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Brennan K, Espín-Pérez A, Chang S, Bedi N, Saumyaa S, Shin JH, Plevritis SK, Gevaert O, Sunwoo JB, Gentles AJ. Loss of p53-DREAM-mediated repression of cell cycle genes as a driver of lymph node metastasis in head and neck cancer. Genome Med 2023; 15:98. [PMID: 37978395 PMCID: PMC10656821 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01236-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognosis for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is poor and has improved little in recent decades, partially due to lack of therapeutic options. To identify effective therapeutic targets, we sought to identify molecular pathways that drive metastasis and HNC progression, through large-scale systematic analyses of transcriptomic data. METHODS We performed meta-analysis across 29 gene expression studies including 2074 primary HNC biopsies to identify genes and transcriptional pathways associated with survival and lymph node metastasis (LNM). To understand the biological roles of these genes in HNC, we identified their associated cancer pathways, as well as the cell types that express them within HNC tumor microenvironments, by integrating single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq from sorted cell populations. RESULTS Patient survival-associated genes were heterogenous and included drivers of diverse tumor biological processes: these included tumor-intrinsic processes such as epithelial dedifferentiation and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, as well as tumor microenvironmental factors such as T cell-mediated immunity and cancer-associated fibroblast activity. Unexpectedly, LNM-associated genes were almost universally associated with epithelial dedifferentiation within malignant cells. Genes negatively associated with LNM consisted of regulators of squamous epithelial differentiation that are expressed within well-differentiated malignant cells, while those positively associated with LNM represented cell cycle regulators that are normally repressed by the p53-DREAM pathway. These pro-LNM genes are overexpressed in proliferating malignant cells of TP53 mutated and HPV + ve HNCs and are strongly associated with stemness, suggesting that they represent markers of pre-metastatic cancer stem-like cells. LNM-associated genes are deregulated in high-grade oral precancerous lesions, and deregulated further in primary HNCs with advancing tumor grade and deregulated further still in lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS In HNC, patient survival is affected by multiple biological processes and is strongly influenced by the tumor immune and stromal microenvironments. In contrast, LNM appears to be driven primarily by malignant cell plasticity, characterized by epithelial dedifferentiation coupled with EMT-independent proliferation and stemness. Our findings postulate that LNM is initially caused by loss of p53-DREAM-mediated repression of cell cycle genes during early tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Brennan
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Almudena Espín-Pérez
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Serena Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Nikita Bedi
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Saumyaa Saumyaa
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - June Ho Shin
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Sylvia K Plevritis
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Olivier Gevaert
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - John B Sunwoo
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Andrew J Gentles
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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2
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Kono M, Saito S, Egloff AM, Allen CT, Uppaluri R. The mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) model: A 10-year retrospective on model development and head and neck cancer investigations. Oral Oncol 2022; 132:106012. [PMID: 35820346 PMCID: PMC9364442 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.106012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical models of cancer have long been paramount to understanding tumor development and advancing the treatment of cancer. Creating preclinical models that mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of human tumors is a key challenge in the advancement of cancer therapy. About ten years ago, we created the mouse oral carcinoma (MOC) cell line models that were derived from 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse oral squamous cell cancers. This model has been used in numerous investigations, including studies on tumor biology and therapeutics. We have seen remarkable progress in cancer immunology in recent years, and these cell lines, which are syngeneic to C57BL/6 background, have also been used to study the anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we aim to review the MOC model from its development and characterization to its use in non-immunological and immunological preclinical head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) studies. Integrating and refining these MOC model studies and extending findings to other systems will provide crucial insights for translational approaches aimed at improving head and neck cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihisa Kono
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
| | - Shin Saito
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Ann Marie Egloff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
| | - Clint T Allen
- Section on Translational Tumor Immunology, National Institutes on Deafness and Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Ravindra Uppaluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States.
