Upregulation of NETO2 expression correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis in colorectal carcinoma

Critical role of exosome, exosomal non-coding RNAs and non-coding RNAs in head and neck cancer angiogenesis

Head and neck cancer (HNC) refers to the epithelial malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract. HNCs have a constant yet slow-growing rate with an unsatisfactory overall survival rate globally. The development of new blood vessels from existing blood conduits is regarded as angiogenesis, which is implicated in the growth, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Aberrant angiogenesis is a known contributor to human cancer progression. Representing a promising therapeutic target, the blockade of angiogenesis aids in the reduction of the tumor cells oxygen and nutrient supplies. Despite the promise, the association of existing anti-angiogenic approaches with severe side effects, elevated cancer regrowth rates, and limited survival advantages is incontrovertible. Exosomes appear to have an essential contribution to the support of vascular proliferation, the regulation of tumor growth, tumor invasion, and metastasis, as they are a key mediator of information transfer between cells. In the exocrine region, various types of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) identified to be enriched and stable and contribute to the occurrence and progression of cancer. Mounting evidence suggest that exosome-derived ncRNAs are implicated in tumor angiogenesis. In this review, the characteristics of angiogenesis, particularly in HNC, and the impact of ncRNAs on HNC angiogenesis will be outlined. Besides, we aim to provide an insight on the regulatory role of exosomes and exosome-derived ncRNAs in angiogenesis in different types of HNC.

Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes colon cancer progression by changing the mucosal microbiota and colon transcriptome in a mouse model

BACKGROUND

Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) has long been known to cause opportunistic infections and has recently been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC), which has attracted broad attention. However, the mechanism by which it is involved in CRC development is not fully understood.

AIM

To explore its potential causative role in CRC development, we evaluated the colon pathology, mucosa barrier, colon microbiota and host transcriptome profile after F. nucleatum infection in an azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium salt (AOM/DSS) mouse model.

METHODS

Three groups of mice were compared to reveal the differences, i.e., the control, AOM/DSS-induced CRC and AOM/DSS-FUSO infection groups.

RESULTS

Both the AOM/DSS and AOM/DSS-FUSO groups exhibited a significantly reduced body weight and increased tumor numbers than the control group, and AOM/DSS mice with F. nucleatum infection showed the highest tumor formation ratio among the three groups. Moreover, the colon pathology was the most serious in the AOM/DSS-FUSO group. We found that the structure of the colon microbiota changed considerably after F. nucleatum infection; striking differences in mucosal microbial population patterns were observed between the AOM/DSS-FUSO and AOM/DSS groups, and inflammation-inducing bacteria were enriched in the mucosal microbiota in the AOM/DSS-FUSO group. By comparing intestinal transcriptomics data from AOM vs AOM/DSS-FUSO mice, we showed that transcriptional activity was strongly affected by dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. The most microbiota-sensitive genes were oncogenes in the intestine, and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, PPAR signaling pathway, retinol metabolism, mineral absorption and drug metabolism were highly enriched in the AOM/DSS-FUSO group. Additionally, we showed that microbial dysbiosis driven by F. nucleatum infection enriched eight taxa belonging to Proteobacteria, which correlates with increased expression of oncogenic genes.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that F. nucleatum infection altered the colon mucosal microbiota by enriching pathogens related to the development of CRC, providing new insights into the role of F. nucleatum in the oncogenic microbial environment of the colon.

Identification of key tumor stroma-associated transcriptional signatures correlated with survival prognosis and tumor progression in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The aberrant expression of stromal gene signatures in breast cancer has been widely studied. However, the association of stromal gene signatures with tumor immunity, progression, and clinical outcomes remains lacking.

METHODS

Based on eight breast tumor stroma (BTS) transcriptomics datasets, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BTS and normal breast stroma. Based on the DEGs, we identified dysregulated pathways and prognostic hub genes, hub oncogenes, hub protein kinases, and other key marker genes associated with breast cancer. Moreover, we compared the enrichment levels of stromal and immune signatures between breast cancer patients with bad and good clinical outcomes. We also investigated the association between tumor stroma-related genes and breast cancer progression.

