Impact of PINCH expression on survival in colorectal cancer patients

The RNA-binding protein RBMS3 inhibits the progression of colon cancer by regulating the stability of LIMS1 mRNA

BACKGROUND

The RNA-binding motif single-stranded interacting protein 3 (RBMS3) is a constituent of the RNA-binding motif (RBM) protein family, which assumes a pivotal role in governing cellular biogenesis processes such as the cell cycle and apoptosis. Despite an abundance of studies elucidating RBMS3's divergent roles in the genesis and advancement of various tumors, its involvement in colon cancer remains enigmatic.

METHODS

The present investigation employed data analysis from TCGA and GTEx to unveil that RBMS3 expression demonstrated a diminished presence in colon cancer tissues when juxtaposed with normal colon tissues. The effect of RBMS3 and LIM zinc finger domain 1 (LIMS1) on colon cancer was substantiated via animal models and cellular experiments. The connection between RBMS3 and LIM zinc finger domain 1 (LIMS1) was verified by molecular biology methods.

RESULTS

The study conclusively ascertained that augmenting RBMS3 expression quells the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the inquiry unveiled a plausible mechanism through which RBMS3 impacts the expression of LIMS1 by modulating its mRNA stability. The investigation ascertained that RBMS3 inhibits the progression of colon cancer by regulating LIMS1. The inhibitory function of LIMS1 and RBMS3 is closely intertwined in colon cancer, with knocking down LIMS1 being able to rescue the inhibitory effect of RBMS3 overexpression on the functionality of colon cancer cell CONCLUSIONS: The discernments delineate RBMS3 as a novel suppressor of cancer via LIMS1, thereby bestowing fresh therapeutic possibilities and illuminating the intricacies of colon cancer.

Characterization and clinical evaluation of microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity within tumor-related genes in colorectal cancer

Background

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a biomarker for better outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, this conclusion is controversial. In addition, MSs can be a useful marker for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of genes, but this finding has not been well studied. Here, we aimed to clarify the predictive value of MSI/LOH within tumor-related genes in CRC.

Methods

We detected MSI/LOH of MSs in tumor-related genes and the Bethesda (B5) panel by STR scanning and cloning/sequencing. We further analyzed the relationship between MSI/LOH status and clinical features or outcomes by Pearson’s Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The findings indicated that the MSI rates of B5 loci were all higher than those of loci in tumor-related genes. Interestingly, MSI/LOH of 2 loci in the B5 panel and 12 loci in tumor-related genes were associated with poorer outcomes, while MSI/LOH of the B5 panel failed to predict outcomes in CRC. MSI of BAT25, MSI/LOH of BAT26 and MSI of the B5 panel showed closer relationships with mucinous carcinoma. In addition, LOH-H of the B5 panel was associated with increased lymphatic metastasis.

Conclusions

In summary, MSI/LOH of certain loci or the whole panel of B5 is related to clinical features, and several loci within tumor-related genes showed prognostic value in the outcomes of CRC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-021-01051-5.

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) regulates KRAS, IPP complex and Ras suppressor-1 (RSU1) promoting lung adenocarcinoma progression and poor survival

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) forms a heterotrimeric protein complex with PINCH and PARVIN (IPP) in Focal Adhesions (FAs) that acts as a signaling platform between the cell and its microenvironment regulating important cancer-related functions. We aimed to elucidate the role of ILK in lung adenocarcinoma (LUADC) focusing on a possible link with KRAS oncogene. We used immunohistochemistry on human tissue samples and KRAS-driven LUADC in mice, analysis of large scale publicly available RNA sequencing data, ILK overexpression and pharmacological inhibition as well as knockdown of KRAS in lung cancer cells. ILK, PINCH1 and PARVB (IPP) proteins are overexpressed in human LUADC and KRAS-driven LUADC in mice representing poor prognostic indicators. Genes implicated in ILK signaling are significantly enriched in KRAS-driven LUADC. Silencing of KRAS, as well as, overexpression and pharmacological inhibition of ILK in lung cancer cells provide evidence of a two-way association between ILK and KRAS. Upregulation of PINCH, PARVB and Ras suppressor-1 (RSU1) expression was demonstrated in ILK overexpressing lung cancer cells in addition to a significant positive correlation between these factors in tissue samples, while KRAS silencing downregulates IPP and RSU1. Pharmacological inhibition of ILK in KRAS mutant lung cancer cells suppresses cell growth, migration, EMT and increases sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. ILK promotes an aggressive lung cancer phenotype with prognostic and therapeutic value through functions that involve KRAS, IPP complex and RSU1, rendering ILK a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma.

