cellular heterogeneity in SCC have contributed to a critical dearth in effective and specific therapies. However, emerging evidence characterizing the distinct genomic, epigenetic, and metabolic landscapes of SCC may be elucidating unifying features in a seemingly heterogeneous disease. In this review, by describing distinct metabolic alterations and genetic drivers of SCC revealed by recent studies, we aim to establish a conceptual framework for a previously unappreciated network of oncogenic signaling, redox perturbation, and metabolic reprogramming that may reveal targetable vulnerabilities at their intersection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua H. Choe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Simbarashe Mazambani
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (S.M.); (T.H.K.)
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (S.M.); (T.H.K.)
| | - Jung-whan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (S.M.); (T.H.K.)
- Research and Development, VeraVerse Inc., 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
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17
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Xiao S, Liu N, Yang X, Ji G, Li M. Polygalacin D suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis through regulating miR-142-5p/Nrf2 axis. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 164:58-75. [PMID: 33307164 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy worldwide with poor survival. High expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an antioxidant transcript factor that protects malignant cells from death. Polygalacin D (PGD), a bioactive compound isolated from Platycodongrandiflorum (Jacq.), has recently been reported to be an anti-tumor agent. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of PGD and its underlying molecular mechanisms in human ESCC. Here, we confirmed that Nrf2 was over-expressed in clinical ESCC tissues and cell lines. PGD treatments markedly reduced Nrf2 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner in ESCC cell lines. Importantly, we found that PGD significantly reduced proliferation, and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ESCC cells. Also, PGD dramatically triggered autophagy in ESCC cells, and autophagy inhibitor bafilomycinA1 (BafA1) greatly abrogated the inhibitory role of PGD in cell viability and apoptosis. In addition, PGD evidently provoked reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in ESCC cells, and pre-treatment of ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) markedly abolished PGD-triggered cell death. PGD also dramatically repressed migration and invasion in ESCC cells. Mechanistic investigation revealed that Nrf2 gene was directly targeted by miR-142-5p. MiR-142-5p negatively regulated Nrf2 expression in ESCC cells. We notably found that PGD-inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCC were considerably rescued by miR-142-5p knockdown; however, ROS production, apoptosis and autophagy induced by PGD were almost eliminated when miR-142-5p was silenced. On the contrast, over-expressing miR-142-5p could remarkably promote the anti-ESCC effects of PGD. Experiments in vivo by the tumor xenograft model confirmed that miR-142-5p effectively improved the activity of PGD to repress tumor growth and lung metastasis. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that PGD had few side effects on normal cells and major organs. Collectively, our findings provided the first evidence that PGD could be an effective therapeutic strategy for ESCC treatment by regulating miR-142-5p/Nrf2 axis with few adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuao Xiao
- Division of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ni Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weinan Central Hospital, Middle Section of Shengli Street, 714000, Weinan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuewen Yang
- Division of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Gang Ji
- Division of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Mengbin Li
- Division of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, 710032, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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18
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Talebi M, Talebi M, Farkhondeh T, Mishra G, İlgün S, Samarghandian S. New insights into the role of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in green tea catechin applications. Phytother Res 2021; 35:3078-3112. [PMID: 33569875 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcriptional signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in numerous clinical complications. Pivotal roles of Nrf2 have been proved in cancer, autoimmune diseases, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, renal injuries, respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal disturbances, and general disorders related to oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, gelatinolysis, autophagy, and fibrogenesis processes. Green tea catechins as a rich source of phenolic compounds can deal with various clinical problems and manifestations. In this review, we attempted to focus on intervention between green tea catechins and Nrf2. Green tea catechins especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) elucidated the protective role of Nrf2 and its downstream molecules in various disorders through Keap-1, HO-1, NQO-1, GPx, GCLc, GCLm, NF-kB cross-link, kinases, and apoptotic proteins. Subsequently, we compiled an updated expansions of the Nrf2 role as a gate to manage and protect different disorders and feasible indications of green tea catechins through this signaling pathway. The present review highlighted recent evidence-based data in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies on an outline for future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Talebi
