Association between Catechol-O-methyltransferase rs4680 (G>A) polymorphism and lung cancer risk

Catechol-O-methyl transferase suppresses cell invasion and interplays with MET signaling in estrogen dependent breast cancer

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) is involved in detoxification of catechol estrogens, playing cancer-protective role in cells producing or utilizing estrogen. Moreover, COMT suppressed migration potential of breast cancer (BC) cells. To delineate COMT role in metastasis of estrogen receptor (ER) dependent BC, we investigated the effect of COMT overexpression on invasion, transcriptome, proteome and interactome of MCF7 cells, a luminal A BC model, stably transduced with lentiviral vector carrying COMT gene (MCF7-COMT). 2D and 3D assays revealed that COMT overexpression associates with decreased cell invasion (p < 0.0001 for Transwell assay, p < 0.05 for spheroid formation). RNA-Seq and LC-DIA-MS/MS proteomics identified genes associated with invasion (FTO, PIR, TACSTD2, ANXA3, KRT80, S100P, PREX1, CLEC3A, LCP1) being downregulated in MCF7-COMT cells, while genes associated with less aggressive phenotype (RBPMS, ROBO2, SELENBP, EPB41L2) were upregulated both at transcript (|log2FC|> 1, adj. p < 0.05) and protein (|log2FC|> 0.58, q < 0.05) levels. Importantly, proteins driving MET signaling were less abundant in COMT overexpressing cells, and pull-down confirmed interaction between COMT and Kunitz-type protease inhibitor 2 (SPINT2), a negative regulator of MET (log2FC = 5.10, q = 1.04-7). In conclusion, COMT may act as tumor suppressor in ER dependent BC not only by detoxification of catechol estrogens but also by suppressing cell invasion and interplay with MET pathway.

Impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms and cigarette smoking on cancer risk and survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a disease involving genetic and lifestyle risk factors such as smoking or high-risk papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infections. This study analyzed 92 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with smoking and HPV on HNSCC cancer risk and survival among HNSCC patients. Eighty-six HNSCC patients (48 non-smoking and 38 smoking) were consecutively included. Differences were detected in the analysis of survival and SNP genotypes located in the CXCR2 and COMT. Five SNPs in genes PRKDC, TGFb, XRCC1, Cyp2A6 and CTLA4 were found to be different when comparing SNP genotypes in all patients and all controls as a risk of HNSCC. When comparing SNP genotypes among smoking patients and smoking controls, six SNPs in the genes PFR1, IL10, CCL4, IL6, Ku70, and PRF1 were detected. When comparing SNP genotypes, nine SNPs in CHRNA3, PRKDC, CHARNA5, IFN-γ, ESR1, XRCC1, Cyp2A6, CTLA4, and COMT were different in non-smoking patients and non-smoking controls. No association was found between SNP distribution or patient survival and the impact of HR-HPV. The SNPs differed between smokers and non-smokers and could indicate a possible interaction between genetics and smoking. This could play an important role in a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HNSCC.

Comparative Proteome Profiling and Mutant Protein Identification in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells by Quantitative Mass Spectrometry-based Proteogenomics

BACKGROUND/AIM

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequent cancer found in males worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify new biomarkers using mutated peptides for the prognosis and prediction of advanced PCa, based on proteogenomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The tryptic peptides were analyzed by tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics. Proteogenomics were used to identify mutant peptides as novel biomarkers in advanced PCa.

RESULTS

Using a human database, increased levels of INTS7 and decreased levels of SH3BGRL were found to be associated with the aggressiveness of PCa. Using proteogenomics and a cancer mutation database, 70 mutant peptides were identified in PCa cell lines. Using parallel reaction monitoring, the expression of seven mutant peptides was found to be altered in tumors, amongst which CAPN2 D22E was the most significantly up-regulated mutant peptide in PCa tissues.

CONCLUSION

Altered mutant peptides present in PCa tissue could be used as new biomarkers in advanced PCa.

Interaction Between Environmental Risk Factors and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) and X-Ray Repair Cross-Complementing Protein 1 (XRCC1) Gene Polymorphisms in Risk of Lung Cancer Among Non-Smoking Chinese Women: A Case-Control Study

Backgrpound

Various studies have highlighted the link between polymorphisms in the XRCC1 gene (encoding X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1) with the incidence of decreased DNA repair capacity and an increased predisposition to cancer. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a crucial role in estrogen-induced cancers. In the present study was analyzed the potential influence of XRCC1 and COMT gene polymorphisms as predisposing factors from a lung cancer perspective, in addition to conducting an investigation into their interaction with environmental risk factors in relation to lung cancer among non-smoking Chinese women.

Material/Methods

The XRCC1 gene T-77C, Arg194Trp, Arg280His, Arg399Gln, COMT gene 186C>T, and Val158Met mutations were evaluated in peripheral blood collected from 261 non-smoking female patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer and 265 female patients with benign lung disease.

Result

The results obtained from this study demonstrated that XRCC1–77TC + CC, XRCC1 399Gln/Gln, COMT 186CT + TT, COMT 158Val/Met genotypes, type of occupation, cooking-oil fumes, and soot exposures were all independent risk factors involved with the occurrence of lung cancer among non-smoking women. Moreover, interactions between environmental exposure factors as well as XRCC1 and COMT gene polymorphisms were determined to play significant contributory roles regarding susceptibility of non-smoking females to lung cancer.

Conclusions

Taken together, T-77C and Arg399Gln polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene, as well as the 186C>T and Val158Met polymorphisms of the COMT gene, increased the risk of lung cancer in non-smoking women, with the factors of occupation type, cooking-oil fumes, and soot exposures representing key contributing factors.

