KLF7: a new candidate biomarker and therapeutic target for high-grade serous ovarian cancer

UKLF/PCBP2 axis governs the colorectal cancer development by transcriptionally activating SLC39A4

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors with limited treatment options. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate new therapeutic targets against CRC. Ubiquitous Kruppel-like factor (UKLF) is involved in various cancer processes, but its effect and detailed molecular mechanism in CRC are not yet fully understood. Here, this study aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of UKLF in the development of CRC. The results showed that UKLF was highly expressed in CRC tissues from clinical patients and its high expression was related to poor prognosis. UKLF promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibited cell apoptosis. The promotion effect of UKLF on tumor growth was further confirmed in vivo. As far as the mechanism was concerned, poly (C) binding protein 2 (PCBP2) was verified to bind to the 3'-UTR of UKLF mRNA and enhance its mRNA stability. Moreover, UKLF modulated the expression of solute carrier family 39 member 4 (SLC39A4) at the transcriptional level. Taken together, these findings elucidated the regulatory mechanism of UKLF and uncovered the importance of the PCBP2/UKLF/SLC39A4 pathway. The targeting of UKLF may be a novel direction for molecular-targeted CRC therapy.

Selected markers of ovarian cancer and their relation to targeted therapy (Review)

Despite advances in surgical treatment techniques and chemotherapy-including anti-angiogenic and immune poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, the 5-year survival rate in ovarian cancer (OC) remains low. The reasons for this are the diagnosis of cancer in advanced clinical stages, chemoresistance and cancer recurrence. New therapeutic approaches are being developed, including the search for new biomarkers that are also targets for targeted therapy. The present review describes new molecular markers with relevance to targeted therapy, which to date have been studied only in experimental research. These include the angiogenic protein angiopoietin-2, the transmembrane glycoprotein ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1, the adhesion protein E-cadherin, the TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 and Kruppel-like factor 7. Drugs affecting cancer stem cells (CSCs) in OC, such as metformin and salinomycin, as well as inhibitors of CSCs markers aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (with the drug ATRA) and the transcription factor Nanog homeobox (microRNA) are also discussed. A new approach to prevention and possible therapies under investigation such as development of vaccines containing a subpopulation of CD117(+) and CD44(+) stem cells with a promising option for use in women with OC was described.

Abnormal expression of Krüppel-like transcription factors and their potential values in lung cancer

Lung cancer still is one of the most common malignancy tumors in the world. However, the mechanisms of its occurrence and development have not been fully elucidated. Zinc finger protein family (ZNFs) is the largest transcription factor family in human genome. Recently, the more and more basic and clinical evidences have confirmed that ZNFs/Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) refer to a group of conserved zinc finger-containing transcription factors that are involved in lung cancer progression, with the functions of promotion, inhibition, dual roles and unknown classifications. Based on the recent literature, some of the oncogenic KLFs are promising molecular biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis or therapeutic targets of lung cancer. Interestingly, a novel computational approach has been proposed by using machine learning on features calculated from primary sequences, the XGBoost-based model with accuracy of 96.4 % is efficient in identifying KLF proteins. This paper reviews the recent some progresses of the oncogenic KLFs with their potential values for diagnosis, prognosis and molecular target in lung cancer.

KLF7 regulates super-enhancer-driven IGF2BP2 overexpression to promote the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) is known for its high aggressiveness and susceptibility to cervical lymph node metastasis, which greatly contributes to its poor prognosis. During tumorigenesis, many types of cancer cells acquire oncogenic super-enhancers (SEs) that drive the overexpression of oncogenes, thereby maintaining malignant progression. This study aimed to identify and validate the role of oncogenic SE-associated genes in the malignant progression of HNSCC.

METHODS

We identified HNSCC cell-specific SE-associated genes through H3K27Ac ChIP-seq and overlapped them with HNSCC-associated genes obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify hub genes. The expression of IGF2BP2 and KLF7 in HNSCC was detected using clinical samples. To determine the biological role of IGF2BP2, we performed CCK-8, colony formation assay, Transwell migration assay, invasion assay, and orthotopic xenograft model experiments. Furthermore, we utilized a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system, small-molecule inhibitors, ChIP-qPCR, and dual-luciferase reporter assays to investigate the molecular mechanisms of IGF2BP2 and its upstream transcription factors.

RESULTS

Our study identified IGF2BP2 as a hub SE-associated gene that exhibited aberrant expression in HNSCC tissues. Increased expression of IGF2BP2 was observed to be linked with malignant progression and unfavorable prognosis in HNSCC patients. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that IGF2BP2 promotes the tumorigenicity and metastasis of HNSCC by promoting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, the IGF2BP2-SE region displayed enrichment for H3K27Ac, BRD4, and MED1, which led to the inhibition of IGF2BP2 transcription and expression through deactivation of the SE-associated transcriptional program. Additionally, KLF7 was found to induce the transcription of IGF2BP2 and directly bind to its promoter and SE regions. Moreover, the abundance of KLF7 exhibited a positive correlation with the abundance of IGF2BP2 in HNSCC. Patients with high expression of both KLF7 and IGF2BP2 showed poorer prognosis. Lastly, we demonstrated that the small molecule inhibitor JQ1, targeting BRD4, attenuated the proliferation and metastatic abilities of HNSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals the critical role of IGF2BP2 overexpression mediated by SE and KLF7 in promoting HNSCC progression. Targeting SE-associated transcriptional programs may represent a potential therapeutic strategy in managing HNSCC.

Modulation of Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) interaction with their binding partners in cancers through acetylation and phosphorylation

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of transcription factors regulate transcriptional activity and play a key role in essentially all biological processes and generate indispensable insight towards biological function including activity state, subcellular localization, protein solubility, protein folding, substrate trafficking, and protein-protein interactions. Amino acids modified chemically via PTMs, function as molecular switches and affect the protein function and characterization and increase the proteome complexity. Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLFs) control essential cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, migration, programmed cell death and various cancer-relevant processes. We investigated the interactions of KLF group-2 members with their binding partners to assess the role of acetylation and phosphorylation in KLFs on their binding affinity. It was observed that acetylation and phosphorylation at different positions in KLFs have a variable effect on binding with specific partners. KLF2-EP300, KLF4-SP1, KLF6-ATF3, KLF6-JUN, and KLF7-JUN show stabilization upon acetylation or phosphorylation at variable positions. On the other hand, KLF4-CBP, KLF4-EP300, KLF5-CBP, KLF5-WWP1, KLF6-SP1, and KLF7-ATF3 show stabilization or destabilization due to acetylation or phosphorylation at variable positions in KLFs. This provides a molecular explanation of the experimentally observed dual role of KLF group-2 members as a suppressor or activator of cancers in a PTM-dependent manner.

miR-520f-3p blocks MNNG-induced gastric precancerous lesions via the KLF7/NFκB pathway

Studying the regulatory mechanism of gastric disease progression to gastric cancer (GC) is essential. miR-520f expression is down-regulated in GC and inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, suggesting that it is associated with the development of GC, but whether it plays a role in the gastric precancerous lesion (GPL) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of miR-520f-3p in the N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced GPL model and to elucidate the role of its downstream target gene Kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) in it. The experimental results showed that miR-520f-3p expression was down-regulated in the MNNG-induced GES-1 cell model, and overexpression of miR-520f-3p reversed the effects of MNNG on cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related protein expression. Meanwhile, overexpression of KLF7 attenuated the effect of miR-520f-3p on GPL. In a mouse GPL model, it was observed that MNNG elicited inflammation and EMT processes in mouse gastric tissues through the KLF7/ Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NFκB) pathway, and silencing KLF7 alleviated MNNG-induced gastric epithelial cell injury and gastric atrophy symptoms. These results provide a new perspective for understanding the development of GPL, and the development of new therapies targeting miR-520f-3p and KLF7 may provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

KLF7 promotes colon adenocarcinoma progression through the PDGFB signaling pathway

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the most common malignancy of the digestive tract, which is characterized by a dismal prognosis. No effective treatment has been established presently, thus there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms driving COAD progression in order to develop effective therapeutic approaches and enhance clinical outcomes. In this study, we found that KLF7 is overexpressed in COAD tissues and correlated with clinicopathological features of COAD. Both gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments have unequivocally demonstrated that overexpression of KLF7 promotes the growth and metastasis of COAD in vitro and in vivo, while KLF7 knockdown attenuated these effects. Mechanistically, our findings reveal that KLF7 can specifically bind to the promoter region of PDGFB (TGGGTGGAG), thus promoting the transcription of PDGFB and increasing its secretion. Subsequently, secreted PDGFB facilitates the progression of COAD by activating MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways through PDGFRβ. Additionally, we found that sunitinib can block PDGFB signaling and inhibit COAD progression, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for COAD treatment.

