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Lashen A, Alqahtani S, Shoqafi A, Algethami M, Jeyapalan JN, Mongan NP, Rakha EA, Madhusudan S. Clinicopathological Significance of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 (CDK2) in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5053. [PMID: 38732271 PMCID: PMC11084890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25095053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a key cell cycle regulator, with essential roles during G1/S transition. The clinicopathological significance of CDK2 in ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) and early-stage invasive breast cancers (BCs) remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluated CDK2's protein expression in 479 BC samples and 216 DCIS specimens. Analysis of CDK2 transcripts was completed in the METABRIC cohort (n = 1980) and TCGA cohort (n = 1090), respectively. A high nuclear CDK2 protein expression was significantly associated with aggressive phenotypes, including a high tumour grade, lymph vascular invasion, a poor Nottingham prognostic index (all p-values < 0.0001), and shorter survival (p = 0.006), especially in luminal BC (p = 0.009). In p53-mutant BC, high nuclear CDK2 remained linked with worse survival (p = 0.01). In DCIS, high nuclear/low cytoplasmic co-expression showed significant association with a high tumour grade (p = 0.043), triple-negative and HER2-enriched molecular subtypes (p = 0.01), Comedo necrosis (p = 0.024), negative ER status (p = 0.004), negative PR status (p < 0.0001), and a high proliferation index (p < 0.0001). Tumours with high CDK2 transcripts were more likely to have higher expressions of genes involved in the cell cycle, homologous recombination, and p53 signaling. We provide compelling evidence that high CDK2 is a feature of aggressive breast cancers. The clinical evaluation of CDK2 inhibitors in early-stage BC patients will have a clinical impact.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Female
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2/metabolism
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/mortality
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism
- Prognosis
- Middle Aged
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Neoplasm Staging
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/genetics
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/mortality
- Aged
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayat Lashen
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
- Department of Pathology, Nottingham University Hospital, City Campus, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Shatha Alqahtani
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Ahmed Shoqafi
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Mashael Algethami
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Jennie N. Jeyapalan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Nigel P. Mongan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Emad A. Rakha
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
- Department of Pathology, Nottingham University Hospital, City Campus, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 3RD, UK; (A.L.); (S.A.); (A.S.); (M.A.); (J.N.J.); (N.P.M.); (E.A.R.)
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
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2
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Zhang W, Yu X, Bao L, He T, Pan W, Li P, Liu J, Liu X, Yang L, Liu J. Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid fangchinoline derivative HY-2 inhibits breast cancer cells by suppressing BLM DNA helicase. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115908. [PMID: 37988849 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The high expression of BLM (Bloom syndrome) DNA helicase in tumors involves its strong association with cell expansion. Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids own an antitumor property and have developed as candidates for anticancer drugs. This paper aimed to study the antitumor effect of fangchinoline derivative HY-2 by targeting BLM642-1290 DNA helicase, and then explore its inhibitory mechanism on proliferation of MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells. We confirmed that the mRNA and protein levels of BLM DNA helicase in breast cancer were higher than those in normal tissues. HY-2 could inhibit the DNA binding, ATPase and DNA unwinding of BLM642-1290 DNA helicase with enzymatic assay. HY-2 could also inhibit the DNA unwinding of DNA helicase in cells. In addition, HY-2 showed an inhibiting the MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells expansion. The mRNA and protein levels of BLM DNA helicase in MDA-MB-435 cells increased after HY-2 treatment, which might contribute to HY-2 inhibiting the DNA binding, ATPase and DNA unwinding of BLM DNA helicase. The mechanism of HY-2 inhibition on BLM DNA helicase was further confirmed with the effect of HY-2 on the ultraviolet spectrogram of BLM642-1290 DNA helicase and Molecular dynamics simulation of the interacting between HY-2 and BLM640-1291 DNA helicase. Our study provided some valuable clues for the exploration of HY-2 in the living body and developing it as an anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangming Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Yu
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Linchun Bao
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China; Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Minority Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou, Xingyi 562400, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianhui He
- Dejiang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dejiang County South Avenue, Dejiang 565299, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants (Guizhou Medical University), Guizhou Science City, Guiyang 550014, People's Republic of China
| | - Pinhao Li
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, 28 Guiyi Street, Guiyang 550001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinhe Liu
- Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Liuqi Yang
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China
| | - Jielin Liu
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants (Guizhou Medical University), Guizhou Science City, Guiyang 550014, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Shi H, Gao L, Yin H, Jiang M. BLM mutation is associated with increased tumor mutation burden and improved survival after immunotherapy across multiple cancers. Cancer Med 2023; 13:e6716. [PMID: 38124443 PMCID: PMC10807622 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6716] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BLM encodes a RecQ DNA helicase that regulates genomic stability, and its mutations are associated with increased cancer susceptibility. Here, we show a multifaceted role of BLM mutations in tumorigenesis and immunotherapy. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 10,967 cancer samples from the cancer genome atlas database were analyzed, 1.6% of which harbored BLM somatic mutations. BLM mutation was found to be associated with increased tumor mutation burden and more immune-active tumor microenvironment in these patients. Moreover, clinical data of 2785 patients from nine immunotherapy studies were analyzed to study BLM mutations' impact on immunotherapy. Among them, 69 patients harbored BLM mutations, and interestingly, they had significantly higher survival probability than patients without BLM mutations. Cancer patients with BLM mutations had higher complete response and partial response rates, but lower progressive disease rate than BLM nonmutant patients. CONCLUSION Our study shows that BLM mutation is related to improved survival after immunotherapy across multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiping Shi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPR China
| | - Liang Gao
- Institutes of Biology and Medical SciencesSoochow UniversitySuzhouPR China
| | - Hong Yin
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPR China
| | - Min Jiang
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPR China
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4
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Wojnicki K, Kaczmarczyk A, Wojtas B, Kaminska B. BLM helicase overexpressed in human gliomas contributes to diverse responses of human glioma cells to chemotherapy. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:157. [PMID: 37169803 PMCID: PMC10175545 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01451-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of anti-tumour therapies eliminate neoplastic cells by introducing DNA damage which ultimately triggers cell death. These effects are counteracted by activated DNA repair pathways to sustain tumour proliferation capacity. RECQL helicases family, including BLM, participate in DNA damage and repair, and prevent the replication stress. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common, malignant brain tumour that inevitably recurs despite surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ). Expression and functions of the BLM helicase in GBM therapy resistance have not been elucidated. We analysed expression and localisation of BLM in human gliomas and several glioma cell lines using TCGA datasets, immunostaining and Western blotting. BLM depleted human glioma cells were generated with CRISPR/Cas9 system. Effects of chemotherapeutics on cell proliferation, DNA damage and apoptosis were determined with flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting and RNA sequencing. We found upregulated BLM mRNA levels in malignant gliomas, increased cytosolic localisation and poor survival of GBM patients with high BLM expression. BLM deficiency in LN18 and LN229 glioma cells resulted in profound transcriptomic alterations, reduced cell proliferation, and altered cell responses to chemotherapeutics. BLM-deficient glioma cells were resistant to the TMZ and PARP inhibitor treatment and underwent polyploidy or senescence depending on the TP53 activity. Our findings of high BLM expression in GBMs and its roles in responses to chemotherapeutics provide a rationale for targeting BLM helicase in brain tumours. BLM deficiency affects responses of glioma cells to chemotherapeutics targeting PARP1 dependent pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Wojnicki
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wojtas
- Laboratory of Sequencing, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
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5
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Savkova A, Gulyaeva L, Gerasimov A, Krasil’nikov S. Genetic Analysis of Multiple Primary Malignant Tumors in Women with Breast and Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076705. [PMID: 37047678 PMCID: PMC10095199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial cancer syndromes, which are commonly caused by germline mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, are generally considered to be the cause of primary multiple malignant neoplasias (PMMNs). Using targeted genomic sequencing, we screened for eight germline mutations: BRCA1 185delAG, BRCA1 T300G, BRCA1 2080delA, BRCA1 4153delA, BRCA1 5382insC, BRCA2 6174delT, CHEK2 1100delC, and BLM C1642T, which provoke the majority of cases of hereditary breast and ovary cancer syndrome (HBOC), in genomic (blood) DNA from 60 women with PMMNs, including breast (BC) and/or ovarian cancer(s) (OC). Pathogenic allelic forms were discovered in nine samples: in seven instances, it was BRCA1 5382insC, and in the following two, BRCA1 4153delA and BRCA1 T300G. The age of onset in these patients (46.8 years) was younger than in the general Russian population (61.0) for BC but was not for OC: 58.3 and 59.4, correspondingly. There were invasive breast carcinomas of no special type and invasive serous ovarian carcinomas in all cases. Two or more tumors of HBOC-spectrum were only in five out of nine families of mutation carriers. Nevertheless, every mutation carrier has relatives who have developed malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Savkova
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia
- V. Zelman Institute for the Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- E. Meshalkin National Medical Research Center of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Novosibirsk 630055, Russia
| | - Lyudmila Gulyaeva
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia
- V. Zelman Institute for the Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Aleksey Gerasimov
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia
- Novosibirsk Region Clinical Oncology Center, Novosibirsk 630108, Russia
| | - Sergey Krasil’nikov
- V. Zelman Institute for the Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- E. Meshalkin National Medical Research Center of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Novosibirsk 630055, Russia
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6
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Algethami M, Toss MS, Woodcock CL, Jaipal C, Brownlie J, Shoqafi A, Alblihy A, Mesquita KA, Green AR, Mongan NP, Jeyapalan JN, Rakha EA, Madhusudan S. Unravelling the clinicopathological and functional significance of replication protein A (RPA) heterotrimeric complex in breast cancers. NPJ Breast Cancer 2023; 9:18. [PMID: 36997566 PMCID: PMC10063624 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-023-00524-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Replication Protein A (RPA), a heterotrimeric complex consisting of RPA1, 2, and 3 subunits, is a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein that is critically involved in replication, checkpoint regulation and DNA repair. Here we have evaluated RPA in 776 pure ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), 239 DCIS that co-exist with invasive breast cancer (IBC), 50 normal breast tissue and 4221 IBC. Transcriptomic [METABRIC cohort (n = 1980)] and genomic [TCGA cohort (n = 1090)] evaluations were completed. Preclinically, RPA deficient cells were tested for cisplatin sensitivity and Olaparib induced synthetic lethality. Low RPA linked to aggressive DCIS, aggressive IBC, and shorter survival outcomes. At the transcriptomic level, low RPA tumours overexpress pseudogene/lncRNA as well as genes involved in chemical carcinogenesis, and drug metabolism. Low RPA remains linked with poor outcome. RPA deficient cells are sensitive to cisplatin and Olaparib induced synthetic lethality. We conclude that RPA directed precision oncology strategy is feasible in breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mashael Algethami
