High BIRC7 Expression Might Be an Independent Prognostic Indicator of Poor Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Prostate Cancer

RNA-seq and ChIP-seq Identification of Unique and Overlapping Targets of GLI Transcription Factors in Melanoma Cell Lines

BACKGROUND

Despite significant progress in therapy, melanoma still has a rising incidence worldwide, and novel treatment strategies are needed. Recently, researchers have recognized the involvement of the Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) signaling pathway in melanoma and its consistent crosstalk with the MAPK pathway. In order to further investigate the link between the two pathways and to find new target genes that could be considered for combination therapy, we set out to find transcriptional targets of all three GLI proteins in melanoma.

METHODS

We performed RNA sequencing on three melanoma cell lines (CHL-1, A375, and MEL224) with overexpressed GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 and combined them with the results of ChIP-sequencing on endogenous GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 proteins. After combining these results, 21 targets were selected for validation by qPCR.

RESULTS

RNA-seq revealed a total of 808 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for GLI1, 941 DEGs for GLI2, and 58 DEGs for GLI3. ChIP-seq identified 527 genes that contained GLI1 binding sites in their promoters, 1103 for GLI2 and 553 for GLI3. A total of 15 of these targets were validated in the tested cell lines, 6 of which were detected by both RNA-seq and ChIP-seq.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides insight into the unique and overlapping transcriptional output of the GLI proteins in melanoma. We suggest that our findings could provide new potential targets to consider while designing melanoma-targeted therapy.

Livin/BIRC7 gene expression as a possible diagnostic biomarker for endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Livin/BIRC7 is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins family which are implicated in development of cancer through the inhibition of apoptosis process. This case-control study was intended to investigate livin/BIRC7 gene expression in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma and its correlation to some oxidative stress markers in addition to its possible diagnostic performance.

METHODS

This study included 90 participants [30 endometrial hyperplasia patients, 30 endometrial carcinoma patients, and 30 healthy controls]. Livin/BIRC7 gene expression was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum catalase activity was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and malondialdehyde level was measured by the colorimetric method.

RESULTS

Livin/BIRC7 gene expression was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in endometrial carcinoma from patients with endometrial hyperplasia when compared to controls. A positive correlation was found between livin/BIRC7 expression and serum catalase activity and malondialdehyde level in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. The detection of livin/BIRC7 in endometrial carcinoma has excellent sensitivity and specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

Livin/BIRC7 was overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma with excellent power to differentiate endometrial carcinoma from endometrial hyperplasia or healthy subjects, suggesting that it might be a useful molecular marker for endometrial carcinoma diagnosis.

BIRC7 and STC2 Expression Are Associated With Tumorigenesis and Poor Outcome in Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background:

Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) is a highly aggressive epithelial malignancy and has a poor prognosis for the insensitivity to therapies and difficulty in detection. Novel targets and biomarkers are urgently needed to develop for functional, diagnostic and prognostic application on EHCC.

Methods:

Immunohistochemical staining technique using the EnVision antibody complex was performed on the samples obtained from 100 EHCC, 30 peritumoral extrahepatic biliary tract (EHBT), 10 EHBT adenomas and 15 normal EHBT tissues.

Results:

The positive rates of BIRC7 and STC2 expression in tissues obtained from peritumoral EHBT, EHBT adenomas and normal EHBT were significantly lower than those in EHCC tissues. BIRC7 and STC2 proteins were expressed at significantly higher levels in patients with lymph node metastasis, invasion of adjacent tissues, and higher TNM stage (III and/or IV) and unable to undergo resection (biopsy only). Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that significantly decreased overall survival rate in patients with positive-BIRC7 or positive-STC2 expression compared with patients of negative-BIRC7 or negative-STC2 expression, respectively. Cox-proportional regression analysis demonstrated that positive-BIRC7 and positive-STC2 expression, along with poor differentiation of EHCC, tumor size >3 cm, lymph node metastasis, invasion of adjacent tissues and unable to undergo resection are independent prognostic factors of EHCC patients.

Conclusions:

The levels of BIRC7 and STC2 expression were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics of EHCC, and positive expression of BIRC7 and STC2 are associated with progression and poor clinical outcomes of EHCC. BIRC7 and STC2 might be a potential biomarker for EHCC in clinic.