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3
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Saddawi-Konefka R, O'Farrell A, Faraji F, Clubb L, Allevato MM, Jensen SM, Yung BS, Wang Z, Wu VH, Anang NA, Msari RA, Schokrpur S, Pietryga IF, Molinolo AA, Mesirov JP, Simon AB, Fox BA, Bui JD, Sharabi A, Cohen EEW, Califano JA, Gutkind JS. Lymphatic-preserving treatment sequencing with immune checkpoint inhibition unleashes cDC1-dependent antitumor immunity in HNSCC. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4298. [PMID: 35879302 PMCID: PMC9314425 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31941-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the promise of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), therapeutic responses remain limited. This raises the possibility that standard of care treatments delivered in concert may compromise the tumor response. To address this, we employ tobacco-signature head and neck squamous cell carcinoma murine models in which we map tumor-draining lymphatics and develop models for regional lymphablation with surgery or radiation. We find that lymphablation eliminates the tumor ICI response, worsening overall survival and repolarizing the tumor- and peripheral-immune compartments. Mechanistically, within tumor-draining lymphatics, we observe an upregulation of conventional type I dendritic cells and type I interferon signaling and show that both are necessary for the ICI response and lost with lymphablation. Ultimately, we provide a mechanistic understanding of how standard oncologic therapies targeting regional lymphatics impact the tumor response to immune-oncology therapy in order to define rational, lymphatic-preserving treatment sequences that mobilize systemic antitumor immunity, achieve optimal tumor responses, control regional metastatic disease, and confer durable antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Saddawi-Konefka
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Aoife O'Farrell
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Farhoud Faraji
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lauren Clubb
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Shawn M Jensen
- Earle A Chiles Research Institute, Robert W Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Bryan S Yung
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zhiyong Wang
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victoria H Wu
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Shiruyeh Schokrpur
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Jill P Mesirov
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aaron B Simon
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Bernard A Fox
- Earle A Chiles Research Institute, Robert W Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jack D Bui
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Sharabi
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ezra E W Cohen
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Joseph A Califano
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Gleiberman Head and Neck Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Karukonda P, Odhiambo D, Mowery YM. Pharmacologic inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2022; 61:225-238. [PMID: 34964992 PMCID: PMC8799519 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses significant treatment challenges, with high recurrence rates for locally advanced disease despite aggressive therapy typically involving a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. HNSCCs commonly exhibit reduced or absent TP53 function due to genomic alterations or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, leading to dependence on the S- and G2/M checkpoints for cell cycle regulation. Both of these checkpoints are activated by Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR), which tends to be overexpressed in HNSCC relative to adjacent normal tissues and represents a potentially promising therapeutic target, particularly in combination with other treatments. ATR is a DNA damage signaling kinase that is activated in response to replication stress and single-stranded DNA breaks, such as those induced by radiation therapy and certain chemotherapies. ATR kinase inhibitors are currently being investigated in several clinical trials as part of the management of locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic HNSCC, along with other malignancies. In this review article, we summarize the rationale and preclinical data supporting incorporation of ATR inhibition into therapeutic regimens for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Karukonda
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Diana Odhiambo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yvonne M. Mowery
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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5
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Saddawi-Konefka R, Simon AB, Sumner W, Sharabi A, Mell LK, Cohen EEW. Defining the Role of Immunotherapy in the Curative Treatment of Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: Promises, Challenges, and Opportunities. Front Oncol 2021; 11:738626. [PMID: 34621678 PMCID: PMC8490924 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.738626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in the development of immunotherapies have raised the hope for patients with locally-advanced HNSCC (LA-HNSCC) to achieve improved oncologic outcomes without the heavy burden of treatment-related morbidity. While there are several ongoing late phase clinical trials that seek to determine whether immunotherapy can be effectively employed in the definitive setting, initial results from concurrent immuno-radiotherapy therapy trials have not shown strong evidence of benefit. Encouragingly, evidence from preclinical studies and early-phase neoadjuvant studies have begun to show potential pathways forward, with therapeutic combinations and sequences that intentionally spare tumor draining lymphatics in order to maximize the synergy between definitive local therapy and immunotherapy. The intent of this review is to summarize the scientific rationale and current clinical evidence for employing immunotherapy for LA-HNSCC as well as the ongoing efforts and challenges to determine how to optimally deliver and sequence immunotherapy alongside traditional therapeutics. In both the preclinical and clinical settings, we will discuss the application of immunotherapies to both surgical and radiotherapeutic management of HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Saddawi-Konefka
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Aaron B. Simon
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Whitney Sumner
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Andrew Sharabi
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Loren K. Mell
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ezra E. W. Cohen
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
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6
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Prudowsky ZD, Yustein JT. Recent Insights into Therapy Resistance in Osteosarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:E83. [PMID: 33396725 PMCID: PMC7795058 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma, the most common bone malignancy of childhood, has been a challenge to treat and cure. Standard chemotherapy regimens work well for many patients, but there remain minimal options for patients with progressive or resistant disease, as clinical trials over recent decades have failed to significantly improve survival. A better understanding of therapy resistance is necessary to improve current treatments and design new strategies for future treatment options. In this review, we discuss known mechanisms and recent scientific advancements regarding osteosarcoma and its patterns of resistance against chemotherapy, radiation, and other newly-introduced therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary D. Prudowsky