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Michael S Toss
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Department of Pathology, Nottingham University Hospital, City Campus, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG51PB, UK
| | - Corinne L Woodcock
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Cancer Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Chandar Jaipal
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Juliette Brownlie
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Ahmed Shoqafi
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Adel Alblihy
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Medical Center, King Fahad Security College (KFSC), Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Katia A Mesquita
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Andrew R Green
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Nigel P Mongan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jennie N Jeyapalan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Department of Pathology, Nottingham University Hospital, City Campus, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG51PB, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Medical Center, King Fahad Security College (KFSC), Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK.
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG51PB, UK.
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7
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Feng S, Qian X, Feng D, Zhang X. Downregulation of BLM RecQ helicase inhibits proliferation, promotes the apoptosis and enhances the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to cisplatin. Mol Med Rep 2022; 26:313. [PMID: 36004459 PMCID: PMC9437972 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2022.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bloom syndrome protein (BLM) is known to maintain genomic integrity including DNA repair, recombination, replication and transcription. Its dysregulation affects the genomic instability of cells, which results in a high risk of developing various types of cancer and even Bloom syndrome. However, to date, to the best of our knowledge, no association has been made between human BLM and bladder cancer. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of BLM in human bladder cancer. The expression pattern of BLM in bladder cancer tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The viability, proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of bladder cancer cell lines were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU and flow cytometry following transfection of BLM small interfering RNA. Finally, the effect of BLM on sensitivity of bladder cancer cell lines to cisplatin was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot. It was demonstrated that the expression of BLM in human bladder cancer was increased compared with adjacent healthy bladder tissues. In addition, silencing of BLM inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of bladder cancer cells and it also enhanced the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to cisplatin. Together, the findings of the present study demonstrated that the regulation of BLM activity may have potential for use as a novel therapeutic target and a predictor for the prognosis of bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Feng
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China
| | - Xiaosong Qian
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China
| | - Dalin Feng
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China
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8
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Thakkar MK, Lee J, Meyer S, Chang VY. RecQ Helicase Somatic Alterations in Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:887758. [PMID: 35782872 PMCID: PMC9240438 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.887758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Named the “caretakers” of the genome, RecQ helicases function in several pathways to maintain genomic stability and repair DNA. This highly conserved family of enzymes consist of five different proteins in humans: RECQL1, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, and RECQL5. Biallelic germline mutations in BLM, WRN, and RECQL4 have been linked to rare cancer-predisposing syndromes. Emerging research has also implicated somatic alterations in RecQ helicases in a variety of cancers, including hematological malignancies, breast cancer, osteosarcoma, amongst others. These alterations in RecQ helicases, particularly overexpression, may lead to increased resistance of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy. Downregulation of these proteins may allow for increased sensitivity to chemotherapy, and, therefore, may be important therapeutic targets. Here we provide a comprehensive review of our current understanding of the role of RecQ DNA helicases in cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic opportunities in targeting these helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha K. Thakkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jamie Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Stefan Meyer
- Division of Cancer Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Vivian Y. Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Childrens Discovery and Innovation Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Vivian Y. Chang,
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9
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Lan C, Yamashita YI, Hayashi H, Nakagawa S, Imai K, Mima K, Kaida T, Matsumoto T, Maruno M, Liu Z, Wu X, Wei F, Baba H. High Expression of Bloom Syndrome Helicase is a Key Factor for Poor Prognosis and Advanced Malignancy in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Study. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:3551-3564. [PMID: 35419757 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-11500-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bloom syndrome helicase (BLM) is overexpressed in multiple types of cancers and its overexpression may induce genomic instability. This study aimed to determine the function of BLM expression in pancreatic cancer. METHODS BLM messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was analyzed using public datasets to determine its relationship with pancreatic cancer prognosis. Overall, 182 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent radical resection at our institution were enrolled. BLM expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). We explored the effect of BLM on the proliferation, invasion, migration, and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells via small-interfering RNAs and performed pathway analysis using gene set enrichment analysis. RESULTS BLM mRNA expression was higher in tumor tissue than in normal tissue and had a prognostic effect on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival. The same results were validated by IHC. Multivariate analysis showed that high BLM expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.678, p = 0.029). In subgroup analysis, the effect of high BLM expression was more significant on OS in patients with younger age (HR 2.27, p = 0.006), male sex (HR 2.39, p = 0.002), high cancer antigen 19-9 level (HR 2.44, p = 0.001), advanced tumor stage (HR 2.25, p = 0.001), lymph node metastasis (HR 2.51, p = 0.001), nerve invasion (HR 2.07, p = 0.002), and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 2.66, p < 0.001). In vitro, BLM suppression resulted in reduced tumor proliferation, invasion, migration, and chemoresistance. Mechanistically, BLM expression may be associated with E2F1 and E2F2. CONCLUSION BLM expression is a prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic cancer, especially in those with advanced malignancies and receiving chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Lan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center of Severe Acute Pancreatitis, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yo-Ichi Yamashita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shigeki Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Katsunori Imai
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kosuke Mima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Kaida
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Matsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masataka Maruno
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Zhao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Xiyu Wu
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Feng Wei
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hideo Baba
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
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10
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Wang KB, Liu Y, Li Y, Dickerhoff J, Li J, Yang MH, Yang D, Kong LY. Oxidative Damage Induces a Vacancy G-Quadruplex That Binds Guanine Metabolites: Solution Structure of a cGMP Fill-in Vacancy G-Quadruplex in the Oxidized BLM Gene Promoter. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:6361-6372. [PMID: 35352895 PMCID: PMC9904417 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Guanine (G)-oxidation to 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG) by reactive oxygen species in genomic DNA has been implicated with various human diseases. G-quadruplex (G4)-forming sequences in gene promoters are highly susceptible to G-oxidation, which can subsequently cause gene activation. However, the underlying G4 structural changes that result from OG modifications remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigate the effect of G-oxidation on the BLM gene promoter G4. For the first time, we show that OG can induce a G-vacancy-containing G4 (vG4), which can be filled in and stabilized by guanine metabolites and derivatives. We determined the NMR solution structure of the cGMP-fill-in oxidized BLM promoter vG4. This is the first complex structure of an OG-induced vG4 from a human gene promoter sequence with a filled-in guanine metabolite. The high-resolution structure elucidates the structural features of the specific 5'-end cGMP-fill-in for the OG-induced vG4. Interestingly, the OG is removed from the G-core and becomes part of the 3'-end capping structure. A series of guanine metabolites and derivatives are evaluated for fill-in activity to the oxidation-induced vG4. Significantly, cellular guanine metabolites, such as cGMP and GTP, can bind and stabilize the OG-induced vG4, suggesting their potential regulatory role in response to oxidative damage in physiological and pathological processes. Our work thus provides exciting insights into how oxidative damage and cellular metabolites may work together through a G4-based epigenetic feature for gene regulation. Furthermore, the NMR structure can guide the rational design of small-molecule inhibitors that specifically target the oxidation-induced vG4s.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yipu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jonathan Dickerhoff
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jinzhu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Hua Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Danzhou Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Department of Chemistry, and Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ling-Yi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
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11
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Maity J, Horibata S, Zurcher G, Lee JM. Targeting of RecQ Helicases as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051219. [PMID: 35267530 PMCID: PMC8909030 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RecQ helicases are essential for DNA replication, recombination, DNA damage repair, and other nucleic acid metabolic pathways required for normal cell growth, survival, and genome stability. More recently, RecQ helicases have been shown to be important for replication fork stabilization, one of the major mechanisms of PARP inhibitor resistance. Cancer cells often have upregulated helicases and depend on these enzymes to repair rapid growth-promoted DNA lesions. Several studies are now evaluating the use of RecQ helicases as potential biomarkers of breast and gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, RecQ helicases have attracted interest as possible targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of RecQ helicases and their interacting partners that may be utilized for effective treatment strategies (as cancers depend on helicases for survival). We also discuss how targeting helicase in combination with DNA repair inhibitors (i.e., PARP and ATR inhibitors) can be used as novel approaches for cancer treatment to increase sensitivity to current treatment to prevent rise of treatment resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotirindra Maity
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.M.); (G.Z.)
