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Sadique FL, Subramaiam H, Krishnappa P, Chellappan DK, Ma JH. Recent advances in breast cancer metastasis with special emphasis on metastasis to the brain. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 260:155378. [PMID: 38850880 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis is of vital importance for developing treatment approaches. This review emphasizes contemporary breakthrough studies with special focus on breast cancer brain metastasis. Acquired mutational changes in metastatic lesions are often distinct from the primary tumor, suggesting altered mutagenesis pathways. The concept of micrometastases and heterogeneity within the tumors unravels novel therapeutic targets at genomic and molecular levels through epigenetic and proteomic profiling. Several pre-clinical studies have identified mechanisms involving the immune system, where tumor associated macrophages are key players. Expression of cell proteins like Syndecan1, fatty acid-binding protein 7 and tropomyosin kinase receptor B have been implicated in aiding the transmigration of breast cancer cells to the brain. Changes in the proteomic landscape of the blood-brain-barrier show altered permeability characteristics, supporting entry of cancer cells. Findings from laboratory studies pave the path for the emergence of new biomarkers, especially blood-based miRNA and circulating tumor cell markers for prognostic staging. The constantly evolving therapeutics call for clinical trials backing supportive evidence of efficacies of both novel and existing approaches. The challenge lying ahead is discovering innovative techniques to replace use of human samples and optimize small-scale patient recruitment in trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fairooz Labiba Sadique
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Hemavathy Subramaiam
- Division of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
| | - Purushotham Krishnappa
- Division of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Jin Hao Ma
- School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
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2
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Ping J, Jia G, Cai Q, Guo X, Tao R, Ambrosone C, Huo D, Ambs S, Barnard ME, Chen Y, Garcia-Closas M, Gu J, Hu JJ, John EM, Li CI, Nathanson K, Nemesure B, Olopade OI, Pal T, Press MF, Sanderson M, Sandler DP, Yoshimatsu T, Adejumo PO, Ahearn T, Brewster AM, Hennis AJM, Makumbi T, Ndom P, O'Brien KM, Olshan AF, Oluwasanu MM, Reid S, Yao S, Butler EN, Huang M, Ntekim A, Li B, Troester MA, Palmer JR, Haiman CA, Long J, Zheng W. Using genome and transcriptome data from African-ancestry female participants to identify putative breast cancer susceptibility genes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3718. [PMID: 38697998 PMCID: PMC11065893 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47650-5] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
African-ancestry (AA) participants are underrepresented in genetics research. Here, we conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) in AA female participants to identify putative breast cancer susceptibility genes. We built genetic models to predict levels of gene expression, exon junction, and 3' UTR alternative polyadenylation using genomic and transcriptomic data generated in normal breast tissues from 150 AA participants and then used these models to perform association analyses using genomic data from 18,034 cases and 22,104 controls. At Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05, we identified six genes associated with breast cancer risk, including four genes not previously reported (CTD-3080P12.3, EN1, LINC01956 and NUP210L). Most of these genes showed a stronger association with risk of estrogen-receptor (ER) negative or triple-negative than ER-positive breast cancer. We also replicated the associations with 29 genes reported in previous TWAS at P < 0.05 (one-sided), providing further support for an association of these genes with breast cancer risk. Our study sheds new light on the genetic basis of breast cancer and highlights the value of conducting research in AA populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ping
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Guochong Jia
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Qiuyin Cai
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Xingyi Guo
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ran Tao
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Christine Ambrosone
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Dezheng Huo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stefan Ambs
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center of Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Yu Chen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jian Gu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer J Hu
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Esther M John
- Departments of Epidemiology & Population Health and of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christopher I Li
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katherine Nathanson
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Basser Center for BRCA, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Barbara Nemesure
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Olufunmilayo I Olopade
- Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tuya Pal
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael F Press
- Department of Pathology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maureen Sanderson
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Toshio Yoshimatsu
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Prisca O Adejumo
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Thomas Ahearn
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Abenaa M Brewster
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anselm J M Hennis
- George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | - Paul Ndom
- Yaounde General Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Katie M O'Brien
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Andrew F Olshan
- Department of Epidemiology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mojisola M Oluwasanu
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Sonya Reid
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Song Yao
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ebonee N Butler
- Department of Epidemiology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Maosheng Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Atara Ntekim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Bingshan Li
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Melissa A Troester
- Department of Epidemiology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie R Palmer
- Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher A Haiman
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jirong Long
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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3
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Lusby R, Zhang Z, Mahesh A, Tiwari VK. Decoding gene regulatory circuitry underlying TNBC chemoresistance reveals biomarkers for therapy response and therapeutic targets. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:64. [PMID: 38472332 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype characterised by extensive intratumoral heterogeneity, high rates of metastasis and chemoresistance, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Despite progress, the mechanistic basis of chemotherapy resistance in TNBC patients remains poorly understood. Here, leveraging single-cell transcriptome datasets of matched longitudinal TNBC chemoresponsive and chemoresistant patient cohorts, we unravel distinct cell subpopulations intricately associated with chemoresistance and the signature genes defining these populations. Notably, using genome-wide mapping of the H3K27ac mark, we show that the expression of these chemoresistance genes is driven via a set of TNBC super-enhancers and associated transcription factor networks across TNBC subtypes. Furthermore, genetic screens reveal that a subset of these transcription factors is essential for the survival of TNBC cells, and their loss increases sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Overall, our study has revealed epigenetic and transcription factor networks underlying chemoresistance and suggests novel avenues to stratify and improve the treatment of patients with a high risk of developing resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Lusby
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Ziyi Zhang
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Arun Mahesh
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Vijay K Tiwari
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University, Belfast, BT9 7AE, UK.
- Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), Odense M, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
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4
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Zhao H, Feng K, Lei J, Shu Y, Bo L, Liu Y, Wang L, Liu W, Ning S, Wang L. Identification of somatic mutation-driven enhancers and their clinical utility in breast cancer. iScience 2024; 27:108780. [PMID: 38303701 PMCID: PMC10831879 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Somatic mutations contribute to cancer development by altering the activity of enhancers. In the study, a total of 135 mutation-driven enhancers, which displayed significant chromatin accessibility changes, were identified as candidate risk factors for breast cancer (BRCA). Furthermore, we identified four mutation-driven enhancers as independent prognostic factors for BRCA subtypes. In Her2 subtype, enhancer G > C mutation was associated with poorer prognosis through influencing its potential target genes FBXW9, TRIR, and WDR83. We identified aminoglutethimide and quinpirole as candidate drugs targeting the mutated enhancer. In normal subtype, enhancer G > A mutation was associated with poorer prognosis through influencing its target genes ALOX15B, LINC00324, and MPDU1. We identified eight candidate drugs such as erastin, colforsin, and STOCK1N-35874 targeting the mutated enhancer. Our findings suggest that somatic mutations contribute to breast cancer subtype progression by altering enhancer activity, which could be potential candidates for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Zhao
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ke Feng
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Junjie Lei
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yaopeng Shu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Lin Bo
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ying Liu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Lixia Wang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Wangyang Liu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Shangwei Ning
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
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Xu J, Roe J, Lee E, Tonelli C, Ji KY, Younis OW, Somervile TD, Yao M, Milazzo JP, Tiriac H, Kolarzyk AM, Lee E, Grem JL, Lazenby AJ, Grunkemeyer JA, Hollingsworth MA, Grandgenett PM, Borowsky AD, Park Y, Vakoc CR, Tuveson DA, Hwang C. Engrailed-1 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308537. [PMID: 38110836 PMCID: PMC10853725 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Engrailed-1 (EN1) is a critical homeodomain transcription factor (TF) required for neuronal survival, and EN1 expression has been shown to promote aggressive forms of triple negative breast cancer. Here, it is reported that EN1 is aberrantly expressed in a subset of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) patients with poor outcomes. EN1 predominantly repressed its target genes through direct binding to gene enhancers and promoters, implicating roles in the activation of MAPK pathways and the acquisition of mesenchymal cell properties. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that EN1 promoted PDA transformation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. The findings nominate the targeting of EN1 and downstream pathways in aggressive PDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihao Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California DavisDavisCA95616USA
- Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California DavisSacramentoCA95817USA
| | - Jae‐Seok Roe
- Department of BiochemistryYonsei UniversitySeoul03722South Korea
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | - EunJung Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California DavisDavisCA95616USA
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | - Claudia Tonelli
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | - Keely Y. Ji
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | - Omar W. Younis
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | | | - Melissa Yao
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | | | - Herve Tiriac
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | - Anna M. Kolarzyk
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical EngineeringCornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical EngineeringCornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
| | - Jean L. Grem
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNE68198USA
| | - Audrey J. Lazenby
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNE68198USA
| | | | | | | | - Alexander D. Borowsky
- Department of PathologySchool of MedicineUniversity of California DavisSacramentoCA95817USA
| | - Youngkyu Park
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | | | - David A. Tuveson
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research LaboratoryCold Spring HarborNY11724USA
| | - Chang‐Il Hwang
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California DavisDavisCA95616USA
- Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California DavisSacramentoCA95817USA
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Ma X, Zhao LL, Yu YC, Cheng Y. Engrailed: Pathological and physiological effects of a multifunctional developmental gene. Genesis 2024; 62:e23557. [PMID: 37830136 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23557] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Engrailed-1 (EN1) is a developmental gene that encodes En1, a highly conserved transcription factor involved in regionalization during early embryogenesis and in the later maintenance of normal neurons. After birth, EN1 still plays a role in the development and physiology of the body; for example, it exerts a protective effect on midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons, and loss of EN1 causes mDA neurons in the ventral midbrain to gradually die approximately 6 weeks after birth, resulting in motor and nonmotor symptoms similar to those observed in Parkinson's disease. Notably, EN1 has been identified as a possible susceptibility gene for idiopathic Parkinson's disease in humans. EN1 is involved in the processes of wound-healing scar production and tissue and organ fibrosis. Additionally, EN1 can lead to tumorigenesis and thus provides a target for the treatment of some tumors. In this review, we summarize the effects of EN1 on embryonic organ development, describe the consequences of the deletion or overexpression of the EN1 gene, and discuss the pathways in which EN1 is involved. We hope to clarify the role of EN1 as a developmental gene and present potential therapeutic targets for diseases involving the EN1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Liang-Liang Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Chun Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
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Cui Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhou Z, Zhu L, Zhou CX. EN1 promotes lung metastasis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:51. [PMID: 38291456 PMCID: PMC10829235 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03230-7] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engrailed homeobox 1 (EN1) is a candidate oncogene that is epigenetically modified in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). We investigated the expression of EN1 in SACC tissues and cells, EN1 promoter methylation, and the role of EN1 in tumour progression in SACC. METHODS Thirty-five SACC samples were screened for key transcription factors that affect tumour progression. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to determine the viability, tumorigenicity, and metastatic ability of SACC cells with modulated EN1 expression. Quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed on SACC samples. RESULTS EN1 was identified as a transcription factor that was highly overexpressed in SACC tissues, regardless of clinical stage and histology subtype, and its level of expression correlated with distant metastasis. EN1 promoted cell invasion and migration through epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and enhanced SACC metastasis to the lung in vivo. RNA-seq combined with in vitro assays indicated that EN1 might play an oncogenic role in SACC through the PI3K-AKT pathway. EN1 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with promoter hypermethylation, and inhibition of DNA methylation by 5-aza-dC increased EN1 expression. CONCLUSIONS The transcription factor EN1 is overexpressed in SACC under methylation regulation and plays a pivotal role in SACC progression through the PI3K-AKT pathway. These results suggest that EN1 may be a diagnostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for SACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Cui
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medicine Devices, 22 South Avenue Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medicine Devices, 22 South Avenue Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Yuping Liu
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medicine Devices, 22 South Avenue Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medicine Devices, 22 South Avenue Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Lijing Zhu
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medicine Devices, 22 South Avenue Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Chuan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medicine Devices, 22 South Avenue Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
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8
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Gu J, Chen J, Xiang S, Zhou X, Li J. Intricate confrontation: Research progress and application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immune escape. J Adv Res 2023; 54:147-179. [PMID: 36736694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins have more than 80 members and are widely found in various eukaryotic cells. Most TRIM family proteins participate in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system as E3-ubiquitin ligases; therefore, they play pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of tumors, including tumor immune escape. Due to the diversity of functional domains of TRIM family proteins, they can extensively participate in multiple signaling pathways of tumor immune escape through different substrates. In current research and clinical contexts, immune escape has become an urgent problem. The extensive participation of TRIM family proteins in curing tumors or preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis makes them promising targets. AIM OF REVIEW The aim of the review is to make up for the gap in the current research on TRIM family proteins and tumor immune escape and propose future development directions according to the current progress and problems. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW This up-to-date review summarizes the characteristics and biological functions of TRIM family proteins, discusses the mechanisms of TRIM family proteins involved in tumor immune escape, and highlights the specific mechanism from the level of structure-function-molecule-pathway-phenotype, including mechanisms at the level of protein domains and functions, at the level of molecules and signaling pathways, and at the level of cells and microenvironments. We also discuss the application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immunotherapy, such as possible treatment strategies for combination targeting TRIM family protein drugs and checkpoint inhibitors for improving cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shuaixi Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xikun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
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9
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Pont M, Marqués M, Sorolla MA, Parisi E, Urdanibia I, Morales S, Salud A, Sorolla A. Applications of CRISPR Technology to Breast Cancer and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4364. [PMID: 37686639 PMCID: PMC10486929 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174364] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology has transformed oncology research in many ways. Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy globally and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive subtypes with numerous challenges still to be faced. In this work, we have explained what CRISPR consists of and listed its applications in breast cancer while focusing on TNBC research. These are disease modelling, the search for novel genes involved in tumour progression, sensitivity to drugs and immunotherapy response, tumour fitness, diagnosis, and treatment. Additionally, we have listed the current delivery methods employed for the delivery of CRISPR systems in vivo. Lastly, we have highlighted the limitations that CRISPR technology is subject to and the future directions that we envisage. Overall, we have provided a round summary of the aspects concerning CRISPR in breast cancer/TNBC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Pont
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Marta Marqués
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Maria Alba Sorolla
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Eva Parisi
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Izaskun Urdanibia
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Serafín Morales
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Antonieta Salud
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Anabel Sorolla
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.P.); (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (E.P.); (I.U.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
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10
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Tawk B, Rein K, Schwager C, Knoll M, Wirkner U, Hörner-Rieber J, Liermann J, Kurth I, Balermpas P, Rödel C, Linge A, Löck S, Lohaus F, Tinhofer I, Krause M, Stuschke M, Grosu AL, Zips D, Combs SE, Belka C, Stenzinger A, Herold-Mende C, Baumann M, Schirmacher P, Debus J, Abdollahi A. DNA-Methylome-Based Tumor Hypoxia Classifier Identifies HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer Patients at Risk for Locoregional Recurrence after Primary Radiochemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3051-3064. [PMID: 37058257 PMCID: PMC10425733 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3790] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tumor hypoxia is a paradigmatic negative prognosticator of treatment resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The lack of robust and reliable hypoxia classifiers limits the adaptation of stratified therapies. We hypothesized that the tumor DNA methylation landscape might indicate epigenetic reprogramming induced by chronic intratumoral hypoxia. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A DNA-methylome-based tumor hypoxia classifier (Hypoxia-M) was trained in the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas)-HNSCC cohort based on matched assignments using gene expression-based signatures of hypoxia (Hypoxia-GES). Hypoxia-M was validated in a multicenter DKTK-ROG trial consisting of human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative patients with HNSCC treated with primary radiochemotherapy (RCHT). RESULTS Although hypoxia-GES failed to stratify patients in the DKTK-ROG, Hypoxia-M was independently prognostic for local recurrence (HR, 4.3; P = 0.001) and overall survival (HR, 2.34; P = 0.03) but not distant metastasis after RCHT in both cohorts. Hypoxia-M status was inversely associated with CD8 T-cell infiltration in both cohorts. Hypoxia-M was further prognostic in the TCGA-PanCancer cohort (HR, 1.83; P = 0.04), underscoring the breadth of this classifier for predicting tumor hypoxia status. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight an unexplored avenue for DNA methylation-based classifiers as biomarkers of tumoral hypoxia for identifying high-risk features in patients with HNSCC tumors. See related commentary by Heft Neal and Brenner, p. 2954.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bouchra Tawk
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katrin Rein
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Schwager
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Knoll
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ute Wirkner
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juliane Hörner-Rieber
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Liermann
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ina Kurth
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Panagiotis Balermpas
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claus Rödel
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Annett Linge
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz Association and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Steffen Löck
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Lohaus
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz Association and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Ingeborg Tinhofer
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Berlin, Germany
- Department of Radiooncology and Radiotherapy, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mechtild Krause
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz Association and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden – Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Stuschke
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Essen, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anca Ligia Grosu
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Zips
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Berlin, Germany
- Department of Radiooncology and Radiotherapy, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephanie E. Combs
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Claus Belka
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Research Unit Radiation Cytogenetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Albrecht Stenzinger
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christel Herold-Mende
- Division of Experimental Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Baumann
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany
- OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Debus
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amir Abdollahi
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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11
