1
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Ali A, Alamri A, Hajar A. NK/DC crosstalk-modulating antitumor activity via Sema3E/PlexinD1 axis for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Immunol Res 2024:10.1007/s12026-024-09536-y. [PMID: 39235526 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09536-y] [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: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
The complex relationship between natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) within the tumor microenvironment significantly impacts the success of cancer immunotherapy. Recent advancements in cancer treatment have sought to bolster innate and adaptive immune responses through diverse modalities, aiming to tilt the immune equilibrium toward tumor elimination. Optimal antitumor immunity entails a multifaceted interplay involving NK cells, T cells and DCs, orchestrating immune effector functions. Although DC-based vaccines and NK cells' cytotoxic capabilities hold substantial therapeutic potential, their interaction is frequently hindered by immunosuppressive elements such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells. Chemokines and cytokines, such as CXCL12, CCL2, interferons, and interleukins, play crucial roles in modulating NK/DC interactions and enhancing immune responses. This review elucidates the mechanisms underlying NK/DC interaction, emphasizing their pivotal roles in augmenting antitumor immune responses and the impediments posed by tumor-induced immunosuppression. Furthermore, it explores the therapeutic prospects of restoring NK/DC crosstalk, highlighting the significance of molecules like Sema3E/PlexinD1 in this context, offering potential avenues for enhancing the effectiveness of current immunotherapeutic strategies and advancing cancer treatment paradigms. Harnessing the dynamic interplay between NK and DC cells, including the modulation of Sema3E/PlexinD1 signaling, holds promise for developing more potent therapies that harness the immune system's full potential in combating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awais Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), Mardan, 23200, Pakistan.
| | - Abdulaziz Alamri
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Azraida Hajar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
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2
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Cornejo KM, Goyal A, Valencia Guerrero A, Astudillo M, Dias-Santagata D, Johnson MM, Feldman AS, Hoang MP. Clinicopathological and Molecular Features of Penile Melanoma With a Proposed Staging System. Am J Surg Pathol 2024; 48:825-833. [PMID: 38808927 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000002247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Penile melanomas (PM) are an exceedingly rare subtype of mucosal melanoma (MM), and we reviewed the clinicopathologic features and molecular profile in 8 PMs. The patient ages ranged from 46 to 78 (mean: 62.8) years with involvement on the glans (n=5; 62.5%), penile urethra (n=2; 25%), and foreskin (n=1, 12.5%). Tumor depth ranged from 1.6 to 10.0 (mean: 5.25) mm. Most of the patients underwent partial penectomy (n=6; 75%) and sentinel lymph node (LN) biopsy N=7; 87.5%). Seven patients had metastatic disease at diagnosis, 6 involving LNs and 1 the adrenal gland, and 4 died of disease with a mean follow-up period of 40.5 (2 to 95) months. Five of 7 (71%) cases identified 15 molecular alterations within KIT , CDKN2A , NF1 , PTEN , and APC (n=2 each), and NRAS , MAP3K1 , CDH1 , MSH6 , and TERT (n=1 each). Two cases were not found to harbor genetic aberrations, and 1 case failed testing. In addition, we reviewed the English literature and included 93 cases with a reported depth of invasion and follow-up. A total of 101 PMs were analyzed for prognostic parameters, and the overall survival was significantly worse in patients with LN metastasis (P=0.0008), distant metastasis (P=0.0016), and greater depth of invasion (P=0.0222) based upon T-stage. While T4 conferred substantially worse survival, the delineation of the survival curves between T2 and T3 was less clear, and combining T2+T3 disease had a strong prognostic impact ( P =0.0024). Prognostic parameters used in the staging of cutaneous melanomas may also be used in PMs. An alternative staging system expanding the inclusion criteria for T2 might provide a more accurate prognostic stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine M Cornejo
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Amrita Goyal
- Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | | | - Dora Dias-Santagata
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Adam S Feldman
- Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Mai P Hoang
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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3
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Noonan HR, Thornock AM, Barbano J, Xifaras ME, Baron CS, Yang S, Koczirka K, McConnell AM, Zon LI. A chronic signaling TGFb zebrafish reporter identifies immune response in melanoma. eLife 2024; 13:e83527. [PMID: 38874379 PMCID: PMC11178360 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83527] [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: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental signaling pathways associated with growth factors such as TGFb are commonly dysregulated in melanoma. Here we identified a human TGFb enhancer specifically activated in melanoma cells treated with TGFB1 ligand. We generated stable transgenic zebrafish with this TGFb Induced Enhancer driving green fluorescent protein (TIE:EGFP). TIE:EGFP was not expressed in normal melanocytes or early melanomas but was expressed in spatially distinct regions of advanced melanomas. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed that TIE:EGFP+ melanoma cells down-regulated interferon response while up-regulating a novel set of chronic TGFb target genes. ChIP-sequencing demonstrated that AP-1 factor binding is required for activation of chronic TGFb response. Overexpression of SATB2, a chromatin remodeler associated with tumor spreading, showed activation of TGFb signaling in early melanomas. Confocal imaging and flow cytometric analysis showed that macrophages localize to TIE:EGFP+ regions and preferentially phagocytose TIE:EGFP+ melanoma cells compared to TIE:EGFP- melanoma cells. This work identifies a TGFb induced immune response and demonstrates the need for the development of chronic TGFb biomarkers to predict patient response to TGFb inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley R Noonan
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Alexandra M Thornock
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Julia Barbano
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
| | - Michael E Xifaras
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Immunology Program, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Chloe S Baron
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Song Yang
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Katherine Koczirka
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
| | - Alicia M McConnell
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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4
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Babu S, Chen J, Robitschek E, Baron CS, McConnell A, Wu C, Dedeilia A, Sade-Feldman M, Modhurima R, Manos MP, Chen KY, Cox AM, Ludwig CG, Yang J, Kellis M, Buchbinder EI, Hacohen N, Boland GM, Abraham BJ, Liu D, Zon LI, Insco ML. Specific oncogene activation of the cell of origin in mucosal melanoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590595. [PMID: 38712250 PMCID: PMC11071392 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a deadly cancer derived from mucosal melanocytes. To test the consequences of MM genetics, we developed a zebrafish model in which all melanocytes experienced CCND1 expression and loss of PTEN and TP53. Surprisingly, melanoma only developed from melanocytes lining internal organs, analogous to the location of patient MM. We found that zebrafish MMs had a unique chromatin landscape from cutaneous melanoma. Internal melanocytes could be labeled using a MM-specific transcriptional enhancer. Normal zebrafish internal melanocytes shared a gene expression signature with MMs. Patient and zebrafish MMs have increased migratory neural crest gene and decreased antigen presentation gene expression, consistent with the increased metastatic behavior and decreased immunotherapy sensitivity of MM. Our work suggests the cell state of the originating melanocyte influences the behavior of derived melanomas. Our animal model phenotypically and transcriptionally mimics patient tumors, allowing this model to be used for MM therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swathy Babu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jiajia Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Emily Robitschek
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Chloé S Baron
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alicia McConnell
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Constance Wu
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Moshe Sade-Feldman
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Rodsy Modhurima
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael P Manos
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kevin Y Chen
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Anna M Cox
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Calvin G Ludwig
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jiekun Yang
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Manolis Kellis
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Nir Hacohen
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA; Department of Immunology, HMS, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Genevieve M Boland
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Brian J Abraham
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - David Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Megan L Insco
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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5
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Li Y, Li G, Zuo C, Wang X, Han F, Jia Y, Shang H, Tian Y. Discovery of ganoderic acid A (GAA) PROTACs as MDM2 protein degraders for the treatment of breast cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116367. [PMID: 38581732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common female malignant tumors, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being the most specific, highly invasive, metastatic and associated with a poor prognosis. Our previous study showed that the natural product ganoderic acid A (GAA) has a certain affinity for MDM2. In this study, two series of novel GAA PROTACs C1-C10 and V1-V10 were designed and synthesized for the treatment of breast cancer. The antitumor activity of these compounds was evaluated against four human tumor cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SJSA-1, and HepG2). Among them, V9 and V10 showed stronger anti-proliferative effects against breast cancer cells, and V10 showed the best selectivity in MDA-MB-231 cells (TNBC), which was 5-fold higher than that of the lead compound GAA. Preliminary structure-activity analysis revealed that V-series GAA PROTACs had better effects than C-series, and the introduction of 2O-4O PEG linkers could significantly improve the antitumor activity. Molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and Western blot researches showed that both V9 and V10 could bind with MDM2, and degrade the protein through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) revealed that V10 is a bifunctional molecule that can bind to von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) at one end and target MDM2 at the other. In addition, V10 promoted the upregulation of p21 in p53-mutant MDA-MB-231 cells, and induced apoptosis via down-regulation of the bcl-2/bax ratio and the expression of cyclin B1. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that, V10 also exhibited good tumor inhibitory activity in xenografted TNBC zebrafish models, with an inhibition rate of 27.2% at 50 μg/mL. In conclusion, our results suggested that V10 has anti-tumor effects on p53-mutant breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, and may be used as a novel lead compound for the future development of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Guangyu Li
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Chenwei Zuo
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Fang Han
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yi Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hai Shang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Yu Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China.