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers and The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jason T. Yustein
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers and The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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7
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Cancer stem cells and oral cancer: insights into molecular mechanisms and therapeutic approaches. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:113. [PMID: 32280305 PMCID: PMC7137421 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified as a little population of cancer cells, which have features as the same as the cells normal stem cells. There is enough knowledge of the CSCs responsibility for metastasis, medicine resistance, and cancer outbreak. Therefore, CSCs control possibly provides an efficient treatment intervention inhibiting tumor growth and invasion. In spite of the significance of targeting CSCs in treating cancer, few study comprehensively explored the nature of oral CSCs. It has been showed that oral CSCs are able to contribute to oral cancer progression though activation/inhibition a sequences of cellular and molecular pathways (microRNA network, histone modifications and calcium regulation). Hence, more understanding about the properties of oral cancers and their behaviors will help us to develop new therapeutic platforms. Head and neck CSCs remain a viable and intriguing option for targeted therapy. Multiple investigations suggested the major contribution of the CSCs to the metastasis, tumorigenesis, and resistance to the new therapeutic regimes. Therefore, experts in the field are examining the encouraging targeted therapeutic choices. In spite of the advancements, there are not enough information in this area and thus a magic bullet for targeting and eliminating the CSCs deviated us. Hence, additional investigations on the combined therapies against the head and neck CSCs could offer considerable achievements. The present research is a review of the recent information on oral CSCs, and focused on current advancements in new signaling pathways contributed to their stemness regulation. Moreover, we highlighted various therapeutic approaches against oral CSCs.
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8
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Hsieh PL, Liao YW, Pichler M, Yu CC. MicroRNAs as Theranostics Targets in Oral Carcinoma Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12020340. [PMID: 32028645 PMCID: PMC7072536 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer belongs to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and has been recognized as one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Recent studies have suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) may participate in tumor initiation, metastasis and even recurrence, so the regulation of CSCs has drawn significant attention over the past decade. Among various molecules that are associated with CSCs, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been indicated as key players in the acquisition and maintenance of cancer stemness. In addition, accumulating studies have shown that the aberrant expression of these ncRNAs may serve as surrogate diagnostic markers or even therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. The current study reviews the previous work by us and others to summarize how these ncRNAs affect oral cancer stemness and their potential theranostic applications. A better understanding of the implication of these ncRNAs in oral tumorigenesis will facilitate the translation of basic ncRNA research into clinical application in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ling Hsieh
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Wen Liao
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan;
- Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Martin Pichler
- Research Unit of Non-Coding RNAs and Genome Editing, Division of Clinical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria;
| | - Cheng-Chia Yu
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan;
- Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Institute of Oral Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-4-24718668
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9
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Vora HH, Mehta SV, Shukla SN, Shah PM. No Mutation Detected in Five Hot Spot Codons of the Tp53 Gene by Restriction Site Mutation Analysis in Patients with Carcinoma of the Tongue. Int J Biol Markers 2018; 25:46-51. [DOI: 10.1177/172460081002500107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study evaluated 5 of the 8 main TP53 mutation hot spots in cancer by restriction site mutation analysis and compared the results with p53 protein expression in patients with cancer of the tongue. Tumor samples from 49 patients with tongue cancer were screened for TP53 mutations in exons 5 through 8 by PCR restriction site mutation analysis and for p53 protein expression by immunohistochemistry using the DO-7 antibody. Nuclear accumulation of p53 protein was seen in 22% (11/49) of the tumors, whereas none of the patients exhibited TP53 mutations in exons 5 through 8. The observed data suggest that TP53 mutations alone are not responsible for abnormal accumulation of p53 protein in tobacco-chewing-mediated tongue carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemangini H. Vora
- Immunohistochemistry and Flow Cytometry Division, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
| | - Shalvi V. Mehta
- Immunohistochemistry and Flow Cytometry Division, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
| | - Shilin N. Shukla
- Head Department of Medical Oncology Unit III, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
| | - Pankaj M. Shah
- The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat - India
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10
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HNSCC subverts PBMCs to secrete soluble products that promote tumor cell proliferation. Oncotarget 2017; 8:60860-60874. [PMID: 28977830 PMCID: PMC5617390 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system detects shifts from homeostasis and eliminates altered cells. However, neoplastic cells can modulate the host response to escape immunosurveillance thereby allowing tumor progression. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most immunosuppressive cancers but its role in co-opting the immune system to actively promote tumor growth has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the influence of soluble factors secreted by HNSCC and non-neoplastic epithelial cells on proliferation, apoptosis, activation, cytokine gene expression and phenotypic polarization of immune cells of healthy donors. Then, we determined if the immunomodulation caused by HNSCC-derived soluble products leads to immunosubversion by assessing proliferation, migration and survival of tumor cells exposed to soluble products secreted by modulated immune cells or co-cultured with immune cells. Soluble products from HNSCC inhibited proliferation and cytokine expression in PBMCs, activation of T cells, and polarization of CD4+ towards the Th17 phenotype. These changes co-opted the immune cells to favor cell proliferation, survival and migration of HNSCC. This immunosubversion was observed both indirectly with secreted products and with direct cell-to-cell contact. We conclude that HNSCC-derived secreted products create an immunosuppressive environment that facilitates evasion of tumor cells and subverts the immune cells into a pro-tumoral phenotype.