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Kravitz CJ, Yan Q, Nguyen DX. Epigenetic markers and therapeutic targets for metastasis. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:427-443. [PMID: 37286865 PMCID: PMC10595046 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10109-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The last few years have seen an increasing number of discoveries which collectively demonstrate that histone and DNA modifying enzyme modulate different stages of metastasis. Moreover, epigenomic alterations can now be measured at multiple scales of analysis and are detectable in human tumors or liquid biopsies. Malignant cell clones with a proclivity for relapse in certain organs may arise in the primary tumor as a consequence of epigenomic alterations which cause a loss in lineage integrity. These alterations may occur due to genetic aberrations acquired during tumor progression or concomitant to therapeutic response. Moreover, evolution of the stroma can also alter the epigenome of cancer cells. In this review, we highlight current knowledge with a particular emphasis on leveraging chromatin and DNA modifying mechanisms as biomarkers of disseminated disease and as therapeutic targets to treat metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Kravitz
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Qin Yan
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Don X Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine (Section of Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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12
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Ivanova M, Porta FM, Giugliano F, Frascarelli C, Sajjadi E, Venetis K, Cursano G, Mazzarol G, Guerini-Rocco E, Curigliano G, Criscitiello C, Fusco N. Breast Cancer with Brain Metastasis: Molecular Insights and Clinical Management. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1160. [PMID: 37372340 DOI: 10.3390/genes14061160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Brain metastases are a primary contributor to mortality, as they often go undetected until late stages due to their dormant nature. Moreover, the clinical management of brain metastases is complicated by the relevant issue of blood-brain barrier penetration. The molecular pathways involved in the formation, progression, and colonization of primary breast tumors and subsequent brain metastases are diverse, posing significant hurdles due to the heterogeneous nature of breast cancer subtypes. Despite advancements in primary breast cancer treatments, the prognosis for patients with brain metastases remains poor. In this review, we aim to highlight the biological mechanisms of breast cancer brain metastases by evaluating multi-step genetic pathways and to discuss currently available and emerging treatment strategies to propose a prospective overview of the management of this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Ivanova
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Maria Porta
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- School of Pathology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Giugliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Frascarelli
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Elham Sajjadi
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Venetis
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Cursano
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mazzarol
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Guerini-Rocco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Carmen Criscitiello
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Fusco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
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13
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Du X, Wang H, Xu J, Zhang Y, Chen T, Li G. Profiling and integrated analysis of transcriptional addiction gene expression and prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:204676. [PMID: 37171044 PMCID: PMC10188332 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204676] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation caused by genomic and epigenetic alterations in cancer is called "transcriptional addiction". Transcriptional addiction is an important pathogenic factor of tumor malignancy. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) genomes are highly heterogeneous, with many dysregulated genes. Our study analyzed the possibility that transcriptional addiction-related genes play a significant role in HCC. All data sources for conducting this study were public cancer databases and tissue microarrays. We identified 38 transcriptional addiction genes, and most were differentially expressed genes. Among patients of different groups, there were significant differences in overall survival rates. Both nomogram and risk score were independent predictors of HCC outcomes. Transcriptional addiction gene expression characteristics determine the sensitivity of patients to immunotherapy, cisplatin, and sorafenib. Besides, HDAC2 was identified as an oncogene, and its expression was correlated with patient survival time. Our study conclusively demonstrated that transcriptional addiction is crucial in HCC. We provided biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients, which can more precisely guide the patient's treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Du
- First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Second Department of Oncology, Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Second Department of Oncology, Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- Second Department of Oncology, Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingsong Chen
- Second Department of Oncology, Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gao Li
- Second Department of Oncology, Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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14
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Anstine LJ, Majmudar PR, Aponte A, Singh S, Zhao R, Weber-Bonk KL, Abdul-Karim FW, Valentine M, Seachrist DD, Grennel-Nickelson KE, Cuellar-Vite L, Sizemore GM, Sizemore ST, Webb BM, Thompson CL, Keri RA. TLE3 Sustains Luminal Breast Cancer Lineage Fidelity to Suppress Metastasis. Cancer Res 2023; 83:997-1015. [PMID: 36696357 PMCID: PMC10089698 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3133] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer subtypes and their phenotypes parallel different stages of the mammary epithelial cell developmental hierarchy. Discovering mechanisms that control lineage identity could provide novel avenues for mitigating disease progression. Here we report that the transcriptional corepressor TLE3 is a guardian of luminal cell fate in breast cancer and operates independently of the estrogen receptor. In luminal breast cancer, TLE3 actively repressed the gene-expression signature associated with highly aggressive basal-like breast cancers (BLBC). Moreover, maintenance of the luminal lineage depended on the appropriate localization of TLE3 to its transcriptional targets, a process mediated by interactions with FOXA1. By repressing genes that drive BLBC phenotypes, including SOX9 and TGFβ2, TLE3 prevented the acquisition of a hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal state and reduced metastatic capacity and aggressive cellular behaviors. These results establish TLE3 as an essential transcriptional repressor that sustains the more differentiated and less metastatic nature of luminal breast cancers. Approaches to induce TLE3 expression could promote the acquisition of less aggressive, more treatable disease states to extend patient survival. SIGNIFICANCE Transcriptional corepressor TLE3 actively suppresses SOX9 and TGFβ transcriptional programs to sustain the luminal lineage identity of breast cancer cells and to inhibit metastatic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey J. Anstine
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Parth R. Majmudar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Amy Aponte
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Salendra Singh
- Department of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ran Zhao
- Department of Qualitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Kristen L. Weber-Bonk
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Fadi W. Abdul-Karim
- Department of Pathology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Mitchell Valentine
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Darcie D. Seachrist
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - Leslie Cuellar-Vite
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Gina M. Sizemore
- Department of Radiation Oncology and the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Steven T. Sizemore
- Department of Radiation Oncology and the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Bryan M. Webb
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Cheryl L. Thompson
- Department of Public Health Sciences and the Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Ruth A. Keri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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15
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Chhichholiya Y, Ruthuparna M, Velagaleti H, Munshi A. Brain metastasis in breast cancer: focus on genes and signaling pathways involved, blood-brain barrier and treatment strategies. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:1218-1241. [PMID: 36897508 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-03050-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in women. Despite advancement in early detection and efficient treatment, recurrence and metastasis continue to pose a significant risk to the life of BC patients. Brain metastasis (BM) reported in 17-20 percent of BC patients is considered as a major cause of mortality and morbidity in these patients. BM includes various steps from primary breast tumor to secondary tumor formation. Various steps involved are primary tumor formation, angiogenesis, invasion, extravasation, and brain colonization. Genes involved in different pathways have been reported to be associated with BC cells metastasizing to the brain. ADAM8 gene, EN1 transcription factor, WNT, and VEGF signaling pathway have been associated with primary breast tumor; MMP1, COX2, XCR4, PI3k/Akt, ERK and MAPK pathways in angiogenesis; Noth, CD44, Zo-1, CEMIP, S0X2 and OLIG2 are involved in invasion, extravasation and colonization, respectively. In addition, the blood-brain barrier is also a key factor in BM. Dysregulation of cell junctions, tumor microenvironment and loss of function of microglia leads to BBB disruption ultimately resulting in BM. Various therapeutic strategies are currently used to control the BM in BC. Oncolytic virus therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, mTOR-PI3k inhibitors and immunotherapy have been developed to target various genes involved in BM in BC. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR/Cas9 are novel interventions in the field of BCBM where research to validate these and clinical trials are being carried out. Gaining a better knowledge of metastasis biology is critical for establishing better treatment methods and attaining long-term therapeutic efficacies against BC. The current review has been compiled with an aim to evaluate the role of various genes and signaling pathways involved in multiple steps of BM in BC. The therapeutic strategies being used currently and the novel ones being explored to control BM in BC have also been discussed at length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogita Chhichholiya
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Malayil Ruthuparna
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Harini Velagaleti
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Anjana Munshi
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
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16
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Tomasik B, Bieńkowski M, Górska Z, Gutowska K, Kumięga P, Jassem J, Duchnowska R. Molecular aspects of brain metastases in breast cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 114:102521. [PMID: 36736124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Brain metastases (BM) are a common and devastating manifestation of breast cancer (BC). BM are particularly frequent in the HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer phenotypes and usually occur following the metastatic spread to extracranial sites. Several genes mediating BM and biomarkers predicting their risk in BC have been reported in the past decade. These findings have advanced the understanding of BM pathobiology and paved the way for developing new therapeutic strategies but they still warrant a thorough clinical validation. Hence, a better understanding of the mechanistic aspects of BM and delineating the interactions of tumor cells with the brain microenvironment are of utmost importance. This review discusses the molecular basis of the metastatic cascade: the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer, and tumor microenvironment interaction and intravasation, priming of the metastatic niche in the brain, and survival in the new site. We also outline the postulated mechanisms of BC cells' brain tropism. Finally, we discuss advances in the field of biomarkers (both tissue-based and liquid-based) that predict BM from BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Tomasik
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 17 Smoluchowskiego St., 80-214 Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Michał Bieńkowski
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 17 Smoluchowskiego St., 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Zuzanna Górska
- Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, 128 Szaserów St., 04-141 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Klaudia Gutowska
- Department of Internal Diseases and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Paulina Kumięga
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jacek Jassem
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 17 Smoluchowskiego St., 80-214 Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Renata Duchnowska
- Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, 128 Szaserów St., 04-141 Warsaw, Poland.