RESULTS

The DEGs included 782 upregulated and 276 downregulated genes in BTS versus normal breast stroma. The pathways significantly associated with the DEGs included cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling, T cell receptor signaling, cell adhesion molecules, focal adhesion, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified the stromal hub genes with prognostic value in breast cancer, including two oncogenes (COL1A1 and IL21R), two protein kinases encoding genes (PRKACA and CSK), and a growth factor encoding gene (PLAU). Moreover, we observed that the patients with bad clinical outcomes were less enriched in stromal and antitumor immune signatures (CD8 + T cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) but more enriched in tumor cells and immunosuppressive signatures (MDSCs and CD4 + regulatory T cells) compared with the patients with good clinical outcomes. The ratios of CD8 + /CD4 + regulatory T cells were lower in the patients with bad clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we identified the tumor stroma-related genes, including MCM4, SPECC1, IMPA2, and AGO2, which were gradually upregulated through grade I, II, and III breast cancers. In contrast, COL14A1, ESR1, SLIT2, IGF1, CH25H, PRR5L, ABCA6, CEP126, IGDCC4, LHFP, MFAP3, PCSK5, RAB37, RBMS3, SETBP1, and TSPAN11 were gradually downregulated through grade I, II, and III breast cancers. It suggests that the expression of these stromal genes has an association with the progression of breast cancers. These progression-associated genes also displayed an expression association with recurrence-free survival in breast cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified tumor stroma-associated biomarkers correlated with deregulated pathways, tumor immunity, tumor progression, and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Our findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Identification of ARHGEF38, NETO2, GOLM1, and SAPCD2 Associated With Prostate Cancer Progression by Bioinformatic Analysis and Experimental Validation

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents one of the most prevalent types of cancers and is a large health burden for men. The pathogenic mechanisms of PCa still need further investigation. The aim of this study was to construct an effective signature to predict the prognosis of PCa patients and identify the biofunctions of signature-related genes. First, we screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PCa and normal control tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE46602 datasets, and we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to determine gene modules correlated with tumors. In total, 124 differentially co-expressed genes were retained. Additionally, five genes (ARHGEF38, NETO2, PRSS21, GOLM1, and SAPCD2) were identified to develop the prognostic signature based on TCGA dataset. The five-gene risk score was verified as an independent prognostic indicator through multivariate Cox regression analyses. The expression of the five genes involved in the signature was detected in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), and Oncomine databases. In addition, we utilized DiseaseMeth 2.0 and MEXPRESS for further analysis and found that abnormal methylation patterns may be a potential mechanism for these five DEGs in PCa. Finally, we observed that these genes, except PRSS21, were highly expressed in tumor samples and PCa cells. Functional experiments revealed that silencing ARHGEF38, NETO2, GOLM1, and SAPCD2 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of PCa cells. In summary, this prognostic signature had significant clinical significance for treatment planning and prognostic evaluation of patients with PCa. Thus, ARHGEF38, NETO2, GOLM1, and SAPCD2 may serve as oncogenes in PCa.

Intraoperative and postoperative complications of gynecological laparoscopic interventions: incidence and risk factors

Purpose

The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications of laparoscopic gynecological interventions and to identify risk factors for such complications.

Methods

All patients who underwent laparoscopic interventions from September 2013 to September 2017 at the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Saarland University Hospital were identified retrospectively using a prospectively compiled clinical database. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for intra- and postoperative complications.

Results

Data from 3351 patients were included in the final analysis. Overall, 188 (5.6%) intraoperative and 219 (6.5%) postoperative complications were detected. On multivariate analysis, age [odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.04], surgery duration (OR, 1.02; 95% CI 1.02–1.03), carbon dioxide use (OR, 0.99; 95% CI 0.99–1.00), and surgical indication (all p ≤ 0.01) were independent risk factors for intraoperative and duration of surgery (OR, 1.01; 95% CI 1.01–1.02; p ≤ 0.01), carbon dioxide use (OR, 0.99; 95% CI 0.99–1.00; p ≤ 0.01), hemoglobin drop (OR, 1.41; 95% CI 1.21–1.65; p ≤ 0.01), and ASA status (p = 0.04) for postoperative complications.

Conclusion

In this large retrospective analysis with a generally low incidence of complications (5.6% intraoperative and 6.5% postoperative complications), a representative risk collective was identified: Patients aged > 38 years, surgery duration > 99 min, benign or malignant adnex findings were at higher risk for intraoperative and patients with surgery duration > 94 min, hemoglobin drop > 2 g/dl and ASA status III at higher risk for postoperative complications.