The Oncogenic Role of KLF7 in Colon Adenocarcinoma and Therapeutic Perspectives

Colon adenocarcinoma, a highly prevalent and aggressive form of colorectal cancer, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its molecular mechanisms to identify potential therapeutic targets. The Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7), a transcription factor, has been associated with various malignancies, yet its specific role in colon adenocarcinoma remains largely unexplored. Here, we aimed to determine the expression and functional significance of KLF7 in colon adenocarcinoma. Our findings revealed a significant upregulation of KLF7 expression in colon adenocarcinoma tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, elevated KLF7 expression correlated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival in colon adenocarcinoma patients. Functional assays demonstrated that silencing KLF7 resulted in reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, indicating its involvement in promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, we identified potential downstream targets of KLF7, including genes associated with cell cycle regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These results underscore the tumor-promoting role of KLF7 in colon adenocarcinoma, positioning it as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for this aggressive disease.

Knockdown of KLF7 inhibits the differentiation of both intramuscular and subcutaneous preadipocytes in goat

KLF7 belongs to the Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) family, which function as transcriptional regulators controlling a number of basic cellular processes, involving proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Here, we reveal insights into the differentiated expression of KLF7 in different goat tissues and different stages of growth, and the inhibition role of KLF7 knockdown to differentiation by using goat intramuscular and subcutaneous preadipocytes. We demonstrate that KLF7 expression is obviously changed during the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. Knockdown of KLF7 inhibited lipid droplet accumulation, reduced the expression of adipogenic markers both in intramuscular and subcutaneous preadipocytes in goats, suggesting that KLF7 is a novel regulator of adipogenesis. KLF7 expression changed also up or down-regulation the other KLF family members, but there were differences between these two types of cells. Investigation into the mechanism that KLF7 regulates preadipocyte differentiation revealed that KLF family members KLF1, KLF5, KLF6, KLF8, KLF11, KLF12, KLF16, KLF17 and adipogenic markers C/EBPα and SREBP1 promoter region present KLF7 transcriptional binding sites. Altogether, the data here identify KLF7 as a novel regulator of adipogenesis.

HMGB1-mediated elevation of KLF7 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis through upregulating TLR4 and PTK2

Background: Metastasis is a major cause of HCC-related deaths with no effective pharmacotherapies. Chronic inflammation promotes HCC dissemination, however, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) in inflammation-provoked HCC metastasis and proposed therapeutic strategies for KLF7-positive patients. Methods: The expression of KLF7 in human HCC specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. The luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to explore the transcriptional regulation related to KLF7. Orthotopic xenograft models and DEN/CCl4-induced HCC models were established to evaluate HCC progression and metastasis. Results: KLF7 overexpression promotes HCC metastasis through transactivating toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) expression. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) upregulates KLF7 expression through the TLR4/advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (RAGE)-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB pathway, forming an HMGB1-KLF7-TLR4 positive feedback loop. The HMGB1-KLF7-TLR4/PTK2 axis is gradually activated during the progression of inflammation-HCC transition. Genetic depletion of KLF7 impedes HMGB1-mediated HCC progression and metastasis. The combined application of TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 and PTK2 inhibitor defactinib alleviates HCC progression and metastasis induced by the HMGB1-KLF7 axis. In human HCCs, KLF7 expression is positively correlated with cytoplasmic HMGB1, p-p65, TLR4, and PTK2 levels, and patients positively co-expressing HMGB1/KLF7, p-p65/KLF7, KLF7/TLR4 or KLF7/PTK2 exhibit the worst prognosis. Conclusions: HMGB1-induced KLF7 overexpression facilitates HCC progression and metastasis by upregulating TLR4 and PTK2. Genetic ablation of KLF7 via AAV gene therapy and combined blockade of TLR4 and PTK2 represents promising therapy strategies for KLF7-positive HCC patients.