| | - Sachi Horibata
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Grant Zurcher
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.M.); (G.Z.)
| | - Jung-Min Lee
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.M.); (G.Z.)
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (J.M.L.)
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12
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Alblihy A, Shoqafi A, Toss MS, Algethami M, Harris AE, Jeyapalan JN, Abdel-Fatah T, Servante J, Chan SYT, Green A, Mongan NP, Rakha EA, Madhusudan S. Untangling the clinicopathological significance of MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 complex in sporadic breast cancers. NPJ Breast Cancer 2021; 7:143. [PMID: 34782604 PMCID: PMC8593132 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-021-00350-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex is critical for genomic stability. Although germline mutations in MRN may increase breast cancer susceptibility, such mutations are extremely rare. Here, we have conducted a comprehensive clinicopathological study of MRN in sporadic breast cancers. We have protein expression profiled for MRN and a panel of DNA repair factors involved in double-strand break repair (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHK2, ATR, Chk1, pChk1, RAD51, γH2AX, RPA1, RPA2, DNA-PKcs), RECQ DNA helicases (BLM, WRN, RECQ1, RECQL4, RECQ5), nucleotide excision repair (ERCC1) and base excision repair (SMUG1, APE1, FEN1, PARP1, XRCC1, Pol β) in 1650 clinical breast cancers. The prognostic significance of MRE11, RAD50 and NBS1 transcripts and their microRNA regulators (hsa-miR-494 and hsa-miR-99b) were evaluated in large clinical datasets. Expression of MRN components was analysed in The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer cohort. We show that low nuclear MRN is linked to aggressive histopathological phenotypes such as high tumour grade, high mitotic index, oestrogen receptor- and high-risk Nottingham Prognostic Index. In univariate analysis, low nuclear MRE11 and low nuclear RAD50 were associated with poor survival. In multivariate analysis, low nuclear RAD50 remained independently linked with adverse clinical outcomes. Low RAD50 transcripts were also linked with reduced survival. In contrast, overexpression of hsa-miR-494 and hsa-miR-99b microRNAs was associated with poor survival. We observed large-scale genome-wide alterations in MRN-deficient tumours contributing to aggressive behaviour. We conclude that MRN status may be a useful tool to stratify tumours for precision medicine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Alblihy
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Medical Center, King Fahad Security College (KFSC), Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Shoqafi
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Michael S Toss
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Department of Pathology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Mashael Algethami
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Anna E Harris
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Jennie N Jeyapalan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Tarek Abdel-Fatah
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | | | - Stephen Y T Chan
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Andrew Green
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Nigel P Mongan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK
- Department of Pathology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 3RD, UK.
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK.
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13
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Wu C, Chang Y, Chen J, Su Y, Li L, Chen Y, Li Y, Wu J, Huang J, Zhao F, Wang W, Yin H, Wang S, Jin M, Lou Z, Zhu WG, Luo K, Zhang J, Yuan J. USP37 regulates DNA damage response through stabilizing and deubiquitinating BLM. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:11224-11240. [PMID: 34606619 PMCID: PMC8565321 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human RecQ helicase BLM is involved in the DNA damage response, DNA metabolism, and genetic stability. Loss of function mutations in BLM cause the genetic instability/cancer predisposition syndrome Bloom syndrome. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of BLM in cancers remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the deubiquitinating enzyme USP37 interacts with BLM and that USP37 deubiquitinates and stabilizes BLM, thereby sustaining the DNA damage response (DDR). Mechanistically, DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) promotes ATM phosphorylation of USP37 and enhances the binding between USP37 and BLM. Moreover, knockdown of USP37 increases BLM polyubiquitination, accelerates its proteolysis, and impairs its function in DNA damage response. This leads to enhanced DNA damage and sensitizes breast cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents in both cell culture and in vivo mouse models. Collectively, our results establish a novel molecular mechanism for the USP37-BLM axis in regulating DSB repair with an important role in chemotherapy and radiotherapy response in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenming Wu
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yiming Chang
- Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China
| | - Junliang Chen
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yang Su
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Lei Li
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yuping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yunhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jinhuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jinzhou Huang
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Fei Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Wenrui Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui 233030, China
| | - Hui Yin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Shunli Wang
- Department of Pathology,Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Mingpeng Jin
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Zhenkun Lou
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Wei-Guo Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease, Shenzhen University Carson Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Kuntian Luo
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Jie Zhang. Tel: +86 21 13917090488;
| | - Jian Yuan
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 21 13818233596;
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14
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Li W, Amei A, Bui F, Norouzifar S, Lu L, Wang Z. Impact of Neoantigen Expression and T-Cell Activation on Breast Cancer Survival. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122879. [PMID: 34207556 PMCID: PMC8228363 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neoantigens are novel proteins presented on the cell surface and derived from the accumulation of somatic mutations in tumor cells. They can be recognized by the immune system and may play a crucial role in boosting immune responses against tumor cells. The impact of neoantigen expression and T-cell activation status on overall survival was investigated in a breast cancer cohort. We found that high neoantigen expression and T-cell activation status was correlated with improved patient survival in the study population. This result supports that neoantigens are promising to serve as immunogenic agents for immunotherapy in breast cancer. Abstract Neoantigens are derived from tumor-specific somatic mutations. Neoantigen-based synthesized peptides have been under clinical investigation to boost cancer immunotherapy efficacy. The promising results prompt us to further elucidate the effect of neoantigen expression on patient survival in breast cancer. We applied Kaplan–Meier survival and multivariable Cox regression models to evaluate the effect of neoantigen expression and its interaction with T-cell activation on overall survival in a cohort of 729 breast cancer patients. Pearson’s chi-squared tests were used to assess the relationships between neoantigen expression and clinical pathological variables. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to identify correlations between neoantigen expression, mutation load, and DNA repair gene expression. ERCC1, XPA, and XPC were negatively associated with neoantigen expression, while BLM, BRCA2, MSH2, XRCC2, RAD51, CHEK1, and CHEK2 were positively associated with neoantigen expression. Based on the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, patients with a high level of neoantigen expression and activated T-cell status showed improved overall survival. Similarly, in the T-cell exhaustion and progesterone receptor (PR) positive subgroups, patients with a high level of neoantigen expression showed prolonged survival. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the T-cell activation and PR negative subgroups. In conclusion, neoantigens may serve as immunogenic agents for immunotherapy in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Li
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA;
| | - Amei Amei
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA;
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (Z.W.)
| | - Francis Bui
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; (F.B.); (S.N.)
| | - Saba Norouzifar
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; (F.B.); (S.N.)
| | - Lingeng Lu
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Zuoheng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (Z.W.)