The Transcriptomic Landscape of Prostate Cancer Development and Progression: An Integrative Analysis

Next-generation sequencing of primary tumors is now standard for transcriptomic studies, but microarray-based data still constitute the majority of available information on other clinically valuable samples, including archive material. Using prostate cancer (PC) as a model, we developed a robust analytical framework to integrate data across different technical platforms and disease subtypes to connect distinct disease stages and reveal potentially relevant genes not identifiable from single studies alone. We reconstructed the molecular profile of PC to yield the first comprehensive insight into its development, by tracking changes in mRNA levels from normal prostate to high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and metastatic disease. A total of nine previously unreported stage-specific candidate genes with prognostic significance were also found. Here, we integrate gene expression data from disparate sample types, disease stages and technical platforms into one coherent whole, to give a global view of the expression changes associated with the development and progression of PC from normal tissue through to metastatic disease. Summary and individual data are available online at the Prostate Integrative Expression Database (PIXdb), a user-friendly interface designed for clinicians and laboratory researchers to facilitate translational research.

NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) causes aggressive and lethal malignancies with extremely poor prognoses, and accounts for about 90% of cases of esophageal cancer. Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) protein coding genes have been associated with various human cancers. Nevertheless, little information is reported about the phenotypic expression and its clinical significance in ESCC progression. Here, our study found that NETO2 expression in ESCC patients was associated with tumor clinical stage and lymph node metastasis status. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses showed that NETO2 stimulated ESCC cell proliferation while suppressing apoptosis in vitro and enhanced tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, knockdown of NETO2 significantly inhibited migration and invasion in combination with regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers. Mechanistically, overexpression of NETO2 increased the phosphorylation of ERK, PI3k/AKT, and Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2(Nrf2), whereas silencing NETO2 decreased the phosphorylation of these targets. Our data suggest that Nrf2 was a critical downstream event responsible for triggering the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways and plays a crucial role in NETO2-mediated tumorigenesis. Taken together, NETO2 acts as an oncogene and might serve as a novel therapeutic target or prognostic biomarker in ESCC patients.

NETO2 Is Deregulated in Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer and Participates in Cellular Signaling

The NETO2 gene (neuropilin and tolloid-like 2) encodes a protein that acts as an accessory subunit of kainate receptors and is predominantly expressed in the brain. Upregulation of NETO2 has been observed in several tumors; however, its role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated NETO2 expression in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer using quantitative PCR (qPCR), as well as the effect of shRNA-mediated NETO2 silencing on transcriptome changes in colorectal cancer cells. In the investigated tumors, we observed both increased and decreased NETO2 mRNA levels, presenting no correlation with the main clinicopathological characteristics. In HCT116 cells, NETO2 knockdown resulted in the differential expression of 17 genes and 2 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), associated with the upregulation of circadian rhythm and downregulation of several cancer-associated pathways, including Wnt, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrated the possibility to utilize a novel model organism, short-lived fish Nothobranchius furzeri, for evaluating NETO2 functions. The ortholog neto2b in N. furzeri demonstrated a high similarity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences with human NETO2, as well as was characterized by stable expression in various fish tissues. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the deregulation of NETO2 in the breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer and its participation in the tumor development primarily through cellular signaling.

Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 regulates the progression of osteosarcoma

Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) is aberrantly expressed in various malignancies. However, its role in osteosarcoma (OS) remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify the function of NETO2 in OS cells. The expression of NETO2 in sarcoma tissues was determined using the GEPIA database, and the mRNA and protein expression of NETO2 in OS cells and OS tissue was also assessed. The biological effects of NETO2 on OS cells were determined by overexpressing and downregulating NETO2. Cell proliferation, invasion, migration, colony formation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in OS cells were evaluated. Consistent with the GEPIA database, expression of NETO2 was upregulated in human OS samples and cell lines. NETO2 overexpression not only promoted the proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of OS cells, but also activated the PI3K/AKT signaling. NETO2 downregulation resulted in opposite effects. Furthermore, after using an AKT inhibitor, the effects of NETO2 on OS cells were attenuated. In conclusion, this study showed that NETO2 functions as an oncogene of osteosarcomas by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Exosomal lncRNA FAM225A accelerates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression and angiogenesis via sponging miR-206 to upregulate NETO2 and FOXP1 expression