New insights into KLFs and SOXs in cancer pathogenesis, stemness, and therapy

Despite the development of cancer therapies, the success of most treatments has been impeded by drug resistance. The crucial role of tumor cell plasticity has emerged recently in cancer progression, cancer stemness and eventually drug resistance. Cell plasticity drives tumor cells to reversibly convert their cell identity, analogous to differentiation and dedifferentiation, to adapt to drug treatment. This phenotypical switch is driven by alteration of the transcriptome. Several pluripotent factors from the KLF and SOX families are closely associated with cancer pathogenesis and have been revealed to regulate tumor cell plasticity. In this review, we particularly summarize recent studies about KLF4, KLF5 and SOX factors in cancer development and evolution, focusing on their roles in cancer initiation, invasion, tumor hierarchy and heterogeneity, and lineage plasticity. In addition, we discuss the various regulation of these transcription factors and related cutting-edge drug development approaches that could be used to drug "undruggable" transcription factors, such as PROTAC and PPI targeting, for targeted cancer therapy. Advanced knowledge could pave the way for the development of novel drugs that target transcriptional regulation and could improve the outcome of cancer therapy.

Cell-type specific EWAS identifies genes involved in HIV pathogenesis and oncogenesis among people with HIV infection

Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of heterogenous blood cells have identified CpG sites associated with chronic HIV infection, which offer limited knowledge of cell-type specific methylation patterns associated with HIV infection. Applying a computational deconvolution method validated by capture bisulfite DNA methylation sequencing, we conducted a cell type-based EWAS and identified differentially methylated CpG sites specific for chronic HIV infection among five immune cell types in blood: CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, B cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells, and monocytes in two independent cohorts (N total =1,134). Differentially methylated CpG sites for HIV-infection were highly concordant between the two cohorts. Cell-type level meta-EWAS revealed distinct patterns of HIV-associated differential CpG methylation, where 67% of CpG sites were unique to individual cell types (false discovery rate, FDR <0.05). CD4+ T-cells had the largest number of HIV-associated CpG sites (N=1,472) compared to any other cell type. Genes harboring statistically significant CpG sites are involved in immunity and HIV pathogenesis (e.g. CX3CR1 in CD4+ T-cells, CCR7 in B cells, IL12R in NK cells, LCK in monocytes). More importantly, HIV-associated CpG sites were overrepresented for hallmark genes involved in cancer pathology ( FDR <0.05) (e.g. BCL family, PRDM16, PDCD1LGD, ESR1, DNMT3A, NOTCH2 ). HIV-associated CpG sites were enriched among genes involved in HIV pathogenesis and oncogenesis such as Kras-signaling, interferon-α and -γ, TNF-α, inflammatory, and apoptotic pathways. Our findings are novel, uncovering cell-type specific modifications in the host epigenome for people with HIV that contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding pathogen-induced epigenetic oncogenicity, specifically on HIV and its comorbidity with cancers.

Krüppel-like factors in tumors: Key regulators and therapeutic avenues

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are a group of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators with multiple essential functions in various cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, inflammation, and angiogenesis. The aberrant expression of KLFs is often found in tumor tissues and is essential for tumor development. At the molecular level, KLFs regulate multiple signaling pathways and mediate crosstalk among them. Some KLFs may also be molecular switches for specific biological signals, driving their transition from tumor suppressors to promoters. At the histological level, the abnormal expression of KLFs is closely associated with tumor cell stemness, proliferation, apoptosis, and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Notably, the role of each KLF in tumors varies according to tumor type and different stages of tumor development rather than being invariant. In this review, we focus on the advances in the molecular biology of KLFs, particularly the regulations of several classical signaling pathways by these factors, and the critical role of KLFs in tumor development. We also highlight their strong potential as molecular targets in tumor therapy and suggest potential directions for clinical translational research.

Inside the stemness engine: Mechanistic links between deregulated transcription factors and stemness in cancer

Cell identity is largely determined by its transcriptional profile. In tumour, deregulation of transcription factor expression and/or activity enables cancer cell to acquire a stem-like state characterised by capacity to self-renew, differentiate and form tumours in vivo. These stem-like cancer cells are highly metastatic and therapy resistant, thus warranting a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms downstream of the transcription factors that mediate the establishment of stemness state. Here, we review recent research findings that provide a mechanistic link between the commonly deregulated transcription factors and stemness in cancer. In particular, we describe the role of master transcription factors (SOX, OCT4, NANOG, KLF, BRACHYURY, SALL, HOX, FOX and RUNX), signalling-regulated transcription factors (SMAD, β-catenin, YAP, TAZ, AP-1, NOTCH, STAT, GLI, ETS and NF-κB) and unclassified transcription factors (c-MYC, HIF, EMT transcription factors and P53) across diverse tumour types, thereby yielding a comprehensive overview identifying shared downstream targets, highlighting unique mechanisms and discussing complexities.