The Val158Met polymorphism in COMT gene and cancer risk: role of endogenous and exogenous catechols

Catechol-O-methyltransferase, COMT, is an important phase II enzyme catalyzing the transfer of a methyl-group from S-adenosylmethionine to a catechol-containing substrate molecule. A genetic variant Val158Met in the COMT gene leads to a several-fold decrease in the enzymatic activity giving rise to the accumulation of potentially carcinogenic endogenous catechol estrogens and their reactive intermediates and increasing thus the risk of tumorigenesis. However, numerous association studies between the COMT genotype and susceptibility to various malignancies have shown inconsistent and controversial findings indicating that additional gene-gene and gene-environment interactions might be crucial in modulating the physiological role of the COMT. In this review article, the important contribution of dietary catechol-containing flavonoids to modification of the relationships between the COMT genotype and cancer risk is discussed. Whereas, the diverse anticancer activities of common phytochemicals, such as green tea polyphenols, quercetin, fisetin or luteolin, can be markedly changed (both decreased or increased) by the COMT-mediated O-methylation of these exogenous substrates, flavonoids can also behave as potent inhibitors of the COMT enzyme slowing detoxification of endogenous catechol estrogens. Such a many-featured functioning of the COMT and its complex regulation by several different genetic and environmental factors, including plant-based food ingredients, emphasizes the necessity to further stratify the association studies between the COMT genotype and tumor risk by consumption of catechol-containing dietary flavonoids. Currently, it can be only speculated that some of the possible associations might be masked by the regular intake of specific food polyphenols, taking effect in certain communities or populations.

Polymorphism of HSD17B1 Ser312Gly with Cancer Risk: Evidence from 66,147 Subjects

Hydroxysteroid (17-beta)dehydrogenase 1(HSD17B1) plays a central role in sex steroid hormone metabolism. HSD17B1 polymorphic variants may contribute to cancer susceptibility. Numerous investigations have been conducted to assess the association between HSD17B1 Ser312Gly polymorphism and cancer risk in multiple ethnicities, yet these have produced inconsistent results. We therefore performed this comprehensive meta-analysis to attempt to provide a quality assessment of the association of interest. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the strength of associations. After a systematic literature search of several major public databases, 20 studies involving 29,460 cases and 36,687 controls were included in this meta-analysis. No significant association was found between HSD17B1 Ser312Gly polymorphism and cancer risk. However, Ser312Gly polymorphism showed a significantly decreased risk for Caucasians (there were 44,284 Caucasians for analysis, comprising 19,889 cases and 24,395 controls) in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity (dominant: OR = 0.958, 95% CI = 0.919–0.998; and allele comparing: OR = 0.973, 95% CI = 0.947–0.999). And there was the same trend towards risk in the population-based (PB) controls (homozygous: OR = 0.951, 95% CI = 0.908–0.997 and allele comparing: OR = 0.976, 95% CI = 0.954–0.999), but not among Asians or hospital-based (HB) controls. In addition, no association was observed in the stratified analysis for breast cancer studies by source of control, ethnicity and quality score. These findings suggested that the HSD17B1 Ser312Gly polymorphism might confer genetic cancer susceptibility in an ethnic-dependent manner, especially among Caucasians. Well-designed, large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Association between the COMT 158 G/A polymorphism and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) 158 G/A gene polymorphism seem to associate with lung cancer, but the results are inconclusive. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the association between COMT 158 G/A gene polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility. We searched PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese science and technology periodical database (VIP) and Wanfang databases up to March 25, 2015 for articles on the connection between the COMT 158 G/A polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the connection. STATA (Version 12.0) was adopted for data analysis. Overall, 6 articles of 7 studies including 2,293 cases and 2,768 controls were included in our meta-analysis. In general analysis, no significant association was found between COMT 158 G/A polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer (AA + AG vs. GG: OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.90-1.44, P=0.28). However, in subgroup analysis of different method of genotyping, we found significant increase of lung cancer risk (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.04-1.62, I(2)=61.5%, P=0.02), also there was significant association between COMT 158 G/A polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer in Chinese non-smoker women of unsorted cancer type (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.24-1.77, I(2)=0%, P=0.00). The study indicates that COMT 158 G/A G->A gene transition might contribute to lung cancer, especially in Chinese non-smoker women.

Association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and risk of cancer: evidence from 99 case-control studies

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a central role in DNA repair and estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Many recent epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and cancer risk, but the results are inconclusive. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between cancer susceptibility and COMT Val158Met in different genetic models. Overall, no significant associations were found between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and cancer risk (homozygote model: odds ratio [OR] =1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.98, 1.13]; heterozygote model: OR =1.01, 95% CI = [0.98, 1.04]; dominant model: OR =1.02, 95% CI [0.97, 1.06], and recessive model: OR =1.03, 95% CI [0.97, 1.09]). In the subgroup analysis of cancer type, COMT Val158Met was significantly associated with increased risks of bladder cancer in recessive model, and esophageal cancer in homozygote model, heterozygote model, and dominant model. Subgroup analyses based on ethnicities, COMT Val158Met was significantly associated with increased risk of cancer in homozygote and recessive model among Asians. In addition, homozygote, recessive, and dominant models were significantly associated with increased cancer risk in the subgroup of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction genotyping. Significant associations were not observed when data were stratified by the source of the controls. In summary, this meta-analysis suggested that COMT Val158Met polymorphism might not be a risk factor for overall cancer risk, but it might be involved in cancer development at least in some ethnic groups (Asian) or some specific cancer types (bladder and esophageal cell cancer). Further evaluations of more preclinical and epidemiological studies are required.