Prognostic significance of cyclinD1 amplification and the co-alteration of cyclinD1/pRb/ppRb in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Prognostic significance of CCND1 amplification/overexpression in smoking patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main subtype of esophageal cancer, with 5-year survival rate less than 30%. In order to offer an individual therapeutic approach, it is necessary to identify novel prognostic factors to recognize high-risk patients. Given the high frequency of CCND1 abnormalities and the important biological effects of smoking in ESCC, we explored the potential relationship between CCND1 abnormalities and smoking in ESCC patients. CCND1 status was examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining in ESCC tissue microarrays (n = 519). CCND1 amplification and cyclinD1 overexpression were found in 53.2 and 34.1% ESCC, respectively. CCND1 amplification (P = 0.142 for DFS and P = 0.191 for OS) and cyclinD1 overexpression (P = 0.035 for DFS and P = 0.092 for OS) tended to be poorer prognostic factors in all patients. Among smoking patients, those with CCND1 amplification had significantly poorer prognosis, with a median DFS and OS of 25.0 and 30.0 months compared to not reached and 52.0 months for those without CCND1 amplification (P = 0.020 and 0.018). A similar trend was found in the 68 patients with cyclinD1 overexpression (P = 0.043 and 0.048). Further univariate and multivariate analysis revealed CCND1 amplification was independently poorer prognostic factor in smoking patients, which was not found in non-smoking patients. Smokers with CCND1 amplification or cyclinD1 overexpression have poorer survival, which help us to identify distinct groups of patients with apparently poorer outcome and would enable appropriate follow-up and treatment strategies.

H3K27me3 Inactivates SFRP1 to Promote Cell Proliferation via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Histone methylations are generally considered to play an important role in multiple cancers by regulating cancer-related genes.

AIMS

This study aims to investigate the effects of H3K27me3-mediated inactivation of tumor suppressor gene SFRP1 and its function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

We performed ChIP-seq on H3K27me3-enriched genomic DNA fragments in ESCC cells to screen out tumor suppressor genes that may be regulated by H3K27me3. ChIP-qPCR and Western blot were employed to explore the regulating mechanisms between H3K27me3 and SFRP1. Expression level of SFRP1 was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) in 29 pairs of ESCC surgical samples. SFRP1 function in ESCC cells were detected by cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay and wound-healing assay.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that H3K27me3 was widely distributed in the genome of ESCC cells. Specifically, we found that H3K27me3 deposited on the upstream region of SFRP1 promoter and inactivated SFRP1 expression. Furthermore, we found SFRP1 was significantly down-regulated in ESCC tissues compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissues, and SFRP1 expression was significantly associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. In vitro cell-based assay indicated that over-expression of SFRP1 significantly suppressed cell proliferation and negatively correlated with the expression of β-catenin in the nucleus.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a previously unrecognized finding that H3K27me3-mediated SFRP1 inhibit the cell proliferation of ESCC through inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Research on Mechanism of Nanometer Colloidal Particles of Prostate Specific Membrane Aptamer A10 (PSMA-a10)/TGX221 in Restraining the Transplantation Tumor of Rats with Prostate Cancer (PCa)

This study assesses the effect of nanometer colloidal particles of PSMA-a10/TGX22 1 on the transplantation tumor of rats with prostate cancer (PCa). 26 rats with PCa were divided into PPG group, exposed TGX221 group and nanometer TGX221 group followed by analysis of the growth of transplantation tumor, cell apoptotic rate by flow cytometry, and the expression of p110β and Bcl-2 by RT-PCR and Western Blot. Nanometer TGX221 group and exposed TGX221 group showed smaller tumor volume than in PPG group on day 13 after intervention with significant difference of tumor volume between nanometer TGX221 group and exposed TGX221 group on day 7. The inhibiting rate of tumor growth in exposed TGX221 group was less than that in nanometer TGX221 group. However, nanometer TGX221 group presented higher apoptotic rate than other two groups. The level of p110β and Bcl-2 in nanometer TGX221 group was declined gradually with significant differences compared to other two groups. In conclusion, the nanometer colloidal particles of PSMA-a10/TGX221 have promising tumor-targeted specificity possibly through inhibition of Bcl-2 and the activity of p110β, leading to restrained PCa growth.

