CLPTM1L induces estrogen receptor β signaling-mediated radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Methylation, Gene Expression, and Risk Genotypes at the TERT-CLPTM1L Locus in Cervical Cancer

The reverse transcriptase subunit of telomerase, TERT, is frequently activated in high-grade dysplasia and invasive cancers of the uterine cervix. Telomerase activation through hypomethylation of the TERT promoter holds promise as a biomarker for cervical cancer progression, however, specific CpG sites involved in cervical cancer risk remain to be fully defined. A recent genome-wide association study on cervical cancer identified genetic polymorphisms at 5p13.33 (close to TERT-CLPTM1L) but the underlying mechanisms are undetermined. We investigated 529 CpG sites within the TERT promoter region and 3 CpG islands nearby, and 21 CpG sites within CLPTM1L in 190 bisulfite-converted cervical tumor DNA samples from BioRAIDs (NCT02428842). We identified eight CpG sites within TERT intron 2 where methylation was significantly associated with the genotypes of cervical cancer risk variants rs27070 and rs459961 in cervical tumors after multiple testing correction (p < 9.4 × 10E-5). Hypermethylation at chr5:1289663 correlated with decreased TERT mRNA levels. In an independent series of 188 normal or dysplastic cervical tissues, rare alleles of rs27070 and rs459961 were associated with low basal CLPTM1L levels and with the absence of TERT mRNA in HPV-negative samples, consistent with their proposed role as protective variants for cervical cancer. HPV infection was associated with increased CLPTM1L and TERT levels. Collectively, our results provide a link between cervical cancer risk variants, methylation, and gene expression and implicate both TERT and CLPTM1L as genes modulated by genomic background and HPV infection during cervical cancer development.

Cleft lip and palate transmembrane protein 1-like is a putative regulator of tumorigenesis and sensitization of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin

Background

Cervical cancer stands as one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide, yet the precise functions of host genes implicated in its pathogenesis remain elusive. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed a significant association between the CLPTM1L locus and cervical cancer risk in European women, and aberrant expression of CLPTM1L has been noted in various malignant tumors. However, the role of CLPTM1L in cervical cancer remains largely unexplored.

Methods

The expression of CLPTM1L in cervical cancer cells and tissues was detected by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, the potential biological functions of CLPTM1L in the context of cervical cancer were explored via RNA sequencing. Cell proliferation rates and the responsiveness of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay, while cell apoptosis was quantified through the utilization of flow cytometry. Nude mouse xenograft models were utilized to explore the impact of CLPTM1L on tumor formation in vivo.

Results

Our findings demonstrated a significant increase in CLPTM1L mRNA expression levels in HeLa and C33A cells, as well as in cervical carcinoma tissues, compared to ECT1/E6E7 cells and adjacent normal tissues. Genes related to CLPTM1L were found to be enriched in the Hedgehog signaling pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that reducing CLPTM1L expression markedly inhibited cell proliferation via downstream candidate genes BOC and LRP2. Furthermore, the downregulation of CLPTM1L was found to enhance cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis and increase the susceptibility of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin through DAP1.

Conclusions

CLPTM1L could impact cervical cancer cell proliferation and cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis, as well as cisplatin susceptibility in cervical cancer cells. This investigation has bestowed upon us novel insights into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, underscoring the potential of CLPTM1L as a promising target for chemotherapeutic sensitization in the management of this malignancy.

Estrogens, Cancer and Immunity

Sex hormones are included in many physiological and pathological pathways. Estrogens belong to steroid hormones active in female sex. Estradiol (E2) is the strongest female sex hormone and, with its receptors, contributes to oncogenesis, cancer progression and response to treatment. In recent years, a role of immunosurveillance and suppression of immune response in malignancy has been well defined, forming the basis for cancer immunotherapy. The interplay of sex hormones with cancer immunity, as well as the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, is of interest. In this review, we investigate the impact of sex hormones on natural immune response with respect to main active elements in anticancer immune surveillance: dendritic cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and checkpoint molecules. We describe the main sex-dependent tumors and the contribution of estrogen in their progression, response to treatment and especially modulation of anticancer immune response.