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6
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Wazin F, Lovicu FJ. Conditional Ablation of Spred1 and Spred2 in the Eye Lens Negatively Impacts Its Development and Growth. Cells 2024; 13:290. [PMID: 38391903 PMCID: PMC10886530 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The development and growth of the eye depends on normal lens morphogenesis and its growth. This growth, in turn, is dependent on coordinated proliferation of the lens epithelial cells and their subsequent differentiation into fiber cells. These cellular processes are tightly regulated to maintain the precise cellular structure and size of the lens, critical for its transparency and refractive properties. Growth factor-mediated MAPK signaling driven by ERK1/2 has been reported as essential for regulating cellular processes of the lens, with ERK1/2 signaling tightly regulated by endogenous antagonists, including members of the Sprouty and related Spred families. Our previous studies have demonstrated the importance of both these inhibitory molecules in lens and eye development. In this study, we build on these findings to highlight the importance of Spreds in regulating early lens morphogenesis by modulating ERK1/2-mediated lens epithelial cell proliferation and fiber differentiation. Conditional loss of both Spred1 and Spred2 in early lens morphogenesis results in elevated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, hyperproliferation of lens epithelia, and an associated increase in the rate of fiber differentiation. This results in transient microphakia and microphthalmia, which disappears, owing potentially to compensatory Sprouty expression. Our data support an important temporal role for Spreds in the early stages of lens morphogenesis and highlight how negative regulation of ERK1/2 signaling is critical for maintaining lens proliferation and fiber differentiation in situ throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Wazin
- Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Frank J. Lovicu
- Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
- Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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7
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Huang C, Lau TWS, Smoller BR. Diagnosing Cutaneous Melanocytic Tumors in the Molecular Era: Updates and Review of Literature. Dermatopathology (Basel) 2024; 11:26-51. [PMID: 38247727 PMCID: PMC10801542 DOI: 10.3390/dermatopathology11010005] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, molecular and genomic discoveries have experienced unprecedented growth, fundamentally reshaping our comprehension of melanocytic tumors. This review comprises three main sections. The first part gives an overview of the current genomic landscape of cutaneous melanocytic tumors. The second part provides an update on the associated molecular tests and immunohistochemical stains that are helpful for diagnostic purposes. The third section briefly outlines the diverse molecular pathways now utilized for the classification of cutaneous melanomas. The primary goal of this review is to provide a succinct overview of the molecular pathways involved in melanocytic tumors and demonstrate their practical integration into the realm of diagnostic aids. As the molecular and genomic knowledge base continues to expand, this review hopes to serve as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, offering insight into the evolving molecular landscape of cutaneous melanocytic tumors and its implications for patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Huang
- Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | | | - Bruce R. Smoller
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
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8
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Monti M, Benerini Gatta L, Bugatti M, Pezzali I, Picinoli S, Manfredi M, Lavazza A, Vanella VV, De Giorgis V, Zanatta L, Missale F, Lonardi S, Zanetti B, Bozzoni G, Cadei M, Abate A, Vergani B, Balzarini P, Battocchio S, Facco C, Turri-Zanoni M, Castelnuovo P, Nicolai P, Fonsatti E, Leone BE, Marengo E, Sigala S, Ronca R, Perego M, Lombardi D, Vermi W. Novel cellular systems unveil mucosal melanoma initiating cells and a role for PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in mucosal melanoma fitness. J Transl Med 2024; 22:35. [PMID: 38191367 PMCID: PMC10775657 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04784-2] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mucosal Melanomas (MM) are highly aggressive neoplasms arising from mucosal melanocytes. Current treatments offer a limited survival benefit for patients with advanced MM; moreover, the lack of pre-clinical cellular systems has significantly limited the understanding of their immunobiology. METHODS Five novel cell lines were obtained from patient-derived biopsies of MM arising in the sino-nasal mucosa and designated as SN-MM1-5. The morphology, ultrastructure and melanocytic identity of SN-MM cell lines were validated by transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, in vivo tumorigenicity of SN-MM1-5 was tested by subcutaneous injection in NOD/SCID mice. Molecular characterization of SN-MM cell lines was performed by a mass-spectrometry proteomic approach, and their sensitivity to PI3K chemical inhibitor LY294002 was validated by Akt activation, measured by pAkt(Ser473) and pAkt(Thr308) in immunoblots, and MTS assay. RESULTS This study reports the validation and functional characterization of five newly generated SN-MM cell lines. Compared to the normal counterpart, the proteomic profile of SN-MM is consistent with transformed melanocytes showing a heterogeneous degree of melanocytic differentiation and activation of cancer-related pathways. All SN-MM cell lines resulted tumorigenic in vivo and display recurrent structural variants according to aCGH analysis. Of relevance, the microscopic analysis of the corresponding xenotransplants allowed the identification of clusters of MITF-/CDH1-/CDH2 + /ZEB1 + /CD271 + cells, supporting the existence of melanoma-initiating cells also in MM, as confirmed in clinical samples. In vitro, SN-MM cell lines were sensitive to cisplatin, but not to temozolomide. Moreover, the proteomic analysis of SN-MM cell lines revealed that RICTOR, a subunit of mTORC2 complex, is the most significantly activated upstream regulator, suggesting a relevant role for the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway in these neoplasms. Consistently, phosphorylation of NDRG1 and Akt activation was observed in SN-MM, the latter being constitutive and sustained by PTEN loss in SN-MM2 and SN-MM3. The cell viability impairment induced by LY294002 confirmed a functional role for the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway in SN-MM cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these novel and unique cellular systems represent relevant experimental tools for a better understanding of the biology of these neoplasms and, as an extension, to MM from other sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Benerini Gatta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Histocompatibility Laboratory "Vittorio Mero", Department of Transfusion Medicine, ASST Spedali Civili Di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Irene Pezzali
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Picinoli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
- Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia E Dell'Emilia-Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", Brescia, Italy
| | - Virginia Vita Vanella
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
- Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Veronica De Giorgis
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
- Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Lucia Zanatta
- Department of Pathology, Treviso Regional Hospital, Treviso, Italy
| | - Francesco Missale
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Head & Neck Oncology & Surgery Otorhinolaryngology, Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek, Nederlands Kanker Instituut, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Silvia Lonardi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Benedetta Zanetti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bozzoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia E Dell'Emilia-Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", Brescia, Italy
| | - Moris Cadei
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Abate
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Vergani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Piera Balzarini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simonetta Battocchio
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-"ASST Spedali Civili Di Brescia", Brescia, Italy
| | - Carla Facco
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, ASST Sette-Laghi, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Mario Turri-Zanoni
- Unit of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, ASST Sette Laghi, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Paolo Castelnuovo
- Unit of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, ASST Sette Laghi, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Piero Nicolai
- Section of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ester Fonsatti
- Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy, University Hospital of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Emilio Marengo
- Department of Sciences and Technological Innovation, University of Piemonte Orientale, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Sandra Sigala
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Davide Lombardi
- Unit of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, P.Le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
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9
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Zhang H, Du Z, Tu C, Zhou X, Menu E, Wang J. Hypoxic Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Secrete miR-140-5p and miR-28-3p That Target SPRED1 to Confer Drug Resistance in Multiple Myeloma. Cancer Res 2024; 84:39-55. [PMID: 37756570 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEV) promote drug resistance to bortezomib in multiple myeloma cells. Elucidating the components of BMSC sEV that induce drug resistance in multiple myeloma cells could help identify strategies to overcome resistance. Considering the hypoxic nature of the myeloma microenvironment, we explored the role of hypoxia in regulating BMSC sEV cargo and investigated whether hypoxia-driven sEV miRNAs contribute to the drug resistance in multiple myeloma cells. Hypoxia increased the release of sEVs from BMSCs, and these sEVs more strongly attenuated bortezomib sensitivity in multiple myeloma cells than sEVs from BMSCs under normoxic conditions. RNA sequencing revealed that significantly elevated levels of miR-140-5p and miR-28-3p were enclosed in hypoxic BMSC-derived sEVs. Both miR-140-5p and miR-28-3p conferred bortezomib resistance in multiple myeloma cells by synergistically targeting SPRED1, a member of the Sprouty protein family that regulates MAPK activation. SPRED1 inhibition reduced sensitivity to bortezomib in multiple myeloma cells through activating MAPK-related pathways and significantly promoted multiple myeloma bortezomib resistance and tumor growth in a mouse model. These findings shed light on the role of hypoxia-induced miRNAs shuttled in BMSC-derived sEVs to multiple myeloma cells in inducing drug resistance and identify the miR-140-5p/miR-28-3p/SPRED1/MAPK pathway as a potential targetable axis for treating multiple myeloma. SIGNIFICANCE Hypoxia induces stromal cells to secrete extracellular vesicles with increased miR-140-5p and miR-28-3p that are transferred to multiple myeloma cells and drive drug resistance by increasing the MAPK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhimin Du
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Nursing, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenggong Tu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xinyan Zhou
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eline Menu
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Myeloma Center Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jinheng Wang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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10
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Montal E, Suresh S, Ma Y, Tagore MM, White RM. Cancer Modeling by Transgene Electroporation in Adult Zebrafish (TEAZ). Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2707:83-97. [PMID: 37668906 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3401-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic expression of genes is a mainstay of cancer modeling in zebrafish. Traditional transgenic techniques rely upon injection into one-cell embryos, but ideally these transgenes would be expressed only in adult somatic tissues. We provide a method to model cancer in adult zebrafish in which transgenes can be expressed via electroporation. Using melanoma as an example, we demonstrate the feasibility of expressing oncogenes such as BRAFV600E as well as CRISPR/Cas9 inactivation of tumor suppressors such as PTEN. These approaches can be performed in any genetic background such as existing fluorophore reporter lines or the casper line. These methods can readily be extended to other cell types allowing for rapid adult modeling of cancer in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Montal
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shruthy Suresh
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yilun Ma
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohita M Tagore
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard M White
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Mattei J, Trindade EN, Chedid MF. Mucosal melanoma: from molecular landscape to current treatment strategies. Melanoma Res 2023; 33:447-453. [PMID: 37650711 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma (MM) is an aggressive tumor originating from melanocytes located in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tract with clinical and pathologic characteristics distinct from cutaneous melanoma. In addition, MMs have a unique biology that contributes to delayed diagnosis and, therefore an adverse prognosis. The factors all contribute to a treatment paradigm unique from its more studied cutaneous brethren. Due to the rarity of this disease, well-established protocols for the treatment of this pathology have yet to be established. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors patterned after cutaneous melanoma has become the de facto primary therapeutic approach; however, cytotoxic strategies and pathway-targeted therapies have a defined role in treatment. Judicious use of these approaches can give rise to durable unmaintained disease responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Mattei