Development and Characterization of a Luciferase Labeled, Syngeneic Murine Model of Ovarian Cancer

Despite advances in surgery and targeted therapies, the prognosis for women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer remains poor. Moreover, unlike other cancers, immunotherapy has minimally impacted outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer. Progress in this regard has been hindered by the lack of relevant syngeneic ovarian cancer models to study tumor immunity and evaluate immunotherapies. To address this problem, we developed a luciferase labeled murine model of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, STOSE.M1 luc. We defined its growth characteristics, immune cell repertoire, and response to anti PD-L1 immunotherapy. As with human ovarian cancer, we demonstrated that this model is poorly sensitive to immune checkpoint modulators. By developing the STOSE.M1 luc model, it will be possible to probe the mechanisms underlying resistance to immunotherapies and evaluate new therapeutic approaches to treat ovarian cancer.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Serum Krüppel-Like Factor 7 (KLF7) in NSCLC Patients

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a serious threat to the life and health of patients with high incidence rate and mortality. The present research was to assess the relationship between the serum Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) level and the recurrence and metastasis of NSCLC patients. 150 patients with NSCLC treated by thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer in our hospital from January 2016 to February 2017 were selected. As the control group, 148 healthy people who went to the hospital for physical examination in the same period were screened. The expression levels of serum KLF7 in the observation group and the control group were compared and analyzed. According to the level of KLF7 expression, the patients in the observation group were divided into KLF7 high expression group (≥258.6 ng/L, n =75) and KLF7 low expression group (<258.6 ng/L, n =75). The 3-year recurrence and metastasis rate of patients in each group was compared and analyzed. It was found the concentration of serum KLF7 in peripheral blood of NSCLC (2.25 ± 0.65) ng/ml was significantly higher than that in healthy population (1.42 ± 0.38) ng/ml (P < 0.05). The expression level of serum KLF7 was not related to gender, age, smoking history, and tumor diameter of NSCLC patients (P > 0.05), but related to the degree of differentiation and TNM stage of NSCLC patients (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the degree of differentiation, TNM stage, and KLF7 were significantly correlated with 3-year recurrence and metastasis of NSCLC patients (P < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that low degree of differentiation, TNM stage IIIa, and KLF7 were independent risk factors for recurrence and metastasis in NSCLC patients in 3 years (P < 0.05). Taken together, the expression level of serum KLF7 in patients with NSCLC is significantly increased, which is an independent risk factor for recurrence and metastasis in 3 years, and is worthy of clinical application.

Identification of Novel Drugs Targeting Cell Cycle Regulators for the Treatment of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer via Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC), the most common and aggressive histological type of ovarian cancer, remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females. It is important to develop novel drugs to improve the therapeutic outcomes of HGSC patients, thereby reducing their mortality. Symmetry is one of the most important properties of the biological network, which determines the stability of a biological system. As aberrant gene expression is a critical symmetry-breaking event that perturbs the stability of biological networks and triggers tumor progression, we aim in this study to discover new candidate drugs and predict their targets for HGSC therapy based on differentially expressed genes involved in HGSC pathogenesis. Firstly, 98 up-regulated genes and 108 down-regulated genes were identified from three independent transcriptome datasets. Then, the small-molecule compounds PHA-793887, pidorubicine and lestaurtinib, which target cell-cycle-related processes, were identified as novel candidate drugs for HGSC treatment by adopting the connectivity map (CMap)-based drug repositioning approach. Furthermore, through a topological analysis of the protein–protein interaction network, cell cycle regulators CDK1, TOP2A and AURKA were identified as bottleneck nodes, and their expression patterns were validated at the mRNA and protein expression levels. Moreover, the results of molecular docking analysis showed that PHA-793887, pidorubicine and lestaurtinib had a strong binding affinity for CDK1, TOP2A and AURKA, respectively. Therefore, our study repositioned PHA-793887, pidorubicine and lestaurtinib, which can inhibit cell cycle regulators, as novel agents for HGSC treatment, thereby helping to optimize the therapeutic strategy for HGSC.

Comprehensive Analysis and Reinforcement Learning of Hypoxic Genes Based on Four Machine Learning Algorithms for Estimating the Immune Landscape, Clinical Outcomes, and Therapeutic Implications in Patients With Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) exhibit significant heterogeneity in therapeutic responses and overall survival (OS). In recent years, accumulating research has uncovered the critical roles of hypoxia in a variety of solid tumors, but its role in LUAD is not currently fully elucidated. This study aims to discover novel insights into the mechanistic and therapeutic implications of the hypoxia genes in LUAD cancers by exploring the potential association between hypoxia and LUAD.