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15
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Ababou M. Bloom syndrome and the underlying causes of genetic instability. Mol Genet Metab 2021; 133:35-48. [PMID: 33736941 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal hereditary recessive diseases characterized by genetic instability are often associated with cancer predisposition. Bloom syndrome (BS), a rare genetic disorder, with <300 cases reported worldwide, combines both. Indeed, patients with Bloom's syndrome are 150 to 300 times more likely to develop cancers than normal individuals. The wide spectrum of cancers developed by BS patients suggests that early initial events occur in BS cells which may also be involved in the initiation of carcinogenesis in the general population and these may be common to several cancers. BS is caused by mutations of both copies of the BLM gene, encoding the RecQ BLM helicase. This review discusses the different aspects of BS and the different cellular functions of BLM in genome surveillance and maintenance through its major roles during DNA replication, repair, and transcription. BLM's activities are essential for the stabilization of centromeric, telomeric and ribosomal DNA sequences, and the regulation of innate immunity. One of the key objectives of this work is to establish a link between BLM functions and the main clinical phenotypes observed in BS patients, as well as to shed new light on the correlation between the genetic instability and diseases such as immunodeficiency and cancer. The different potential implications of the BLM helicase in the tumorigenic process and the use of BLM as new potential target in the field of cancer treatment are also debated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouna Ababou
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco; Genomic Center of Human Pathologies, Faculty of medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco.
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16
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Du X, Zhang C, Yin C, Wang W, Yan X, Xie D, Zheng X, Zheng Q, Li M, Song Z. High BLM Expression Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome and Contributes to Malignant Progression in Human Cholangiocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:633899. [PMID: 33828983 PMCID: PMC8019910 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.633899] [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: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms underlying the tumorigenesis of a highly malignant cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), are still obscure. In our study, the CCA expression profile data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the TCGA-Cholangiocarcinoma (TCGA-CHOL) data set were utilized to construct a co-expression network via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The blue gene module associated with the histopathologic grade of CCA was screened. Then, five candidate hub genes were screened by combining the co-expression network with protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. After progression and survival analyses, bloom syndrome helicase (BLM) was ultimately identified as a real hub gene. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that BLM had a favorable diagnostic and predictive recurrence value for CCA. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) results for a single hub gene revealed the importance of cell cycle-related pathways in the CCA progression and prognosis. Furthermore, we detected the BLM expression in vitro, and the results demonstrated that the expression level of BLM was much higher in the CCA tissues and cells relative to adjacent non-tumor samples and normal bile duct epithelial cells. Additionally, after further silencing the BLM expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA), the proliferation and migration ability of CCA cells were all inhibited, and the cell cycle was arrested. Altogether, a real hub gene (BLM) and cell cycle-related pathways were identified in the present study, and the gene BLM may be involved in the CCA progression and could act as a reliable biomarker for potential diagnosis and prognostic evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Du
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanzheng Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueke Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dawei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xichuan Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qichang Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zifang Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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17
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Kaur E, Agrawal R, Sengupta S. Functions of BLM Helicase in Cells: Is It Acting Like a Double-Edged Sword? Front Genet 2021; 12:634789. [PMID: 33777104 PMCID: PMC7994599 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.634789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage repair response is an important biological process involved in maintaining the fidelity of the genome in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Several proteins that play a key role in this process have been identified. Alterations in these key proteins have been linked to different diseases including cancer. BLM is a 3′−5′ ATP-dependent RecQ DNA helicase that is one of the most essential genome stabilizers involved in the regulation of DNA replication, recombination, and both homologous and non-homologous pathways of double-strand break repair. BLM structure and functions are known to be conserved across many species like yeast, Drosophila, mouse, and human. Genetic mutations in the BLM gene cause a rare, autosomal recessive disorder, Bloom syndrome (BS). BS is a monogenic disease characterized by genomic instability, premature aging, predisposition to cancer, immunodeficiency, and pulmonary diseases. Hence, these characteristics point toward BLM being a tumor suppressor. However, in addition to mutations, BLM gene undergoes various types of alterations including increase in the copy number, transcript, and protein levels in multiple types of cancers. These results, along with the fact that the lack of wild-type BLM in these cancers has been associated with increased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, indicate that BLM also has a pro-oncogenic function. While a plethora of studies have reported the effect of BLM gene mutations in various model organisms, there is a dearth in the studies undertaken to investigate the effect of its oncogenic alterations. We propose to rationalize and integrate the dual functions of BLM both as a tumor suppressor and maybe as a proto-oncogene, and enlist the plausible mechanisms of its deregulation in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekjot Kaur
- Signal Transduction Laboratory-2, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ritu Agrawal
- Signal Transduction Laboratory-2, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sagar Sengupta
- Signal Transduction Laboratory-2, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
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18
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Mohamed RI, Bargal SA, Mekawy AS, El-Shiekh I, Tuncbag N, Ahmed AS, Badr E, Elserafy M. The overexpression of DNA repair genes in invasive ductal and lobular breast carcinomas: Insights on individual variations and precision medicine. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247837. [PMID: 33662042 PMCID: PMC7932549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of precision medicine, analyzing the transcriptomic profile of patients is essential to tailor the appropriate therapy. In this study, we explored transcriptional differences between two invasive breast cancer subtypes; infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) and lobular carcinoma (LC) using RNA-Seq data deposited in the TCGA-BRCA project. We revealed 3854 differentially expressed genes between normal ductal tissues and IDC. In addition, IDC to LC comparison resulted in 663 differentially expressed genes. We then focused on DNA repair genes because of their known effects on patients' response to therapy and resistance. We here report that 36 DNA repair genes are overexpressed in a significant number of both IDC and LC patients' samples. Despite the upregulation in a significant number of samples, we observed a noticeable variation in the expression levels of the repair genes across patients of the same cancer subtype. The same trend is valid for the expression of miRNAs, where remarkable variations between patients' samples of the same cancer subtype are also observed. These individual variations could lie behind the differential response of patients to treatment. The future of cancer diagnostics and therapy will inevitably depend on high-throughput genomic and transcriptomic data analysis. However, we propose that performing analysis on individual patients rather than a big set of patients' samples will be necessary to ensure that the best treatment is determined, and therapy resistance is reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruwaa I. Mohamed
- Center for Informatics Sciences (CIS), Nile University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Salma A. Bargal
- Center for Genomics, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Asmaa S. Mekawy
- Center for Genomics, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Iman El-Shiekh
- Center for Genomics, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Nurcan Tuncbag
- Graduate School of Informatics, Department of Health Informatics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Alaa S. Ahmed
- Center for Genomics, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Eman Badr
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- * E-mail: (EB); (ME)
| | - Menattallah Elserafy
- Center for Genomics, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- * E-mail: (EB); (ME)
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19
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Jiang Q, Jin M. Feature Selection for Breast Cancer Classification by Integrating Somatic Mutation and Gene Expression. Front Genet 2021; 12:629946. [PMID: 33719339 PMCID: PMC7952975 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.629946] [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: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer is essential for the early prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer patients. The large scale of data obtained from the high-throughput sequencing technology makes it difficult to identify the driver mutations and a minimal optimal set of genes that are critical to the classification of cancer. In this study, we propose a novel method without any prior information to identify mutated genes associated with breast cancer. For the somatic mutation data, it is processed to a mutated matrix, from which the mutation frequency of each gene can be obtained. By setting a reasonable threshold for the mutation frequency, a mutated gene set is filtered from the mutated matrix. For the gene expression data, it is used to generate the gene expression matrix, while the mutated gene set is mapped onto the matrix to construct a co-expression profile. In the stage of feature selection, we propose a staged feature selection algorithm, using fold change, false discovery rate to select differentially expressed genes, mutual information to remove the irrelevant and redundant features, and the embedded method based on gradient boosting decision tree with Bayesian optimization to obtain an optimal model. In the stage of evaluation, we propose a weighted metric to modify the traditional accuracy to solve the sample imbalance problem. We apply the proposed method to The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer data and identify a mutated gene set, among which the implicated genes are oncogenes or tumor suppressors previously reported to be associated with carcinogenesis. As a comparison with the integrative network, we also perform the optimal model on the individual gene expression and the gold standard PMA50. The results show that the integrative network outperforms the gene expression and PMA50 in the average of most metrics, which indicate the effectiveness of our proposed method by integrating multiple data sources, and can discover the associated mutated genes in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Jiang
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Min Jin
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
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20
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A 23-gene prognostic classifier for prediction of recurrence and survival for Asian breast cancer patients. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:227018. [PMID: 33226082 PMCID: PMC7711061 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20202794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a 23- gene-classifier profiled from Asian women, with the primary purpose of assessing its clinical utility towards improved risk stratification for relapse for breast cancer patients from Asian cohorts within 10 years’ following mastectomy. Four hundred and twenty-two breast cancer patients underwent mastectomy and were used to train the classifier on a logistic regression model. A subset of 197 patients were chosen to be entered into the follow-up studies post mastectomy who were examined to determine the patterns of recurrence and survival analysis based on gene expression of the gene classifier, age at diagnosis, tumor stage and lymph node status, over a 5 and 10 years follow-up period. Metastasis to lymph node (N2-N3) with N0 as the reference (N2 vs. N0 hazard ratio: 2.02 (1.05–8.70), N3 vs. N0 hazard ratio: 4.32 (1.41–13.22) for 5 years) and gene expression of the 23-gene panel (P=0.06, 5 years and 0.02, 10 years, log-rank test) were found to have significant discriminatory effects on the risk of relapse (HR (95%CI):2.50 (0.95–6.50)). Furthermore, survival curves for subgroup analysis with N0-N1 and T1-T2 predicted patients with higher risk scores. The study provides robust evidence of the effectiveness of the 23-gene-classifier and could be used to determine the risk of relapse event (locoregional and distant recurrence) in Asian patients, leading to a meaningful reduction in chemotherapy recommendations.