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Eduardo N Trindade
- Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Medical School of UFRGS
| | - Marcio F Chedid
- Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Medical School of UFRGS
- Postgraduate Program in Surgical Sciences, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Medical School of UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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12
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Sergi MC, Filoni E, Triggiano G, Cazzato G, Internò V, Porta C, Tucci M. Mucosal Melanoma: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Treatment. Curr Oncol Rep 2023; 25:1247-1258. [PMID: 37773078 PMCID: PMC10640506 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-023-01453-x] [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] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Summarize the writings published in the last years on the management and novel therapies of mucosal melanoma (MM). RECENT FINDINGS New research has demonstrated a difference between MM and cutaneous melanoma (CM) in their genomic and molecular landscapes, explaining the response's heterogeneity. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy have limited benefit, but novel therapies are rapidly expanding. MM is aggressive cancer occurring in gastrointestinal, respiratory, or urogenital mucosa; whose incidence is greater in the Asian population. The etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear since UV exposure is not a proven risk factor as in cutaneous melanoma. In contrast to CM, lesions on the mucosal surface are less likely to be recognized early; therefore, the disease is diagnosed in an advanced stage. Clinical manifestations, such as bleeding or pain, can help to detect this tumor, although the prognosis remains unfavorable with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. The mutational landscape of MM includes mutations of BRAF and NRAS, as well as mutations in the c-KIT/CD117 gene (in 50% of patients), thus limiting therapeutic interventions to immunotherapy. However, clinical studies show less responsiveness to immunotherapy compared to CM, therefore novel therapeutic strategies targeting new molecules are needed to improve the survival of patients with MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Sergi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Filoni
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giacomo Triggiano
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Gerardo Cazzato
- Section of Molecular Pathology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Camillo Porta
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Tucci
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
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13
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Ravichandran M, Maddalo D. Applications of CRISPR-Cas9 for advancing precision medicine in oncology: from target discovery to disease modeling. Front Genet 2023; 14:1273994. [PMID: 37908590 PMCID: PMC10613999 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1273994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9) system is a powerful tool that enables precise and efficient gene manipulation. In a relatively short time, CRISPR has risen to become the preferred gene-editing system due to its high efficiency, simplicity, and programmability at low costs. Furthermore, in the recent years, the CRISPR toolkit has been rapidly expanding, and the emerging advancements have shown tremendous potential in uncovering molecular mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies for human diseases. In this review, we provide our perspectives on the recent advancements in CRISPR technology and its impact on precision medicine, ranging from target identification, disease modeling, and diagnostics. We also discuss the impact of novel approaches such as epigenome, base, and prime editing on preclinical cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirunalini Ravichandran
- Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Danilo Maddalo
- Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
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14
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Sun W, Liu K, Zhou H, Zhao F, Dong Y, Xu Y, Kong Y, Wang M, Cheng X, Chen Y. Whole-exome sequencing reveals mutational profiles of anorectal and gynecological melanoma. Med Oncol 2023; 40:330. [PMID: 37831226 PMCID: PMC10575813 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02192-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma is a rare and highly malignant type of melanoma. Among the sites that mucosal melanoma arises, anorectal and gynecological melanoma has more aggressive behavior and worse prognosis. There was no effective therapy for mucosal melanoma at present. Only a small number of mucosal melanoma patients which harbor mutations in BRAF or KIT benefit from targeted therapy. So it's an urgent need to identify more actionable mutations in mucosal melanoma. To identify more potential therapeutic targets in mucosal melanoma, 48 samples were collected from 44 patients with anorectal or gynecological melanoma and subjected to whole-exome sequencing. The tumor mutation burden was low with a median of 1.75 mutations per Mb. In chromosomal level, 1q, 6p and 8q of mucosal melanoma were significantly amplified while 9p, 10p, 10q, 16p and 16q were significantly deleted. Muc16 was the most frequently mutated oncogene in our samples(25%). The mutation frequency of KIT(20%) was comparable to the "triple-wild" genes-NRAS(20%), NF1(20%), and BRAF(11%). KMT2D mutation was found in 18.18% patients, which is previously unidentified. MAPK signaling pathway and lysine degradation were the most frequently mutated pathways. Moreover, patients with TP53 mutations tend to have worse clinical outcome (median survival time 19 vs. 50 months, log-rank P = 0.006). 2000 ore mutated genes involved in MAPK signaling pathway were identified, which expand the patients potentially benefit from ample MAPK inhibitors. KMT2D could be a potential therapeutic target. Moreover, TP53 could be a potential prognosis marker for mucosal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kunyan Liu
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Minhang Branch of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yan Dong
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunyi Kong
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Minghe Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Cheng
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Minhang Branch of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Tagore M, Hergenreder E, Perlee SC, Cruz NM, Menocal L, Suresh S, Chan E, Baron M, Melendez S, Dave A, Chatila WK, Nsengimana J, Koche RP, Hollmann TJ, Ideker T, Studer L, Schietinger A, White RM. GABA Regulates Electrical Activity and Tumor Initiation in Melanoma. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:2270-2291. [PMID: 37553760 PMCID: PMC10551668 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenes can initiate tumors only in certain cellular contexts, which is referred to as oncogenic competence. In melanoma, whether cells in the microenvironment can endow such competence remains unclear. Using a combination of zebrafish transgenesis coupled with human tissues, we demonstrate that GABAergic signaling between keratinocytes and melanocytes promotes melanoma initiation by BRAFV600E. GABA is synthesized in melanoma cells, which then acts on GABA-A receptors in keratinocytes. Electron microscopy demonstrates specialized cell-cell junctions between keratinocytes and melanoma cells, and multielectrode array analysis shows that GABA acts to inhibit electrical activity in melanoma/keratinocyte cocultures. Genetic and pharmacologic perturbation of GABA synthesis abrogates melanoma initiation in vivo. These data suggest that GABAergic signaling across the skin microenvironment regulates the ability of oncogenes to initiate melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE This study shows evidence of GABA-mediated regulation of electrical activity between melanoma cells and keratinocytes, providing a new mechanism by which the microenvironment promotes tumor initiation. This provides insights into the role of the skin microenvironment in early melanomas while identifying GABA as a potential therapeutic target in melanoma. See related commentary by Ceol, p. 2128. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 2109.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohita Tagore
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Emiliano Hergenreder
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Sarah C. Perlee
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Nelly M. Cruz
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Laura Menocal
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Shruthy Suresh
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Eric Chan
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Maayan Baron
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephanie Melendez
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Asim Dave
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Walid K. Chatila
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jeremie Nsengimana
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Richard P. Koche
- Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Travis J. Hollmann
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Trey Ideker
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
| | - Andrea Schietinger
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Richard M. White
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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16
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Zhao P, Wang Y, Yu X, Nan Y, Liu S, Li B, Cui Z, Liu Z. Long noncoding RNA LOC646029 functions as a ceRNA to suppress ovarian cancer progression through the miR-627-3p/SPRED1 axis. Front Med 2023; 17:924-938. [PMID: 37434064 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1004-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in the development and progression of multiple cancers. However, the potential mechanism by which lncRNAs affect the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer remains unclear. In the current study, the lncRNA LOC646029 was markedly downregulated in metastatic ovarian tumors compared with primary tumors. Gain- and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that LOC646029 inhibits the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the downregulation of LOC646029 in metastatic ovarian tumors was strongly correlated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, LOC646029 served as a miR-627-3p sponge to promote the expression of Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 1, which is necessary for suppressing tumor metastasis and inhibiting KRAS signaling. Collectively, our results demonstrated that LOC646029 is involved in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer, which may be a potential prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yating Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yabing Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Shi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhumei Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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17
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Simiczyjew A, Wądzyńska J, Kot M, Ziętek M, Matkowski R, Hoang MP, Donizy P, Nowak D. Combinations of EGFR and MET inhibitors reduce proliferation and invasiveness of mucosal melanoma cells. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:2995-3008. [PMID: 37679999 PMCID: PMC10538264 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a very rare and aggressive type of cancer for which immunotherapy or targeted therapy such as BRAF/MEK inhibitors, used in cutaneous melanoma, usually fail. Due to our earlier experience showing the high effectiveness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) inhibitors in reducing the activation of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways, we aim to test whether these drugs would also be effective for mucosal melanoma. Cells representing two commercially available mucosal melanoma cell lines (GAK and HMVII) and one cell line obtained from a patient's vaginal melanoma were treated with MET or EGFR inhibitors, or combinations of these agents. The dual-inhibitor treatment strategy resulted in a decrease of cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, combinations of inhibitors led to reduction of pEGFR/EGFR and pMET/MET ratio and downregulation of PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK1/2-based signalling pathways. Our findings indicate a potential therapeutic strategy based on EGFR and MET inhibitors in mucosal melanoma, which should be further evaluated in vivo and in clinical experiments. They also suggest that targeting multiple receptor tyrosine kinases may block signalling crosstalk and possibly delay the appearance of resistance to kinase inhibitors in mucosal melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Simiczyjew
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of BiotechnologyUniversity of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Justyna Wądzyńska
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of BiotechnologyUniversity of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Magdalena Kot
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of BiotechnologyUniversity of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Marcin Ziętek
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical OncologyWroclaw Medical UniversityWroclawPoland
- Lower Silesian OncologyPulmonology and Hematology CenterWroclawPoland
| | - Rafał Matkowski
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical OncologyWroclaw Medical UniversityWroclawPoland
- Lower Silesian OncologyPulmonology and Hematology CenterWroclawPoland
| | - Mai P. Hoang
- Department of PathologyMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Piotr Donizy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental PathologyWroclaw Medical UniversityWroclawPoland
- Department of Pathology and Clinical CytologyJan Mikulicz‐Radecki University HospitalWroclawPoland
| | - Dorota Nowak
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of BiotechnologyUniversity of WroclawWroclawPoland