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17
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Mao H, Cao Y, Zou Z, Xia J, Zhao J. An enzyme-powered microRNA discriminator for the subtype-specific diagnosis of breast cancer. Chem Sci 2023; 14:2097-2106. [PMID: 36845930 PMCID: PMC9944337 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc00090g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer, a disease with highly heterogeneous features, is the most common malignancy diagnosed in people worldwide. Early diagnosis of breast cancer is crucial for improving its cure rate, and accurate classification of the subtype-specific features is essential to precisely treat the disease. An enzyme-powered microRNA (miRNA, RNA = ribonucleic acid) discriminator was developed to selectively distinguish breast cancer cells from normal cells and further identify subtype-specific features. Specifically, miR-21 was used as a universal biomarker to discriminate between breast cancer cells and normal cells, and miR-210 was used to identify triple-negative subtype features. The experimental results demonstrated that the enzyme-powered miRNA discriminator displayed low limits of detection at fM levels for both miR-21 and miR-210. Moreover, the miRNA discriminator enabled the discrimination and quantitative determination of breast cancer cells derived from different subtypes based on their miR-21 levels, and the further identification of the triple-negative subtype in combination with the miR-210 levels. Therefore, it is hoped that this study will provide insight into subtype-specific miRNA profiling, which may have potential use in the clinical management of breast tumours based on their subtype characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiru Mao
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 P. R. China
| | - Ya Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing UniversityNanjing 210023P. R. China
| | - Zihan Zou
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 P. R. China
| | - Jianan Xia
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 P. R. China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 P. R. China
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18
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Bai X, Tang J. TRIM proteins in breast cancer: Function and mechanism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 640:26-31. [PMID: 36495607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.11.103] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in the world, and despite tremendous progress in current treatment strategies, recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance of breast cancer remain the major causes of death in patients. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins play a critical role in the tumor progression such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that the TRIM protein family serve as cancer suppressor proteins or oncoproteins in breast cancer. This review focused on the roles and molecular mechanisms of TRIM protein in breast cancer. Importantly, it provides new insights that TRIM proteins may be ideal targets to treat breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Bai
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, PR China
| | - Jianming Tang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, PR China.
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19
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Huang ML, Luo WL. Engrailed homeobox 1 transcriptional regulation of COL22A1 inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell senescence through the G1/S phase arrest. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:5473-5485. [PMID: 36196630 PMCID: PMC9639036 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
EN1 is well known as a transcription factor in other tumours, but its role in NPC is unclear. In this study, we first used bioinformatics to analyse GEO data to obtain the differentially expressed gene EN1, and subsequently verified that EN1 was highly expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by tissue microarrays as well as cell lines. Further, we down‐regulated the expression of EN1 in cells for RNA sequencing. The analysis of sequencing results using KEGG and GO revealed significant changes in cell proliferation and cycle function after downregulation of EN1. Meanwhile, we found that cells underwent senescence after inhibition of EN1 under electron microscopy and the SA‐β‐gal assays. Based on the sequencing results, we verified that EN1 can promote the proliferation and cycle of NPC cells in cell function experiments and animal experiments. To investigate how EN1 affects cell senescence, we found that EN1 transcriptional regulation of COL22A1 regulated cell proliferation and cycle via CDK4/6‐cyclin D1‐Rb signalling pathway by dual luciferase reporter, Immunoblotting and rescue experiment. Accordingly, we uncovered that EN1 could serve as a target for the regulation of senescence in NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao-Ling Huang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen-Long Luo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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20
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Emerging Roles of TRIM Family Proteins in Gliomas Pathogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184536. [PMID: 36139694 PMCID: PMC9496762 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gliomas remain challenging tumors due to their increased heterogeneity, complex molecular profile, and infiltrative phenotype that are often associated with a dismal prognosis. In a constant search for molecular changes and associated mechanisms, the TRIM protein family has emerged as an important area of investigation because of the regulation of vital cellular processes involved in brain pathophysiology that may possibly lead to brain tumor development. Herein, we discuss the diverse role of TRIM proteins in glioma progression, aiming to detect potential targets for future intervention. Abstract Gliomas encompass a vast category of CNS tumors affecting both adults and children. Treatment and diagnosis are often impeded due to intratumor heterogeneity and the aggressive nature of the more malignant forms. It is therefore essential to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and explore the intracellular signaling pathways underlying tumor pathology to provide more promising diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools for gliomas. The tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) superfamily of proteins plays a key role in many physiological cellular processes, including brain development and function. Emerging evidence supports the association of TRIMs with a wide variety of cancers, exhibiting both an oncogenic as well as a tumor suppressive role depending on cancer type. In this review, we provide evidence of the pivotal role of TRIM proteins in gliomagenesis and exploit their potential as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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21
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Santonja Á, Moya-García AA, Ribelles N, Jiménez-Rodríguez B, Pajares B, Fernández-De Sousa CE, Pérez-Ruiz E, Del Monte-Millán M, Ruiz-Borrego M, de la Haba J, Sánchez-Rovira P, Romero A, González-Neira A, Lluch A, Alba E. Role of germline variants in the metastasis of breast carcinomas. Oncotarget 2022; 13:843-862. [PMID: 35782051 PMCID: PMC9245581 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Most cancer-related deaths in breast cancer patients are associated with metastasis, a multistep, intricate process that requires the cooperation of tumour cells, tumour microenvironment and metastasis target tissues. It is accepted that metastasis does not depend on the tumour characteristics but the host’s genetic makeup. However, there has been limited success in determining the germline genetic variants that influence metastasis development, mainly because of the limitations of traditional genome-wide association studies to detect the relevant genetic polymorphisms underlying complex phenotypes. In this work, we leveraged the extreme discordant phenotypes approach and the epistasis networks to analyse the genotypes of 97 breast cancer patients. We found that the host’s genetic makeup facilitates metastases by the dysregulation of gene expression that can promote the dispersion of metastatic seeds and help establish the metastatic niche—providing a congenial soil for the metastatic seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángela Santonja
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, Spain.,Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias (CIMES), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Aurelio A Moya-García
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias (CIMES), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,Departmento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Nuria Ribelles
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Intercentro de Oncología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, CIBERONC-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Jiménez-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Intercentro de Oncología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Bella Pajares
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Intercentro de Oncología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Cristina E Fernández-De Sousa
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, Spain.,Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias (CIMES), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | | | - María Del Monte-Millán
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, CIBERONC-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan de la Haba
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, CIBERONC-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Institute, Complejo Hospitalario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | | | - Atocha Romero
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna González-Neira
- Human Genotyping-CEGEN Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Lluch
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, CIBERONC-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Oncology and Hematology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.,INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Emilio Alba
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias (CIMES), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Intercentro de Oncología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de la Victoria de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, CIBERONC-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
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22
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Muhammad A, Forcados GE, Katsayal BS, Bako RS, Aminu S, Sadiq IZ, Abubakar MB, Yusuf AP, Malami I, Faruk M, Ibrahim S, Pase PA, Ahmed S, Abubakar IB, Abubakar M, Yates C. Potential epigenetic modifications implicated in triple- to quadruple-negative breast cancer transition: a review. Epigenomics 2022; 14:711-726. [PMID: 35473304 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Current research on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has resulted in delineation into the quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC) subgroup. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications and associated changes in chromatin architecture have been implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis. Herein, the authors highlight genes with observed epigenetic modifications that are associated with more aggressive TNBC/QNBC pathogenesis and possible interventions. Advanced literature searches were done on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar. The results suggest that nine epigenetically altered genes/differentially expressed proteins in addition to the downregulated androgen receptor are associated with TNBC aggressiveness and could be implicated in the TNBC to QNBC transition. Thus, restoring the normal expression of these genes via epigenetic reprogramming could be therapeutically beneficial to TNBC and QNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliyu Muhammad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.,Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biology, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA
| | | | - Babangida Sanusi Katsayal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Rabiatu Suleiman Bako
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Suleiman Aminu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Idris Zubairu Sadiq
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Murtala Bello Abubakar
- Department of Physiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B 2254, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.,Centre for Advanced Medical Research & Training (CAMRET), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B 2254, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
| | | | - Ibrahim Malami
- Department of Pharmacognosy & Ethnopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B 2254, Sokoto, Nigeria.,Centre for Advanced Medical Research & Training (CAMRET), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B 2254, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
| | - Mohammed Faruk
- Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Sani Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Peter Abur Pase
- Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Saad Ahmed
- Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Ibrahim Babangida Abubakar
- Deparment of Biochemistry, Kebbi State University of Science & Technology, PMB 1144, Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria
| | - Murtala Abubakar
- Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Clayton Yates
- Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biology, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA
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23
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Liu W, Liao X, Yang Y, Lin H, Yeong J, Zhou X, Shi X, Liu J. Joint dimension reduction and clustering analysis of single-cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics data. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e72. [PMID: 35349708 PMCID: PMC9262606 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dimension reduction and (spatial) clustering is usually performed sequentially; however, the low-dimensional embeddings estimated in the dimension-reduction step may not be relevant to the class labels inferred in the clustering step. We therefore developed a computation method, Dimension-Reduction Spatial-Clustering (DR-SC), that can simultaneously perform dimension reduction and (spatial) clustering within a unified framework. Joint analysis by DR-SC produces accurate (spatial) clustering results and ensures the effective extraction of biologically informative low-dimensional features. DR-SC is applicable to spatial clustering in spatial transcriptomics that characterizes the spatial organization of the tissue by segregating it into multiple tissue structures. Here, DR-SC relies on a latent hidden Markov random field model to encourage the spatial smoothness of the detected spatial cluster boundaries. Underlying DR-SC is an efficient expectation-maximization algorithm based on an iterative conditional mode. As such, DR-SC is scalable to large sample sizes and can optimize the spatial smoothness parameter in a data-driven manner. With comprehensive simulations and real data applications, we show that DR-SC outperforms existing clustering and spatial clustering methods: it extracts more biologically relevant features than conventional dimension reduction methods, improves clustering performance, and offers improved trajectory inference and visualization for downstream trajectory inference analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Academy of Statistics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.,Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Xu Liao
- Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Yi Yang
- Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857, Singapore
| | - Huazhen Lin
- Center of Statistical Research and School of Statistics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Joe Yeong
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology(IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology and Research(A*STAR), 138673, Singapore.,Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, 169856, Singapore
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA
| | - Xingjie Shi
- Academy of Statistics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.,Key Laboratory of Advanced Theory and Application in Statistics and Data Science-MOE, School of Statistics, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857, Singapore
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24
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LncRNA PVT1 promotes tumorigenesis of glioblastoma by recruiting COPS5 to deubiquitinate and stabilize TRIM24. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:109-121. [PMID: 34938610 PMCID: PMC8649109 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
LncRNA PVT1 has been implicated in numerous pathophysiological processes and diseases, especially cancers. However, the role and mechanism of PVT1 in the tumorigenesis of glioblastoma remain unclear. We investigated the alteration of PVT1 and its key functions in glioblastoma. PVT1 was upregulated and associated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma. We demonstrated that PVT1 silencing suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and orthotopic xenograft tumor growth. Mechanistic investigations found that PVT1 interacted with TRIM24 directly and increased its protein stability. PVT1 recruited COPS5 to deubiquitinate TRIM24; reciprocally, PVT1 depletion impaired the interaction between COPS5 and TRIM24, resulting in decreased expression of TRIM24. PVT1, TRIM24, and COPS5 coordinately contributed to the activation of STAT3 signaling and malignant phenotype of glioblastoma. Collectively, this study elucidates the essential role of PVT1 in the tumorigenesis of glioblastoma, which provides candidacy therapeutic target for glioblastoma treatment.
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25
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Marqués M, Sorolla MA, Urdanibia I, Parisi E, Hidalgo I, Morales S, Salud A, Sorolla A. Are Transcription Factors Plausible Oncotargets for Triple Negative Breast Cancers? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051101. [PMID: 35267409 PMCID: PMC8909618 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Triple negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that does not have a selective and effective therapy. It is known that this cancer possesses high abundance of certain proteins called transcription factors, which are essential for their growth. However, inhibiting transcription factors is very difficult with common therapeutics due to their inaccessibility inside the cell and their molecular structure. In this work, we identified the most important transcription factors for the growth of triple negative breast cancers, and that can predict worse clinical outcome. Moreover, we described different strategies that have been utilised to inhibit them. A successful inhibition of these transcription factors could reduce the mortality and convalescence associated with triple negative breast cancers. Abstract Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide and one of the main causes of cancer deaths. BC is a heterogeneous disease composed of different BC intrinsic subtypes such as triple-negative BC (TNBC), which is one of the most aggressive subtypes and which lacks a targeted therapy. Recent comprehensive analyses across cell types and cancer types have outlined a vast network of protein–protein associations between transcription factors (TFs). Not surprisingly, protein–protein networks central to oncogenesis and disease progression are highly altered during TNBC pathogenesis and are responsible for the activation of oncogenic programs, such as uncontrollable proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. From the therapeutic viewpoint, inhibiting the interactions between TFs represents a very significant challenge, as the contact surfaces of TFs are relatively large and featureless. However, promising tools have emerged to offer a solution to the targeting problem. At the clinical level, some TF possess diagnostic and prognostic value in TNBC. In this review, we outline the recent advances in TFs relevant to TNBC growth and progression. Moreover, we highlight different targeting approaches to inhibit these TFs. Furthermore, the validity of such TFs as clinical biomarkers has been explored. Finally, we discuss how research is likely to evolve in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Marqués
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Maria Alba Sorolla
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Izaskun Urdanibia
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Eva Parisi
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Iván Hidalgo
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Serafín Morales
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Antonieta Salud
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Anabel Sorolla
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.M.); (M.A.S.); (I.U.); (E.P.); (I.H.); (S.M.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Qattan A, Al-Tweigeri T, Suleman K. Translational Implications of Dysregulated Pathways and MicroRNA Regulation in Quadruple-Negative Breast Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020366. [PMID: 35203574 PMCID: PMC8962346 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (HER2−, ER−, PR−) continue to present a unique treatment challenge and carry unfavorable prognoses. The elucidation of novel therapeutic targets has necessitated the re-evaluation of stratification approaches to best predict prognosis, treatment response and theranostic and prognostic markers. Androgen receptor expression and function have important implications on proliferation, tumor progression, immunity and molecular signaling in breast cancer. Accordingly, there has been increasing support for classification of androgen receptor-negative triple-negative breast cancer or quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC). QNBC has unique molecular, signaling and expression regulation profiles, particularly those affected by microRNA regulatory networks. MicroRNAs are now known to regulate AR-related targets and pathways that are dysregulated in QNBC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), SKP2, EN1, ACSL4 and EGFR. In this review, we explore and define the QNBC tumor subtype, its molecular and clinical distinctions from other subtypes, miRNA dysregulation and function in QNBC, and knowledge gaps in the field. Potential insights into clinical and translational implications of these dysregulated networks in QNBC are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Qattan
- Translational Cancer Research Section, Department of Molecular Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence:
| | - Taher Al-Tweigeri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (T.A.-T.); (K.S.)
| | - Kausar Suleman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (T.A.-T.); (K.S.)
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Schwarz A, Roeder I, Seifert M. Comparative Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Similarities and Differences of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Phases. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010256. [PMID: 35008420 PMCID: PMC8750437 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing blood cancer that primarily affects elderly people. Without successful treatment, CML progressively develops from the chronic phase through the accelerated phase to the blast crisis, and ultimately to death. Nowadays, the availability of targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapies has led to long-term disease control for the vast majority of patients. Nevertheless, there are still patients that do not respond well enough to TKI therapies and available targeted therapies are also less efficient for patients in accelerated phase or blast crises. Thus, a more detailed characterization of molecular alterations that distinguish the different CML phases is still very important. We performed an in-depth bioinformatics analysis of publicly available gene expression profiles of the three CML phases. Pairwise comparisons revealed many differentially expressed genes that formed a characteristic gene expression signature, which clearly distinguished the three CML phases. Signaling pathway expression patterns were very similar between the three phases but differed strongly in the number of affected genes, which increased with the phase. Still, significant alterations of MAPK, VEGF, PI3K-Akt, adherens junction and cytokine receptor interaction signaling distinguished specific phases. Our study also suggests that one can consider the phase-wise CML development as a three rather than a two-step process. This is in accordance with the phase-specific expression behavior of 24 potential major regulators that we predicted by a network-based approach. Several of these genes are known to be involved in the accumulation of additional mutations, alterations of immune responses, deregulation of signaling pathways or may have an impact on treatment response and survival. Importantly, some of these genes have already been reported in relation to CML (e.g., AURKB, AZU1, HLA-B, HLA-DMB, PF4) and others have been found to play important roles in different leukemias (e.g., CDCA3, RPL18A, PRG3, TLX3). In addition, increased expression of BCL2 in the accelerated and blast phase indicates that venetoclax could be a potential treatment option. Moreover, a characteristic signaling pathway signature with increased expression of cytokine and ECM receptor interaction pathway genes distinguished imatinib-resistant patients from each individual CML phase. Overall, our comparative analysis contributes to an in-depth molecular characterization of similarities and differences of the CML phases and provides hints for the identification of patients that may not profit from an imatinib therapy, which could support the development of additional treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Schwarz
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (IMB), Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany; (A.S.); (I.R.)
| | - Ingo Roeder
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (IMB), Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany; (A.S.); (I.R.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), D-01307 Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden—Rossendorf (HZDR), D-01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Seifert
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (IMB), Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany; (A.S.); (I.R.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), D-01307 Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden—Rossendorf (HZDR), D-01328 Dresden, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Mc Auley MT. DNA methylation in genes associated with the evolution of ageing and disease: A critical review. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 72:101488. [PMID: 34662746 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ageing is characterised by a physical decline in biological functioning which results in a progressive risk of mortality with time. As a biological phenomenon, it is underpinned by the dysregulation of a myriad of complex processes. Recently, however, ever-increasing evidence has associated epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation (DNAm) with age-onset pathologies, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. These diseases compromise healthspan. Consequently, there is a medical imperative to understand the link between epigenetic ageing, and healthspan. Evolutionary theory provides a unique way to gain new insights into epigenetic ageing and health. This review will: (1) provide a brief overview of the main evolutionary theories of ageing; (2) discuss recent genetic evidence which has revealed alleles that have pleiotropic effects on fitness at different ages in humans; (3) consider the effects of DNAm on pleiotropic alleles, which are associated with age related disease; (4) discuss how age related DNAm changes resonate with the mutation accumulation, disposable soma and programmed theories of ageing; (5) discuss how DNAm changes associated with caloric restriction intersect with the evolution of ageing; and (6) conclude by discussing how evolutionary theory can be used to inform investigations which quantify age-related DNAm changes which are linked to age onset pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Tomás Mc Auley
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Chester, Exton Park, Chester CH1 4BJ, UK.