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21
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Datta A, Dhar S, Awate S, Brosh RM. Synthetic Lethal Interactions of RECQ Helicases. Trends Cancer 2020; 7:146-161. [PMID: 33041245 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA helicases have risen to the forefront as genome caretakers. Their prominent roles in chromosomal stability are demonstrated by the linkage of mutations in helicase genes to hereditary disorders with defects in DNA repair, the replication stress response, and/or transcriptional activation. Conversely, accumulating evidence suggests that DNA helicases in cancer cells have a network of pathway interactions such that codeficiency of some helicases and their genetically interacting proteins results in synthetic lethality (SL). Such genetic interactions may potentially be exploited for cancer therapies. We discuss the roles of RECQ DNA helicases in cancer, emphasizing some of the more recent developments in SL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Datta
- Section on DNA Helicases, Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Srijita Dhar
- Section on DNA Helicases, Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Sanket Awate
- Section on DNA Helicases, Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Robert M Brosh
- Section on DNA Helicases, Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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22
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Bradfield A, Button L, Drury J, Green DC, Hill CJ, Hapangama DK. Investigating the Role of Telomere and Telomerase Associated Genes and Proteins in Endometrial Cancer. Methods Protoc 2020; 3:E63. [PMID: 32899298 PMCID: PMC7565490 DOI: 10.3390/mps3030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the commonest gynaecological malignancy. Current prognostic markers are inadequate to accurately predict patient survival, necessitating novel prognostic markers, to improve treatment strategies. Telomerase has a unique role within the endometrium, whilst aberrant telomerase activity is a hallmark of many cancers. The aim of the current in silico study is to investigate the role of telomere and telomerase associated genes and proteins (TTAGPs) in EC to identify potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Analysis of RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in EC (568 TTAGPs out of 3467) and ascertained DEGs associated with histological subtypes, higher grade endometrioid tumours and late stage EC. Functional analysis demonstrated that DEGs were predominantly involved in cell cycle regulation, while the survival analysis identified 69 DEGs associated with prognosis. The protein-protein interaction network constructed facilitated the identification of hub genes, enriched transcription factor binding sites and drugs that may target the network. Thus, our in silico methods distinguished many critical genes associated with telomere maintenance that were previously unknown to contribute to EC carcinogenesis and prognosis, including NOP56, WFS1, ANAPC4 and TUBB4A. Probing the prognostic and therapeutic utility of these novel TTAGP markers will form an exciting basis for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bradfield
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Lucy Button
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK;
| | - Josephine Drury
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Daniel C. Green
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK;
| | - Christopher J. Hill
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Dharani K. Hapangama
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK; (A.B.); (J.D.); (C.J.H.)
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK
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23
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Wang CX, Zhang ZL, Yin QK, Tu JL, Wang JE, Xu YH, Rao Y, Ou TM, Huang SL, Li D, Wang HG, Li QJ, Tan JH, Chen SB, Huang ZS. Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of New Quinazolinone Derivatives that Inhibit Bloom Syndrome Protein (BLM) Helicase, Trigger DNA Damage at the Telomere Region, and Synergize with PARP Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9752-9772. [PMID: 32697083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are crucial for the survival of cancer cells and are attractive targets for cancer therapy. Bloom syndrome protein (BLM) is a DNA helicase that performs important roles in DDR pathways. Our previous study discovered an effective new BLM inhibitor with a quinazolinone scaffold by a screening assay. Herein, to better understand the structure-activity relationship (SAR) and biological roles of the BLM inhibitor, a series of new derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated based on this scaffold. Among them, compound 9h exhibited nanomolar inhibitory activity and binding affinity for BLM. 9h could effectively disrupt BLM recruitment to DNA in cells. Furthermore, 9h inhibited the proliferation of the colorectal cell line HCT116 by significantly triggering DNA damage in the telomere region and inducing apoptosis, especially in combination with a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. This result suggested a synthetic lethal effect between the BLM and PARP inhibitors in DDR pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Xi Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zi-Lin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qi-Kun Yin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Li Tu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-En Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yao-Hao Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yong Rao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tian-Miao Ou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shi-Liang Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ding Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong-Gen Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qing-Jiang Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Heng Tan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuo-Bin Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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24
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Alzahrani FA, Ahmed F, Sharma M, Rehan M, Mahfuz M, Baeshen MN, Hawsawi Y, Almatrafi A, Alsagaby SA, Kamal MA, Warsi MK, Choudhry H, Jamal MS. Investigating the pathogenic SNPs in BLM helicase and their biological consequences by computational approach. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12377. [PMID: 32704157 PMCID: PMC7378827 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69033-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The BLM helicase protein plays a vital role in DNA replication and the maintenance of genomic integrity. Variation in the BLM helicase gene resulted in defects in the DNA repair mechanism and was reported to be associated with Bloom syndrome (BS) and cancer. Despite extensive investigation of helicase proteins in humans, no attempt has previously been made to comprehensively analyse the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) of the BLM gene. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of SNPs on the BLM gene was performed to identify, characterize and validate the pathogenic SNPs using computational approaches. We obtained SNP data from the dbSNP database version 150 and mapped these data to the genomic coordinates of the "NM_000057.3" transcript expressing BLM helicase (P54132). There were 607 SNPs mapped to missense, 29 SNPs mapped to nonsense, and 19 SNPs mapped to 3'-UTR regions. Initially, we used many consensus tools of SIFT, PROVEAN, Condel, and PolyPhen-2, which together increased the accuracy of prediction and identified 18 highly pathogenic non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) out of 607 SNPs. Subsequently, these 18 high-confidence pathogenic nsSNPs were analysed for BLM protein stability, structure-function relationships and disease associations using various bioinformatics tools. These 18 mutants of the BLM protein along with the native protein were further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations to examine the structural consequences of the mutations, which might reveal their malfunction and contribution to disease. In addition, 28 SNPs were predicted as "stop gained" nonsense SNPs and one SNP was predicted as "start lost". Two SNPs in the 3'UTR were found to abolish miRNA binding and thus may enhance the expression of BLM. Interestingly, we found that BLM mRNA overexpression is associated with different types of cancers. Further investigation showed that the dysregulation of BLM is associated with poor overall survival (OS) for lung and gastric cancer patients and hence led to the conclusion that BLM has the potential to be used as an important prognostic marker for the detection of lung and gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal A Alzahrani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Stem Cells Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Aston Medical Research Institute, Aston Medical School, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Firoz Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
- University of Jeddah Centre for Scientific and Medical Research (UJ-CSMR), University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Monika Sharma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, India
| | - Mohd Rehan
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam Mahfuz
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Mohammed N Baeshen
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousef Hawsawi
- Department of Genetics, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, and Research Center, MBC-03, PO Box 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Almatrafi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Taibah, Medinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suliman Abdallah Alsagaby
- Department of Medical Laboratories, Central Biosciences Research Laboratories, College of Science in Al Zulfi, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Azhar Kamal
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- University of Jeddah Centre for Scientific and Medical Research (UJ-CSMR), University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohiuddin Khan Warsi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- University of Jeddah Centre for Scientific and Medical Research (UJ-CSMR), University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani Choudhry
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Metabolism and Epigenetic Unit, Faculty of Science, Cancer and Mutagenesis Unit, King Fahd Center for Medical Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Sarwar Jamal
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA.