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18
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Das S, Idate R, Lana SE, Regan DP, Duval DL. Integrated analysis of canine soft tissue sarcomas identifies recurrent mutations in TP53, KMT genes and PDGFB fusions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10422. [PMID: 37369741 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37266-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogenous group of mesenchymal tumors representing over 50 distinct types with overlapping histological features and non-specific anatomical locations. Currently, localized sarcomas are treated with surgery + / - radiation in both humans and dogs with few molecularly targeted therapeutic options. However, to improve precision-based cancer therapy through trials in pet dogs with naturally occurring STS tumors, knowledge of genomic profiling and molecular drivers in both species is essential. To this purpose, we sought to characterize the transcriptomic and genomic mutation profiles of canine STS subtypes (fibrosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, and peripheral nerve sheath tumors), by leveraging RNAseq, whole exome sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and drug assays. The most common driver mutations were in cell cycle/DNA repair (31%, TP53-21%) and chromatin organization/binding (41%, KMT2D-21%) genes. Similar to a subset of human sarcomas, we identified fusion transcripts of platelet derived growth factor B and collagen genes that predict sensitivity to PDGFR inhibitors. Transcriptomic profiling grouped these canine STS tumors into 4 clusters, one PNST group (H1), and 3 FSA groups selectively enriched for extracellular matrix interactions and PDFGB fusions (H2), homeobox transcription factors (H3), and elevated T-cell infiltration (H4). This multi-omics approach provides insights into canine STS sub-types at a molecular level for comparison to their human counterparts, to improve diagnosis, and may provide additional targets for chemo- and immuno-therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunetra Das
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
- Flint Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Rupa Idate
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
- Flint Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Susan E Lana
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
- Flint Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Daniel P Regan
- Flint Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Dawn L Duval
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
- Flint Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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19
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Insco ML, Abraham BJ, Dubbury SJ, Kaltheuner IH, Dust S, Wu C, Chen KY, Liu D, Bellaousov S, Cox AM, Martin BJ, Zhang T, Ludwig CG, Fabo T, Modhurima R, Esgdaille DE, Henriques T, Brown KM, Chanock SJ, Geyer M, Adelman K, Sharp PA, Young RA, Boutz PL, Zon LI. Oncogenic CDK13 mutations impede nuclear RNA surveillance. Science 2023; 380:eabn7625. [PMID: 37079685 PMCID: PMC10184553 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn7625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
RNA surveillance pathways detect and degrade defective transcripts to ensure RNA fidelity. We found that disrupted nuclear RNA surveillance is oncogenic. Cyclin-dependent kinase 13 (CDK13) is mutated in melanoma, and patient-mutated CDK13 accelerates zebrafish melanoma. CDK13 mutation causes aberrant RNA stabilization. CDK13 is required for ZC3H14 phosphorylation, which is necessary and sufficient to promote nuclear RNA degradation. Mutant CDK13 fails to activate nuclear RNA surveillance, causing aberrant protein-coding transcripts to be stabilized and translated. Forced aberrant RNA expression accelerates melanoma in zebrafish. We found recurrent mutations in genes encoding nuclear RNA surveillance components in many malignancies, establishing nuclear RNA surveillance as a tumor-suppressive pathway. Activating nuclear RNA surveillance is crucial to avoid accumulation of aberrant RNAs and their ensuing consequences in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L. Insco
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brian J. Abraham
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Sara J. Dubbury
- The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ines H. Kaltheuner
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, 53127, Germany
| | - Sofia Dust
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, 53127, Germany
| | - Constance Wu
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kevin Y. Chen
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Stanislav Bellaousov
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Anna M. Cox
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin J.E. Martin
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tongwu Zhang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Calvin G. Ludwig
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tania Fabo
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rodsy Modhurima
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dakarai E. Esgdaille
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Telmo Henriques
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kevin M. Brown
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Stephen J. Chanock
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, 53127, Germany
| | - Karen Adelman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Phillip A. Sharp
- The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Richard A. Young
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Paul L. Boutz
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Leonard I. Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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20
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Dual Role of DUOX1-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species in Melanoma. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030708. [PMID: 36978957 PMCID: PMC10044890 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Inflammation and oxidative stress play an essential role in the development of several types of cancer, including melanoma. Although oxidative stress promotes tumor growth, once cells escape from the primary tumor, they are subjected to a more hostile environment, with higher levels of oxidative stress typically killing most cancer cells. As Dual Oxidase 1 (DUOX1) is a major producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in epithelia, we used allotransplantation and autochthonous melanoma models in zebrafish together with in silico analysis of the occurrence and relevance of DUOX1 expression of the skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to address the role of this enzyme in the aggressiveness of melanoma cells in vivo. It was found that high transcript levels of the gene encoding DUOX1 were associated with the poor prognosis of patients in the early-stage melanoma of TCGA cohort. However, DUOX1 transcript levels were not found to be associated to the prognosis of late-stage SKCM patients. In addition, the transcript level of DUOX1 in metastatic SKCM was lower than in primary SKCM. Using zebrafish primary melanoma and allotransplantation models, we interrogated the role of DUOX1 in vivo. Our results confirmed a dual role of DUOX1, which restrains melanoma proliferation but promotes metastasis. As this effect is only observed in immunocompromised individuals, the immune system appears to be able to counteract this elevated metastatic potential of DUOX1-deficient melanomas.
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21
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Nascentes Melo LM, Kumar S, Riess V, Szylo KJ, Eisenburger R, Schadendorf D, Ubellacker JM, Tasdogan A. Advancements in melanoma cancer metastasis models. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2023; 36:206-223. [PMID: 36478190 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13078] [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: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is a complex and deadly disease. Due to its complexity, the development of novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit metastatic melanoma remains an outstanding challenge. Our ability to study metastasis is advanced with the development of in vitro and in vivo models that better mimic the different steps of the metastatic cascade beginning from primary tumor initiation to final metastatic seeding. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of in vitro models, in vivo models, and in silico platforms to study the individual steps of melanoma metastasis. Furthermore, we highlight the advantages and limitations of each model and discuss the challenges of how to improve current models to enhance translation for melanoma cancer patients and future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium, Essen, Germany
| | - Valeria Riess
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium, Essen, Germany
| | - Krystina J Szylo
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robin Eisenburger
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium, Essen, Germany
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium, Essen, Germany
| | - Jessalyn M Ubellacker
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alpaslan Tasdogan
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium, Essen, Germany
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22
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Suresh S, Rabbie R, Garg M, Lumaquin D, Huang TH, Montal E, Ma Y, Cruz NM, Tang X, Nsengimana J, Newton-Bishop J, Hunter MV, Zhu Y, Chen K, de Stanchina E, Adams DJ, White RM. Identifying the Transcriptional Drivers of Metastasis Embedded within Localized Melanoma. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:194-215. [PMID: 36259947 PMCID: PMC9827116 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In melanoma, predicting which tumors will ultimately metastasize guides treatment decisions. Transcriptional signatures of primary tumors have been utilized to predict metastasis, but which among these are driver or passenger events remains unclear. We used data from the adjuvant AVAST-M trial to identify a predictive gene signature in localized tumors that ultimately metastasized. Using a zebrafish model of primary melanoma, we interrogated the top genes from the AVAST-M signature in vivo. This identified GRAMD1B, a cholesterol transfer protein, as a bona fide metastasis suppressor, with a majority of knockout animals rapidly developing metastasis. Mechanistically, excess free cholesterol or its metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol promotes invasiveness via activation of an AP-1 program, which is associated with increased metastasis in humans. Our data demonstrate that the transcriptional seeds of metastasis are embedded within localized tumors, suggesting that early targeting of these programs can be used to prevent metastatic relapse. SIGNIFICANCE We analyzed human melanoma transcriptomics data to identify a gene signature predictive of metastasis. To rapidly test clinical signatures, we built a genetic metastasis platform in adult zebrafish and identified GRAMD1B as a suppressor of melanoma metastasis. GRAMD1B-associated cholesterol overload activates an AP-1 program to promote melanoma invasion. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruthy Suresh
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Roy Rabbie
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Manik Garg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Dianne Lumaquin
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, New York
| | - Ting-Hsiang Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Emily Montal
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Yilun Ma
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, New York
| | - Nelly M Cruz
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Xinran Tang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Molecular Biology Ph.D. Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, New York
| | - Jérémie Nsengimana
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Miranda V. Hunter
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Yuxin Zhu
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Kevin Chen
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - David J. Adams
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Richard M. White
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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23
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Integrated analysis of canine soft tissue sarcomas identifies recurrent mutations in TP53, KMT genes and PDGFB fusions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.06.522911. [PMID: 36711648 PMCID: PMC9882013 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.06.522911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Canine soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogenous group of malignant tumors arising from mesenchymal cells of soft tissues. This simplified collective of tumors most commonly arise from subcutaneous tissues, are treated similar clinically, and conventionally exclude other sarcomas with more definitive anatomical, histological, or biological features. Histologically, canine STS sub-types are difficult to discern at the light microscopic level due to their overlapping features. Thus, genomic, and transcriptomic profiling of canine STS may prove valuable in differentiating the diverse sub-types of mesenchymal neoplasms within this group. To this purpose we sought to characterize the transcript expression and genomic mutation profiles of canine STS. To delineate transcriptomic sub-types, hierarchical clustering was used to identify 4 groups with district expression profiles. Using the RNAseq data, we identified three samples carrying driver fusions of platelet derived growth factor B ( PDGFB ) and collagen genes. Sensitivity to imatinib was evaluated in a canine STS cell line also bearing a PDGFB fusion. Using whole exome sequencing, recurrent driver variants were identified in the cancer genes KMT2D (21% of the samples) and TP53 (21%) along with copy number losses of RB1 and CDKN2A. Gene amplifications and resulting transcript increases were identified in genes on chromosomes 13, 14, and 36. A subset of STS was identified with high T-cell infiltration. This multi-omics approach has defined canine STS sub-types at a molecular level for comparison to their human counterparts, to improve diagnosis, and may provide additional targets for therapy.