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11
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Current understanding of the tumor microenvironment of laryngeal dysplasia and progression to invasive cancer. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016; 24:121-7. [PMID: 26963671 DOI: 10.1097/moo.0000000000000245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review examines the historical tumor progression genetic model of laryngeal carcinomas, from dysplasia to invasive carcinoma and the role of infiltrating immune and inflammatory cells as contributors to this process. RECENT FINDINGS Classically, the genetic model of carcinogenesis describes overexpression of oncogenes and/or silencing of tumor suppressor genes which, when combined with exposure to environmental carcinogens over the course of time, results in damage to cellular DNA. Increasing evidence indicates that innate and adaptive immune mediators also play an important role in tumor progression of laryngeal carcinomas. Cellular mediators of immune suppression are often over represented in the tumor microenvironment and these cells release cytokines, which perpetuate immune suppression allowing for tumor immune evasion. SUMMARY Future therapies targeting laryngeal malignancies should focus on a combined approach which targets both genetic variations and immune mediators.
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12
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Supsavhad W, Dirksen WP, Martin CK, Rosol TJ. Animal models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Vet J 2015; 210:7-16. [PMID: 26965084 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common oral cancer worldwide. Local bone invasion into the maxilla or mandible and metastasis to regional lymph nodes often result in a poor prognosis, decreased quality of life and shortened survival time for HNSCC patients. Poor response to treatment and clinical outcomes are the major concerns in this aggressive cancer. Multiple animal models have been developed to replicate spontaneous HNSCC and investigate genetic alterations and novel therapeutic targets. This review provides an overview of HNSCC as well as the traditional animal models used in HNSCC preclinical research. The value and challenges of each in vivo model are discussed. Similarity between HNSCC in humans and cats and the possibility of using spontaneous feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) as a model for HNSCC in translational research are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wachiraphan Supsavhad
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Wessel P Dirksen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Chelsea K Martin
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3, Canada
| | - Thomas J Rosol
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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13
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Moser R, Xu C, Kao M, Annis J, Lerma LA, Schaupp CM, Gurley KE, Jang IS, Biktasova A, Yarbrough WG, Margolin AA, Grandori C, Kemp CJ, Méndez E. Functional kinomics identifies candidate therapeutic targets in head and neck cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 20:4274-88. [PMID: 25125259 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-2858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify novel therapeutic drug targets for p53-mutant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RNAi kinome viability screens were performed on HNSCC cells, including autologous pairs from primary tumor and recurrent/metastatic lesions, and in parallel on murine squamous cell carcinoma (MSCC) cells derived from tumors of inbred mice bearing germline mutations in Trp53, and p53 regulatory genes: Atm, Prkdc, and p19(Arf). Cross-species analysis of cell lines stratified by p53 mutational status and metastatic phenotype was used to select 38 kinase targets. Both primary and secondary RNAi validation assays were performed on additional HNSCC cell lines to credential these kinase targets using multiple phenotypic endpoints. Kinase targets were also examined via chemical inhibition using a panel of kinase inhibitors. A preclinical study was conducted on the WEE1 kinase inhibitor, MK-1775. RESULTS Our functional kinomics approach identified novel survival kinases in HNSCC involved in G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint, SFK, PI3K, and FAK pathways. RNAi-mediated knockdown and chemical inhibition of the WEE1 kinase with a specific inhibitor, MK-1775, had a significant effect on both viability and apoptosis. Sensitivity to the MK-1775 kinase inhibitor is in part determined by p53 mutational status, and due to unscheduled mitotic entry. MK-1775 displays single-agent activity and potentiates the efficacy of cisplatin in a p53-mutant HNSCC xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS WEE1 kinase is a potential therapeutic drug target for HNSCC. This study supports the application of a functional kinomics strategy to identify novel therapeutic targets for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Moser
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Chang Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Michael Kao
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - James Annis
- Quellos High Throughput Facility, Institute for Stem Cell And Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington Medicine Research, Seattle, Washington
| | - Luisa Angelica Lerma
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Christopher M Schaupp
- Toxicology Program, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kay E Gurley
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Asel Biktasova
- Deparment of Surgery, Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Deparment of Surgery, Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Carla Grandori
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington. Quellos High Throughput Facility, Institute for Stem Cell And Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington Medicine Research, Seattle, Washington
| | - Christopher J Kemp
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Eduardo Méndez
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington. Surgery and Perioperative Care Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.