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25
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A new clinical-genomic model to predict 10-year recurrence risk in primary operable breast cancer patients. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4861. [PMID: 32184406 PMCID: PMC7078190 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61535-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to validate the long-term prognostic value of a new clinical-genomic model, Distant Genetic Model-Clinical Variable Model 6 (DGM-CM6), developed in Asia as a prognostic panel for all subtypes of breast cancer. We included 752 operable stage I–III breast cancer patients representing all subtypes treated from 2005 to 2014 as the validation cohort. The median follow-up was 95.8 months. The low- and high-risk patients classified by DGM-CM6 (RI-DR) had significant differences in 10-year distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI) (94.1% vs. 85.0%, P < 0.0001) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (90.0% vs. 80.5%, P = 0.0003). External validation using EMTAB-365 dataset showed similar observation (P < 0.0001). DGM-CM6 was an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis with hazard ratios of 3.1 (1.6–6.0) for RFS (P = 0.0009) and 3.8 (1.6–9.0) for DRFI (P = 0.0028). Comparing the C-index of DGM-CM6 and PAM50-ROR scores, the former performed better than the latter in predicting long-term DRFI and RFS, especially in N0, ER/PR-positive, and HER2-negative patients.
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26
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Abstract
Cancer is a multi-step process during which cells acquire mutations that eventually lead to uncontrolled cell growth and division and evasion of programmed cell death. The oncogenes such as Ras and c-Myc may be responsible in all three major stages of cancer i.e., early, intermediate, and late. The NF-κB has been shown to control the expression of genes linked with tumor pathways such as chronic inflammation, tumor cell survival, anti-apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. In the last few decades, various biomarker pathways have been identified that play a critical role in carcinogenesis such as Ras, NF-κB and DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anas Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, India.,Department of Nano-Therapeutics, Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Habitat Centre, Mohali, India
| | - Haseeb Ahsan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India
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27
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Bloom Syndrome Protein Activates AKT and PRAS40 in Prostate Cancer Cells. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:3685817. [PMID: 31210839 PMCID: PMC6532288 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3685817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Prostate cancer (PC) is a common malignant tumor and a leading cause of cancer-related death in men worldwide. In order to design new therapeutic interventions for PC, an understanding of the molecular events underlying PC tumorigenesis is required. Bloom syndrome protein (BLM) is a RecQ-like helicase, which helps maintain genetic stability. BLM dysfunction has been implicated in tumor development, most recently during PC tumorigenesis. However, the molecular basis for BLM-induced PC progression remains poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated whether BLM modulates the phosphorylation of an array of prooncogenic signaling pathways to promote PC progression. Methods We analyzed differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) using iTRAQ technology. Site-directed knockout of BLM in PC-3 prostate cancer cells was performed using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination gene editing to confirm the effects of BLM on DEPs. PathScan® Antibody Array Kits were used to analyze the phosphorylation of nodal proteins in PC tissue. Immunohistochemistry and automated western blot (WES) analyses were used to validate these findings. Results We found that silencing BLM in PC-3 cells significantly reduced their proliferative capacity. In addition, BLM downregulation significantly reduced levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (AKT (Ser473)) and proline-rich AKT substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40 (Thr246)), and this was accompanied by enhanced ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels. In addition, we found that AKT and PRAS40 inhibition reduced BLM, increased ROS levels, and induced PC cell apoptosis. Conclusions We demonstrated that BLM activates AKT and PRAS40 to promote PC cell proliferation and survival. We further propose that ROS act in concert with BLM to facilitate PC oncogenesis, potentially via further enhancing AKT signaling and downregulating PTEN expression. Importantly, inhibiting the BLM-AKT-PRAS40 axis induced PC cell apoptosis. Thus, we highlight new avenues for novel anti-PC treatments.
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28
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Yin QK, Wang CX, Wang YQ, Guo QL, Zhang ZL, Ou TM, Huang SL, Li D, Wang HG, Tan JH, Chen SB, Huang ZS. Discovery of Isaindigotone Derivatives as Novel Bloom’s Syndrome Protein (BLM) Helicase Inhibitors That Disrupt the BLM/DNA Interactions and Regulate the Homologous Recombination Repair. J Med Chem 2019; 62:3147-3162. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Kun Yin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chen-Xi Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yu-Qing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qian-Liang Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zi-Lin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tian-Miao Ou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shi-Liang Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ding Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong-Gen Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Heng Tan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuo-Bin Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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29
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Alblihy A, Mesquita KA, Sadiq MT, Madhusudan S. Development and implementation of precision therapies targeting base-excision DNA repair in BRCA1-associated tumors. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2019.1567266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adel Alblihy
- Translational Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - Katia A. Mesquita
- Translational Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - Maaz T. Sadiq
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, UK
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Translational Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, UK
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30
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Zhu X, Chen H, Yang Y, Xu C, Zhou J, Zhou J, Chen Y. Distinct prognosis of mRNA expression of the five RecQ DNA-helicase family members - RECQL, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, and RECQL5 - in patients with breast cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2018; 10:6649-6668. [PMID: 30584360 PMCID: PMC6287649 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s185769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Five RecQ helicase family members have a role in maintaining genome stability. However, their prognostic roles in breast cancer remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the prognostic values of the RecQ family and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Methods We used the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database (http://kmplot.com/analysis) to analyze prognostic values of RecQ-family mRNA expression in all breast cancers and in different intrinsic subtypes and clinicopathological characteristics. Protein-expression levels of WRN and RECQL4 were confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in breast cancer tissues. Results Increased expression of RECQL mRNA was significantly associated with reduced relapse-free survival (RFS) and postprogression survival (PPS) in all breast cancers, and improved overall survival (OS) in patients with basal-like breast cancer and in mutant-p53-type breast cancer patients. Increased expression of BLM mRNA was correlated with reduced distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in all patients. Increased expression of WRN mRNA was associated with improved OS and RFS in breast cancer patients. Increased expression of RECQL4 mRNA was associated with reduced OS, DMFS, and RFS in all breast cancers, and with reduced OS in patients with luminal A, HER2-positive, ER-positive, and PR-positive breast cancer. Increased expression of RECQL5 mRNA was associated with improved RFS in all patients, and with improved OS in patients with lymph-node-negative breast cancer, but with reduced OS in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. IHC staining confirmed that high expression of WRN was correlated with increased OS and high expression of RECQL4 associated with reduced OS at protein levels. Conclusion mRNA-expression levels of RecQ members were significantly correlated with prognosis in breast cancer patients. These preliminary findings require further study to determine whether RecQ-targeting reagents might be developed for clinical application in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China, .,The Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China,
| | - Huihui Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China,
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Breast Surgery, Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunjing Xu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China, .,The Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China,
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhou
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China, .,The Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China,
| | - Yiding Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China, .,The Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China,
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Abstract
Timely recruitment of DNA damage response proteins to sites of genomic structural lesions is very important for signaling mechanisms to activate appropriate cell cycle checkpoints but also repair the altered DNA sequence to suppress mutagenesis. The eukaryotic cell is characterized by a complex cadre of players and pathways to ensure genomic stability in the face of replication stress or outright genomic insult by endogenous metabolites or environmental agents. Among the key performers are molecular motor DNA unwinding enzymes known as helicases that sense genomic perturbations and separate structured DNA strands so that replacement of a damaged base or sugar-phosphate backbone lesion can occur efficiently. Mutations in the BLM gene encoding the DNA helicase BLM leads to a rare chromosomal instability disorder known as Bloom's syndrome. In a recent paper by the Sengupta lab, BLM's role in the correction of double-strand breaks (DSB), a particularly dangerous form of DNA damage, was investigated. Adding to the complexity, BLM appears to be a key ringmaster of DSB repair as it acts both positively and negatively to regulate correction pathways of high or low fidelity. The FANCJ DNA helicase, mutated in another chromosomal instability disorder known as Fanconi Anemia, is an important player that likely coordinates with BLM in the balancing act. Further studies to dissect the roles of DNA helicases like FANCJ and BLM in DSB repair are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijita Dhar
- a Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health , NIH Biomedical Research Center , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Robert M Brosh
- a Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health , NIH Biomedical Research Center , Baltimore , MD , USA
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32