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Yu R, Maswikiti EP, Yu Y, Gao L, Ma C, Ma H, Deng X, Wang N, Wang B, Chen H. Advances in the Application of Preclinical Models in Photodynamic Therapy for Tumor: A Narrative Review. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15010197. [PMID: 36678826 PMCID: PMC9867105 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive laser light local treatment that has been utilized in the management of a wide variety of solid tumors. Moreover, the evaluation of efficacy, adverse reactions, the development of new photosensitizers and the latest therapeutic regimens are inseparable from the preliminary exploration in preclinical studies. Therefore, our aim was to better comprehend the characteristics and limitations of these models and to provide a reference for related research. METHODS We searched the databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus for the past 25 years of original research articles on the feasibility of PDT in tumor treatment based on preclinical experiments and animal models. We provided insights into inclusion and exclusion criteria and ultimately selected 40 articles for data synthesis. RESULTS After summarizing and comparing the methods and results of these studies, the experimental model selection map was drawn. There are 7 main preclinical models, which are used for different research objectives according to their characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Based on this narrative review, preclinical experimental models are crucial to the development and promotion of PDT for tumors. The traditional animal models have some limitations, and the emergence of organoids may be a promising new insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Yu
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | | | - Yang Yu
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Lei Gao
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Chenhui Ma
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Huanhuan Ma
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Xiaobo Deng
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Na Wang
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Bofang Wang
- The Second Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumor of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-0931-5190550
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25
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Proietto M, Crippa M, Damiani C, Pasquale V, Sacco E, Vanoni M, Gilardi M. Tumor heterogeneity: preclinical models, emerging technologies, and future applications. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1164535. [PMID: 37188201 PMCID: PMC10175698 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1164535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity describes the differences among cancer cells within and between tumors. It refers to cancer cells describing variations in morphology, transcriptional profiles, metabolism, and metastatic potential. More recently, the field has included the characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment and the depiction of the dynamics underlying the cellular interactions promoting the tumor ecosystem evolution. Heterogeneity has been found in most tumors representing one of the most challenging behaviors in cancer ecosystems. As one of the critical factors impairing the long-term efficacy of solid tumor therapy, heterogeneity leads to tumor resistance, more aggressive metastasizing, and recurrence. We review the role of the main models and the emerging single-cell and spatial genomic technologies in our understanding of tumor heterogeneity, its contribution to lethal cancer outcomes, and the physiological challenges to consider in designing cancer therapies. We highlight how tumor cells dynamically evolve because of the interactions within the tumor immune microenvironment and how to leverage this to unleash immune recognition through immunotherapy. A multidisciplinary approach grounded in novel bioinformatic and computational tools will allow reaching the integrated, multilayered knowledge of tumor heterogeneity required to implement personalized, more efficient therapies urgently required for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Proietto
- Next Generation Sequencing Core, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Martina Crippa
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Experimental Imaging Center, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Damiani
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Pasquale
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Sacco
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe /Centre of Systems Biology (ISBE/SYSBIO) Centre of Systems Biology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, School of Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Marco Vanoni, ; Mara Gilardi,
| | - Mara Gilardi
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Salk Cancer Center, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Marco Vanoni, ; Mara Gilardi,
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26
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Chłopek M, Lasota J, Thompson LDR, Szczepaniak M, Kuźniacka A, Hińcza K, Kubicka K, Kaczorowski M, Newford M, Liu Y, Agaimy A, Biernat W, Durzyńska M, Dziuba I, Hartmann A, Inaguma S, Iżycka-Świeszewska E, Kato H, Kopczyński J, Michal M, Michal M, Pęksa R, Prochorec-Sobieszek M, Starzyńska A, Takahashi S, Wasąg B, Kowalik A, Miettinen M. Alterations in key signaling pathways in sinonasal tract melanoma. A molecular genetics and immunohistochemical study of 90 cases and comprehensive review of the literature. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:1609-1617. [PMID: 35978013 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-022-01122-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Sinonasal mucosal melanoma is a rare tumor arising within the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, or nasopharynx (sinonasal tract). This study evaluated 90 cases diagnosed in 29 males and 61 females with median age 68 years. Most tumors involved the nasal cavity and had an epithelioid morphology. Spectrum of research techniques used in this analysis includes targeted-DNA and -RNA next-generation sequencing, Sanger sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Sinonasal melanomas were commonly driven by RAS (38/90, 42%), especially NRAS (n = 36) mutations and rarely (4/90, 4%) displayed BRAF pathogenic variants. BRAF/RAS mutants were more frequent among paranasal sinuses (10/14, 71%) than nasal (26/64, 41%) tumors. BRAF/RAS-wild type tumors occasionally harbored alterations of the key components and regulators of Ras-MAPK signaling pathway: NF1 mutations (1/17, 6%) or NF1 locus deletions (1/25, 4%), SPRED1 (3/25, 12%), PIK3CA (3/50, 6%), PTEN (4/50, 8%) and mTOR (1/50, 2%) mutations. These mutations often occurred in a mutually exclusive manner. In several tumors some of which were NRAS mutants, TP53 was deleted (6/48, 13%) and/or mutated (5/90, 6%). Variable nuclear accumulation of TP53, mirrored by elevated nuclear MDM2 expression was seen in >50% of cases. Furthermore, sinonasal melanomas (n = 7) including RAS/BRAF-wild type tumors (n = 5) harbored alterations of the key components and regulators of canonical WNT-pathway: APC (4/90, 4%), CTNNB1 (3/90, 3%) and AMER1 (1/90, 1%). Both, TERT promoter mutations (5/53, 9%) and fusions (2/40, 5%) were identified. The latter occurred in BRAF/RAS-wild type tumors. No oncogenic fusion gene transcripts previously reported in cutaneous melanomas were detected. Eight tumors including 7 BRAF/RAS-wild type cases expressed ADCK4::NUMBL cis-fusion transcripts. In summary, this study documented mutational activation of NRAS and other key components and regulators of Ras-MAPK signaling pathway such as SPRED1 in a majority of sinonasal melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Chłopek
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Molecular Diagnostics, Holycross Cancer Center, Kielce, Poland
| | - Jerzy Lasota
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | | | | | - Alina Kuźniacka
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Kinga Hińcza
- Molecular Diagnostics, Holycross Cancer Center, Kielce, Poland
| | - Kamila Kubicka
- Molecular Diagnostics, Holycross Cancer Center, Kielce, Poland
| | - Maciej Kaczorowski
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michael Newford
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yalan Liu
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Abbas Agaimy
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wojciech Biernat
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Monika Durzyńska
- Department of Pathology, The Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ireneusz Dziuba
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology, Katowice, Poland
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Shingo Inaguma
- Department of Experimental Pathology and Tumor Biology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Experimental Pathology and Tumor Biology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Janusz Kopczyński
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Holycross Cancer Center, Kielce, Poland
| | - Michal Michal
- Sikl's Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Charles University in Prague, Medical Faculty in Plzeň, Plzeň, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Michal
- Sikl's Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Charles University in Prague, Medical Faculty in Plzeň, Plzeň, Czech Republic
| | - Rafał Pęksa
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Monika Prochorec-Sobieszek
- Department of Pathology, The Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Starzyńska
- Department of Oral Surgery, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Experimental Pathology and Tumor Biology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Bartosz Wasąg
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Artur Kowalik
- Molecular Diagnostics, Holycross Cancer Center, Kielce, Poland.,Division of Medical Biology, Institute of Biology Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
| | - Markku Miettinen
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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27
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Tu J, Wang J, Tang B, Zhang Z, Han M, Li M, Yu J, Shen L, Zhang M, Ye J. Expression and clinical significance of TYRP1, ABCB5, and MMP17 in sinonasal mucosal melanoma. Cancer Biomark 2022; 35:331-342. [DOI: 10.3233/cbm-220093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a lethal malignancy with poor prognosis. Treatment outcomes of SNMM are poor. Novel prognostic or progression markers are needed to help adjust therapy. METHODS: RNA-seq was used to analyze the mRNA expression of tumor tissues and normal nasal mucosa from primary SNMM patients (n= 3). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the results of RNA-seq (n= 3), while protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC, n= 31) and western blot (n= 3). Retrospective studies were designed to determine the clinical parameters and the total survival rate, and correlation between the protein expression levels of the most significant key genes and prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 668 genes were upregulated and 869 genes were downregulated in SNMM (fold change ⩾ 2, adjusted p value < 0.01). Both mRNA and protein expression levels of the key genes in SNMM tumor tissues were higher than those in the normal control nasal mucosal tissues. The expression rates of TYRP1, ABCB5, and MMP17 in 31 primary SNMM cases were 90.32%, 80.65%, and 64.52%, respectively. In addition, age, typical symptoms, and AJCC stage were related to overall survival rate of patients with SNMM (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of ABCB5 was age-related (p= 0.002). Compared with individuals with negative ABCB5 expression, those with positive expression exhibited significantly poor overall survival (p= 0.02). CONCLUSION: The expression levels of TYRP1, ABCB5, and MMP17 were significantly upregulated in SNMM tissues, and the expression of ABCB5 was related to poor prognosis in SNMM. Thus, ABCB5 may serve as a progression marker and can predict unfavorable prognosis in patients with SNMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Tu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Binxiang Tang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Mengyue Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jieqing Yu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Meiping Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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Genta S, Coburn B, Cescon DW, Spreafico A. Patient-derived cancer models: Valuable platforms for anticancer drug testing. Front Oncol 2022; 12:976065. [PMID: 36033445 PMCID: PMC9413077 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.976065] [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: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecularly targeted treatments and immunotherapy are cornerstones in oncology, with demonstrated efficacy across different tumor types. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority metastatic disease is incurable due to the onset of drug resistance. Preclinical models including genetically engineered mouse models, patient-derived xenografts and two- and three-dimensional cell cultures have emerged as a useful resource to study mechanisms of cancer progression and predict efficacy of anticancer drugs. However, variables including tumor heterogeneity and the complexities of the microenvironment can impair the faithfulness of these platforms. Here, we will discuss advantages and limitations of these preclinical models, their applicability for drug testing and in co-clinical trials and potential strategies to increase their reliability in predicting responsiveness to anticancer medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Genta
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bryan Coburn
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David W. Cescon
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Spreafico