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. FAM225A is a novel lncRNA, only has been explored in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumorigenesis. This study aims to investigate the regulatory mechanism of FAM225A in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We discovered that FAM225A exhibited higher expression in ESCC. The silence of FAM225A attenuated cell viability, migration, and invasion, but facilitated cell apoptosis in ESCC. Exosome‐mediated transfer of lncRNA FAM225A could participate in ESCC progression. In addition, we found that miR‐206 bound to FAM225A. Moreover, we further demonstrated that FAM225A absorbed miR‐206 to upregulate NETO2 and FOXP1 expression, and FOXP1 acted as a transcription factor to enhance FAM225A expression. Eventually, it was revealed that the overexpression of NETO2 or FOXP1 rescued the effects of FAM225A repression on ESCC progression. Our results suggested that FAM225A upregulated NETO2 and FOXP1 expression by sponging miR‐206 to accelerate ESCC progression and angiogenesis. These results determined the biological role of lncRNA FAM225A in ESCC tumorigenesis, and FAM225A may be a promising biomarker for ESCC treatment.

A transcriptomic study for identifying cardia- and non-cardia-specific gastric cancer prognostic factors using genetic algorithm-based methods

Gastric cancer (GC) is a heterogeneous tumour with numerous differences of epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features between cardia cancer and non-cardia cancer. However, few studies were performed to construct site-specific GC prognostic models. In this study, we identified site-specific GC transcriptomic prognostic biomarkers using genetic algorithm (GA)-based support vector machine (GA-SVM) and GA-based Cox regression method (GA-Cox) in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The area under time-dependent receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) regarding 5-year survival and concordance index (C-index) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of Cox regression models. Finally, we identified 10 and 13 prognostic biomarkers for cardia cancer and non-cardia cancer, respectively. Compared to traditional models, the addition of these site-specific biomarkers could notably improve the model preference (cardia: AUC_traditional vs AUC_combined  = 0.720 vs 0.899, P = 8.75E-08; non-cardia: AUC_traditional vs AUC_combined  = 0.798 vs 0.994, P = 7.11E-16). The combined nomograms exhibited superior performance in cardia and non-cardia GC survival prediction (C-index_cardia  = 0.816; C-index_noncardia  = 0.812). We also constructed a user-friendly GC site-specific molecular system (GC-SMS, https://njmu-zhanglab.shinyapps.io/gc_sms/), which is freely available for users. In conclusion, we developed site-specific GC prognostic models for predicting cardia cancer and non-cardia cancer survival, providing more support for the individualized therapy of GC patients.

NETO2 promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration via activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway

Purpose: The biological functions of neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) in the progression of pancreatic cancer remained unexplored. We aimed to investigate the biological roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of NETO2 in pancreatic cancer.

Materials and methods: Thirty paired pancreatic tumor tissue samples and corresponding nontumor tissues were obtained from 30 pancreatic cancer patients who did not receive preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The changes in multiple cellular functions associated with tumor progression were assessed after NETO2 knockdown/overexpression in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Additionally, a mouse-xenograft model was developed to verify the in vitro results.

Results:NETO2 was upregulated in pancreatic tumor tissues. Elevated expression of NETO2 was not only associated with an advanced tumor stage, but was also a prediction of poor prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients. Knockdown of NETO2 in pancreatic cancer cell lines arrested the cell cycle and inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration; in contrast, overexpression of NETO2 had an opposite effect on all of these parameters. A STAT3 specific inhibitor, cryptotanshinone, reversed the tumor-promoting effects induced by NETO2 overexpression in pancreatic cancer. Western blot analysis showed that invasion and migration were closely related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and that the STAT3 signaling pathway was involved in NETO2-mediated oncogenic transformation in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, NETO2 knockdown significantly inhibited the growth of pancreatic tumor xenografts in nude mice.