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Barone G, Arora A, Ganesh A, Abdel-Fatah T, Moseley P, Ali R, Chan SY, Savva C, Schiavone K, Carmell N, Myers KN, Rakha EA, Madhusudan S, Collis SJ. The relationship of CDK18 expression in breast cancer to clinicopathological parameters and therapeutic response. Oncotarget 2018; 9:29508-29524. [PMID: 30034634 PMCID: PMC6047673 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs) are established anti-cancer drug targets and a new generation of CDK inhibitors are providing clinical benefits to a sub-set of breast cancer patients. We have recently shown that human CDK18 promotes efficient cellular responses to replication stress. In the current study, we have investigated the clinicopathological and functional significance of CDK18 expression levels in breast cancers. Results High CDK18 protein expression was associated with a triple negative and basal-like phenotype (p = 0.021 and 0.027 respectively) as well as improved patient survival, which was particularly significant in ER negative breast cancers (n = 594, Log Rank 6.724, p = 0.01) and those treated with chemotherapy (n = 270, Log Rank 4.575, p = 0.03). In agreement with these clinical findings, breast cancer cells genetically manipulated using a dCRISPR approach to express high levels of endogenous CDK18 exhibited an increased sensitivity to replication stress-inducing chemotherapeutic agents, as a consequence to defective replication stress signalling at the molecular level. Conclusions These data reveal that CDK18 protein levels may predict breast cancer disease progression and response to chemotherapy, and provide further rationale for potential targeting of CDK18 as part of novel anti-cancer strategies for human cancers. Materials and Methods CDK18 protein expression was evaluated in 1650 breast cancers and correlated to clinicopathological parameters and survival outcomes. Similar analyses were carried out for genetic and transcriptomic changes in CDK18 within several publically available breast cancer cohorts. Additionally, we used a deactivated CRISPR/Cas9 approach (dCRISPR) to elucidate the molecular consequences of heightened endogenous CDK18 expression within breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Barone
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA), Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Arvind Arora
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anil Ganesh
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA), Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tarek Abdel-Fatah
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Paul Moseley
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Reem Ali
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Stephen Yt Chan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Constantinos Savva
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Kristina Schiavone
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA), Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Natasha Carmell
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA), Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Katie N Myers
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA), Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Spencer J Collis
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA), Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
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33
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Al-Subhi N, Ali R, Abdel-Fatah T, Moseley PM, Chan SYT, Green AR, Ellis IO, Rakha EA, Madhusudan S. Targeting ataxia telangiectasia-mutated- and Rad3-related kinase (ATR) in PTEN-deficient breast cancers for personalized therapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2018; 169:277-286. [PMID: 29396668 PMCID: PMC5945733 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-018-4683-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Phosphate and tensin homolog (PTEN), a negative regulator of PI3K signaling, is involved in DNA repair. ATR is a key sensor of DNA damage and replication stress. We evaluated whether ATR signaling has clinical significance and could be targeted by synthetic lethality in PTEN-deficient triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods PTEN, ATR and pCHK1Ser345 protein level was evaluated in 1650 human breast cancers. ATR blockade by VE-821 was investigated in PTEN-proficient- (MDA-MB-231) and PTEN-deficient (BT-549, MDA-MB-468) TNBC cell lines. Functional studies included DNA repair expression profiling, MTS cell-proliferation assay, FACS (cell cycle progression & γH2AX accumulation) and FITC-annexin V flow cytometry analysis. Results Low nuclear PTEN was associated with higher grade, pleomorphism, de-differentiation, higher mitotic index, larger tumour size, ER negativity, and shorter survival (p values < 0.05). In tumours with low nuclear PTEN, high ATR and/or high pCHK1ser345 level was also linked to higher grade, larger tumour size and poor survival (all p values < 0.05). VE-821 was selectively toxic in PTEN-deficient TNBC cells and resulted in accumulation of double-strand DNA breaks, cell cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. Conclusion ATR signalling adversely impact survival in PTEN-deficient breast cancers. ATR inhibition is synthetically lethal in PTEN-deficient TNBC cells. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10549-018-4683-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouf Al-Subhi
- Translational Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Reem Ali
- Translational Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Tarek Abdel-Fatah
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Paul M Moseley
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Stephen Y T Chan
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Andrew R Green
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK.
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Translational Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK. .,Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK.
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34
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Shamanna RA, Lu H, Croteau DL, Arora A, Agarwal D, Ball G, Aleskandarany MA, Ellis IO, Pommier Y, Madhusudan S, Bohr VA. Camptothecin targets WRN protein: mechanism and relevance in clinical breast cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 7:13269-84. [PMID: 26959889 PMCID: PMC4924640 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Werner syndrome protein (WRN) is a RecQ helicase that participates in DNA repair, genome stability and cellular senescence. The five human RecQ helicases, RECQL1, Bloom, WRN, RECQL4 and RECQL5 play critical roles in DNA repair and cell survival after treatment with the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT). CPT derivatives are widely used in cancer chemotherapy to inhibit topoisomerase I and generate DNA double-strand breaks during replication. Here we studied the effects of CPT on the stability and expression dynamics of human RecQ helicases. In the cells treated with CPT, we observed distinct effects on WRN compared to other human RecQ helicases. CPT altered the cellular localization of WRN and induced its degradation by a ubiquitin-mediated proteasome pathway. WRN knockdown cells as well as CPT treated cells became senescent and stained positive for senescence-associated β-galactosidase at a higher frequency compared to control cells. However, the senescent phenotype was attenuated by ectopic expression of WRN suggesting functional implication of WRN degradation in CPT treated cells. Approximately 5-23% of breast cancer tumors are known to respond to CPT-based chemotherapy. Interestingly, we found that the extent of CPT-induced WRN degradation correlates with increasing sensitivity of breast cancer cells to CPT. The abundance of WRN decreased in CPT-treated sensitive cells; however, WRN remained relatively stable in CPT-resistant breast cancer cells. In a large clinical cohort of breast cancer patients, we find that WRN and topoisomerase I expression correlate with an aggressive tumor phenotype and poor prognosis. Our novel observations suggest that WRN abundance along with CPT-induced degradation could be a promising strategy for personalizing CPT-based cancer chemotherapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra A Shamanna
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Huiming Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Deborah L Croteau
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Arvind Arora
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Devika Agarwal
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Nottingham, UK
| | - Graham Ball
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Nottingham, UK
| | - Mohammed A Aleskandarany
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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35
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Green AR, Aleskandarany MA, Ali R, Hodgson EG, Atabani S, De Souza K, Rakha EA, Ellis IO, Madhusudan S. Clinical Impact of Tumor DNA Repair Expression and T-cell Infiltration in Breast Cancers. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 5:292-299. [PMID: 28254786 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Impaired DNA repair drives mutagenicity, which increases neoantigen load and immunogenicity. We investigated the expression of proteins involved in the DNA damage response (ATM, Chk2), double-strand break repair (BRCA1, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, RECQL5, TOPO2A, DNA-PKcs, Ku70/Ku80), nucleotide excision repair (ERCC1), base excision repair (XRCC1, pol β, FEN1, PARP1), and immune responses (CD8, PD-1, PD-L1, FOXP3) in 1,269 breast cancers and validated our findings in an independent estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) cohort (n = 279). Patients with tumors that expressed low XRCC1, low ATM, and low BRCA1 were not only associated with high numbers of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, but were also linked to higher grades, high proliferation indexes, presence of dedifferentiated cells, ER- cells, and poor survival (all P ≤ 0.01). PD-1+ or PD-L1+ breast cancers with low XRCC1 were also linked to an aggressive phenotype that was high grade, had high proliferation indexes, contained dedifferentiated cells and ER- (all with P values ≤ 0.01), and poor survival (P = 0.00021 and P = 0.00022, for PD-1+ and PD-L1+ cancers, respectively) including in an independent ER- validation cohort (P = 0.007 and P = 0.047, respectively). We conclude that the interplay between DNA repair, CD8, PD-L1, and PD-1 can promote aggressive tumor phenotypes. XRCC1-directed personalization of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy may be feasible and warrants further investigation in breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(4); 292-9. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Green
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammed A Aleskandarany
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Reem Ali
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Grace Hodgson
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Suha Atabani
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Karen De Souza
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. .,Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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36
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DNA damage repair in breast cancer and its therapeutic implications. Pathology 2016; 49:156-165. [PMID: 28034453 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) involves the activation of numerous cellular activities that repair DNA lesions and maintain genomic integrity, and is critical in preventing tumorigenesis. Inherited or acquired mutations in specific genes involved in the DNA damage response, for example the breast cancer susceptibility genes 1/2 (BRCA1/2), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and P53 are associated with various subtypes of breast cancer. Such changes can render breast cancer cells particularly sensitive to specific DNA damage response inhibitors, for example BRCA1/2 germline mutated cells are sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. The aims of this review are to discuss specific DNA damage response defects in breast cancer and to present the current stage of development of various DDR inhibitors (namely PARP, ATM/ATR, DNA-PK, PARG, RECQL5, FEN1 and APE1) for breast cancer mono- and combination therapy.