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Mito JK, Weber MC, Corbin A, Murphy GF, Zon LI. Modeling Spitz melanoma in zebrafish using sequential mutagenesis. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:276442. [PMID: 36017742 PMCID: PMC9438928 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Spitz neoplasms are a diverse group of molecularly and histologically defined melanocytic tumors with varying biologic potentials. The precise classification of Spitz neoplasms can be challenging. Recent studies have revealed recurrent fusions involving multiple kinases in a large proportion of Spitz tumors. In this study, we generated a transgenic zebrafish model of Spitz melanoma using a previously identified ZCCHC8-ROS1 fusion gene. Animals developed grossly apparent melanocytic proliferations as early as 3 weeks of age and overt melanoma as early as 5 weeks. By 7 weeks, ZCCHC8-ROS1 induced a histologic spectrum of neoplasms ranging from hyperpigmented patches to melanoma. Given the swift onset of these tumors during development, we extended this approach into adult fish using a recently described electroporation technique. Tissue-specific expression of ZCCHC8-ROS1 in adults led to melanocyte expansion without overt progression to melanoma. Subsequent electroporation with tissue-specific CRISPR, targeting only tp53 was sufficient to induce transformation to melanoma. Our model exhibits the use of sequential mutagenesis in the adult zebrafish, and demonstrates that ZCCHC8-ROS1 induces a spectrum of melanocytic lesions that closely mimics human Spitz neoplasms. Summary: We describe the first animal model of Spitz neoplasms and demonstrate its use for modeling sequential mutagenesis and its potential for studying melanocyte development in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Mito
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Margaret C Weber
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alexandra Corbin
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - George F Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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30
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Pardo-Sánchez I, García-Moreno D, Mulero V. Zebrafish Models to Study the Crosstalk between Inflammation and NADPH Oxidase-Derived Oxidative Stress in Melanoma. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1277. [PMID: 35883768 PMCID: PMC9311651 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and its incidence continues to increase. In the early stages of melanoma, when the malignant cells have not spread to lymph nodes, they can be removed by simple surgery and there is usually low recurrence. Melanoma has a high mortality rate due to its ability to metastasize; once melanoma has spread, it becomes a major health complication. For these reasons, it is important to study how healthy melanocytes transform into melanoma cells, how they interact with the immune system, which mechanisms they use to escape immunosurveillance, and, finally, how they spread and colonize other tissues, metastasizing. Inflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in the development of several types of cancer, including melanoma, but it is not yet clear under which conditions they are beneficial or detrimental. Models capable of studying the relevance of inflammation and oxidative stress in the early steps of melanocyte transformation are urgently needed, as they are expected to help recognize premetastatic lesions in patients by improving both early detection and the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pardo-Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB)-Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana García-Moreno
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB)-Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Victoriano Mulero
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB)-Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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31
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Russo I, Sartor E, Fagotto L, Colombo A, Tiso N, Alaibac M. The Zebrafish model in dermatology: an update for clinicians. Discov Oncol 2022; 13:48. [PMID: 35713744 PMCID: PMC9206045 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-022-00511-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the zebrafish has been established as one of the most important model organisms for medical research. Several studies have proved that there is a high level of similarity between human and zebrafish genomes, which encourages the use of zebrafish as a model for understanding human genetic disorders, including cancer. Interestingly, zebrafish skin shows several similarities to human skin, suggesting that this model organism is particularly suitable for the study of neoplastic and inflammatory skin disorders. This paper appraises the specific characteristics of zebrafish skin and describes the major applications of the zebrafish model in dermatological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Russo
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Emma Sartor
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Fagotto
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Colombo
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Natascia Tiso
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mauro Alaibac
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy.
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32
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Disease modeling by efficient genome editing using a near PAM-less base editor in vivo. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3435. [PMID: 35701478 PMCID: PMC9198099 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31172-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Base Editors are emerging as an innovative technology to introduce point mutations in complex genomes. So far, the requirement of an NGG Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM) at a suitable position often limits the base editing possibility to model human pathological mutations in animals. Here we show that, using the CBE4max-SpRY variant recognizing nearly all PAM sequences, we could introduce point mutations for the first time in an animal model with high efficiency, thus drastically increasing the base editing possibilities. With this near PAM-less base editor we could simultaneously mutate several genes and we developed a co-selection method to identify the most edited embryos based on a simple visual screening. Finally, we apply our method to create a zebrafish model for melanoma predisposition based on the simultaneous base editing of multiple genes. Altogether, our results considerably expand the Base Editor application to introduce human disease-causing mutations in zebrafish. Base Editors are emerging as an innovative technology to introduce point mutations in complex genomes. Here the authors describe a near PAM-less base editor and its application in zebrafish to efficiently create disease models harbouring specific point mutations.
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33
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Harnish JM, Li L, Rogic S, Poirier-Morency G, Kim SY, Boycott KM, Wangler MF, Bellen HJ, Hieter P, Pavlidis P, Liu Z, Yamamoto S. ModelMatcher: A scientist-centric online platform to facilitate collaborations between stakeholders of rare and undiagnosed disease research. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:743-759. [PMID: 35224820 PMCID: PMC9133126 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24364] [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] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing is a prevalent diagnostic tool for undiagnosed diseases and has played a significant role in rare disease gene discovery. Although this technology resolves some cases, others are given a list of possibly damaging genetic variants necessitating functional studies. Productive collaborations between scientists, clinicians, and patients (affected individuals) can help resolve such medical mysteries and provide insights into in vivo function of human genes. Furthermore, facilitating interactions between scientists and research funders, including nonprofit organizations or commercial entities, can dramatically reduce the time to translate discoveries from bench to bedside. Several systems designed to connect clinicians and researchers with a shared gene of interest have been successful. However, these platforms exclude some stakeholders based on their role or geography. Here we describe ModelMatcher, a global online matchmaking tool designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, especially between scientists and other stakeholders of rare and undiagnosed disease research. ModelMatcher is integrated into the Rare Diseases Models and Mechanisms Network and Matchmaker Exchange, allowing users to identify potential collaborators in other registries. This living database decreases the time from when a scientist or clinician is making discoveries regarding their genes of interest, to when they identify collaborators and sponsors to facilitate translational and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Michael Harnish
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lucian Li
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sanja Rogic
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Guillaume Poirier-Morency
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Seon-Young Kim
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Kym M. Boycott
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H8L1, Canada
| | - Michael F. Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hugo J. Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Philip Hieter
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Paul Pavlidis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Quantitative and Computational Biosciences Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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34
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Research Techniques Made Simple: Zebrafish Models for Human Dermatologic Disease. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:499-506.e1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Abstract
Activating mutations in RAS genes are the most common genetic driver of human cancers. Yet, drugging this small GTPase has proven extremely challenging and therapeutic strategies targeting these recurrent alterations have long had limited success. To circumvent this difficulty, research has focused on the molecular dissection of the RAS pathway to gain a more-precise mechanistic understanding of its regulation, with the hope to identify new pharmacological approaches. Here, we review the current knowledge on the (dys)regulation of the RAS pathway, using melanoma as a paradigm. We first present a map of the main proteins involved in the RAS pathway, highlighting recent insights into their molecular roles and diverse mechanisms of regulation. We then overview genetic data pertaining to RAS pathway alterations in melanoma, along with insight into other cancers, that inform the biological function of members of the pathway. Finally, we describe the clinical implications of RAS pathway dysregulation in melanoma, discuss past and current approaches aimed at drugging the RAS pathway, and outline future opportunities for therapeutic development. Summary: This Review describes the molecular regulation of the RAS pathway, presents the clinical consequences of its pathological activation in human cancer, and highlights recent advances towards its therapeutic inhibition, using melanoma as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Al Mahi
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, INSERM U1052 CNRS UMR5286, Tumor Escape, Resistance and Immunity Department, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Julien Ablain
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, INSERM U1052 CNRS UMR5286, Tumor Escape, Resistance and Immunity Department, 69008 Lyon, France
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36
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Yeh I. Update on classification of melanocytic tumors and the role of immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques. Semin Diagn Pathol 2022; 39:248-256. [DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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37
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Anorectal and Genital Mucosal Melanoma: Diagnostic Challenges, Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Opportunities of Rare Melanomas. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10010150. [PMID: 35052829 PMCID: PMC8773579 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal melanomas (MM) are rare tumors, being less than 2% of all diagnosed melanomas, comprising a variegated group of malignancies arising from melanocytes in virtually all mucosal epithelia, even if more frequently found in oral and sino-nasal cavities, ano-rectum and female genitalia (vulva and vagina). To date, there is no consensus about the optimal management strategy of MM. Furthermore, the clinical rationale of molecular tumor characterization regarding BRAF, KIT or NRAS, as well as the therapeutic value of immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, has not yet been deeply explored and clearly established in MM. In this overview, focused on anorectal and genital MM as models of rare melanomas deserving of a multidisciplinary approach, we highlight the need of referring these patients to centers with experts in melanoma, anorectal and uro-genital cancers treatments. Taking into account the rarity, the poor outcomes and the lack of effective treatment options for MM, tailored research needs to be promptly promoted.
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38
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Loss of NECTIN1 triggers melanoma dissemination upon local IGF1 depletion. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1839-1852. [PMID: 36229674 PMCID: PMC9729115 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01191-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cancer genetics has uncovered many tumor-suppressor and oncogenic pathways, but few alterations have revealed mechanisms involved in tumor spreading. Here, we examined the role of the third most significant chromosomal deletion in human melanoma that inactivates the adherens junction gene NECTIN1 in 55% of cases. We found that NECTIN1 loss stimulates melanoma cell migration in vitro and spreading in vivo in both zebrafish and human tumors specifically in response to decreased IGF1 signaling. In human melanoma biopsy specimens, adherens junctions were seen exclusively in areas with low IGF1 levels, but not in NECTIN1-deficient tumors. Our study establishes NECTIN1 as a major determinant of melanoma dissemination and uncovers a genetic control of the response to microenvironmental signals.