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14
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DRAKULIC DANIJELA, VICENTIC JELENAMARJANOVIC, SCHWIRTLICH MARIJA, TOSIC JELENA, KRSTIC ALEKSANDAR, KLAJN ANDRIJANA, STEVANOVIC MILENA. The overexpression of SOX2 affects the migration of human teratocarcinoma cell line NT2/D1. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 87:389-404. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201520140352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The altered expression of the SOX2 transcription factor is associated with oncogenic or tumor suppressor functions in human cancers. This factor regulates the migration and invasion of different cancer cells. In this study we investigated the effect of constitutive SOX2 overexpression on the migration and adhesion capacity of embryonal teratocarcinoma NT2/D1 cells derived from a metastasis of a human testicular germ cell tumor. We detected that increased SOX2 expression changed the speed, mode and path of cell migration, but not the adhesion ability of NT2/D1 cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that SOX2 overexpression increased the expression of the tumor suppressor protein p53 and the HDM2 oncogene. Our results contribute to the better understanding of the effect of SOX2 on the behavior of tumor cells originating from a human testicular germ cell tumor. Considering that NT2/D1 cells resemble cancer stem cells in many features, our results could contribute to the elucidation of the role of SOX2 in cancer stem cells behavior and the process of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - JELENA TOSIC
- University of Belgrade, Serbia; University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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15
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Kovářová D, Plachý J, Kosla J, Trejbalová K, Čermák V, Hejnar J. Downregulation of HOPX Controls Metastatic Behavior in Sarcoma Cells and Identifies Genes Associated with Metastasis. Mol Cancer Res 2013; 11:1235-47. [DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-12-0687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Ramsey MR, Wilson C, Ory B, Rothenberg SM, Faquin W, Mills AA, Ellisen LW. FGFR2 signaling underlies p63 oncogenic function in squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:3525-38. [PMID: 23867503 DOI: 10.1172/jci68899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic transcription factors drive many human cancers, yet identifying and therapeutically targeting the resulting deregulated pathways has proven difficult. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common and lethal human cancer, and relatively little progress has been made in improving outcomes for SCC due to a poor understanding of its underlying molecular pathogenesis. While SCCs typically lack somatic oncogene-activating mutations, they exhibit frequent overexpression of the p53-related transcription factor p63. We developed an in vivo murine tumor model to investigate the function and key transcriptional programs of p63 in SCC. Here, we show that established SCCs are exquisitely dependent on p63, as acute genetic ablation of p63 in advanced, invasive SCC induced rapid and dramatic apoptosis and tumor regression. In vivo genome-wide gene expression analysis identified a tumor-survival program involving p63-regulated FGFR2 signaling that was activated by ligand emanating from abundant tumor-associated stroma. Correspondingly, we demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of extinguishing this signaling axis in endogenous SCCs using the clinical FGFR2 inhibitor AZD4547. Collectively, these results reveal an unanticipated role for p63-driven paracrine FGFR2 signaling as an addicting pathway in human cancer and suggest a new approach for the treatment of SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Ramsey
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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miR-211 promotes the progression of head and neck carcinomas by targeting TGFβRII. Cancer Lett 2013; 337:115-24. [PMID: 23726841 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
miR-211 up-regulation and transforming growth factor-β type II receptor (TGFβRII) down-regulation are associated with poor prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). miR-211 directly targets TGFβRII with the miR-211-TGFβRII-c-Myc axis promoting HNSCC progression. An inverse correlation of miR-211 and TGFβRII expression was found in metastatic HNSCC samples. After 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide induction, more severe epithelial tumorigenesis was detected on K14-miR-211 transgenic mouse dorsal tongues. Human metastatic lesions and mouse tongue tumors showed increased nuclear c-Myc expression. A novel role for miR-211 in the regulation of TGFβRII and c-Myc during tumorigenesis being revealed should help to develop anti-HNSCC therapies.