Overexpression of particularly interesting new cys-his rich protein (PINCH) is a risk factor for growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Particularly interesting new cys-his rich protein (PINCH), as an adaptor protein, regulates matrix deposition, cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. PINCH plays an important role for tumorigenesis and progression. However, the contributions of PINCH to intracranial aneurysms (IA) remain largely unknown. In our study, we demonstrated that PINCH expression was significantly increased in IA samples compared with healthy controls. The size of IA had a remarkable correlation with PINCH expression. However, PINCH expression had no obvious difference among different Hunt-Hess grades. In addition, the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly increased in IA tissues compared with healthy controls; moreover, PINCH expression in IA tissues was significantly correlated with MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. In conclusion, these results suggest that PINCH might play a role similar to MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the pathogenesis of IA. PINCH might be a risk factor for growth of unruptured IA, and this might be a target for diagnosis and therapy of IA.

FBI-1 mRNA in normal mucosa is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients

Although several studies provide evidence that FBI-1 is an important gene regulator in colorectal cancer (CRC), it is noteworthy that, to our knowledge, no analysis of the correlation between FBI-1 expression and prognosis in CRC has been reported. Using real-time RT-PCR, we detected FBI-1 mRNA in 161 CRC patients (primary tumor, along with the corresponding normal mucosa), 36 liver metastases, and analyzed the relationship of its expression with clinicopathological features. Colon cancer cell lines were used to study FBI-1 function. Our study found that FBI-1 was significant up-regulated in tumor tissue (2.621 ± 0.157) compared with the corresponding normal mucosa (1.620 ± 0.165, P < 0.0001). FBI-1 in normal mucosa was a prognostic factor (P = 0.039, RR 0.431, 95% CI 0.194-0.958), independent of gender, age, stage, and differentiation. High levels of FBI-1 mRNA were related with good survival. Patients with complications had a higher primary tumor FBI-1 expression than those without complications (3.400 ± 0.332 vs. 2.516 ± 0.241, P = 0.032). Suppression of FBI-1 in colon cancer cell lines could repress proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, FBI-1 mRNA is overexpressed in CRC, and takes part in the development of CRC. FBI-1 mRNA in normal mucosa is an independent prognostic factor. Our findings give further support to the concept of "field cancerization", and hint that when we study a biomarker, we should not only focus on the tumor tissue but also the corresponding normal mucosa.

Prognostic Significance and Molecular Features of Colorectal Mucinous Adenocarcinomas: A Strobe-Compliant Study

Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MC) is a special histology subtype of colorectal adenocarcinoma. The survival of MC is controversial and the prognostic biomarkers of MC remain unclear. To analyze prognostic significance and molecular features of colorectal MC. This study included 755,682 and 1001 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER, 1973-2011), and Linköping Cancer (LC, 1972-2009) databases. We investigated independently the clinicopathological characteristics, survival, and variety of molecular features from these 2 databases. MC was found in 9.3% and 9.8% patients in SEER and LC, respectively. MC was more frequently localized in the right colon compared with nonmucinous adenocarcinoma (NMC) in both SEER (57.7% vs 37.2%, P < 0.001) and LC (46.9% vs 27.7%, P < 0.001). Colorectal MC patients had significantly worse cancer-specific survival (CSS) than NMC patients (SEER, P < 0.001; LC, P = 0.026), prominently in stage III (SEER, P < 0.001; LC, P = 0.023). The multivariate survival analysis showed that MC was independently related to poor prognosis in rectal cancer patients (SEER, hazard ratios [HR], 1.076; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.057-1.096; P < 0.001). In LC, the integrated analysis of genetic and epigenetic features showed that that strong expression of PINCH (HR, 3.954; 95% CI, 1.493-10.47; P = 0.013) and weak expression of RAD50 (HR 0.348, 95% CI, 0.106-1.192; P = 0.026) were significantly associated with poor CSS of colorectal MC patients. In conclusion, the colorectal MC patients had significantly worse CSS than NMC patients, prominently in stage III. MC was an independent prognostic factor associated with worse survival in rectal cancer patients. The PINCH and RAD50 were prognostic biomarkers for colorectal MC patients.

The prognostic factors and multiple biomarkers in young patients with colorectal cancer

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in young patients (≤50 years of age) appears to be increasing. However, their clinicopathological characteristics and survival are controversial. Likewise, the biomarkers are unclear. We used the West China (2008-2013, China), Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (1973-2011, United States) and Linköping Cancer (1972-2009, Sweden) databases to analyse clinicopathological characteristics, survival and multiple biomarkers of young CRC patients. A total of 509,934 CRC patients were included from the three databases. The young CRC patients tended to have more distal location tumours, fewer tumour numbers, later stage, more mucinous carcinoma and poorer differentiation. The cancer-specific survival (CSS) of young patients was significantly better. The PRL (HR = 12.341, 95% CI = 1.615-94.276, P = 0.010), RBM3 (HR = 0.093, 95% CI = 0.012-0.712, P = 0.018), Wrap53 (HR = 1.952, 95% CI = 0.452-6.342, P = 0.031), p53 (HR = 5.549, 95% CI = 1.176-26.178, P = 0.045) and DNA status (HR = 17.602, 95% CI = 2.551-121.448, P = 0.001) were associated with CSS of the young patients. In conclusion, this study suggests that young CRC patients present advanced tumours and more malignant pathological features, while they have a better prognosis. The PRL, RBM3, Wrap53, p53 and DNA status are potential prognostic biomarkers for the young CRC patients.

PINCH-2 presents functional copy number variation and suppresses migration of colon cancer cells by paracrine activity

In recent years, characterization of cancer and its environment has become necessary. However, studies of the cancer microenvironment remain insufficient. Copy number variations (CNVs) occur in 40% of cancer-related genes, but few studies have reported the correlation between CNVs in morphologically normal tissues adjacent to cancer and cancer progression. In this study, we evaluated cancer cell migration and invasion according to the genetic differences between cancer tissues and their surrounding normal tissues. To study the field cancerization effect, we screened 89 systemic metastasis-related CNVs from morphologically normal tissues adjacent to colon cancers. Among these CNVs, LIM and senescent cell antigen-like domain 2 (PINCH-2) showed copy number amplification and upregulation of mRNA in the nonrelapsed group compared to the systemic relapse group. PINCH-2 expression in colon cancer cells was lower than that in normal epithelial colon cells at both the protein and mRNA levels. Suppression of PINCH-2 resulted in decreased formation of the PINCH-2-IPP (PINCH-2, integrin-linked kinase and α-parvin) complex and reciprocally increased formation of the PINCH-1-IPP complex. Although PINCH-2 expression of survival pathway-related proteins (Akt and phospho-Akt) did not change upon suppression of PINCH-2 expression, cell migration-related proteins [matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and -11] were upregulated through autocrine and paracrine activation. Thus, PINCH-2 participates in decreased systemic recurrence by competitively regulating IPP complex formation with PINCH-1, thereby suppressing autocrine and paracrine effects on motility in colon cancer. This genetic change in morphologically normal tissue suggests a field cancerization effect of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression.