LMO1 polymorphisms and the risk of neuroblastoma: Assessment of meta-analysis of case-control studies

LMO family gene polymorphisms and Wilms tumor susceptibility in Chinese children: a five-center case-control study

BACKGROUND

Wilms tumor is the most prevalent embryonal kidney malignancy in children worldwide. Previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified that LIM domain only 1 (LMO1) gene polymorphisms affected the susceptibility to develop certain tumor types. Apart from LMO1, the LMO gene family members also include LMO2-4, each of which has oncogenic potential.

METHODS

We conducted this five-center case‒control study to assess the correlations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in LMO family genes and Wilms tumor susceptibility. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association.

RESULTS

We found LMO1 rs2168101 G > T and rs11603024 C > T as well as LMO2 rs7933499 G > A were significantly associated with Wilms tumor risk. Stratified analysis demonstrated a protective role of rs2168101 GT/TT genotypes against Wilms tumor in the subgroups of age ≤ 18 months, males and clinical stages I/II compared to the rs2168101 GG genotype. Nevertheless, carriers with the rs11603024 TT genotype were more likely to have an increased risk of Wilms tumor than those with rs11603024 CC/CT genotypes in age > 18 months. And the rs11603024 was identified as a protective polymorphism for reducing the risk of Wilms tumor in the sex- and gender- subgroup. Likewise, carriers with the rs7933499 GA/AA genotypes were at significantly elevated risk of Wilms tumor in age ≤ 18 months and clinical stages I/II.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our study identified the importance of LMO family gene polymorphisms on Wilms tumor susceptibility in Chinese children. Further investigations are needed to validate our conclusions.

miR-100 rs1834306 a > G polymorphism decreases neuroblastoma risk in Chinese children

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma is a common malignant tumor stemming from the sympathetic nervous system in children, which is often life-threatening. The genetics of neuroblastoma remains unclear. Studies have shown that miRNAs participate in the regulation of a broad spectrum of biological pathways. The abnormity in the miRNA is associated with the risk of various cancers, including neuroblastoma. However, research on the relationship of miRNA polymorphisms with neuroblastoma susceptibility is still in the initial stage.

METHODS

In this research, a retrospective case-control study was conducted to explore whether miR-100 rs1834306 A > G polymorphism is associated with neuroblastoma susceptibility. We enrolled 402 cases and 473 controls for the study. The logistic regression analysis was adopted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between miR-100 rs1834306 A > G and neuroblastoma risk.

RESULTS

Our results elucidated that the miR-100 rs1834306 A > G polymorphism was associated with the decreased risk of neuroblastoma (AG versus AA: adjusted OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53-0.98, and P = 0.038). The subsequent stratified analysis further found that rs1834306 AG/GG genotype reduced the risk of neuroblastoma in the subgroup with tumors of the mediastinum origin (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.41-0.95, and P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, miR-100 rs1834306 A > G polymorphism was shown to associate with decreased neuroblastoma risk in Chinese children, especially for neuroblastoma of mediastinum origin. This conclusion needs to be verified in additional large-size case-control studies.

Genetic predisposition to neuroblastoma results from a regulatory polymorphism that promotes the adrenergic cell state

Childhood neuroblastomas exhibit plasticity between an undifferentiated neural crest-like mesenchymal cell state and a more differentiated sympathetic adrenergic cell state. These cell states are governed by autoregulatory transcriptional loops called core regulatory circuitries (CRCs), which drive the early development of sympathetic neuronal progenitors from migratory neural crest cells during embryogenesis. The adrenergic cell identity of neuroblastoma requires LMO1 as a transcriptional cofactor. Both LMO1 expression levels and the risk of developing neuroblastoma in children are associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism, G/T, that affects a GATA motif in the first intron of LMO1. Here, we showed that WT zebrafish with the GATA genotype developed adrenergic neuroblastoma, while knock-in of the protective TATA allele at this locus reduced the penetrance of MYCN-driven tumors, which were restricted to the mesenchymal cell state. Whole genome sequencing of childhood neuroblastomas demonstrated that TATA/TATA tumors also exhibited a mesenchymal cell state and were low risk at diagnosis. Thus, conversion of the regulatory GATA to a TATA allele in the first intron of LMO1 reduced the neuroblastoma-initiation rate by preventing formation of the adrenergic cell state. This mechanism was conserved over 400 million years of evolution, separating zebrafish and humans.

