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Montégut L, López-Otín C, Kroemer G. Aging and cancer. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:106. [PMID: 38760832 PMCID: PMC11102267 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02020-z] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging and cancer exhibit apparent links that we will examine in this review. The null hypothesis that aging and cancer coincide because both are driven by time, irrespective of the precise causes, can be confronted with the idea that aging and cancer share common mechanistic grounds that are referred to as 'hallmarks'. Indeed, several hallmarks of aging also contribute to carcinogenesis and tumor progression, but some of the molecular and cellular characteristics of aging may also reduce the probability of developing lethal cancer, perhaps explaining why very old age (> 90 years) is accompanied by a reduced incidence of neoplastic diseases. We will also discuss the possibility that the aging process itself causes cancer, meaning that the time-dependent degradation of cellular and supracellular functions that accompanies aging produces cancer as a byproduct or 'age-associated disease'. Conversely, cancer and its treatment may erode health and drive the aging process, as this has dramatically been documented for cancer survivors diagnosed during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. We conclude that aging and cancer are connected by common superior causes including endogenous and lifestyle factors, as well as by a bidirectional crosstalk, that together render old age not only a risk factor of cancer but also an important parameter that must be considered for therapeutic decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Montégut
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Inserm U1138, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Institut, Villejuif, France
| | - Carlos López-Otín
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Inserm U1138, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida y la Naturaleza, Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Inserm U1138, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Institut, Villejuif, France.
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
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2
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Bertrand A, Ba I, Kermasson L, Pirabakaran V, Chable N, Lainey E, Ménard C, Kallel F, Picard C, Hadiji S, Coolen-Allou N, Blanchard E, de Villartay JP, Moshous D, Roelens M, Callebaut I, Kannengiesser C, Revy P. Characterization of novel mutations in the TEL-patch domain of the telomeric factor TPP1 associated with telomere biology disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:612-623. [PMID: 38176734 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad210] [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] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that protect the chromosome ends from degradation and fusion. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex essential to maintain the length of telomeres. Germline defects that lead to short and/or dysfunctional telomeres cause telomere biology disorders (TBDs), a group of rare and heterogeneous Mendelian diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, dyskeratosis congenita, and Høyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome. TPP1, a telomeric factor encoded by the gene ACD, recruits telomerase at telomere and stimulates its activity via its TEL-patch domain that directly interacts with TERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase. TBDs due to TPP1 deficiency have been reported only in 11 individuals. We here report four unrelated individuals with a wide spectrum of TBD manifestations carrying either heterozygous or homozygous ACD variants consisting in the recurrent and previously described in-frame deletion of K170 (K170∆) and three novel missense mutations G179D, L184R, and E215V. Structural and functional analyses demonstrated that the four variants affect the TEL-patch domain of TPP1 and impair telomerase activity. In addition, we identified in the ACD gene several motifs associated with small deletion hotspots that could explain the recurrence of the K170∆ mutation. Finally, we detected in a subset of blood cells from one patient, a somatic TERT promoter-activating mutation that likely provides a selective advantage over non-modified cells, a phenomenon known as indirect somatic genetic rescue. Together, our results broaden the genetic and clinical spectrum of TPP1 deficiency and specify new residues in the TEL-patch domain that are crucial for length maintenance and stability of human telomeres in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Bertrand
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ibrahima Ba
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Laëtitia Kermasson
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Vithura Pirabakaran
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Noémie Chable
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Elodie Lainey
- Hematology Laboratory, Robert Debré Hospital-AssistancePublique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), INSERM UMR 1131-Hematology University Institute-Denis Diderot School of Medicine, Paris 75019, France
| | - Christelle Ménard
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Faten Kallel
- Hematology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Capucine Picard
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, (APHP), Paris 75015, France
- Centre de références des déficits immunitaires Héréditaires (CEREDIH), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital APHP, Paris 75015, France
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Activation and Susceptibility to EBV infection, Inserm UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris 75015, France
| | - Sondes Hadiji
- Hematology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nathalie Coolen-Allou
- Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Félix Guyon, CHU Réunion, Saint-Denis de la Réunion 97400, France
| | - Elodie Blanchard
- Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33604, France
| | - Jean-Pierre de Villartay
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Despina Moshous
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, (APHP), Paris 75015, France
| | - Marie Roelens
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Centre de références des déficits immunitaires Héréditaires (CEREDIH), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital APHP, Paris 75015, France
| | - Isabelle Callebaut
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Paris 75005, France
| | - Caroline Kannengiesser
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Patrick Revy
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