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Talebi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA.,Department of Research & Development, Viatris Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Gaurav Mishra
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Ayurveda, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Selen İlgün
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
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Robertson H, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Hayes JD. NRF2 and the Ambiguous Consequences of Its Activation during Initiation and the Subsequent Stages of Tumourigenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3609. [PMID: 33276631 PMCID: PMC7761610 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2, encoded in the human by NFE2L2) mediates short-term adaptation to thiol-reactive stressors. In normal cells, activation of NRF2 by a thiol-reactive stressor helps prevent, for a limited period of time, the initiation of cancer by chemical carcinogens through induction of genes encoding drug-metabolising enzymes. However, in many tumour types, NRF2 is permanently upregulated. In such cases, its overexpressed target genes support the promotion and progression of cancer by suppressing oxidative stress, because they constitutively increase the capacity to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), and they support cell proliferation by increasing ribonucleotide synthesis, serine biosynthesis and autophagy. Herein, we describe cancer chemoprevention and the discovery of the essential role played by NRF2 in orchestrating protection against chemical carcinogenesis. We similarly describe the discoveries of somatic mutations in NFE2L2 and the gene encoding the principal NRF2 repressor, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) along with that encoding a component of the E3 ubiquitin-ligase complex Cullin 3 (CUL3), which result in permanent activation of NRF2, and the recognition that such mutations occur frequently in many types of cancer. Notably, mutations in NFE2L2, KEAP1 and CUL3 that cause persistent upregulation of NRF2 often co-exist with mutations that activate KRAS and the PI3K-PKB/Akt pathway, suggesting NRF2 supports growth of tumours in which KRAS or PKB/Akt are hyperactive. Besides somatic mutations, NRF2 activation in human tumours can occur by other means, such as alternative splicing that results in a NRF2 protein which lacks the KEAP1-binding domain or overexpression of other KEAP1-binding partners that compete with NRF2. Lastly, as NRF2 upregulation is associated with resistance to cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy, we describe strategies that might be employed to suppress growth and overcome drug resistance in tumours with overactive NRF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Robertson
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; (H.R.); (A.T.D.-K.)
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Albena T. Dinkova-Kostova
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; (H.R.); (A.T.D.-K.)
| | - John D. Hayes
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; (H.R.); (A.T.D.-K.)
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20
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Smolková K, Mikó E, Kovács T, Leguina-Ruzzi A, Sipos A, Bai P. Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 in Regulating Cancer Metabolism. Antioxid Redox Signal 2020; 33:966-997. [PMID: 31989830 PMCID: PMC7533893 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (NFE2L2, or NRF2) is a transcription factor predominantly affecting the expression of antioxidant genes. NRF2 plays a significant role in the control of redox balance, which is crucial in cancer cells. NRF2 activation regulates numerous cancer hallmarks, including metabolism, cancer stem cell characteristics, tumor aggressiveness, invasion, and metastasis formation. We review the molecular characteristics of the NRF2 pathway and discuss its interactions with the cancer hallmarks previously listed. Recent Advances: The noncanonical activation of NRF2 was recently discovered, and members of this pathway are involved in carcinogenesis. Further, cancer-related changes (e.g., metabolic flexibility) that support cancer progression were found to be redox- and NRF2 dependent. Critical Issues: NRF2 undergoes Janus-faced behavior in cancers. The pro- or antineoplastic effects of NRF2 are context dependent and essentially based on the specific molecular characteristics of the cancer in question. Therefore, systematic investigation of NRF2 signaling is necessary to clarify its role in cancer etiology. The biggest challenge in the NRF2 field is to determine which cancers can be targeted for better clinical outcomes. Further, large-scale genomic and transcriptomic studies are missing to correlate the clinical outcome with the activity of the NRF2 system. Future Directions: To exploit NRF2 in a clinical setting in the future, the druggable members of the NRF2 pathway should be identified. In addition, it will be important to study how the modulation of the NRF2 system interferes with cytostatic drugs and their combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarína Smolková
- Department of Mitochondrial Physiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IPHYS CAS), Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Edit Mikó
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,MTA-DE Lendület Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tünde Kovács