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18
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Stem cell expansion during carcinogenesis in stem cell-depleted conditional telomeric repeat factor 2 null mutant mice. Oncogene 2012. [PMID: 23178498 PMCID: PMC3910501 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To examine the role of TRF2 in epithelial tumorigenesis, we characterized conditional loss of TRF2 expression in the basal layer of mouse epidermis. These mice exhibit some characteristics of dyskeratosis congenita, a human stem cell depletion syndrome caused by telomere dysfunction. The epidermis in conditional TRF2 null mice exhibited DNA damage response and apoptosis which correlated with stem cell depletion. The stem cell population in conditional TRF2 null epidermis exhibited shorter telomeres than those in control mice. Squamous cell carcinomas induced in conditional TRF2 null mice developed with increased latency and slower growth due to reduced numbers of proliferating cells as the result of increased apoptosis. TRF2 null epidermal stem cells were found in both primary and metastatic tumors. Despite the low grade phenotype of the conditional TRF2 null primary tumors, the number of metastatic lesions was similar to control cancers. Basal cells from TRF2 null tumors demonstrated extreme telomere shortening and dramatically increased numbers of telomeric signals by fluorescence in situ hybridization due to increased genomic instability and aneuploidy in these cancers. DNA damage response signals were detected at telomeres in TRF2 null tumor cells from these mice. The increased genomic instability in these tumors correlated with 8 fold expansion of the transformed stem cell population compared to that in control cancers. We concluded that genomic instability resulting from loss of TRF2 expression provides biological advantages to the cancer stem cell population.
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19
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Dasgupta S, Dash R, Das SK, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Emerging strategies for the early detection and prevention of head and neck squamous cell cancer. J Cell Physiol 2012; 227:467-73. [PMID: 21465466 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant improvements in therapeutic protocols, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a major health problem worldwide. The 5-year post-therapeutic survival rate is among the lowest of the major cancers with loco-regional relapse being the main cause of death. Moreover, in most instances, the quality of life of the afflicted patient is severely compromised. The poor prognosis for HNSCC is primarily due to disease detection at advanced stages. Accordingly, development of early detection and preventive strategies are essential. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology and etiology of HNSCC should facilitate development of improved intervention and therapeutic approaches. The present review discusses the potential role of such factors for developing preventive and early diagnostic strategies for HNSCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santanu Dasgupta
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA.
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20
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Judd NP, Winkler AE, Murillo-Sauca O, Brotman JJ, Law JH, Lewis JS, Dunn GP, Bui JD, Sunwoo JB, Uppaluri R. ERK1/2 regulation of CD44 modulates oral cancer aggressiveness. Cancer Res 2011; 72:365-74. [PMID: 22086849 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-1831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Carcinogen-induced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) incurs significant morbidity and mortality and constitutes a global health challenge. To gain further insight into this disease, we generated cell line models from 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced murine primary OSCC capable of tumor formation upon transplantation into immunocompetent wild-type mice. Whereas several cell lines grew rapidly and were capable of metastasis, some grew slowly and did not metastasize. Aggressively growing cell lines displayed ERK1/2 activation, which stimulated expression of CD44, a marker associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and putative cancer stem cells. MEK (MAP/ERK kinase) inhibition upstream of ERK1/2 decreased CD44 expression and promoter activity and reduced cell migration and invasion. Conversely, MEK1 activation enhanced CD44 expression and promoter activity, whereas CD44 attenuation reduced in vitro migration and in vivo tumor formation. Extending these findings to freshly resected human OSCC, we confirmed a strict relationship between ERK1/2 phosphorylation and CD44 expression. In summary, our findings identify CD44 as a critical target of ERK1/2 in promoting tumor aggressiveness and offer a preclinical proof-of-concept to target this pathway as a strategy to treat head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy P Judd
- Department of Otolaryngology and John Cochran VA Medical Center, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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21