miR-1307 promotes hepatocarcinogenesis by CALR-OSTC-endoplasmic reticulum protein folding pathway

miR-1307 is highly expressed in liver cancer and inhibits methyltransferase protein8. Thereby, miR-1307 inhibits the expression of KDM3A and KDM3B and increases the methylation modification of histone H3 lysine 9, which enhances the expression of endoplasmic-reticulum-related gene CALR. Of note, miR-1307 weakens the binding ability of OSTC to CDK2, CDK4, CyclinD1, and cyclinE and enhances the binding ability of CALR to CDK2, CDK4, CyclinD1, and cyclinE, decreasing of p21WAF1/CIP1, GADD45, pRB, and p18, and decreasing of ppRB. Furthermore, miR-1307 increases the activity of H-Ras, PKM2, and PLK1. Strikingly, miR-1307 reduces the binding ability of OSTC to ATG4 and enhances the binding ability of CALR to ATG4. Therefore, miR-1307 reduces the occurrence of autophagy based on ATG4-LC3-ATG3-ATG7-ATG5-ATG16L1-ATG12-ATG9- Beclin1. In particular, miR-1307 enhances the expression of PAK2, PLK1, PRKAR2A, MYBL1, and Trim44 and inhibits the expression of Sash1 and Smad5 via autophagy. Our observations suggest that miR-1307 promotes hepatocarcinogenesis by CALR-OSTC-endoplasmic reticulum protein folding pathway.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Most Common Genetic Mutations in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Esophageal cancer is the second most common cancer among men and women. There is a need to systematically assess the current evidence to map out the contribution of genetic factors in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

A literature search was carried out on published and unpublished studies up to August 2021 in Medline (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, Proquest, Web of Science, and Google scholar. Studies that have reported the frequency of genetic mutations in ESCC were included in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 1238 titles were retrieved through searches, and finally, 56 articles, including 8114 samples, met our predefined inclusion criteria. Of the included studies, 31 were conducted in China, 12 in Japan, and the remaining were conducted in various nations, including Brazil, Korea, and Iran. Most of our included studies evaluated the TP53 (n = 37 studies) and PIK3CA (n = 30 studies) gene mutations. TP53 (68.6%; 95% CI: 61.6-74.9), CCND1 (39.3%; 95% CI: 26.2-54.1), MDM2 (24.9%; 95% CI: 9.5-51.0), NOTCH1/2/3 (17.9%; 95% CI: 15.0-21.2), KMT2D (17.4%; 95% CI: 12.4-23.8), CDKN2A (15.0%; 95% CI: 8.1-26.1), PIK3CA (13.8%; 95% CI: 10.3-18.1), FAT1 (13.3%; 95% CI: 11.7-15.0), and EGFR (9.9%; 95% CI: 5.6-17.0) were the most common involved genetic factors in developing ESCC.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that more than 10% of ESCC patients had changes in TP53, CCND1, MDM2, NOTCH1/2/3, KMT2D, CDKN2A, PIK3CA, and FAT1 genes, which can highlight their role in developing ESCC. TP53, CCND1, and MDM2 are the most prevalent, demonstrating 68.6%, 39.3%, and 24.9% of the mutations in ESCC patients.

Silencing of Long Non-Coding RNA HOTAIR Alleviates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Pancreatic Cancer via the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Purpose

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignancy with poor prognosis and controversial treatment options. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a significant factor in the development of PC. In the current study, the possible effects of HOTAIR on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PC and the related mechanisms were investigated.

Methods

The PC models were induced by 10 mg/100 g dimethylbenzoanthracene (DMBA) in pancreas. Mice were injected with the HOTAIR mimic and HOTAIR shRNA to determine the role of HOTAIR in PC. Subsequently, the expression of HOTAIR in PC cells was assayed. To determine the mechanism of HOTAIR in PC, human PC cell line PANC-1, Miapaca-2 and human normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line HPDE6-C7 were transfected with the HOTAIR mimic, the shRNA against HOTAIR, the Wnt/b-catenin activator (LiCl), and the Wnt/b-catenin inhibitor (XAV939), respectively. Moreover, the expressions of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related genes (β-catenin, cyclinD1, c-myc, LEF-1 and c-Jun) and the levels of the EMT markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin) were determined. Finally, the cell biological processes were evaluated by functional experiments.

Results

HOTAIR was found to be highly expressed in the PC cells in mice. The expression of β-catenin, cyclinD1, c-myc, LEF-1 and c-Jun, N-cadherin and Vimentin was found to be decreased, while the expression of E-cadherin was found to be increased subsequent to the silencing of HOTAIR in human PC cell lines PANC-1 and Miapaca-2. Additionally, it was observed that the silencing of HOTAIR could inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to alleviate EMT of tumor cells and inhibit the capacities of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion

The key finding of the present study is that the silencing of HOTAIR could potentially inhibit EMT and growth of PC through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, providing a novel therapy for PC.

Meta-analysis of tumor- and T cell-intrinsic mechanisms of sensitization to checkpoint inhibition

Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) augment adaptive immunity. Systematic pan-tumor analyses may reveal the relative importance of tumor-cell-intrinsic and microenvironmental features underpinning CPI sensitization. Here, we collated whole-exome and transcriptomic data for >1,000 CPI-treated patients across seven tumor types, utilizing standardized bioinformatics workflows and clinical outcome criteria to validate multivariable predictors of CPI sensitization. Clonal tumor mutation burden (TMB) was the strongest predictor of CPI response, followed by total TMB and CXCL9 expression. Subclonal TMB, somatic copy alteration burden, and histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) evolutionary divergence failed to attain pan-cancer significance. Dinucleotide variants were identified as a source of immunogenic epitopes associated with radical amino acid substitutions and enhanced peptide hydrophobicity/immunogenicity. Copy-number analysis revealed two additional determinants of CPI outcome supported by prior functional evidence: 9q34 (TRAF2) loss associated with response and CCND1 amplification associated with resistance. Finally, single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of clonal neoantigen-reactive CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), combined with bulk RNA-seq analysis of CPI-responding tumors, identified CCR5 and CXCL13 as T-cell-intrinsic markers of CPI sensitivity.