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37
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Arora A, Parvathaneni S, Aleskandarany MA, Agarwal D, Ali R, Abdel-Fatah T, Green AR, Ball GR, Rakha EA, Ellis IO, Sharma S, Madhusudan S. Clinicopathological and Functional Significance of RECQL1 Helicase in Sporadic Breast Cancers. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 16:239-250. [PMID: 27837030 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
RECQL1, a key member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases, is required for DNA replication and DNA repair. Two recent studies have shown that germline RECQL1 mutations are associated with increased breast cancer susceptibility. Whether altered RECQL1 expression has clinicopathologic significance in sporadic breast cancers is unknown. We evaluated RECQL1 at the transcriptomic level (METABRIC cohort, n = 1,977) and at the protein level [cohort 1, n = 897; cohort 2, n = 252; cohort 3 (BRCA germline deficient), n = 74]. In RECQL1-depleted breast cancer cells, we investigated anthracycline sensitivity. High RECQL1 mRNA was associated with intClust.3 (P = 0.026), which is characterized by low genomic instability. On the other hand, low RECQL1 mRNA was linked to intClust.8 [luminal A estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) subgroup; P = 0.0455] and intClust.9 (luminal B ER+ subgroup; P = 0.0346) molecular phenotypes. Low RECQL1 expression was associated with shorter breast cancer-specific survival (P = 0.001). At the protein level, low nuclear RECQL1 level was associated with larger tumor size, lymph node positivity, high tumor grade, high mitotic index, pleomorphism, dedifferentiation, ER negativity, and HER-2 overexpression (P < 0.05). In ER+ tumors that received endocrine therapy, low RECQL1 was associated with poor survival (P = 0.008). However, in ER- tumors that received anthracycline-based chemotherapy, high RECQL1 was associated with poor survival (P = 0.048). In RECQL1-depleted breast cancer cell lines, we confirmed doxorubicin sensitivity, which was associated with DNA double-strand breaks accumulation, S-phase cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis. We conclude that RECQL1 has prognostic and predictive significance in breast cancers. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(1); 239-50. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Arora
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Swetha Parvathaneni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC
| | - Mohammed A Aleskandarany
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Devika Agarwal
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton campus, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Reem Ali
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Tarek Abdel-Fatah
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Green
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Graham R Ball
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton campus, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sudha Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC.
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. .,Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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38
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Chemogenetic profiling identifies RAD17 as synthetically lethal with checkpoint kinase inhibition. Oncotarget 2016; 6:35755-69. [PMID: 26437225 PMCID: PMC4742139 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical inhibitors of the checkpoint kinases have shown promise in the treatment of cancer, yet their clinical utility may be limited by a lack of molecular biomarkers to identify specific patients most likely to respond to therapy. To this end, we screened 112 known tumor suppressor genes for synthetic lethal interactions with inhibitors of the CHEK1 and CHEK2 checkpoint kinases. We identified eight interactions, including the Replication Factor C (RFC)-related protein RAD17. Clonogenic assays in RAD17 knockdown cell lines identified a substantial shift in sensitivity to checkpoint kinase inhibition (3.5-fold) as compared to RAD17 wild-type. Additional evidence for this interaction was found in a large-scale functional shRNA screen of over 100 genotyped cancer cell lines, in which CHEK1/2 mutant cell lines were unexpectedly sensitive to RAD17 knockdown. This interaction was widely conserved, as we found that RAD17 interacts strongly with checkpoint kinases in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the setting of RAD17 knockdown, CHEK1/2 inhibition was found to be synergistic with inhibition of WEE1, another pharmacologically relevant checkpoint kinase. Accumulation of the DNA damage marker γH2AX following chemical inhibition or transient knockdown of CHEK1, CHEK2 or WEE1 was magnified by knockdown of RAD17. Taken together, our data suggest that CHEK1 or WEE1 inhibitors are likely to have greater clinical efficacy in tumors with RAD17 loss-of-function.
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39
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Arora A, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Agarwal D, Doherty R, Croteau DL, Moseley PM, Hameed K, Green A, Aleskandarany MA, Rakha EA, Patterson K, Ball G, Chan SYT, Ellis IO, Bohr VA, Bryant HE, Madhusudan S. Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of RECQL5 helicase expression in breast cancers. Carcinogenesis 2015; 37:63-71. [PMID: 26586793 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgv163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
RECQL5 is a member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases and has key roles in homologous recombination, base excision repair, replication and transcription. The clinicopathological significance of RECQL5 expression in breast cancer is unknown. In this study, we have evaluated RECQL5 mRNA expression in 1977 breast cancers, and RECQL5 protein level in 1902 breast cancers [Nottingham Tenovus series (n = 1650) and ER- cohort (n = 252)]. Expression levels were correlated to aggressive phenotypes and survival outcomes. High RECQL5 mRNA expression was significantly associated with high histological grade (P = 0.007), HER2 overexpression (P = 0.032), ER+/HER2-/high proliferation genefu subtype (P < 0.0001), integrative molecular clusters (intClust 1and 9) (P < 0.0001) and poor survival (P < 0.0001). In subgroup analysis, high RECQL5 mRNA level remains significantly associated with poor BCSS in ER+ cohort (P < 0.0001) but not in ER- cohort (P = 0.116). At the protein level, in tumours with low RAD51, high RECQL5 level was significantly associated with high histological grade (P < 0.0001), higher mitotic index (P = 0.008), dedifferentiation (P = 0.025), pleomorphism (P = 0.027) and poor survival (P = 0.003). In subgroup analysis, high RECQL5/low RAD51 remains significantly associated with poor BCSS in ER+ cohort (P = 0.010), but not in ER- cohort (P = 0.628). In multivariate analysis, high RECQL5 mRNA and high RECQL5/low RAD51 nuclear protein coexpression independently influenced survival (P = 0.022) in whole cohort and in the ER+ subgroup. Preclinically, we show that exogenous expression of RECQL5 in MCF10A cells can drive proliferation supporting an oncogenic function for RECQL5 in breast cancer. We conclude that RECQL5 is a promising biomarker in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Arora
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK, Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | | | - Devika Agarwal
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton campus, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Rachel Doherty
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Deborah L Croteau
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MA 21224-6825, USA
| | - Paul M Moseley
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Khalid Hameed
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Andrew Green
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK and
| | - Mohammed A Aleskandarany
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK and
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK and
| | - Karl Patterson
- Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Medical School Sheffield Cancer Research Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Graham Ball
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton campus, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Stephen Y T Chan
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MA 21224-6825, USA
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MA 21224-6825, USA
| | - Helen E Bryant
- Academic Unit of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Medical School Sheffield Cancer Research Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK, Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK,
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Alsubhi N, Middleton F, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Stephens P, Doherty R, Arora A, Moseley PM, Chan SYT, Aleskandarany MA, Green AR, Rakha EA, Ellis IO, Martin SG, Curtin NJ, Madhusudan S. Chk1 phosphorylated at serine345 is a predictor of early local recurrence and radio-resistance in breast cancer. Mol Oncol 2015; 10:213-23. [PMID: 26459098 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-induced DNA damage activates the DNA damage response (DDR). DDR up-regulation may predict radio-resistance and increase the risk of early local recurrence despite radiotherapy in early stage breast cancers. In 1755 early stage breast cancers, DDR signalling [ATM, ATR, total Ckh1, Chk1 phosphorylated at serine(345) (pChk1), Chk2, p53], base excision repair [PARP1, POLβ, XRCC1, FEN1, SMUG1], non-homologous end joining (Ku70/Ku80, DNA-PKcs) and homologous recombination [RAD51, BRCA1, γH2AX, BLM, WRN, RECQL5, PTEN] protein expression was correlated to time to early local recurrence. Pre-clinically, radio-sensitization by inhibition of Chk1 activation by ATR inhibitor (VE-821) and inhibition of Chk1 (V158411) were investigated in MDA-MB-231 (p53 mutant) and MCF-7 (p53 wild-type) breast cancer cells. In the whole cohort, 208/1755 patients (11.9%) developed local recurrence of which 126 (61%) developed local recurrence within 5 years of initiation of primary therapy. Of the 20 markers tested, only pChk1 and p53 significantly associated with early local recurrence (p value = 0.015 and 0.010, respectively). When analysed together, high cytoplasmic pChk1-nuclear pChk1 (p = 0.039), high cytoplasmic pChk1-p53 (p = 0.004) and high nuclear pChk1-p53 (p = 0.029) co-expression remain significantly linked to early local recurrence. In multivariate analysis, cytoplasmic pChk1 level independently predicted early local recurrence (p = 0.025). In patients who received adjuvant local radiotherapy (n = 949), p53 (p = 0.014) and high cytoplasmic pChk1-p53 (p = 0.017) remain associated with early local recurrence. Pre-clinically, radio-sensitisation by VE-821 or V158411 was observed in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and was more pronounced in MCF-7 cells. We conclude that pChk1 is a predictive biomarker of radiotherapy resistance and early local recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouf Alsubhi
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Fiona Middleton
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | | | - Peter Stephens
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Rachel Doherty
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Arvind Arora
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Paul M Moseley
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Stephen Y T Chan
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | | | - Andrew R Green
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Stewart G Martin
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Nicola J Curtin
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK; Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK.
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