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Bojovic B, Crowe DL. Telomere dysfunction promotes metastasis in a TERC null mouse model of head and neck cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2011; 9:901-13. [PMID: 21593138 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-10-0345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma arises from highly proliferative basal layer epithelial cells, which normally divide for a short time before detaching from the basement membrane and undergoing terminal differentiation. Basal layer cells in stratified epithelia express the reverse transcriptase known as telomerase. Most human cells do not express telomerase and therefore are subject to loss of telomeric DNA with age due to the inability of lagging strand synthesis to completely replicate chromosomal ends. Late generation telomerase deficient mice exhibit signs of premature aging including reduced function of proliferating cellular compartments. We examined development of squamous cell carcinoma in a telomerase deficient murine background with long and short telomeres. G1 Terc-/- mice (long telomeres) had fewer lymph node metastases, which correlated with increased numbers of apoptotic cells in these tumors compared with wild-type mice. However, G5 Terc-/- mice with short telomeres had increased metastatic tumor burden similar to wild type mice. This increased metastasis correlated with genomic instability and aneuploidy in tumor cells from G5 Terc-/- mice. A number of similarities with human SCC were noted in the mouse model, and dramatic differences in global gene expression profiles were shown between primary and metastatic tumors. We concluded that telomere shortening promotes metastatic tumor development in a Terc null mouse model of head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojana Bojovic
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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22
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Ory B, Ramsey MR, Wilson C, Vadysirisack DD, Forster N, Rocco JW, Rothenberg SM, Ellisen LW. A microRNA-dependent program controls p53-independent survival and chemosensitivity in human and murine squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Invest 2011; 121:809-20. [PMID: 21293058 DOI: 10.1172/jci43897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2010] [Accepted: 11/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The p53 tumor suppressor, a central mediator of chemosensitivity in normal cells, is functionally inactivated in many human cancers. Therefore, a central challenge in human cancer therapy is the identification of pathways that control tumor cell survival and chemosensitivity in the absence of functional p53. The p53-related transcription factors p63 and p73 exhibit distinct functions—p73 mediates chemosensitivity while p63 promotes proliferation and cell survival—and are both overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). However, how p63 and p73 interact functionally and govern the balance between prosurvival and proapoptotic programs in SCC remains elusive. Here, we identify a microRNA-dependent mechanism of p63/p73 crosstalk that regulates p53-independent survival of both human and murine SCC. We first discovered that a subset of p63-regulated microRNAs target p73 for inhibition. One of these, miR-193a-5p, expression of which was repressed by p63, was activated by proapoptotic p73 isoforms in both normal cells and tumor cells in vivo. Chemotherapy caused p63/p73-dependent induction of this microRNA, thereby limiting chemosensitivity due to microRNA-mediated feedback inhibition of p73. Importantly, inhibiting miR-193a interrupted this feedback and thereby suppressed tumor cell viability and induced dramatic chemosensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we have identified a direct, microRNA-dependent regulatory circuit mediating inducible chemoresistance, whose inhibition may provide a new therapeutic opportunity in p53-deficient tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ory
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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23
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Bhat HF, Baba RA, Bashir M, Saeed S, Kirmani D, Wani MM, Wani NA, Wani KA, Khanday FA. Alpha-1-syntrophin protein is differentially expressed in human cancers. Biomarkers 2010; 16:31-6. [DOI: 10.3109/1354750x.2010.522731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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24
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Abstract
We have recently shown that Src induces the formation of podosomes and cell invasion by suppressing endogenous p53, while enhanced p53 strongly represses the Src-induced invasive phenotype. However, the mechanism by which Src and p53 play antagonistic roles in cell invasion is unknown. Here we show that the Stat3 oncogene is a required downstream effector of Src in inducing podosome structures and related invasive phenotypes. Stat3 promotes Src phenotypes through the suppression of p53 and the p53-inducible protein caldesmon, a known podosome antagonist. In contrast, enhanced p53 attenuates Stat3 function and Src-induced podosome formation by upregulating the tumor suppressor PTEN. PTEN, through the inactivation of Src/Stat3 function, also stabilizes the podosome-antagonizing p53/caldesmon axis, thereby further enhancing the anti-invasive potential of the cell. Furthermore, the protein phosphatase activity of PTEN plays a major role in the negative regulation of the Src/Stat3 pathway and represses podosome formation. Our data suggest that cellular invasiveness is dependent on the balance between two opposing forces: the proinvasive oncogenes Src-Stat3 and the anti-invasive tumor suppressors p53-PTEN.