The Pathologic and Molecular Landscape of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinogenesis

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma represents the most common histotype of epithelial neoplasm occurring within esophageal mucosa worldwide. Despite the comprehensive molecular characterization of this entity, to date no significant targeted therapy has been introduced into clinical practice. In this review, we describe the molecular landscape of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on the most recent literature. Moreover, we focus on other rare variants and on the relationship with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

The prognostic value of cyclin D1 expression in the survival of cancer patients: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The relationship between the expression of cyclin D1 and cancer prognosis and outcomes in different malignancies has not been fully elucidated.

AIMS

In the presented meta-analysis, we assessed the association between the expression level of cyclin D1 with overall survival (OS) in several cancers.

METHODS

Eligible studies were identified using PubMed, EMBase, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Cochrane Library databases. For the prognostic meta-analysis, study-specific hazard ratios (HRs) of tissue cyclin D1 for survival were obtained. Finally we pooled data derived from one hundred and eight studies comprising 19,224 patients with 10 different cancer types.

RESULTS

In the pooled analysis, high expression of cyclin D1 was significantly related to a poor OS with a pooled HR of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.02-1.20, P = 0.015; random-effects). Sub-group analysis revealed that high expression of cyclin D1 was related to worse OS of head and neck cancers (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.75-2.47; P < 0.001), but not in breast (HR = 1.033, 95% CI: 0.873-1.223, P = 0.702), gastrointestinal (HR = 1.025, 95% CI:0.824-1.275; P = 0.825), bladder (HR = 0.937, CI: 0.844-1.041; P = 0.225) and in lung cancer patients (HR = 1.092, CI: 0.819-1.455; P = 0.549).

CONCLUSION

Further large, prospective, and well-designed trials are warranted to elucidate the precise clinical importance of cyclin D1 overexpression in the prognosis of cancer patients receiving different treatment regimens.

MiR-199a-3p decreases esophageal cancer cell proliferation by targeting p21 activated kinase 4

Although microRNA (miR) 199a-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in multiple malignancies, its expression and role in esophageal cancer have not been studied. Based on our previous observation that miR-199a-3p is markedly downregulated in esophageal cancer cell lines relative to esophageal epithelial cells, we examined the function of miR-199a-3p in these cells. MiR-199a-3p is predicted to bind with high affinity to the mRNA of p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4). This kinase has been shown to be overexpressed in several malignancies and to modulate proliferation and motility. The current study is designed to determine whether miR-199a-3p regulates the expression of PAK4 in esophageal cancer cells and to understand the functional consequences of this interaction. Herein, we demonstrate reduced expression of miR-199a-3p in human esophageal cancer specimens and cell lines compared to esophageal epithelial cells, with associated increased expression of PAK4. Forced expression of miR-199a-3p decreases expression of PAK4 in esophageal cancer cell lines. Mechanistic studies reveal that miR-199a-3p binds to the 3'UTR of PAK4 mRNA. This interaction results in reduced levels of PAK4 mRNA due to decreased mRNA stability. Downregulation of PAK4 leads to decreased cyclin D1 (CD1) transcription and protein expression, resulting in markedly impaired cellular proliferation. When PAK4 expression is rescued, both CD1 transcription and protein return to baseline levels. Our results show that miR-199a-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in esophageal cancer cells through repression of PAK4. These findings suggest that both miR-199a-3p and PAK4 may be novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

MicroRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Esophageal cancer is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the major histological type of esophageal cancer in developing countries including China, and the prognosis is very poor. Many microRNAs are involved in several important biological and pathologic processes, and promote tumorigenesis. To better understand the prognostic and therapeutic roles of microRNAs in ESCC, we reviewed the diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic microRNAs (e.g. miR-21 and miR-17-92 cluster) and tumor suppressor microRNAs (e.g. miR-375, miR-133a and miR-133b), and diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic target genes (e.g. PDCD4 and CCND1) and tumor suppressor target genes (e.g. EZH2 and PDK1). We also summarized the prognostic microRNA and target gene pairs (e.g. miR-296 and CCND1, miR214 and EZH2). Taken together, our review highlights the opportunities and challenges for microRNAs in the molecular diagnosis and target therapy of ESCC.

Cyclin D1 expression predicts postoperative distant metastasis and survival in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose

We aim to identify esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with increased risk of postoperative metastases.