Conclusion:NETO2 has an important role in the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer and could serve as a novel candidate for targeted therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Reducing NETO2 expression prevents human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) progression by suppressing metastasis and inducing apoptosis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the most common cancer in head and neck regions, is a serious health problem worldwide. Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2), a member of the subfamily of CUB domain and LDLa-containing proteins, has been suggested to be involved in tumor progression. Nevertheless, little is known about the function and molecular mechanism of NETO2 in NPC progression. In the study, NETO2 was found to be significantly up-regulated in clinical tissues and NPC cell lines. NETO2 expression was positively correlated with tumor size. NETO2 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NPC cell lines. Significantly, NETO2 knockdown promoted the radiotherapy in vitro, as evidenced by the further reduced cell proliferation and metastasis in NPC cells using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation and transwell analysis. In addition, NETO2 inhibition markedly induced apoptosis in NPC cells through activating Caspase-3 signaling. Also, the knockdown of NETO2 obviously promoted the efficacy of radiotherapy in apoptosis induction, along with higher expression of cleaved Caspase-3. NETO2 knockdown-triggered apoptosis in NPC cells were considerably diminished by Caspase-3 inactivation, demonstrating the essential role of Caspase-3 in NETO2-regulated NPC development. Moreover, in vivo experiments suggested that NETO2 knockdown promoted radiation-induced tumor growth suppression in the absence of significant side effects. Collectively, reducing NETO2 expression might elevate the efficiency of radiotherapy in NPC patients.

NETO2 promotes invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells via activation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB/Snail axis and predicts outcome of the patients

Aberrant expression of neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) has been observed during the progression of some human carcinomas. However, the expression pattern and clinical relevance of NETO2 in gastric cancer (GC) remain to be elucidated. In this study, we found that NETO2 expression was higher in GC tissues compared with paired non-cancerous tissues. Moreover, the expression of NETO2 was positively correlated with clinical stage, invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size, but inversely correlated with overall and disease-free survival rates. Cox regression analysis identified NETO2 as an independent prognostic indicator for GC patients. Overexpression of NETO2 facilitated migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro and metastasis in vivo in association with induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conversely, knockdown of NETO2 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, silencing NETO2 reduced the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, and NF-κB p65 as well as the expression of Snail, whereas NETO2 overexpression achieved the opposite results. Furthermore, we identified TNFRSF12A as a mediator for NETO2 to activate PI3K/AKT/NF-κB/Snail axis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that NETO2 promotes invasion and metastasis of GC cells and represents a novel prognostic indicator as well as a potential therapeutic target in GC.

Comprehensive, integrated, and phased whole-genome analysis of the primary ENCODE cell line K562

K562 is widely used in biomedical research. It is one of three tier-one cell lines of ENCODE and also most commonly used for large-scale CRISPR/Cas9 screens. Although its functional genomic and epigenomic characteristics have been extensively studied, its genome sequence and genomic structural features have never been comprehensively analyzed. Such information is essential for the correct interpretation and understanding of the vast troves of existing functional genomics and epigenomics data for K562. We performed and integrated deep-coverage whole-genome (short-insert), mate-pair, and linked-read sequencing as well as karyotyping and array CGH analysis to identify a wide spectrum of genome characteristics in K562: copy numbers (CN) of aneuploid chromosome segments at high-resolution, SNVs and indels (both corrected for CN in aneuploid regions), loss of heterozygosity, megabase-scale phased haplotypes often spanning entire chromosome arms, structural variants (SVs), including small and large-scale complex SVs and nonreference retrotransposon insertions. Many SVs were phased, assembled, and experimentally validated. We identified multiple allele-specific deletions and duplications within the tumor suppressor gene FHIT. Taking aneuploidy into account, we reanalyzed K562 RNA-seq and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing data for allele-specific expression and allele-specific DNA methylation. We also show examples of how deeper insights into regulatory complexity are gained by integrating genomic variant information and structural context with functional genomics and epigenomics data. Furthermore, using K562 haplotype information, we produced an allele-specific CRISPR targeting map. This comprehensive whole-genome analysis serves as a resource for future studies that utilize K562 as well as a framework for the analysis of other cancer genomes.