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Wang T, Tian K, Ji X, Song F. A 6 transcription factors-associated nomogram predicts the recurrence-free survival of thyroid papillary carcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e27308. [PMID: 34622829 PMCID: PMC8500572 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000027308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Various researches demonstrated that transcription factors (TFs) played a crucial role in the progression and prognosis of cancer. However, few studies indicated that TFs were independent biomarkers for the prognosis of thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC). Our aim was to establish and validate a novel TF signature for the prediction of TPC patients' recurrence-free survival (RFS) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to improve the prediction of survival in TPC patients.The genes expression data and corresponding clinical information for TPC were obtained from TCGA database. In total, 722 TFs and 545 TPC patients with eligible clinical information were determined to build a novel TF signature. All TFs were included in a univariate Cox regression model. Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression model was employed to identify candidate TFs relevant to TPC patients' RFS. Finally, multivariate Cox regression was conducted via the candidate TFs for the selection of the TF signatures in the RFS assessment of TPC patients.We identified 6 TFs that were related to TPC patients' RFS. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed in training, validation, and whole datasets, we verified the high capacity of the 6-TF panel for predicting TPC patients' RFS (AUC at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.880, 0.934, and 0.868, respectively, in training dataset; 0.760, 0.737, and 0.726, respectively, in validation dataset; and 0.777, 0.776, and 0.761, respectively, in entire dataset). The result of Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that the TPC patients with low scores had longer RFS than the TPC patients with high score (P = .003). A similar outcome was displayed in the validation dataset (P = .001) and the entire dataset (P = 2e-05). In addition, a nomogram was conducted through risk score, cancer status, C-index, receiver operating characteristic, and the calibration plots analysis implied good value and clinical utility of the nomogram.We constructed and validated a novel 6-TF signature-based nomogram for predicting the RFS of TPC patients.
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30
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Jurmeister P, Weber K, Villegas S, Karn T, Untch M, Thieme A, Müller V, Taube E, Fasching P, Schmitt WD, Marmé F, Stickeler E, Sinn BV, Jank P, Schem C, Klauschen F, van Mackelenbergh M, Denkert C, Loibl S, Capper D. DNA methylation profiling identifies two distinct subgroups in breast cancers with low hormone receptor expression, mainly associated with HER2 amplification status. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:184. [PMID: 34602069 PMCID: PMC8489064 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01176-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Current clinical guidelines suggest that breast cancers with low hormone receptor expression (LowHR) in 1–10% of tumor cells should be regarded as hormone receptor positive. However, clinical data show that these patients have worse outcome compared to patients with hormone receptor expression above 10%. We performed DNA methylation profiling on 23 LowHR breast cancer specimens, including 13 samples with HER2 amplification and compared our results with a reference breast cancer cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas to clarify the status for this infrequent but important patient subgroup. Results In unsupervised clustering and dimensionality reduction, breast cancers with low hormone receptor expression that lacked HER2 amplification usually clustered with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) reference samples (8/10; “LowHR TNBC-like”). In contrast, most specimens with low hormone receptor expression and HER2 amplification grouped with hormone receptor positive cancers (11/13; “LowHR HRpos-like”). We observed highly similar DNA methylation patterns of LowHR TNBC-like samples and true TNBCs. Furthermore, the Ki67 proliferation index of LowHR TNBC-like samples and clinical outcome parameters were more similar to TNBCs and differed from LowHR HRpos-like cases.
Conclusions We here demonstrate that LowHR breast cancer comprises two epigenetically distinct groups. Our data strongly suggest that LowHR TNBC-like samples are molecularly, histologically and clinically closely related to TNBC, while LowHR HRpos-like specimens are closely related to hormone receptor positive tumors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01176-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Jurmeister
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69210, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Berlin Institute of Health, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital Munich, Thalkirchner Str. 36, 80337, Munich, Germany.
| | | | - Sonia Villegas
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Karn
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael Untch
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Breast Cancer Center, Helios-Klinikum Berlin, Buch, Germany
| | - Anne Thieme
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69210, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volkmar Müller
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eliane Taube
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Fasching
- Brustzentrum, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang D Schmitt
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frederik Marmé
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elmar Stickeler
- Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Bruno V Sinn
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Jank
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-University Marburg and University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Frederick Klauschen
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69210, Heidelberg, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Denkert
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-University Marburg and University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - David Capper
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69210, Heidelberg, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
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31
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The roles of epigenetics in cancer progression and metastasis. Biochem J 2021; 478:3373-3393. [PMID: 34520519 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis remains a major clinical challenge for cancer treatment. It is therefore crucial to understand how cancer cells establish and maintain their metastatic traits. However, metastasis-specific genetic mutations have not been identified in most exome or genome sequencing studies. Emerging evidence suggests that key steps of metastasis are controlled by reversible epigenetic mechanisms, which can be targeted to prevent and treat the metastatic disease. A variety of epigenetic mechanisms were identified to regulate metastasis, including the well-studied DNA methylation and histone modifications. In the past few years, large scale chromatin structure alterations including reprogramming of the enhancers and chromatin accessibility to the transcription factors were shown to be potential driving force of cancer metastasis. To dissect the molecular mechanisms and functional output of these epigenetic changes, it is critical to use advanced techniques and alternative animal models for interdisciplinary and translational research on this topic. Here we summarize our current understanding of epigenetic aberrations in cancer progression and metastasis, and their implications in developing new effective metastasis-specific therapies.
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32
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Györfi AH, Matei AE, Fuchs M, Liang C, Rigau AR, Hong X, Zhu H, Luber M, Bergmann C, Dees C, Ludolph I, Horch RE, Distler O, Wang J, Bengsch B, Schett G, Kunz M, Distler JH. Engrailed 1 coordinates cytoskeletal reorganization to induce myofibroblast differentiation. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20201916. [PMID: 34259830 PMCID: PMC8288503 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is a key mediator of fibroblast activation in fibrotic diseases, including systemic sclerosis. Here we show that Engrailed 1 (EN1) is reexpressed in multiple fibroblast subpopulations in the skin of SSc patients. We characterize EN1 as a molecular amplifier of TGFβ signaling in myofibroblast differentiation: TGFβ induces EN1 expression in a SMAD3-dependent manner, and in turn, EN1 mediates the profibrotic effects of TGFβ. RNA sequencing demonstrates that EN1 induces a profibrotic gene expression profile functionally related to cytoskeleton organization and ROCK activation. EN1 regulates gene expression by modulating the activity of SP1 and other SP transcription factors, as confirmed by ChIP-seq experiments for EN1 and SP1. Functional experiments confirm the coordinating role of EN1 on ROCK activity and the reorganization of cytoskeleton during myofibroblast differentiation, in both standard fibroblast culture systems and in vitro skin models. Consistently, mice with fibroblast-specific knockout of En1 demonstrate impaired fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and are partially protected from experimental skin fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea-Hermina Györfi
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexandru-Emil Matei
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Fuchs
- Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Chunguang Liang
- Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aleix Rius Rigau
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Xuezhi Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Honglin Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Markus Luber
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Bergmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Clara Dees
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ingo Ludolph
- Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Raymund E. Horch
- Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oliver Distler
- Department of Rheumatology, Center of Experimental Rheumatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jiucun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Department of Medicine II: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling Studies, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Meik Kunz
- Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jörg H.W. Distler
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Wiggins GAR, Black MA, Dunbier A, Morley-Bunker AE, Pearson JF, Walker LC. Increased gene expression variability in BRCA1-associated and basal-like breast tumours. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2021; 189:363-375. [PMID: 34287743 PMCID: PMC8357684 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-021-06328-y] [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: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Inherited variants in the cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for up to 5% of breast cancers. Multiple gene expression studies have analysed gene expression patterns that maybe associated with BRCA12 pathogenic variant status; however, results from these studies lack consensus. These studies have focused on the differences in population means to identified genes associated with BRCA1/2-carriers with little consideration for gene expression variability, which is also under genetic control and is a feature of cellular function. Methods We measured differential gene expression variability in three of the largest familial breast cancer datasets and a 2116 breast cancer meta-cohort. Additionally, we used RNA in situ hybridisation to confirm expression variability of EN1 in an independent cohort of more than 500 breast tumours. Results BRCA1-associated breast tumours exhibited a 22.8% (95% CI 22.3–23.2) increase in transcriptome-wide gene expression variability compared to BRCAx tumours. Additionally, 40 genes were associated with BRCA1-related breast cancers that had ChIP-seq data suggestive of enriched EZH2 binding. Of these, two genes (EN1 and IGF2BP3) were significantly variable in both BRCA1-associated and basal-like breast tumours. RNA in situ analysis of EN1 supported a significant (p = 6.3 × 10−04) increase in expression variability in BRCA1-associated breast tumours. Conclusion Our novel results describe a state of increased gene expression variability in BRCA1-related and basal-like breast tumours. Furthermore, genes with increased variability may be driven by changes in DNA occupancy of epigenetic effectors. The variation in gene expression is replicable and led to the identification of novel associations between genes and disease phenotypes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10549-021-06328-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A R Wiggins
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Michael A Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Anita Dunbier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Arthur E Morley-Bunker
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - John F Pearson
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Biostatistics and Computational Biology Unit, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Logan C Walker
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Yang L, Li X, Luo Y, Yang T, Wang H, Shi L, Feng M, Xie W. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of the association between upregulated AMD1, EN1 and VGLL1 and the progression and poor prognosis of breast cancer. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1030. [PMID: 34373716 PMCID: PMC8343771 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among females, but the molecular mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis and progression have remained to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to identify novel potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer. The dataset GSE76275 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify hub genes. Furthermore, the dataset GSE25055, containing gene expression data and clinical information, was downloaded to validate the expression and survival association of these hub genes. In addition, the datasets GSE25065 and GSE42568 were used to validate the association between hub gene expression levels and clinical features. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, as well as proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis assays, were used to verify gene expression and function. A total of 4,052 genes were selected for WGCNA and 18 modules were established; the red module was identified as the key module, as it had a strong positive correlation with the tumor grade. Survival analyses of hub genes [S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase proenzyme (AMD1), homeobox protein engrailed-1 (EN1) and vestigial-like protein (VGLL1)] indicated that higher levels of gene expression were associated with poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. This association was based on survival analysis of GSE25055 using the Kaplan-Meier plotter tool. Expression validation revealed that the upregulation of hub genes was associated with advanced tumor grade and malignant molecular subtype (basal-like). IHC results from the Human Protein Atlas also demonstrated that protein expression levels of the hub genes were higher in tumor tissues compared with those in adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of AMD1, EN1 and VGLL1 were strongly correlated with each other. These results demonstrated that AMD1 is highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and cells and AMD1 knockdown decreased the proliferation and metastatic potential, while increasing apoptosis of breast cancer cells. These results suggested that AMD1, EN1 and VGLL1 are likely to contribute to breast cancer progression and unfavorable prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Xuanfei Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Yixing Luo