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25
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p53 suppresses Src-induced podosome and rosette formation and cellular invasiveness through the upregulation of caldesmon. Mol Cell Biol 2009; 29:3088-98. [PMID: 19349302 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01816-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor-suppressive role of p53 at the level of tumor initiation is well documented. It has also been shown previously that p53 acts against tumor progression/metastasis. However, its role in modulating cell migration and invasion leading to metastasis is poorly understood. In this study, using vascular smooth muscle cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells, we have shown that p53 potently suppresses Src-induced podosome/rosette formation, extracellular matrix digestion, cell migration, and invasion. The overexpression of exogenous wild-type p53 or the activation of the endogenous p53 function suppresses, while the short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of p53 expression or the pageing of its function exacerbates, Src-induced migratory and invasive phenotypes. We have also found that p53 expression and function are downregulated in cells stably transformed with constitutively active Src that exhibit aggressive invasive properties. Lastly, p53 upregulates the expression of caldesmon, an actin-binding protein that has been shown to be an inhibitor of podosome/invadopodium formation. The ability of p53 to suppress Src phenotypes in transformed cells was largely abolished by knocking down caldesmon. This study reports a novel molecular mechanism (caldesmon), as well as a structural basis (podosomes/rosettes), to show how p53 can act as an anti-motility/invasion/metastasis agent.
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26
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A role for the p53 pathway in the pathology of meningiomas with NF2 loss. J Neurooncol 2008; 91:265-70. [PMID: 18974932 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-008-9721-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2008] [Accepted: 10/13/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The neurofibromatosis 2 locus (NF2) is inactivated through mutation and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 40-65% of all sporadic meningiomas, while the role of the p53 tumor suppression pathway in meningioma initiation and progression is still unclear. This study aims to determine if a p53 codon 72 arginine-to-proline polymorphism, found to be correlated with cancer development and cancer patient survival in other tumors, is associated with sporadic meningioma initiation or progression. We investigated Pro72 incidence in a cohort of 92 sporadic meningiomas and analyzed its association with histological grade (WHO classification) and with NF2 LOH (determined using polymorphic microsatellite markers on 22q). The Pro72 allele was not found to be selected for in the cohort. However, in the subgroup of meningiomas with NF2 LOH and carrying Pro72, 50.0% had high grade tumors (WHO grades II and III) compared to only 14.3% of those without NF2 LOH (OR = 6.0, CI = 1.56-23.11, P = 0.012). The significant association occurred only when considering subgroups of meningiomas with or without NF2 LOH, suggesting that not including NF2 status when analyzing study cohorts may explain the variability seen in the literature where all meningiomas were grouped together. Our data suggests a role for the p53 pathway in the progression of meningiomas in which NF2 is inactivated, and highlights the importance of accounting for NF2 LOH in future studies of meningiomas and the p53 pathway.
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27
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Ha PK, Chang SS, Glazer CA, Califano JA, Sidransky D. Molecular techniques and genetic alterations in head and neck cancer. Oral Oncol 2008; 45:335-9. [PMID: 18674960 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2008.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that cellular DNA alterations can lead to the formation of cancer, and there has been much discovery in the pathways involved in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). With novel genome-wide molecular assays, our ability to detect these abnormalities has increased. We now have a better understanding of the molecular complexity of HNSCC, but there is still much research to be done. In this review, we discuss the well described genetic alterations and touch on the newer findings, as well as some of the future directions of head and neck cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick K Ha
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 1550 E Orleans Street, CRB II Rm 5M06, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
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28
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Michaluart P, Abdallah KA, Lima FD, Smith R, Moysés RA, Coelho V, Victora GD, Socorro-Silva A, Volsi EC, Zárate-Bladés CR, Ferraz AR, Barreto AK, Chammas MC, Gomes R, Gebrim E, Arakawa-Sugueno L, Fernandes KP, Lotufo PA, Cardoso MR, Kalil J, Silva CL. Phase I trial of DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Gene Ther 2008; 15:676-84. [PMID: 18535616 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2008.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Considering that mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (hsp65) gene transfer can elicit a profound antitumoral effect, this study aimed to establish the safety, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and preliminary efficacy of DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). For this purpose, 21 patients with unresectable and recurrent HNSCC were studied. Each patient received three ultrasound-guided injections at 21-day intervals of: 150, 600 or 400 microg of DNA-hsp65. Toxicity was graded according to CTCAE directions. Tumor volume was measured before and after treatment using computed tomography scan. The evaluation included tumor mass variation, delayed-type hypersensitivity response and spontaneous peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation before and after treatment. The MTD was 400 microg per dose. DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy was well tolerated with moderate pain, edema and infections as the most frequent adverse effects. None of the patients showed clinical or laboratory alterations compatible with autoimmune reactions. Partial response was observed in 4 out of 14 patients who completed treatment, 2 of which are still alive more than 3 years after the completion of the trial. Therefore, DNA-hsp65 immunotherapy is a feasible and safe approach at the dose of 400 microg per injection in patients with HNSCC refractory to standard treatment. Further studies in a larger number of patients are needed to confirm the efficacy of this novel strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Michaluart
- HSP65 Clinical Trial Group, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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