Biomarkers Associated with Tumor Heterogeneity in Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancers exhibit intratumor heterogeneity (ITH), like other cancer types. The ITH may affect diverse phenotypes such as treatment response, drug resistance, and clinical outcomes. It is crucial to consider ITH to understand tumorigenesis. METHODS: Genomic and transcriptomic profiles of prostate cancer patients were investigated to determine which markers are correlated with the degree of tumor heterogeneity. In addition, the correlation between the immune activity and clonality of tumors was examined. RESULTS: Tumor heterogeneity across all prostate cancer samples was variable. However, ITH events were dependent on genomic and clinical features. Interestingly, prostate-specific antigen score increased in tumors with multiple subclones, indicating high-grade tumor heterogeneity. On the other hand, CD8-positive T-cell activation decreased in highly heterogeneous tumors. Intriguingly, PTEN deletion was prominently enriched in high heterogeneity groups, with a strong association with heterozygous loss. Expression of major genes including PTEN, CDC42EP5, RNLS, GP2, NETO2, and AMPD3 was closely related to tumor heterogeneity in association with PTEN deletion. CONCLUSIONS: In prostate cancer, ITH, a potential factor affecting tumor progression, is associated with PTEN deletion and cytotoxic T cell inactivation.

Upregulation of NETO2 gene in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) is a single-pass transmembrane protein that has been shown primarily implicated in neuron-specific processes. Upregulation of NETO2 gene was also detected in several cancer types. In colorectal cancer (CRC), it was associated with tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis, and seems to be involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the mechanism of NETO2 action is still poorly understood.

RESULTS

We have revealed significant increase in the expression of NETO2 gene and deregulation of eight EMT-related genes in CRC. Four of them were upregulated (TWIST1, SNAIL1, LEF1, and FOXA2); the mRNA levels of other genes (FOXA1, BMP2, BMP5, and SMAD7) were decreased. Expression of NETO2 gene was weakly correlated with that of genes involved in the EMT process.

CONCLUSIONS

We found considerable NETO2 upregulation, but no significant correlation between the expression of NETO2 and EMT-related genes in CRC. Thus, NETO2 may be involved in CRC progression, but is not directly associated with EMT.

The Prognostic Value of Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) has previously been reported as an oncogene in prostate, breast and colorectal cancers, but its prognostic value, biological behavior and function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been investigated. Methods: qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect PBR expression in ESCC and matched non-cancerous tissues. Based on all of the significantly independent factors, a nomogram was established to predict the prognosis of ESCC patients. In addition, we performed comprehensive in vitro experiments to study the functions of PBR in cell growth, colony formation, and migration ability, as well as its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins in ESCC cells. Results: The mRNA and protein expression levels of PBR in ESCC were higher than those in adjacent non-tumor esophageal epithelial tissues. The IHC results demonstrated that PBR expression was an independent prognostic factor in ESCC survival, patients with higher PBR expression had a poorer survival than those with low expression, and PBR expression was significantly associated with lymphoid nodal status. Furthermore, a nomogram was established to reliably predict the probability of death in ESCC patients, with a Harrell's c-index of 0.696. In the vitro experiments, knocking down the expression of PBR inhibited proliferation, colony formation and migration of ESCC cells, and regulated EMT-associated proteins (up-regulation of E-cadherin, ZO-1 and β-catenin and concomitant with down-regulation of Fibronectin and N-cadherin). Conclusions: PBR is an independent prognostic factor in ESCC, and it promotes ESCC progression and metastasis. Basing on PBR expression level, a nomogram is established and performs a well in predicting survival of ESCC patients.

Microarray analyses reveal genes related to progression and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a high morbidity and mortality cancer in China. Here are few biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Our study was aimed to identify candidate genes correlated to ESCC. Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus were retrieved for eligible ESCC data. Deregulated genes were identified by meta-analysis and validated by an independent dataset. Survival analyses and bioinformatics analyses were used to explore potential mechanisms. Copy number variant analyses identified upstream mechanisms of candidate genes. In our study, top 200 up/down-regulated genes were identified across two microarrays. A total of 139 different expression genes were validated in GSE53625. Survival analysis found that nine genes were closely related to prognosis. Furthermore, Gene Ontology analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that different expression genes were mainly enriched in cell division, cell cycle and cell-cell adhesion pathways. Copy number variant analyses indicated that overexpression of ECT2 and other five genes were correlated with copy number amplification. The current study demonstrated that ECT2 and other eight candidate genes were correlated to progression and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which might provide novel insights to the mechanisms.