- Department of Emergency, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Tiecheng Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Huaqiao Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Liwen Shi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Maohui Feng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Wei Xie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Clinical Cancer Study Center of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior of Hubei, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
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Liu J, Liu Z, Zhou Y, Zeng M, Pan S, Liu H, Liu Q, Zhu H. Identification of a Novel Transcription Factor Prognostic Index for Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:666505. [PMID: 34249704 PMCID: PMC8264286 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.666505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are the mainstay of cancer and have a widely reported influence on the initiation, progression, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance of cancer. However, the prognostic values of TFs in breast cancer (BC) remained unknown. In this study, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted with data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We constructed the co-expression network of all TFs and linked it to clinicopathological data. Differentially expressed TFs were obtained from BC RNA-seq data in TCGA database. The prognostic TFs used to construct the risk model for progression free interval (PFI) were identified by Cox regression analyses, and the PFI was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and clinical variables stratification analysis were used to detect the accuracy of the prognostic model. Additionally, we performed functional enrichment analysis by analyzing the differential expressed gene between high-risk and low-risk group. A total of nine co-expression modules were identified. The prognostic index based on 4 TFs (NR3C2, ZNF652, EGR3, and ARNT2) indicated that the PFI was significantly shorter in the high-risk group than their low-risk counterpart (p < 0.001). The ROC curve for PFI exhibited acceptable predictive accuracy, with an area under the curve value of 0.705 and 0.730. In the stratification analyses, the risk score index is an independent prognostic variable for PFI. Functional enrichment analyses showed that high-risk group was positively correlated with mTORC1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, the TF-related signature for PFI constructed in this study can independently predict the prognosis of BC patients and provide a deeper understanding of the potential biological mechanism of TFs in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Liu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
| | - Zexuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
| | - Yangying Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
| | - Manting Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
| | - Sanshui Pan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsa, China
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Liu XL, Liu WJ, Chen Q, Liu J, Yang CQ, Zhang G, Zhang SL, Guo WH, Li JB, Zhao G, Yin DC, Zhang CY. miR-506-loaded gelatin nanospheres target PENK and inactivate the ERK/Fos signaling pathway to suppress triple-negative breast cancer aggressiveness. Mol Carcinog 2021; 60:538-555. [PMID: 34062009 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer. Some microRNAs (miRNAs) were abnormally expressed in TNBC, and they are closely related to the occurrence and progression of TNBC. Here, we found that miR-506 was significantly downregulated in TNBC and relatively lower miR-506 expression predicted a poorer prognosis. Moreover, we found that miR-506 could inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell viability, colony formation, migration, and invasion, and suppress the ERK/Fos oncogenic signaling pathway through upregulating its direct target protein proenkephalin (PENK). Therefore, miR-506 was proposed as a nucleic acid drug for TNBC therapy. However, miRNA is unstable in vivo, which limiting its application as a therapeutic drug via conventional oral or injected therapies. Here, a gelatin nanosphere (GN) delivery system was applied for the first time to load exogenous miRNA. Exogenous miR-506 mimic was loaded on GNs and injected into the in situ TNBC animal model, and the miR-506 could achieve sustained and controlled release. The results confirmed that overexpression of miR-506 and PENK in vivo through loading on GNs inhibited in situ triple-negative breast tumor growth and metastasis significantly in the xenograft model. Moreover, we indicated that the ERK/Fos signaling pathway was intensively inactivated after overexpression of miR-506 and PENK both in vitro and in vivo, which was further validated by the ERK1/2-specific inhibitor SCH772984. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that miR-506-loaded GNs have great potential in anti-TNBC aggressiveness therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Li Liu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wen-Jing Liu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chang-Qing Yang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shi-Long Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei-Hong Guo
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing-Bao Li
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen-Yan Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
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"Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Central Nervous System Metastases From the Laboratory to the Clinic". ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 27:76-82. [PMID: 33475296 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15% to 20% of breast cancers and has an incidence as high as 50% of brain metastases once patients develop advanced disease. The lack of targeted and effective therapies, characteristic of this subtype of breast cancer, is especially evident once central nervous system (CNS) metastases occur. Compared with other subtypes of breast cancer, TNBC patients have the shorter interval from diagnosis to development of brain metastases and the shorter overall survival once they occur, a median of 4 to 6 months. Preclinical studies of TNBC and CNS microenvironment are actively ongoing, clarifying mechanisms and orienting more effective approaches to therapy. While the first drugs have been specifically approved for use in metastatic TNBC, data on their CNS effect are still awaited.
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Lv Y, Ma X, Du Y, Feng J. Understanding Patterns of Brain Metastasis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Exploring Potential Therapeutic Targets. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:589-607. [PMID: 33519208 PMCID: PMC7837592 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s293685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly malignant subtype of breast cancer. High invasiveness and heterogeneity, as well as a lack of drug targets, are the main factors leading to poor prognosis. Brain metastasis (BM) is a serious event threatening the life of breast cancer patients, especially those with TNBC. Compared with that for hormone receptor-positive and HER2-positive breast cancers, TNBC-derived BM (TNBCBM) occurs earlier and more frequently, and has a worse prognosis. There is no standard treatment for BM to date, and one is urgently required. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the developmental patterns of TNBCBM, focusing on the key events in BM formation. Specifically, we consider (i) the nature and function of TNBC cells; (ii) how TNBC cells cross the blood–brain barrier and form a fenestrated, more permeable blood–tumor barrier; (iii) the biological characteristics of TNBCBM; and (iv) the infiltration and colonization of the central nervous system (CNS) by TNBC cells, including the establishment of premetastatic niches, immunosurveillance escape, and metabolic adaptations. We also discuss putative therapeutic targets and precision therapy with the greatest potential to treat TNBCBM, and summarize the relevant completed and ongoing clinical trials. These findings may provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of BM in TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lv
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxin Du
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jifeng Feng
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Wu X, Lu M, Yun D, Gao S, Chen S, Hu L, Wu Y, Wang X, Duan E, Cheng CY, Sun F. Single cell ATAC-Seq reveals cell type-specific transcriptional regulation and unique chromatin accessibility in human spermatogenesis. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:321-333. [PMID: 33438010 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During human spermatogenesis, germ cells undergo dynamic changes in chromatin organization/re-packaging and in transcriptomes. In order to better understand the underlying mechanism(s), scATAC-Seq of 5376 testicular cells from 3 normal men were performed. Data were analyzed in parallel with the scRNA-Seq data of human testicular cells. Ten germ cell types associated with spermatogenesis and 6 testicular somatic cell types were identified, along with 142 024 peaks located in promoter, genebody and CpG Island. We had examined chromatin accessibility of all chromosomes, with chromosomes 19 and 17 emerged as the leading chromosomes that displayed high chromatin accessibility. In accessible chromatin regions, transcription factor (TF)-binding sites were identified and specific motifs with high frequencies at different spermatogenesis stages were detected, including CTCF, BORIS, NFY, DMRT6, EN1, ISL1 and GLI3. Two most notable observations were noted. First, TLE3 was specifically expressed in differentiating spermatogonia. Second, PFN4 was found to be involved in actin cytoskeletal organization during meiosis. More important, unique regions upstream of PFN4 and TLE3 were shown to display high accessibility, illustrating their significance in supporting human spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wu
- Medical School, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mujun Lu
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Damin Yun
- Medical School, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sheng Gao
- Medical School, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shitao Chen
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200001, China
| | - Longfei Hu
- Singleron Biotechnologies Ltd., 211 Pubin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunhao Wu
- Medical School, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaorong Wang
- Medical School, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Enkui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065
| | - Fei Sun
- Medical School, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
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Bhattarai S, Saini G, Gogineni K, Aneja R. Quadruple-negative breast cancer: novel implications for a new disease. Breast Cancer Res 2020; 22:127. [PMID: 33213491 PMCID: PMC7678108 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-020-01369-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the androgen receptor (AR) expression, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be subdivided into AR-positive TNBC and AR-negative TNBC, also known as quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC). QNBC characterization and treatment is fraught with many challenges. In QNBC, there is a greater paucity of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets than AR-positive TNBC. Although the prognostic role of AR in TNBC remains controversial, many studies revealed that a lack of AR expression confers a more aggressive disease course. Literature characterizing QNBC tumor biology and uncovering novel biomarkers for improved management of the disease remains scarce. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the current QNBC landscape and propose avenues for future research, suggesting potential biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that warrant investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shristi Bhattarai
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Geetanjali Saini
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Keerthi Gogineni
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ritu Aneja
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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Identification of Key Differentially Expressed Transcription Factors in Glioblastoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2020; 2020:9235101. [PMID: 32612655 PMCID: PMC7313158 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9235101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent malignant brain tumor in adults. Our study focused on uncovering differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their methylation in order to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers and potential treatment targets. Using GBM RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, DEGs between GBM samples and paracancer tissue samples were analyzed. Enrichment analysis for DEGs and transcription factors (TFs) was performed. A total of 1029 upregulated genes and 1542 downregulated genes were identified, which were associated mainly with multiple tumor-related and immune-related pathways such as cell cycle, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and autoimmune thyroid disease. These DEGs were enriched for 174 TFs, and six TFs were differentially expressed and identified as key TFs in GBM: HOXA3, EN1, ZIC1, and FOXD3 were upregulated, while HLF and EGR3 were downregulated. A total of 1978 DEGs were involved in the regulatory networks of the six key differentially expressed TFs. High expression of EN1 was associated with shorter overall survival, while high expression of EGR3 was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival. The six TFs were differentially methylated in GBM samples compared with paracancer tissues. Our study identifies numerous DEGs and their associated pathways as potential contributors to GBM, particularly the TFs EN1, EGR3, HOXA3, ZIC1, FOXD3, and HLF. The differential expression of these TFs may be unlikely driven by aberrant methylation. These TFs may be useful as diagnostic markers and treatment targets in GBM, and EN1 and EGR3 may have predictive prognostic value.