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Alberto Leguina-Ruzzi
- Department of Mitochondrial Physiology, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IPHYS CAS), Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adrienn Sipos
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Péter Bai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,MTA-DE Lendület Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Debrecen, Hungary.,Faculty of Medicine, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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21
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Blatti C, Emad A, Berry MJ, Gatzke L, Epstein M, Lanier D, Rizal P, Ge J, Liao X, Sobh O, Lambert M, Post CS, Xiao J, Groves P, Epstein AT, Chen X, Srinivasan S, Lehnert E, Kalari KR, Wang L, Weinshilboum RM, Song JS, Jongeneel CV, Han J, Ravaioli U, Sobh N, Bushell CB, Sinha S. Knowledge-guided analysis of "omics" data using the KnowEnG cloud platform. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000583. [PMID: 31971940 PMCID: PMC6977717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We present Knowledge Engine for Genomics (KnowEnG), a free-to-use computational system for analysis of genomics data sets, designed to accelerate biomedical discovery. It includes tools for popular bioinformatics tasks such as gene prioritization, sample clustering, gene set analysis, and expression signature analysis. The system specializes in "knowledge-guided" data mining and machine learning algorithms, in which user-provided data are analyzed in light of prior information about genes, aggregated from numerous knowledge bases and encoded in a massive "Knowledge Network." KnowEnG adheres to "FAIR" principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reuseable): its tools are easily portable to diverse computing environments, run on the cloud for scalable and cost-effective execution, and are interoperable with other computing platforms. The analysis tools are made available through multiple access modes, including a web portal with specialized visualization modules. We demonstrate the KnowEnG system's potential value in democratization of advanced tools for the modern genomics era through several case studies that use its tools to recreate and expand upon the published analysis of cancer data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Blatti
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Amin Emad
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Matthew J. Berry
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Lisa Gatzke
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Milt Epstein
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Daniel Lanier
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Pramod Rizal
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jing Ge
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Xiaoxia Liao
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Omar Sobh
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mike Lambert
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Corey S. Post
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jinfeng Xiao
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Peter Groves
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Aidan T. Epstein
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Xi Chen
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Subhashini Srinivasan
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Erik Lehnert
- Seven Bridges Genomics, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Krishna R. Kalari
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Liewei Wang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Richard M. Weinshilboum
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Jun S. Song
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - C. Victor Jongeneel
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jiawei Han
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Umberto Ravaioli
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Nahil Sobh
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Colleen B. Bushell
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Saurabh Sinha
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Fatehi Hassanabad A, Chehade R, Breadner D, Raphael J. Esophageal carcinoma: Towards targeted therapies. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2019; 43:195-209. [PMID: 31848929 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00488-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with esophageal cancer are confronted with high mortality rates. Whether it is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), patients usually present at advanced stages, with treatment options traditionally involving chemotherapy in metastatic settings. With the comprehensive genomic characterization of esophageal cancers, targeted therapies are gaining interest and agents such as ramucirumab, trastuzumab and pembrolizumab are already being used for the treatment of EAC. CONCLUSIONS Pembrolizumab has recently been FDA-approved for PD-L1 positive, locally advanced or metastatic ESCC. Despite comprehensive molecular characterization, however, available targed therapies for ESCC are still lagging behind. Herein, we discuss current trends towards more targeted therapies in esophageal cancers, taking into consideration unique features of ESCCs and EACs. Patients progressing on standard therapies should be subjected to genomic profiling and considered for clinical trials aimed at testing targeted therapies. Future targeted therapies may include CDK4/6 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors and inhibitors targeting the NRF2 and Wnt signaling pathways. Ultimately, optimized biomarker assays and next generation sequencing platforms may allow for the identification of subcategories of ESCC and EAC patients that will benefit from selective targeted therapies and/or combinations thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rania Chehade
- Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Breadner
- Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jacques Raphael
- Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, London, ON, Canada
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23
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Wang Z, Zhang J, Li M, Kong L, Yu J. The expression of p-p62 and nuclear Nrf2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and association with radioresistance. Thorac Cancer 2019; 11:130-139. [PMID: 31755241 PMCID: PMC6938765 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The roles of p62‐Keap1‐Nrf2 pathway in the radioresistance of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have not yet been revealed. This study aimed to clarify the expression and correlation of p‐p62 and nuclear Nrf2 and their association with radioresistance in ESCC. Methods This study included 164 cases of inoperable locally advanced ESCC. All patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of p‐p62 and nuclear Nrf2. The results were analyzed independently by two pathologists. Results There was no significant relationship between p‐p62 or nuclear Nrf2 and patients' clinical characteristics. Compared to patients with low expression of p‐p62, patients with high expression of p‐p62 showed lower objective response rate (ORR). Similarly, patients with high expression of nuclear Nrf2 exhibited lower ORR compared to those with low expression of nuclear Nrf2. The expression of p‐p62 was positively correlated with that of nuclear Nrf2. Moreover, the correlation coefficient between them was higher among patients showing no response to CCRT. Univariate analysis revealed that higher expression of p‐p62 or nuclear Nrf2 was significantly associated with poorer PFS and OS. Multivariate analysis indicated that the expression of nuclear Nrf2 and treatment response were independent prognostic factors for PFS. Sex, treatment response, expression of p‐p62 and nuclear Nrf2 were independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusion Higher expression of p‐p62 and nuclear Nrf2 are associated with lower ORR as well as poorer prognosis, which indicates that p62‐Keap1‐Nrf2 pathway might play an essential role in the radioresistance of ESCC. Key points The expression of p‐p62 and nuclear Nrf2 in ESCC show a significant relationship with patients' responses to CCRT and influence the prognosis of ESCC. p62‐Keap1‐Nrf2 pathway might be a new target for radiosensitization in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jingze Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Minghuan Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Li Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
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24
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Zhang Z, Xiong R, Li C, Xu M, Guo M. LncRNA TUG1 promotes cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating Nrf2. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2019; 51:826-833. [PMID: 31287493 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy with poor prognosis. The drug resistance compromises the efficacy of chemotherapy for ESCC. Long non-coding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been identified as a promoter of cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance in many malignancies. However, the exact role of TUG1 in ESCC chemotherapy resistance remains unclear. In this study, we showed that TUG1 expression in TE-1-derived cisplatin (DDP)-resistant (TE-1/DDP) cells was higher than that in TE-1 cells. Furthermore, TUG1 promoted DDP resistance in TE-1 and TE-1/DDP cells by promoting cell proliferation, suppressing cell apoptosis, and elevating protein expression of the classical multi-drug resistance-related P-gp. In contrast, TUG1 knockdown exerted an opposite effect. Mechanistically, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that TUG1 directly bound to nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) protein and elevated Nrf2 protein expression. Moreover, Nrf2-neutralizing antibody effectively reversed the TUG1 overexpression-mediated promotion of ESCC cell resistance to DDP. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that TUG1 promoted ESCC cell resistance to DDP, at least in part, through upregulating Nrf2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghua Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Ran Xiong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Caiwei Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Meiqing Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Mingfa Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
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25