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3
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Li W, Wang W. Causal effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on cancer risk: Insights from genetic evidence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168843. [PMID: 38029998 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution has been increasingly linked to cancer risk. However, the genetic causality between air pollution and cancer risk remains poorly understood. To elucidate the potential roles of air pollution (NOx, NO2, PM2.5, PM course, and PM10) in the risk of 18 specific-site cancers, large-scale genome-wide association studies with a novel Mendelian randomization (MR) method were employed. Our MR analyses revealed significant associations between certain air pollutants and specific types of cancer. Specifically, a positive association was observed between NOx exposure and squamous cell lung cancer (OR: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.07-3.59, p = 0.03) as well as esophageal cancer (OR: 1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003, p = 0.005). Genetically predicted NO2 exposure was found to be a risk factor for endometrial cancer (OR 1.41, 95%CI: 1.03-1.94, p = 0.03) and ovarian cancer (OR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.14-1.95, p = 0.0037). Additionally, genetically predicted PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased risk of ER+ breast cancer (OR: 1.24, 95%CI: 1.03-1.5, p = 0.02) and ER- breast cancer (OR: 2.57, 95%CI: 1.05-6.3, p = 0.04). PM course exposure was identified as a risk factor for glioma (OR: 487.28, 95%CI: 13.08-18,153, p = 0.0008), while PM10 exposure exerted a detrimental effect on mesothelioma (OR: 114.75, 95%CI: 1.14-11,500.11, p = 0.04) and esophageal cancer (OR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.007-1.02, p = 0.03). These findings underscored the importance of mitigating air pollution to reduce the burden of cancer and highlight the need for further investigations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
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4
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Lorbeer FK, Rieser G, Goel A, Wang M, Oh A, Yeh I, Bastian BC, Hockemeyer D. Distinct senescence mechanisms restrain progression of dysplastic nevi. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae041. [PMID: 38371417 PMCID: PMC10873501 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations (TPMs) are frequently found in different cancer types, including ∼70% of sun-exposed skin melanomas. In melanoma, TPMs are among the earliest mutations and can be present during the transition from nevus to melanoma. However, the specific factors that contribute to the selection of TPMs in certain nevi subsets are not well understood. To investigate this, we analyzed a group of dysplastic nevi (DN) by sequencing genes commonly mutated in melanocytic neoplasms. We examined the relationship between the identified mutations, patient age, telomere length, histological features, and the expression of p16. Our findings reveal that TPMs are more prevalent in DN from older patients and are associated with shorter telomeres. Importantly, these TPMs were not found in nevi with BRAF V600E mutations. Conversely, DN with BRAF V600E mutations were observed in younger patients, had longer telomeres and a higher proportion of p16-positive cells. This suggests that these nevi arrest growth independently of telomere shortening through a mechanism known as oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). These characteristics extend to melanoma-sequencing datasets, where melanomas with BRAF V600E mutations were more likely to have a CDKN2A inactivation, overriding OIS. In contrast, melanomas without BRAF V600E mutations showed a higher frequency of TPMs. Our data imply that TPMs are selected to bypass replicative senescence (RS) in cells that were not arrested by OIS. Overall, our results indicate that a subset of melanocytic neoplasms face constraints from RS, while others encounter OIS and RS. The order in which these barriers are overcome during progression to melanoma depends on the mutational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska K Lorbeer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rieser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Aditya Goel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Areum Oh
- Rebus Biosystems, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
| | - Iwei Yeh
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Boris C Bastian
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Dirk Hockemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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5
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Tornesello ML, Cerasuolo A, Starita N, Amiranda S, Bonelli P, Tuccillo FM, Buonaguro FM, Buonaguro L, Tornesello AL. Reactivation of telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in cancer: the role of TERT promoter mutations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1286683. [PMID: 38033865 PMCID: PMC10684755 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1286683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity and telomere elongation are essential conditions for the unlimited proliferation of neoplastic cells. Point mutations in the core promoter region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene have been found to occur at high frequencies in several tumour types and considered a primary cause of telomerase reactivation in cancer cells. These mutations promote TERT gene expression by multiple mechanisms, including the generation of novel binding sites for nuclear transcription factors, displacement of negative regulators from DNA G-quadruplexes, recruitment of epigenetic activators and disruption of long-range interactions between TERT locus and telomeres. Furthermore, TERT promoter mutations cooperate with TPP1 promoter nucleotide changes to lengthen telomeres and with mutated BRAF and FGFR3 oncoproteins to enhance oncogenic signalling in cancer cells. TERT promoter mutations have been recognized as an early marker of tumour development or a major indicator of poor outcome and reduced patients survival in several cancer types. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of TERT promoter mutations, telomerase expression and telomeres elongation in cancer development, their clinical significance and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Sara Amiranda
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Patrizia Bonelli
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franca Maria Tuccillo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
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6