Results

A high level of cyclin D1 expression, together with poor tumor cell differentiation and advanced tumor stages, increased risk of postoperative metastasis and decreased distant metastasis-free survival in ESCC in both cohorts. A high level of cyclin D1 expression also decreased overall survival in the training cohort (p < 0.01) but not in the validation cohort (p = 0.415). However, when the two cohorts of patients were pooled to obtain a larger case number, a high level of cyclin D1 expression was again demonstrated as an independent predictor that decreased overall survival (p < 0.01).

Methods

We used data from two institutions to establish training (n = 319) and validation (n = 164) cohorts. Tissue microarrays were generated for immunohistochemical evaluation. The correlation among cyclin D1 expression, clinicopathologic variables, postoperative distant metastases, overall survival, and distant metastasis-free survival were analyzed. Multivariate analyses were used to test the independent factors impacting postoperative distant metastases and survival. The outcomes generated from the training cohort were then tested using the validation cohort and pooled dataset.

Conclusions

High level of cyclin D1 expression increased distant metastasis, decreased overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival in resectable ESCC. Using a combination of cyclin D1 expression, tumor cell differentiation grade, and tumor stages, identifying patients with increased risk of postoperative metastases becomes possible.

Esophageal Cancer: Genomic and Molecular Characterization, Stem Cell Compartment and Clonal Evolution

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common cancer and is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide. The incidence of histologic subtypes of EC, esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC), display considerable geographic variation. EAC arises from metaplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) in the context of chronic inflammation secondary to exposure to acid and bile. The main risk factors for developing ESCC are cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. The main somatic genetic abnormalities showed a different genetic landscape in EAC compared to ESCC. EAC is a heterogeneous cancer dominated by copy number alterations, a high mutational burden, co-amplification of receptor tyrosine kinase, frequent TP53 mutations. The cellular origins of BE and EAC are still not understood: animal models supported a cellular origin either from stem cells located in the basal layer of esophageal epithelium or from progenitors present in the cardia region. Many studies support the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) able to initiate and maintain EAC or ESCC. The exact identification of these CSCs, as well as their role in the pathogenesis of EAC and ESCC remain still to be demonstrated. The reviewed studies suggest that current molecular and cellular characterization of EAC and ESCC should serve as background for development of new treatment strategies.

Immunohistochemical prognostic markers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive malignancy, with a high incidence and poor prognosis. In the past several decades, hundreds of proteins have been reported to be associated with the prognosis of ESCC, but none has been widely accepted to guide clinical care. This study aimed to identify proteins with great potential for predicting prognosis of ESCC.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review on immunohistochemical (IHC) prognostic markers of ESCC according to the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. Literature related to IHC prognostic markers of ESCC were searched from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library until January 30th, 2017. The risk of bias of these original studies was evaluated using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool.

Results

We identified 11 emerging IHC markers with reproducible results, including eight markers [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Cyclin D1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Survivin, Podoplanin, Fascin, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)] indicating unfavorable prognosis and 3 markers (P27, P16, and E-cadherin) indicating favorable prognosis of ESCC.

Conclusion

Strong evidence supports that these 11 emerging IHC markers or their combinations may be useful in predicting prognosis and aiding personalized therapy decision-making for ESCC patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40880-017-0232-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chromosomal and Genomic Variations in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review of Technologies, Applications, and Prospections

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with poor prognosis worldwide. The poor prognosis is due to the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and the limited clinical staging lacking significant molecular biomarkers to effectively stratify patients for treatment options. As cancer is a disease of genome instability and a resulting of accumulation of genetic alteration, mounting chromosomal and genomic technologies were developed and progressed rapidly which could be used for characterizing patients in genomics level. In this review, we summarized applications of multiple technologies and research progress at chromosomal and genomic level in ESCC.

Inhibition of pRB Pathway Differentially Modulates Apoptosis in Esophageal Cancer Cells

Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Current chemotherapy regimens include a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin, but more efficient therapy strategies are needed to increase 5-year survival. Alterations in the signaling pathway of the tumor suppressor gene Rb-1, which encodes a phosphoprotein (pRB) that negatively regulates the G1/S transition of the cell cycle, are present in 70% of all tumors, but its role in esophageal cancer is still unclear. Most of these are alterations leading to up-regulation of the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) to phosphorylate pRB, which suggests that keeping the wild type pRB phosphorylated might be advantageous. Besides proliferation, pRB also regulates apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and DNA-damage. We investigated the status of phosphorylation of pRB along esophageal tumorigenesis stages, as well as whether hyperphosphorylation of pRB could suppress apoptosis induced by cisplatin, 5-FU, or TNF-α in esophageal cancer cells. pRB phosphorylation increased progressively from normal esophageal tissue to metaplasia and adenocarcinoma, suggesting that pRB phosphorylation increases along esophageal tumor stages. When RB-1 was knocked down or CDK inhibitors reduced the levels of phosphorylated pRB, opposite apoptotic effects were observed, depending on the combination of drugs tested: whereas TNF-α- and cisplatin-induced apoptosis increased, 5-FU-induced apoptosis decreased. Taken together, these data suggest that pRB plays a role in esophageal adenocarcinoma and that, depending on the type of anti-cancer treatment, combining CDK inhibitors and chemotherapy has the potential to increase the sensitivity of esophageal cancer cells to cell death.