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Yu Y, Gong L, Ye J. The Role of Aberrant Metabolism in Cancer: Insights Into the Interplay Between Cell Metabolic Reprogramming, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:942. [PMID: 32596159 PMCID: PMC7301691 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia and abdominal obesity. Patients with MetS or other metabolic disorders are more susceptible to cancer development and recurrence and have a worse long-term prognosis. Moreover, the metabolic reprogramming observed in cancer cells has also been described as one of the new hallmarks of cancer. Thus, aberrant metabolism has been proposed as an important risk factor for cancer. Chronic inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oncogenic signaling pathways are considered as main potential triggers. Considering the strong association between metabolism and cancer, metabolism-modulating drugs, including metformin and statins, as well as adopting a healthy lifestyle, have been extensively investigated as strategies to combat cancer. Furthermore, strategies that interfere with the metabolic rewiring of cells may also have potent anti-cancer effects. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of current knowledge on the relationship between aberrant metabolism and cancer and discuss the potential use of metabolism-targeting strategy for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yina Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liang Gong
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cixi People's Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Jun Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Wu SY, Lee CF, Lai HT, Yu CT, Lee JE, Zuo H, Tsai SY, Tsai MJ, Ge K, Wan Y, Chiang CM. Opposing Functions of BRD4 Isoforms in Breast Cancer. Mol Cell 2020; 78:1114-1132.e10. [PMID: 32446320 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a cancer therapeutic target in ongoing clinical trials disrupting primarily BRD4-regulated transcription programs. The role of BRD4 in cancer has been attributed mainly to the abundant long isoform (BRD4-L). Here we show, by isoform-specific knockdown and endogenous protein detection, along with transgene expression, the less abundant BRD4 short isoform (BRD4-S) is oncogenic while BRD4-L is tumor-suppressive in breast cancer cell proliferation and migration, as well as mammary tumor formation and metastasis. Through integrated RNA-seq, genome-wide ChIP-seq, and CUT&RUN association profiling, we identify the Engrailed-1 (EN1) homeobox transcription factor as a key BRD4-S coregulator, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer. BRD4-S and EN1 comodulate the extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated matrisome network, including type II cystatin gene cluster, mucin 5, and cathepsin loci, via enhancer regulation of cancer-associated genes and pathways. Our work highlights the importance of targeted therapies for the oncogenic, but not tumor-suppressive, activity of BRD4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shwu-Yuan Wu
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chien-Fei Lee
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hsien-Tsung Lai
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Cheng-Tai Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ji-Eun Lee
- Adipocyte Biology and Gene Regulation Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hao Zuo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sophia Y Tsai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ming-Jer Tsai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kai Ge
- Adipocyte Biology and Gene Regulation Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yihong Wan
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Cheng-Ming Chiang
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Huang M, Wu J, Ling R, Li N. Quadruple negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer 2020; 27:527-533. [PMID: 31939077 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-020-01047-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Quadruple negative breast cancer (QNBC), lacking the expression of ER (estrogen receptor), PR (progesterone receptor), HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) and AR (androgen receptor), was regarded as one breast cancer subtype with the worst prognosis. Recently, the molecular features of QNBC are not well understood. Different from AR-positive triple-negative breast cancer, QNBC is insensitive to conventional chemotherapeutic agents and has no efficient treatment targets. However, QNBC has been shown to express unique proteins that may be amenable to use in the development of targeted therapies. Here we reviewed the features of QNBC and proteins that may serve as effective targets for QNBC treatment, such as ACSL4, SKP2, immune checkpoint inhibitors, EGFR, MicroRNA signatures and Engrailed 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Huang
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jiang Wu
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Rui Ling
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Nanlin Li
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Waterhouse MP, Ugur R, Khaled WT. Therapeutic and Mechanistic Perspectives of Protein Complexes in Breast Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:335. [PMID: 31921847 PMCID: PMC6932950 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer affects one in eight women making it the most common cancer in the United Kingdom, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases. One of the main challenges in treating breast cancer is the heterogeneous nature of the disease. At present, targeted therapies are available for hormone receptor- and HER2-positive tumors. However, no targeted therapies are currently available for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). This likely contributes to the poor prognostic outcome for TNBC patients. Consequently, there is a clear clinical need for the development of novel drugs that efficiently target TNBC. Extensive genomic and transcriptomic characterization of TNBC has in recent years identified a plethora of putative oncogenes. However, these driver oncogenes are often critical in other cell types and/or transcription factors making them very difficult to target directly. Therefore, other approaches may be required for developing novel therapeutics that fully exploit the specific functions of TNBC oncogenes in tumor cells. Here, we will argue that more research is needed to identify the protein-protein interactions of TNBC oncogenes as a means for (a) mechanistically understanding the biological function of these oncogenes in TNBC and (b) providing novel therapeutic targets that can be exploited for selectively inhibiting the oncogenic roles of TNBC oncogenes in cancer cells, whilst sparing normal healthy cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Walid T. Khaled
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Guo M, Sinha S, Wang SM. Coupled Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and Transcription Analysis Identified Rich Biomarkers and Drug Targets in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1724. [PMID: 31690011 PMCID: PMC6896154 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has poor clinical prognosis. Lack of TNBC-specific biomarkers prevents active clinical intervention. We reasoned that TNBC must have its specific signature due to the lack of three key receptors to distinguish TNBC from other types of breast cancer. We also reasoned that coupling methylation and gene expression as a single unit may increase the specificity for the detected TNBC signatures. We further reasoned that choosing the proper controls may be critical to increasing the sensitivity to identify TNBC-specific signatures. Furthermore, we also considered that specific drugs could target the detected TNBC-specific signatures. We developed a system to identify potential TNBC signatures. It consisted of (1) coupling methylation and expression changes in TNBC to identify the methylation-regulated signature genes for TNBC; (2) using TPBC (triple-positive breast cancer) as the control to detect TNBC-specific signature genes; (3) searching in the drug database to identify those targeting TNBC signature genes. Using this system, we identified 114 genes with both altered methylation and expression, and 356 existing drugs targeting 10 of the 114 genes. Through docking and molecular dynamics simulation, we determined the structural basis between sapropterin, a drug used in the treatment of tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency, and PTGS2, a TNBC signature gene involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Our study reveals the existence of rich TNBC-specific signatures, and many can be drug target and biomarker candidates for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoni Guo
- Cancer Centre and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
| | - Siddharth Sinha
- Cancer Centre and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
| | - San Ming Wang
- Cancer Centre and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
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