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Weiss JM, Lumaquin-Yin D, Montal E, Suresh S, Leonhardt CS, White RM. Shifting the focus of zebrafish toward a model of the tumor microenvironment. eLife 2022; 11:69703. [PMID: 36538362 PMCID: PMC9767465 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells exist in a complex ecosystem with numerous other cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The composition of this tumor/TME ecosystem will vary at each anatomic site and affects phenotypes such as initiation, metastasis, and drug resistance. A mechanistic understanding of the large number of cell-cell interactions between tumor and TME requires models that allow us to both characterize as well as genetically perturb this complexity. Zebrafish are a model system optimized for this problem, because of the large number of existing cell-type-specific drivers that can label nearly any cell in the TME. These include stromal cells, immune cells, and tissue resident normal cells. These cell-type-specific promoters/enhancers can be used to drive fluorophores to facilitate imaging and also CRISPR cassettes to facilitate perturbations. A major advantage of the zebrafish is the ease by which large numbers of TME cell types can be studied at once, within the same animal. While these features make the zebrafish well suited to investigate the TME, the model has important limitations, which we also discuss. In this review, we describe the existing toolset for studying the TME using zebrafish models of cancer and highlight unique biological insights that can be gained by leveraging this powerful resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Weiss
- Weill-Cornel Medical College, Tri-Institutional M.D./Ph.D. ProgramNew YorkUnited States
| | - Dianne Lumaquin-Yin
- Weill-Cornel Medical College, Tri-Institutional M.D./Ph.D. ProgramNew YorkUnited States
| | - Emily Montal
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology & GeneticsNew YorkUnited States
| | - Shruthy Suresh
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology & GeneticsNew YorkUnited States
| | - Carl S Leonhardt
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology & GeneticsNew YorkUnited States
| | - Richard M White
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology & GeneticsNew YorkUnited States,Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkUnited States
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Molecular Profiling and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Mucosal Melanoma: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010147. [PMID: 35008570 PMCID: PMC8745551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010147] [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: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma is a rare and aggressive subtype of melanoma. Unlike its cutaneous counterpart, mucosal melanoma has only gained limited benefit from novel treatment approaches due to the lack of actionable driver mutations and poor response to immunotherapy. Over the last years, whole-genome and exome sequencing techniques have led to increased knowledge on the molecular landscape of mucosal melanoma. Molecular studies have underlined noteworthy findings with potential therapeutic implications, including the presence of KIT mutations, which are potential targets of tyrosine kinase inhibitors currently in use in the clinic (imatinib), but also SF3B1 mutation, CDK4 amplifications, and CDKN2A gene deletions, which are presently under investigation in clinical trials. Recent results from a pooled analysis of patients with mucosal melanoma treated with immunotherapy have suggested that the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors might improve survival outcomes in this subset of patients, as compared with single-agent immunotherapy. However, these results are not confirmed across different studies, and combo-immunotherapy correlates with a higher rate of adverse events. In this review, we describe the clinical, biological, and genetic features of mucosal melanoma. We also provide an update on the results of approved systemic treatment in this setting and overview the therapeutic strategies currently under investigation in clinical trials.
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Liu J, Rebecca VW, Kossenkov AV, Connelly T, Liu Q, Gutierrez A, Xiao M, Li L, Zhang G, Samarkina A, Zayasbazan D, Zhang J, Cheng C, Wei Z, Alicea GM, Fukunaga-Kalabis M, Krepler C, Aza-Blanc P, Yang CC, Delvadia B, Tong C, Huang Y, Delvadia M, Morias AS, Sproesser K, Brafford P, Wang JX, Beqiri M, Somasundaram R, Vultur A, Hristova DM, Wu LW, Lu Y, Mills GB, Xu W, Karakousis GC, Xu X, Schuchter LM, Mitchell TC, Amaravadi RK, Kwong LN, Frederick DT, Boland GM, Salvino JM, Speicher DW, Flaherty KT, Ronai ZA, Herlyn M. Neural Crest-Like Stem Cell Transcriptome Analysis Identifies LPAR1 in Melanoma Progression and Therapy Resistance. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5230-5241. [PMID: 34462276 PMCID: PMC8530965 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-1496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is challenging to clinically address. Although standard-of-care targeted therapy has high response rates in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma, therapy relapse occurs in most cases. Intrinsically resistant melanoma cells drive therapy resistance and display molecular and biologic properties akin to neural crest-like stem cells (NCLSC) including high invasiveness, plasticity, and self-renewal capacity. The shared transcriptional programs and vulnerabilities between NCLSCs and cancer cells remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a developmental LPAR1-axis critical for NCLSC viability and melanoma cell survival. LPAR1 activity increased during progression and following acquisition of therapeutic resistance. Notably, genetic inhibition of LPAR1 potentiated BRAFi ± MEKi efficacy and ablated melanoma migration and invasion. Our data define LPAR1 as a new therapeutic target in melanoma and highlights the promise of dissecting stem cell-like pathways hijacked by tumor cells. SIGNIFICANCE: This study identifies an LPAR1-axis critical for melanoma invasion and intrinsic/acquired therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianglan Liu
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Vito W Rebecca
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andrew V Kossenkov
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Thomas Connelly
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Qin Liu
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alexis Gutierrez
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Min Xiao
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ling Li
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Gao Zhang
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anastasia Samarkina
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Delaine Zayasbazan
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Computer Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Chaoran Cheng
- Department of Computer Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Zhi Wei
- Department of Computer Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Gretchen M Alicea
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mizuho Fukunaga-Kalabis
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Clemens Krepler
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Pedro Aza-Blanc
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Chih-Cheng Yang
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Bela Delvadia
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Cynthia Tong
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ye Huang
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Maya Delvadia
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alice S Morias
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Katrin Sproesser
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Patricia Brafford
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joshua X Wang
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Marilda Beqiri
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rajasekharan Somasundaram
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adina Vultur
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Denitsa M Hristova
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lawrence W Wu
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yiling Lu
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wei Xu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Giorgos C Karakousis
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xiaowei Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lynn M Schuchter
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tara C Mitchell
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ravi K Amaravadi
- Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lawrence N Kwong
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Dennie T Frederick
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Genevieve M Boland
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph M Salvino
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David W Speicher
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Keith T Flaherty
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ze'ev A Ronai
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Meenhard Herlyn
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Jang HS, Chen Y, Ge J, Wilkening AN, Hou Y, Lee HJ, Choi YR, Lowdon RF, Xing X, Li D, Kaufman CK, Johnson SL, Wang T. Epigenetic dynamics shaping melanophore and iridophore cell fate in zebrafish. Genome Biol 2021; 22:282. [PMID: 34607603 PMCID: PMC8489059 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02493-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zebrafish pigment cell differentiation provides an attractive model for studying cell fate progression as a neural crest progenitor engenders diverse cell types, including two morphologically distinct pigment cells: black melanophores and reflective iridophores. Nontrivial classical genetic and transcriptomic approaches have revealed essential molecular mechanisms and gene regulatory circuits that drive neural crest-derived cell fate decisions. However, how the epigenetic landscape contributes to pigment cell differentiation, especially in the context of iridophore cell fate, is poorly understood. RESULTS We chart the global changes in the epigenetic landscape, including DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility, during neural crest differentiation into melanophores and iridophores to identify epigenetic determinants shaping cell type-specific gene expression. Motif enrichment in the epigenetically dynamic regions reveals putative transcription factors that might be responsible for driving pigment cell identity. Through this effort, in the relatively uncharacterized iridophores, we validate alx4a as a necessary and sufficient transcription factor for iridophore differentiation and present evidence on alx4a's potential regulatory role in guanine synthesis pathway. CONCLUSIONS Pigment cell fate is marked by substantial DNA demethylation events coupled with dynamic chromatin accessibility to potentiate gene regulation through cis-regulatory control. Here, we provide a multi-omic resource for neural crest differentiation into melanophores and iridophores. This work led to the discovery and validation of iridophore-specific alx4a transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Sik Jang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
- Present address: Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI USA
| | - Yujie Chen
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Jiaxin Ge
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Alicia N. Wilkening
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Yiran Hou
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Hyung Joo Lee
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - You Rim Choi
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Rebecca F. Lowdon
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Xiaoyun Xing
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Daofeng Li
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Charles K. Kaufman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Stephen L. Johnson
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
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43
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Zhang H, Qin C, An C, Zheng X, Wen S, Chen W, Liu X, Lv Z, Yang P, Xu W, Gao W, Wu Y. Application of the CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing technique in basic research, diagnosis, and therapy of cancer. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:126. [PMID: 34598686 PMCID: PMC8484294 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01431-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna for the development of the Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease9 (CRISPR/Cas9) gene editing technology that provided new tools for precise gene editing. It is possible to target any genomic locus virtually using only a complex nuclease protein with short RNA as a site-specific endonuclease. Since cancer is caused by genomic changes in tumor cells, CRISPR/Cas9 can be used in the field of cancer research to edit genomes for exploration of the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and development. In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been increasingly used in cancer research and treatment and remarkable results have been achieved. In this review, we introduced the mechanism and development of the CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing system. Furthermore, we summarized current applications of this technique for basic research, diagnosis and therapy of cancer. Moreover, the potential applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in new emerging hotspots of oncology research were discussed, and the challenges and future directions were highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Chunhong Qin
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Changming An
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiwang Zheng
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.,General Hospital, Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuxin Wen
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, Shanxi, China
| | - Wenjie Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, Shanxi, China
| | - Xianfang Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, Shandong, China
| | - Zhenghua Lv
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, Shandong, China
| | - Pingchang Yang
- Research Center of Allergy and Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, Shandong, China.