Down-regulation of long non-coding RNA RP11-708H21.4 is associated with poor prognosis for colorectal cancer and promotes tumorigenesis through regulating AKT/mTOR pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve critical roles in cancer development and progression. Herein, through next generation RNA sequencing and experimental validations, we determined the expression status of RP11-708H21.4 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and explored its clinical significance and biological functions in CRC. Differentially expressed lncRNAs from CRC samples and corresponding normal mucosa tissues was screened through RNA sequencing, and RP11-708H21.4 was selected for further experimental validation. The expression levels of RP11-708H21.4 in CRC tissues and cell lines were determined using qRT-PCR. Also, the relationship between the clinicopathological features and RP11-708H21.4 expression was analyzed. Cell viability was examined by CCK-8 and colony assays; cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell assays; cell cycle and cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The chemosensitivity of CRC cells to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was also determined using CCK-8 assay. CRC xenograft tumor models were established to determine the biological functions of RP11-708H21.4 in vivo. Levels of cell cycle-related proteins and AKT/mTOR pathway-related proteins were detected by western blot assay. RP11-708H21.4 expression was aberrantly decreased in CRC, and its expression was closely associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features and unfavorable prognosis of CRC patients. Overexpressed RP11-708H21.4 suppresses CRC cell proliferation through inducing G1 arrest. Moreover, up-regulation of RP11-708H21.4 inhibits cell migration and invasion, causes cell apoptosis, and enhances 5-FU sensitivity of CRC cells. Finally, increased RP11-708H21.4 expression blocked AKT/mTOR pathway, and repressed in vivo CRC xenograft tumor growth. The results indicated that RP11-708H21.4 might have potential roles as a biomarker and a therapeutic target for CRC.

MiR-34a Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells via the RBP2/NOTCH1/CYCLIN D1 Coregulatory Network

MiR-34a was demonstrated to be upregulated during the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). Overexpression of miR-34a significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization capacity, and the expression of osteogenesis-associated genes in hASCs in vitro. Enhanced heterotopic bone formation in vivo was also observed upon overexpression of miR-34a in hASCs. Mechanistic investigations revealed that miR-34a inhibited the expression of retinoblastoma binding protein 2 (RBP2) and reduced the luciferase activity of reporter gene construct comprising putative miR-34a binding sites in the 3′ UTR of RBP2. Moreover, miR-34a downregulated the expression of NOTCH1 and CYCLIN D1 and upregulated the expression of RUNX2 by targeting RBP2, NOTCH1, and CYCLIN D1. Taken together, our results suggested that miR-34a promotes the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs via the RBP2/NOTCH1/CYCLIN D1 coregulatory network, indicating that miR-34a-targeted therapy could be a valuable approach to promote bone regeneration.

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MiR-34a promotes osteogenesis of hASCs in vitro and in vivo

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MiR-34a directly binds to the 3′ UTR of RBP2 mRNA in hASCs

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MiR-34a promotes osteogenesis of hASCs via the RBP2/NOTCH1/CYCLIN D1 network

Clinical significance of expression of PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 in primary colorectal cancer and lymph node metastases

AIM: To investigate the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)p110α, PI3Kp110β, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and CyclinD1 in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) and lymph node metastases, and to analyze their correlations with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of CRC.

METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 in 30 cases of normal colorectal mucosa, 52 cases of CRC without lymph node metastasis, 50 cases of primary CRC tissues and corresponding lymph node metastases. The correlations between PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, Bcl-2, and CyclinD1 expression as well as their relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of CRC were analyzed.

RESULTS: The expression of PI3Kp110α and Bcl-2 in CRC without lymph node metastasis, primary CRC tissues and corresponding lymph node metastases was significantly higher than that in normal colorectal mucosa (P < 0.05). PI3Kp110β and CyclinD1 expression was also significantly increased in CRC without lymph node metastasis, primary CRC tissues, and corresponding lymph node metastases compared with the normal colorectal mucosa. What's more, PI3Kp110β and CyclinD1 expression was significantly increased in CRC with lymph node metastases compared with CRC without lymph node metastases (P < 0.05). Spearman analysis showed that PI3Kp110α expression was positively associated with Bcl-2 expression in the four groups (P < 0.05), PI3Kp110α expression was positively associated with CyclinD1 expression in normal colorectal mucosa, CRC without lymph node metastasis, and CRC with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), and PI3Kp110β expression was positively correlated with Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 expression in the four groups (P < 0.05). PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β and CyclinD1 expression was related to cancer cell differentiation and lymph node metastasis, and Bcl-2 expression was associated with cancer cell differentiation. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 were prognostic factors for CRC, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that PI3Kp110α and PI3Kp110β were independent prognostic factors for CRC.