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Zhou Z, Xu J, Bao X, Shi J, Liu B, Chen Y, Li J. Nuclear Nrf2 Activity in Laryngeal Carcinoma is Regulated by SENP3 After Cisplatin-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Stress. J Cancer 2019; 10:3427-3434. [PMID: 31293646 PMCID: PMC6603410 DOI: 10.7150/jca.30318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a nuclear transcription factor that is activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recent studies reported that hyperactivation of the Nrf2 pathway creates an environment that favors the survival of normal as well as malignant cells, protecting them against oxidative stress, chemotherapeutic agents, and radiotherapy. SUMO1/sentrin/SMT3 specific peptidase 3 (SENP3) reverses sumoylation of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-conjugates. We demonstrated that Nrf2 was detected in the nuclei of laryngeal carcinoma cells, but not in cells of tissues surrounding the cancer, which correlated with the appearance of SENP3 in the nuclei. Silencing of Nrf2 in laryngeal carcinoma cell line Hep-2 significantly reduced cell viability and enhanced apoptosis rates under cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) exposure. Cisplatin exposure induced ROS stress in Hep-2 cells in a time-dependent manner and was accompanied by increased Nrf2 and SENP3 protein accumulations, an effect reversed by the addition of the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Silencing of SENP3 led to reduced Nrf2 protein levels, whereas overexpression of SENP3 led to concomitant enhanced transcription of the Nrf2 target genes HO-1, NQO1, GCLC and GSTM1. Immunoprecipitation showed that overexpressed Nrf2 and SENP3 could be precipitated together, indicating that they were intracellular bound to each other. Our data identified intranuclear activation of Nrf2 is triggered by cisplatin-induced ROS development through the activity of SENP3. These findings provide novel insights into the Nrf2 reduced cancer cell response to the chemotherapy of laryngeal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ximing Bao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiali Shi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanqing Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiping Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ren ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China
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26
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Mizumoto A, Ohashi S, Kamada M, Saito T, Nakai Y, Baba K, Hirohashi K, Mitani Y, Kikuchi O, Matsubara J, Yamada A, Takahashi T, Lee H, Okuno Y, Kanai M, Muto M. Combination treatment with highly bioavailable curcumin and NQO1 inhibitor exhibits potent antitumor effects on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Gastroenterol 2019; 54:687-698. [PMID: 30737573 PMCID: PMC6647399 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-019-01549-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most intractable cancers, so the development of novel therapeutics has been required to improve patient outcomes. Curcumin, a polyphenol from Curcuma longa, exhibits various health benefits including antitumor effects, but its clinical utility is limited because of low bioavailability. Theracurmin® (THC) is a highly bioavailable curcumin dispersed with colloidal submicron particles. METHODS We examined antitumor effects of THC on ESCC cells by cell viability assay, colony and spheroid formation assay, and xenograft models. To reveal its mechanisms, we investigated the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and performed microarray gene expression analysis. According to those analyses, we focused on NQO1, which involved in the removal of ROS, and examined the effects of NQO1-knockdown or overexpression on THC treatment. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of THC and NQO1 inhibitor on ESCC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) was investigated. RESULTS THC caused cytotoxicity in ESCC cells, and suppressed the growth of xenografted tumors more efficiently than curcumin. THC increased ROS levels and activated the NRF2-NMRAL2P-NQO1 expressions. Inhibition of NQO1 in ESCC cells by shRNA or NQO1 inhibitor resulted in an increased sensitivity of cells to THC, whereas overexpression of NQO1 antagonized it. Notably, NQO1 inhibitor significantly enhanced the antitumor effects of THC in ESCC PDX tumors. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest the potential usefulness of THC and its combination with NQO1 inhibitor as a therapeutic option for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Mizumoto
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shinya Ohashi
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Mayumi Kamada
- Department of Biomedical Data Intelligence, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Tomoki Saito
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yukie Nakai
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kiichiro Baba
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kenshiro Hirohashi
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yosuke Mitani
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Osamu Kikuchi
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, 866-408-DFCI (3324), Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Junichi Matsubara
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yamada
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Takahashi
- Theravalues Corporation, 3-12 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0094, Japan
| | - Hyunjin Lee
- Theravalues Corporation, 3-12 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0094, Japan
| | - Yasushi Okuno
- Department of Biomedical Data Intelligence, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Masashi Kanai
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Manabu Muto
- Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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27
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Sadeghi MR, Jeddi F, Soozangar N, Somi MH, Shirmohamadi M, Khaze V, Samadi N. Nrf2/P–glycoprotein axis is associated with clinicopathological characteristics in colorectal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 104:458-464. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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