Estrogen Receptor β-Targeted Near-Infrared Inherently Fluorescent Probe: A Potent Tool for Estrogen Receptor β Research

Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is associated with many diseases, and ERβ probes can help to reveal the complex role of ERβ and promote the development of ERβ-targeted therapy. Herein, we designed and synthesized the first ERβ-targeted near-infrared (NIR) inherently fluorescent probe P5, which showed the advantages of high ERβ selectivity, good optical properties, and excellent ERβ imaging capability in living cells. The probe was successfully utilized to explore ERβ motion characteristic, and for the first time, the diffusion coefficient of ERβ was obtained. Moreover, P5 was also successfully applied to the in vivo imaging of ERβ in the prostate cancer mice model. Therefore, this ERβ-targeted NIR probe might be employed as a potential tool for the research of ERβ and related diseases.

Estrogen receptor beta promotes lung cancer invasion via increasing CXCR4 expression

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignant tumors in the world. The high recurrence and mortality rate make it urgent for scientists and clinicians to find new targets for better treatment of lung cancer. Early studies indicated that estrogen receptor β (ERβ) might impact the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the detailed mechanisms, especially its linkage to the CXCR4-mediated cell invasion, remain unclear. Here we found that ERβ could promote NSCLC cell invasion via increasing the circular RNA (circRNA), circ-TMX4, expression via directly binding to the 5′ promoter region of its host gene TMX4. ERβ-promoted circ-TMX4 could then sponge and inhibit the micro RNA (miRNA, miR), miR-622, expression, which can then result in increasing the CXCR4 messenger RNA translation via a reduced miRNA binding to its 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). The preclinical study using an in vivo mouse model with orthotopic xenografts of NSCLC cells confirmed the in vitro data, and the human NSCLC database analysis and tissue staining also confirmed the linkage of ERβ/miR-622/CXCR4 signaling to the NSCLC progression. Together, our findings suggest that ERβ can promote NSCLC cell invasion via altering the ERβ/circ-TMX4/miR-622/CXCR4 signaling, and targeting this newly circ-TMX4/miR-622/CXCR4 signaling may help us find new treatment strategies to better suppress NSCLC progression.

MiR-145 modulates the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells by suppression of TMOD3

Radioresistance is a major problem encountered in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression contributes to multiple cancer‑associated signaling pathways, and profoundly influences effects of radiotherapy (RT) in cancers. MicroRNA-145-5p (miR-145) is recognized as a tumor suppresser in NSCLC. However, the roles of miR-145 during radiotherapy of NSCLC are largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the function and underlying mechanism of miR-145 in modulation of radiosensitivity in NSCLC. We generated radioresistant H460 and A549 subclones, named H460R and A549R, respectively, and found that irradiation (IR) could suppress the expression levels of miR-145 in radioresistant NSCLC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-145 could sensitize radioresistant NSCLC cells to IR, while knockdown of miR-145 in NSCLC cells acted the converse manner. Mechanically, miR-145 was able to directly target 3'UTR of tropomodulin 3 (TMOD3) mRNA and decrease the expression of TMOD3 at the levels of mRNA and protein. Additionally, we confirmed that miR-145 could enhance the radiosensitivity of radioresistant NSCLC cells by targeting TMOD3 in vitro and in vivo, and could be used as a target in clinical treatment of NSCLC. Collectively, restoration of miR-145 expression increases the radiosensitivity of radioresistant NSCLC cells by suppression of TMOD3, and miR-145 can act as a new radiosensitizer for NSCLC therapy.

Estrogen Receptor ß in Cancer: To ß(e) or not to ß(e)?

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are known to play an important role in the proper development of estrogen-sensitive organs, as well as in the development and progression of various types of cancer. ERα, the first ER to be discovered, has been the focus of most cancer research, especially in the context of breast cancer. However, ERβ expression also plays a significant role in cancer pathophysiology, notably its seemingly protective nature and loss of expression with oncogenesis and progression. Although ERβ exhibits antitumor activity in breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer, its expression is associated with disease progression and worse prognosis in lung cancer. The function of ERβ is complicated by the presence of multiple isoforms and single nucleotide polymorphisms, in addition to tissue-specific functions. This mini-review explores current literature on ERβ and its mechanism of action and clinical implications in breast, ovarian, prostate, and lung cancer.