CONCLUSION: PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, Bcl-2, and CyclinD1 expression is increased in primary CRC tissues and lymph node metastases compared with normal mucosa, suggesting that they may play important roles in the development and progression of CRC. PI3Kp110α and PI3Kp110β promote cancer cell growth via Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 in CRC with lymph node metastases. PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, Bcl-2 and CyclinD1 are associated with tumor cell differentiation and CRC metastasis. PI3Kp110α and PI3Kp110β are independent prognostic factors for CRC.

Survivin small interfering RNA suppresses glioblastoma growth by inducing cellular apoptosis

A survivin small interfering RNA sequence specific for a human and mouse homogenous sequence was constructed. Survivin small interfering RNA could significantly inhibit glioma cell proliferation and induce apoptosis when it was transfected into either a human glioma cell line U251 or rat glioma C6 cells in vitro. In addition, treatment of rat orthotopic glioma models with survivin small interfering demonstrated the inhibition of glioma growth in vivo. Our experimental findings suggest that the use of RNA interference techniques to target the survivin sequence may be useful in the treatment of glioma.

RNA interference of Biot2 induces G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in mouse colorectal cancer cell line

Biot2 is a tumor-associated antigen, and it is a novel gene (GenBank EF100607) that was first identified with the SEREX technique and named by our laboratory. It is highly expressed in cancer cells and testis, with low or no expression in normal tissues. In our previous study, RNA interference of human Biot2 can inhibit tumor cell growth, and it is associated with poor prognosis of patients in clinical study; however, the mechanism of Biot2 that effects tumor growth is not yet clear. Here, in this study, we explore further the mechanism of Biot2 by silencing Biot2 in CT26 cells. It provides some theoretical basis for Biot2 as a new target for gene therapy. In CT26 cells, the expression of Biot2 was downregulated by Biot2-shRNA. It also promoted G₁ phase arrest, the expression of p16 and p21, and cell apoptosis. In the mouse model, the tumor volume and the expression of PCNA of the Biot2-shRNA group significantly decreased. These results suggest that silencing Biot2 in CT26 cells by RNA interference can inhibit cell growth in vitro and in vivo. It also induces cell cycle arrest in the G₁ phase and apoptosis throughout regulation of p16 and p21. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Biot2 can be a potential target of gene therapy.

Prognostic value of differential CCND1 expression in patients with resected gastric adenocarcinoma

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) plays essential roles in cancer progression. In this study, CCND1 expression patterns in 211 cases of resected gastric adenocarcinoma (RGA) tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry, and the association between CCND1 expression levels and RGA prognosis was analyzed. RGA tissues displayed differential CCND1 expression (high expression, 52.1 %; n = 110, and low expression, 47.9 %; n = 101). CCND1 expression levels were related with median overall survival time (MST). MST in patients with high CCND1 expression was 43 months, whereas with low CCND1 expression it was 62 months (P = 0.013). When data were stratified by postoperative treatments and CCND1 expression levels, the MST for patients treated with fluoropyrimidine plus platinum (n = 140) was significantly longer than for those treated with fluoropyrimidine only (n = 71) in both high and low CCND1 expression groups (65.0 vs. 29.0 months, P = 0.041; and 74.5 vs. 33.0 months, P = 0.003, respectively). Cox multivariate analyses further confirmed that high CCND1 expression was related with poor prognosis in both treatment groups [hazard ratio (HR) 1.91, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.12-3.23; P = 0.017, and HR 2.14, 95 % CI 1.08-4.25; P = 0.029] and that fluoropyrimidine plus platinum was more effective than fluoropyrimidine only in high CCND1 (HR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.28-0.78; P = 0.004) and low CCND1 (HR 0.44; 95 % CI 0.23-0.82; P = 0.01) expression patients. Therefore, CCND1 may be used as a prognostic biomarker for patients with RGA.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of somatic and germline DNA sequence biomarkers of esophageal cancer survival, therapy response and stage

Recent advances in next generation sequencing reinforce the potential for DNA sequence markers to guide esophageal cancer management. We report the first systematic review and meta-analysis, identifying 94 markers of outcome and 41 of stage. Overall, evidence was poor. Meta-analyses demonstrated outcome associations for 6 tumor and 9 germline variants: priorities for prospective evaluation.

Introduction

There is an urgent need for biomarkers to help predict prognosis and guide management of esophageal cancer. This review identifies, evaluates and meta-analyses the evidence for reported somatic and germline DNA sequence biomarkers of outcome and stage.

Methods

A systematic review was carried out of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases (20 August 2014), in conjunction with the ASCO Level of Evidence scale for biomarker research. Meta-analyses were carried out for all reported markers associated with outcome measures by more than one study.