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Zhao J, Xu Y. PITX1 plays essential functions in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1253238. [PMID: 37841446 PMCID: PMC10570508 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1253238] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PITX1, also known as the pituitary homeobox 1 gene, has emerged as a key regulator in animal growth and development, attracting significant research attention. Recent investigations have revealed the implication of dysregulated PITX1 expression in tumorigenesis, highlighting its involvement in cancer development. Notably, PITX1 interacts with p53 and exerts control over crucial cellular processes including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and chemotherapy resistance. Its influence extends to various tumors, such as esophageal, colorectal, gastric, and liver cancer, contributing to tumor progression and metastasis. Despite its significance, a comprehensive review examining PITX1's role in oncology remains lacking. This review aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of PITX1 in different cancer types, with a particular focus on its clinicopathological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingpu Zhao
- Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Yongfeng Xu
- Abdominal Oncology Ward, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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7
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Lorbeer FK, Rieser G, Goel A, Wang M, Oh A, Yeh I, Bastian BC, Hockemeyer D. Distinct senescence mechanisms restrain progression of dysplastic nevi. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.14.548818. [PMID: 37503286 PMCID: PMC10369942 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.548818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
TERT promoter mutations (TPMs) are frequently found in different cancer types, including approximately 70% of sun-exposed skin melanomas. In melanoma, TPMs are among the earliest mutations and can be present during the transition from nevus to melanoma. However, the specific factors that contribute to the selection of TPMs in certain nevi subsets are not well understood. To investigate this, we analyzed a group of dysplastic nevi (DN) by sequencing genes commonly mutated in melanocytic neoplasms. We examined the relationship between the identified mutations, patient age, telomere length, histological features, and the expression of p16. Our findings reveal that TPMs are more prevalent in DN from older patients and are associated with shorter telomeres. Importantly, these TPMs were not found in nevi with BRAF V600E mutations. Conversely, DN with BRAF V600E mutations were observed in younger patients, had longer telomeres, and a higher proportion of p16-positive cells. This suggests that these nevi arrest growth independently of telomere shortening through a mechanism known as oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). These characteristics extend to melanoma sequencing data sets, where melanomas with BRAF V600E mutations were more likely to have CDKN2A inactivation, overriding OIS. In contrast, melanomas without BRAF V600E mutations showed a higher frequency of TPMs. Our data imply that TPMs are selected to bypass replicative senescence (RS) in cells that were not arrested by OIS. Overall, our results indicate that a subset of melanocytic neoplasms face constraints from RS, while others encounter OIS and RS. The order in which these barriers are overcome during progression to melanoma depends on the mutational context.
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8
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Liu J, Zheng R, Zhang Y, Jia S, He Y, Liu J. The Cross Talk between Cellular Senescence and Melanoma: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Target Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092640. [PMID: 37174106 PMCID: PMC10177054 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that originates from melanocytes. The pathogenesis of melanoma involves a complex interaction that occurs between environmental factors, ultraviolet (UV)-light damage, and genetic alterations. UV light is the primary driver of the skin aging process and development of melanoma, which can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the presence of DNA damage in the cells, and results in cell senescence. As cellular senescence plays an important role in the relationship that exists between the skin aging process and the development of melanoma, the present study provides insight into the literature concerning the topic at present and discusses the relationship between skin aging and melanoma, including the mechanisms of cellular senescence that drive melanoma progression, the microenvironment in relation to skin aging and melanoma factors, and the therapeutics concerning melanoma. This review focuses on defining the role of cellular senescence in the process of melanoma carcinogenesis and discusses the targeting of senescent cells through therapeutic approaches, highlighting the areas that require more extensive research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Runzi Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yanghuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shuting Jia
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yonghan He
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
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9
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Sanford SL, Opresko PL. UV light-induced dual promoter mutations dismantle the telomeric guardrails in melanoma. DNA Repair (Amst) 2023; 122:103446. [PMID: 36603239 PMCID: PMC9892262 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2022.103446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how benign nevi can progress to invasive and metastatic Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, USAelanoma is critical for developing interventions and therapeutics for this most deadly form of skin cancer. UV-induced mutations in the telomerase TERT gene promoter occur in the majority of melanomas but fail to prevent telomere shortening despite telomerase upregulation. This suggests additional "hits" are required to enable telomere maintenance. A new study in Science identified somatic variants in the promoter of the gene that encodes telomere shelterin protein TPP1 in human melanomas. These variants show mutational signatures of UV-induced DNA damage and upregulate TPP1 expression, which synergizes with telomerase to lengthen telomeres. This study provides evidence that TPP1 promoter variants are a critical second hit to prevent telomere shortening and promote immortalization of melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Sanford
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
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