LIM domain only 1: an oncogenic transcription cofactor contributing to the tumorigenesis of multiple cancer types

ABSTRACT

The LIM domain only 1 (LMO1) gene belongs to the LMO family of genes that encodes a group of transcriptional cofactors. This group of transcriptional cofactors regulates gene transcription by acting as a key "connector" or "scaffold" in transcription complexes. All LMOs, including LMO1, are important players in the process of tumorigenesis. Unique biological features of LMO1 distinct from other LMO members, such as its tissue-specific expression patterns, interacting proteins, and transcriptional targets, have been increasingly recognized. Studies indicated that LMO1 plays a critical oncogenic role in various types of cancers, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, neuroblastoma, gastric cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying such functions of LMO1 have also been investigated, but they are currently far from being fully elucidated. Here, we focus on reviewing the current findings on the role of LMO1 in tumorigenesis, the mechanisms of its oncogenic action, and the mechanisms that drive its aberrant activation in cancers. We also briefly review its roles in the development process and non-cancer diseases. Finally, we discuss the remaining questions and future investigations required for promoting the translation of laboratory findings to clinical applications, including cancer diagnosis and treatment.

An updated meta-analysis of the association between fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to cancer

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) for FGFs.

Several studies have focused on the association between FGFR4 polymorphisms and cancer development. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the association between FGFR4 rs351855 (Gly³⁸⁸Arg), rs1966265 (Val¹⁰Ile), rs7708357, rs2011077, and rs376618 polymorphisms and cancer risk. Eligible studies were identified from electronic databases. All statistical analyses were achieved with the STATA 14.0 software. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to quantitatively estimate the association. Overall, no significant association was found among rs351855, rs2011077, and rs376618 polymorphisms with the risk of overall cancer. The rs1966265 polymorphism significantly decreased the risk of cancer in recessive (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78–0.97, P=0.009, TT vs CT+CC) genetic model. Whereas the rs7708357 polymorphism was positively associated with cancer risk in dominant (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02–1.36, P=0.028) genetic model. Stratified analysis revealed that rs351855 variant significantly increased the risk of prostate cancer in heterozygous (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02–1.32, P=0.025 AG vs GG), dominant (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.06–1.35, P=0.004, AG+AA vs GG), and allele (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.06–1.41, P=0.005, A vs G) genetic models.

In summary, the findings of this meta-analysis indicate that rs1966265, rs7708357, and rs351855 polymorphisms are correlated to cancer development. Further well-designed studies are necessary to draw more precise conclusions.

Evaluating the Possible Association between PD-1 (Rs11568821, Rs2227981, Rs2227982) and PD-L1 (Rs4143815, Rs2890658) Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Breast Cancer in a Sample of Southeast Iranian Women

INTRODUCTION

Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) play a critical role as a  regulator of immune-system cells, including T cell, natural killer T (NKT), monocytes, dendritic cells (DC), and B cells.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to find a possible association between PD-1 (rs11568821, rs2227981, rs2227982), and PD-L1 (rs4143815, rs2890658) variants and Breast Cancer (BC) risk in a sample of southeast Iranian women.

METHOD

The case-control study consisted of 520 individuals, including 260 histologically confirmed BC patients and 260 non-cancer age-matching healthy women as the control group. The Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and Tetra-Primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) methods were used for genotyping of PD-1 (rs11568821, rs2227981, rs2227982), and PD-L1 (rs4143815, rs2890658) polymorphisms.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that the PD-L1 rs4143815 (G/C) variant meaningfully reduced the risk of BC. However, the PD-L1 rs2890658 variant increased the BC risk in the AC genotype as well as the A allele. Furthermore, we could not find a meaningful association between PD-1 rs11568821, PD-1 rs2227981, PD-1 rs2227982, and BC. Our team examined the possible association between variants and clinicopathological characteristics, including age, size of tumour, lymph node, histology, grade of tumour, estrogen and progesterone receptors status as well as human growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Our findings demonstrated that PD-L1 rs4143815, PD-L1 rs2890658, PD-1 rs2227982 had a significant association with age. Additionally, we found a significant relation between PD-1 rs2227982 variant and tumour size. Statistical analyzes of PD-1 rs2227981 and PD-1 rs11568821 variants showed a meaningful relation between tumour grade and tumour stage (p=0.006), respectively.<br />.

LMO1 polymorphisms and the risk of neuroblastoma: Assessment of meta-analysis of case-control studies

Neuroblastoma (NB), a neuroendocrine tumour, is one of the most prevalent cancers in children. The link between LMO1 polymorphisms and NB has been investigated by several groups, rendering inconclusive results. Here, with this comprehensive systematic review and up‐to‐date meta‐analysis, we aim to distinctively elucidate the possible correlation between LMO1 polymorphisms and NB susceptibility. Eligible studies were systematically researched and identified using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases up to 10 February 2019. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the associations. Our findings revealed that rs110419 and rs2168101 polymorphisms were significantly associated with a decreased risk of NB in all genetic models. In addition, the rs4758051 variant appeared protective against NB in homozygous, dominant and allele genetic models, whereas the rs10840002 variant markedly decreased the risk of NB in the allele model. In contrast, the rs204938 polymorphism showed a positive association with NB susceptibility in allele genetic models. In summary, our meta‐analysis is the first to provide clear evidence of an association between specific polymorphisms of LMO1 and susceptibility to NB. Of note, additional larger well‐designed studies would be helpful to further evaluate and confirm this association.