Results

Four thousand and four articles were identified, 762 retrieved and 182 studies included. There were 65 reported markers of survival or recurrence 12 (18.5%) were excluded due to multiple comparisons. Following meta-analysis, significant associations were seen for six tumor variants (mutant TP53 and PIK3CA, copy number gain of ERBB2/HER2, CCND1 and FGF3, and chromosomal instability/ploidy) and seven germline polymorphisms: ERCC1 rs3212986, ERCC2 rs1799793, TP53 rs1042522, MDM2 rs2279744, TYMS rs34743033, ABCB1 rs1045642 and MTHFR rs1801133. Twelve germline markers of treatment complications were reported; 10 were excluded. Two tumor and 15 germline markers (11 excluded) of chemo (radio)therapy response were reported. Following meta-analysis, associations were demonstrated for mutant TP53, ERCC1 rs11615 and XRCC1 rs25487. There were 41 tumor/germline reported markers of stage; 27 (65.9%) were excluded.

Conclusions

Numerous DNA markers of outcome and stage have been reported, yet few are backed by high-quality evidence. Despite this, a small number of variants appear reliable. These merit evaluation in prospective trials, within the context of high-throughput sequencing and gene expression.

Concomitant depletion of PTEN and p27 and overexpression of cyclin D1 may predict a worse prognosis for patients with post-operative stage II and III colorectal cancer

Prognostic markers for colorectal cancer (CRC) have not yet been fully investigated. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), p27 and Cyclin D1 play significant roles in tumorigenesis and cell cycle regulation, and therefore require evaluation for their prognostic value in this disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of the single and combined expression of PTEN, p27 and Cyclin D1 in CRC patients. Protein expression levels of PTEN, p27 and Cyclin D1 were examined by immunohistochemistry from 61 patients with CRC in either stage II or III. In the CRC tissues, the frequencies of PTEN(−), p27(−) and Cyclin D1(+) expression were 42.62% (26/61), 32.79% (20/61) and 45.90% (28/61), respectively. Depletion of PTEN and p27 was more common with respect to stage III, low grade and lymph node metastasis compared with stage II, moderate grade and no lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Cyclin D1-positive expression was frequently detected in CRC of stage III, with lymph node metastasis and deeper invasion (P<0.05). The depletion of PTEN was significantly correlated with the loss of p27 (P<0.001) and with the increased expression of Cyclin D1 (P<0.001). PTEN(−) and/or p27(−) expression was significantly correlated with Cyclin D1(+) expression (P<0.05). Combined PTEN(−)/p27(−)/Cyclin D1(+) expression was correlated with a significant decrease in overall survival time (P<0.05). Combined p27(−) and Cyclin D1(+) expression indicated a worse overall survival time than other combined expression patterns. These findings indicate that the single expression of PTEN(−), p27(−) and Cyclin D1(+) and the combined detection of p27(−) and Cyclin D1(+) may be used as prognostic markers for overall survival time in CRC.

Chromosomal instability associated with global DNA hypomethylation is associated with the initiation and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Global DNA hypomethylation is associated with increased chromosomal instability and plays an important role in tumorigenesis. The methylation status of the long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) element is a useful surrogate marker for global DNA methylation. Although LINE-1 hypomethylation is recognized as a poor prognostic marker, the correlation of LINE-1 methylation level with tumor suppressor gene mutation, chromosomal instability, and clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.

METHODS

Using resected tumor tissues and the corresponding normal esophageal mucosa from 105 patients with ESCC, bisulfite pyrosequencing analysis was performed to quantify the LINE-1 methylation levels. p53 mutations in exons two to ten were detected by polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing. Chromosomal instability was assessed by single nucleotide polymorphism array comparative genomic hybridization analysis.

RESULTS

The LINE-1 methylation level of ESCC was significantly lower than matched normal mucosa. LINE-1 methylation levels of normal mucosa from the esophagus had a significant inverse correlation with both cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption of the study subjects. LINE-1 hypomethylation of ESCC was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, the frequency of p53 mutation and poor survivability. The LINE-1 methylation levels in ESCC had a significant inverse association with the percentage of copy number alterations in the whole genome, mirroring chromosomal instability.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that whole genome hypomethylation caused by chronic inflammation could initiate carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cells through chromosomal instability. In addition, chromosomal instability associated with the global hypomethylation might correlate highly with the progression of ESCC.

Defining the genomic landscape of head and neck cancers through next-generation sequencing

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the field of genomics and improved our understanding of cancer biology. Advances have been achieved by sequencing tumor DNA and using matched normal DNA to filter out germ line variants to identify cancer-specific changes. The identification of high incidences of activating mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) amenable to drug targeting has been made, with clear distinctions between the mutational profile of HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. This wealth of new understanding undoubtedly ameliorates our understanding of HNSCC cancer biology and elucidates clear targets for drug targeting which will guide future personalized medicine.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of tumor biomarkers in predicting prognosis in esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a frequently occurring cancer with poor prognosis despite combined therapeutic strategies. Many biomarkers have been proposed as predictors of adverse events. We sought to assess the prognostic value of biomarkers in predicting the overall survival of esophageal cancer and to help guide personalized cancer treatment to give patients the best chance at remission.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature to summarize evidence for the discriminatory ability of prognostic biomarkers for esophageal cancer. Relevant literature was identified using the PubMed database on April 11, 2012, and conformed to the REMARK criteria. The primary endpoint was overall survival and data were synthesized with hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