| | - Wei Gao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China. .,General Hospital, Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Cell biology and Genetics, Basic Medical School of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
| | - Yongyan Wu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China. .,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China. .,General Hospital, Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
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44
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Patton EE, Zon LI, Langenau DM. Zebrafish disease models in drug discovery: from preclinical modelling to clinical trials. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:611-628. [PMID: 34117457 PMCID: PMC9210578 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous drug treatments that have recently entered the clinic or clinical trials have their genesis in zebrafish. Zebrafish are well established for their contribution to developmental biology and have now emerged as a powerful preclinical model for human disease, as their disease characteristics, aetiology and progression, and molecular mechanisms are clinically relevant and highly conserved. Zebrafish respond to small molecules and drug treatments at physiologically relevant dose ranges and, when combined with cell-specific or tissue-specific reporters and gene editing technologies, drug activity can be studied at single-cell resolution within the complexity of a whole animal, across tissues and over an extended timescale. These features enable high-throughput and high-content phenotypic drug screening, repurposing of available drugs for personalized and compassionate use, and even the development of new drug classes. Often, drugs and drug leads explored in zebrafish have an inter-organ mechanism of action and would otherwise not be identified through targeted screening approaches. Here, we discuss how zebrafish is an important model for drug discovery, the process of how these discoveries emerge and future opportunities for maximizing zebrafish potential in medical discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Western General Hospital Campus, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - David M Langenau
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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45
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Zhang C, Lu T, Zhang Y, Li J, Tarique I, Wen F, Chen A, Wang J, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Shi DL, Shao M. Rapid generation of maternal mutants via oocyte transgenic expression of CRISPR-Cas9 and sgRNAs in zebrafish. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg4243. [PMID: 34362733 PMCID: PMC8346210 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg4243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Maternal products are exclusive factors to drive oogenesis and early embryonic development. As disrupting maternal gene functions is either time-consuming or technically challenging, early developmental programs regulated by maternal factors remain mostly elusive. We provide a transgenic approach to inactivate maternal genes in zebrafish primary oocytes. By introducing three tandem single guide RNA (sgRNA) expression cassettes and a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter into Tg(zpc:zcas9) embryos, we efficiently obtained maternal nanog and ctnnb2 mutants among GFP-positive F1 offspring. Notably, most of these maternal mutants displayed either sgRNA site-spanning genomic deletions or unintended large deletions extending distantly from the sgRNA targets, suggesting a prominent deletion-prone tendency of genome editing in the oocyte. Thus, our method allows maternal gene knockout in the absence of viable and fertile homozygous mutant adults. This approach is particularly time-saving and can be applied for functional screening of maternal factors and generating genomic deletions in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Tong Lu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yizhuang Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Jiaguang Li
- Shandong University Taishan College, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Imran Tarique
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fenfen Wen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Aijun Chen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Jiasheng Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Zhuoyu Zhang
- Shandong University Taishan College, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - De-Li Shi
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, China
- Developmental Biology Laboratory, CNRS-UMR7622, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Ming Shao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
- Shandong University Taishan College, Qingdao 266237, China
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Eddy K, Chen S. Glutamatergic Signaling a Therapeutic Vulnerability in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3874. [PMID: 34359771 PMCID: PMC8345431 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Like other cancers, melanomas are associated with the hyperactivation of two major cell signaling cascades, the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. Both pathways are activated by numerous genes implicated in the development and progression of melanomas such as mutated BRAF, RAS, and NF1. Our lab was the first to identify yet another driver of melanoma, Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 1 (protein: mGluR1, mouse gene: Grm1, human gene: GRM1), upstream of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. Binding of glutamate, the natural ligand of mGluR1, activates MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways and sets in motion the deregulated cellular responses in cell growth, cell survival, and cell metastasis. In this review, we will assess the proposed modes of action that mediate the oncogenic properties of mGluR1 in melanoma and possible application of anti-glutamatergic signaling modulator(s) as therapeutic strategy for the treatment of melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevinn Eddy
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Suzie Chen
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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47
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Ma Y, Xia R, Ma X, Judson-Torres RL, Zeng H. Mucosal Melanoma: Pathological Evolution, Pathway Dependency and Targeted Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:702287. [PMID: 34350118 PMCID: PMC8327265 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.702287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare melanoma subtype that originates from melanocytes within sun-protected mucous membranes. Compared with cutaneous melanoma (CM), MM has worse prognosis and lacks effective treatment options. Moreover, the endogenous or exogenous risk factors that influence mucosal melanocyte transformation, as well as the identity of MM precursor lesions, are ambiguous. Consequently, there remains a lack of molecular markers that can be used for early diagnosis, and therefore better management, of MM. In this review, we first summarize the main functions of mucosal melanocytes. Then, using oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) as a model, we discuss the distinct pathologic stages from benign mucosal melanocytes to metastatic MM, mapping the possible evolutionary trajectories that correspond to MM initiation and progression. We highlight key areas of ambiguity during the genetic evolution of MM from its benign lesions, and the resolution of which could aid in the discovery of new biomarkers for MM detection and diagnosis. We outline the key pathways that are altered in MM, including the MAPK pathway, the PI3K/AKT pathway, cell cycle regulation, telomere maintenance, and the RNA maturation process, and discuss targeted therapy strategies for MM currently in use or under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Ma
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ronghui Xia
- Department of Oral Pathology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuhui Ma
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial - Head and Neck Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Robert L Judson-Torres
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Hanlin Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai, China
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48
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ARHGEF26 enhances Salmonella invasion and inflammation in cells and mice. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009713. [PMID: 34242364 PMCID: PMC8294491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella hijack host machinery in order to invade cells and establish infection. While considerable work has described the role of host proteins in invasion, much less is known regarding how natural variation in these invasion-associated host proteins affects Salmonella pathogenesis. Here we leveraged a candidate cellular GWAS screen to identify natural genetic variation in the ARHGEF26 (Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 26) gene that renders lymphoblastoid cells susceptible to Salmonella Typhi and Typhimurium invasion. Experimental follow-up redefined ARHGEF26’s role in Salmonella epithelial cell infection. Specifically, we identified complex serovar-by-host interactions whereby ARHGEF26 stimulation of S. Typhi and S. Typhimurium invasion into host cells varied in magnitude and effector-dependence based on host cell type. While ARHGEF26 regulated SopB- and SopE-mediated S. Typhi (but not S. Typhimurium) infection of HeLa cells, the largest effect of ARHGEF26 was observed with S. Typhimurium in polarized MDCK cells through a SopB- and SopE2-independent mechanism. In both cell types, knockdown of the ARHGEF26-associated protein DLG1 resulted in a similar phenotype and serovar specificity. Importantly, we show that ARHGEF26 plays a critical role in S. Typhimurium pathogenesis by contributing to bacterial burden in the enteric fever murine model, as well as inflammation in the colitis infection model. In the enteric fever model, SopB and SopE2 are required for the effects of Arhgef26 deletion on bacterial burden, and the impact of sopB and sopE2 deletion in turn required ARHGEF26. In contrast, SopB and SopE2 were not required for the impacts of Arhgef26 deletion on colitis. A role for ARHGEF26 on inflammation was also seen in cells, as knockdown reduced IL-8 production in HeLa cells. Together, these data reveal pleiotropic roles for ARHGEF26 during infection and highlight that many of the interactions that occur during infection that are thought to be well understood likely have underappreciated complexity. During infection, Salmonella manipulates host cells into engulfing the bacteria and establishing an intracellular niche. While many studies have identified genes involved in different stages of this Salmonella invasion process, few studies have examined how differences between human hosts contribute to infection susceptibility. Here we leveraged a candidate genetic screen to identify natural genetic variation in the human ARHGEF26 gene that correlates with Salmonella invasion. Springboarding from this result, we experimentally tested and redefined ARHGEF26’s role in Salmonella invasion, discovered a new role for ARHGEF26 in regulating inflammation during Salmonella disease, and demonstrated the relevance of these findings in mouse models. Building on how ARHGEF26 functions in other contexts, we implicated two ARHGEF26-interacting host proteins as contributors to Salmonella pathobiology. Collectively, these results identify a potential source of inter-person diversity in susceptibility to Salmonella disease and expand our molecular understanding of Salmonella infection to include a multifaceted role for ARHGEF26. They further identify important future directions in understanding how Salmonella recruit and manipulate ARHGEF26 as well as how ARHGEF26 is able to drive Salmonella-beneficial processes.
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Feng ZY, Wang T, Su X, Guo S. Identification of the m 6A RNA Methylation Regulators WTAP as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Genomic Alterations in Cutaneous Melanoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:665222. [PMID: 34291082 PMCID: PMC8287526 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.665222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The purpose of our research was to establish a gene signature and determine the prognostic value of m6A methylation regulators in cutaneous melanoma and WTAP as a protective gene in cutaneous melanoma prognosis, we also evaluated gene mutations in cutaneous melanoma. Methods: We downloaded the RNA-seq transcriptome data and the clinical information for cutaneous melanoma patients from the GTEx and TCGA databases. Consensus clustering analysis was applied to divide the samples into two groups. Then the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were conducted to construct a risk signature, and we use external and internal datasets to verify its predictive value. We further searched the cBioPortal tools to detect genomic alterations and WTAP mutations. Finally, WTAP was further identified as a prognostic factor, and the related mechanisms mediated by WTAP were predicted by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Experimental validations and have been further carried out. Results: Notably, m6A RNA methylation regulators play significant roles in tumorigenesis and development. In total, we selected three subtypes of cutaneous melanoma according to consensus clustering of the m6A RNA methylation regulators, and the stage of cutaneous melanoma was proven to be related to the subtypes. The Cox regression and LASSO analyses built a risk signature including ELF3, ZC3H13 and WTAP. The prognostic value of the risk signature in internal and external datasets have been proven then. The whole-genome and selected gene WTAP mutations were further explored. WTAP as a single prognostic factor was also explored and found to serve as an independent protective prognostic factor. Conclusions: Our study constructed a stable risk signature composed of m6A RNA methylation regulators in cutaneous melanoma. Moreover, WTAP was identified as a valuable prognostic factor and potential molecular target for cutaneous melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yi Feng
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Su
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shu Guo
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Yeh I, Bastian BC. Melanoma pathology: new approaches and classification. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185:282-293. [PMID: 34060071 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.20427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is caused by the accumulation of pathogenic alterations of the genome and epigenome that result in permanent changes that disrupt cellular homeostasis. The genes that become corrupted in this process vary among different tumour types, reflecting specific vulnerabilities and dependencies of the cell from which the cancer originated. This also applies to 'melanoma', a cancer that constitutes not one, but multiple diseases that can be separated based on their cell of origin, aetiology, clinical appearance and course, and response to treatment. In this article, we review the current classification of melanoma within distinct evolutionary pathways and the associated genetic alterations. In addition, we review the application of molecular diagnostics to the diagnosis of melanocytic tumours in the context of histopathological assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Yeh
- Department of Dermatology and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - B C Bastian
- Department of Dermatology and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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