We included 109 studies, exploring 13 different biomarkers, which were subjected to quantitative meta-analysis. Promising markers that emerged for the prediction of overall survival in esophageal squamous cell cancer included VEGF (18 eligible studies, n=1476, HR=1.85, 95% CI, 1.55-2.21), cyclin D1 (12 eligible studies, n=1476, HR=1.82, 95% CI, 1.50-2.20), Ki-67 (3 eligible studies, n=308, HR=1.11, 95% CI, 0.70-1.78) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (5 eligible studies, n=700, HR=1.28, 95% CI, 0.97-1.69); prognostic markers for esophageal adenocarcinoma included COX-2 (2 eligible studies, n=235, HR=3.06, 95% CI, 2.01-4.65) and HER-2 (3 eligible studies, n=291, HR=2.15, 95% CI, 1.39-3.33); prognostic markers for uncategorized ECs included p21 (9 eligible studies, n=858, HR=1.27, 95% CI, 0.75-2.16), p53 (31 eligible studies, n=2851, HR=1.34, 95% CI, 1.21-1.48), CRP (8 eligible studies, n=1382, HR=2.65, 95% CI, 1.64-4.27) and hemoglobin (5 eligible studies, n=544, HR=0.91, 95% CI, 0.83-1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Although some modest bias cannot be excluded, this review supports the involvement of biomarkers to be associated with EC overall survival.

Novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in esophageal cancer

INTRODUCTION

This article provides an overview of actual biomarkers with an impact on improvement of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer patients.

AREAS COVERED

Recent literature has been analyzed and provides information regarding the potential role of molecular markers as a diagnostic or prognostic factor in esophageal cancer.

EXPERT OPINION

Until now, the role of molecular markers is far from being firmly established for routine use and is not without obstacles. However, with reliable standardized methods, established cut-off values and promising candidates in marker panels with markers of genetic, epigenetic and proteomic origin might result in a marker tool worthwhile of being validated in large, prospective, randomized trials. Novel validated marker combinations have to be clinically applied to prove their putative role in complementing clinical techniques within the development of better detection concepts of esophageal cancer, improving patients' long-term prognosis by early and purposive therapy within individualized treatment concepts.

Targeted next-generation sequencing of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies novel genetic alterations in HPV+ and HPV- tumors

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus positive (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an emerging disease, representing a distinct clinical and epidemiological entity. Understanding the genetic basis of this specific subtype of cancer could allow therapeutic targeting of affected pathways for a stratified medicine approach.

METHODS

Twenty HPV+ and 20 HPV- laser-capture microdissected oropharyngeal carcinomas were used for paired-end sequencing of hybrid-captured DNA, targeting 3,230 exons in 182 genes often mutated in cancer. Copy number alteration (CNA) profiling, Sequenom MassArray sequencing and immunohistochemistry were used to further validate findings.

RESULTS

HPV+ and HPV- oropharyngeal carcinomas cluster into two distinct subgroups. TP53 mutations are detected in 100% of HPV negative cases and abrogation of the G1/S checkpoint by CDKN2A/B deletion and/or CCND1 amplification occurs in the majority of HPV- tumors.

CONCLUSION

These findings strongly support a causal role for HPV, acting via p53 and RB pathway inhibition, in the pathogenesis of a subset of oropharyngeal cancers and suggest that studies of CDK inhibitors in HPV- disease may be warranted. Mutation and copy number alteration of PI3 kinase (PI3K) pathway components appears particularly prevalent in HPV+ tumors and assessment of these alterations may aid in the interpretation of current clinical trials of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR inhibitors in HNSCC.

Invasive and prognostic significance of pRB in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis

This paper investigates the association between protein retinoblastoma (pRB) loss and the T,N stage and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) using meta-analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis of 16 studies, comprising 1,117 patients to clarify this issue. All the studies searched by the electronic literature PubMed and http://www.KJEBM.com, which had been published during the period from January 1996 to January 2012 according to the inclusion criteria. Summary odds ratios (OR) were calculated using fixed or random-effects models. The summary odds ratios (ORs) for pRB inactive were 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.45-0.91, P = 0.01) for T1/T2 versus T3/T4 tumors; summary OR = 0.69 (95% CI:0.51-0.94, P = 0.02) for N0 versus N1 tumors. The association between pRB loss and prognosis was examined in nine studies, and the summary hazard ratio was 1.39 (95% CI:1.11-1.74, P = 0.004). pRB inactive was significant associated with T3/T4 tumors and N1 stage as well as adverse prognosis for ESCCs. It appears warranted to prospectively validate that pRB loss may be used for subdividing the T,N stage evaluation of patients with ESCCs, and these patients may be the preponderant people for individualized treatment or target therapy.