Methods

Four machine learning approaches were implemented to screen out potential hypoxia-related genes for the prognosis of LUAD based on gene expression profile of LUAD samples obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), then validated by six cohorts of validation datasets. The risk score derived from the hypoxia-related genes was proven to be an independent factor by using the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Hypoxia-related mechanisms based on tumor mutational burden (TMB), the immune activity, and therapeutic value were also performed to adequately dig deeper into the clinical value of hypoxia-related genes. Finally, the expression level of hypoxia genes was validated at protein level and clinical samples from LUAD patients at transcript levels.

Results

All patients in TCGA and GEO-LUAD group were distinctly stratified into low- and high-risk groups based on the risk score. Survival analyses demonstrated that our risk score could serve as a powerful and independent risk factor for OS, and the nomogram also exhibited high accuracy. LUAD patients in high-risk group presented worse OS, lower TMB, and lower immune activity. We found that the model is highly sensitive to immune features. Moreover, we revealed that the hypoxia-related genes had potential therapeutic value for LUAD patients based on the drug sensitivity and chemotherapeutic response prediction. The protein and gene expression levels of 10 selected hypoxia gene also showed significant difference between LUAD tumors tissues and normal tissues. The validation experiment showed that the gene transcript levels of most of their genes were consistent with the levels of their translated proteins.

Conclusions

Our study might contribute to the optimization of risk stratification for survival and personalized management of LUAD patients by using the hypoxia genes, which will provide a valuable resource that will guide both mechanistic and therapeutic implications of the hypoxia genes in LUAD cancers.

Survivin, Sonic hedgehog, Krüppel-like factors, and p53 pathway in serous ovarian cancer: an immunohistochemical study

OBJECTIVE

Survivin was previously associated with tumor stage and grade in ovarian cancer and interfered with the tumor's drug sensitivity. In addition, Survivin expression was found to be regulated by the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway, Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family proteins, and p53 pathway. The main aim of this study was to assess the prognostic values of immunohistochemical expression of Survivin, Klf5, Klf11, Shh, p53, p21, and Mdm2 in a cohort of high grade ovarian serous cancers. Other aims were comparison between high- and low-grade ovarian serous cancer and between platinum-resistant and the other cases. The last aim was to assess the correlations among the immunohistochemical expression of the studied proteins.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study to assess immunohistochemical expression of Survivin, Klf5, Klf11, Shh, p53, p21, and Mdm2 in a tissue microarray of primary tumor samples among 73 women affected by high-grade ovarian serous cancer and 9 by low-grade ovarian serous cancer.

RESULTS

Klf5 and Shh cytoplasmic staining were associated to short overall survival (HR 6.38, CI.95 2.25 - 18.01, p<0.05 and 2.25, CI.95 1.19-4.23, p<0.05 respectively). In addition, cytoplasmic Klf5 staining, high Klf11 and p53 nuclear staining were associated with platinum resistance (p<0.05). Cytoplasmic Shh score was significantly correlated to the immunohistochemical expression of Klf5, Klf11, Mdm2, and Survivin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data highlight the possible role of Klf5 and Shh as prognostic markers, meanwhile confirming the role of the KLF family proteins and p53 in ovarian cancer drug resistance. Moreover, Shh appeared to play an important role in the intracellular network of ovarian neoplasia.

Acyl-CoA Thioesterase 7 is Transcriptionally Activated by Krüppel-Like Factor 13 and Promotes the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

Acyl-CoA thioesterase 7(ACOT7) plays an important role in the metabolism of fatty acids. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has an abnormal lipid profile, and the role of ACOT7 in hepatocellular carcinoma has not been detailedly elucidated. Therefore, we conducted the study to explore the role of ACOT7 in HCC.

Materials and Methods

The ACOT7 and Krüppel-like factor 13 (KLF13) mRNA expression levels were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Bioinformatics analysis identified the underlying upstream regulator of ACOT7. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of mRNA, and immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of protein. Cell Counting Kit-8 and EdU assays were employed to assess the proliferation of HCC cells. Wound-healing and Transwell migration assays were utilized to test the migration ability of HCC cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and ChIP assay were used to explore the potential mechanism. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer was used to analyze the content of free fatty acids. Xenograft tumour growth was used to evaluate the effect of ACOT7 in vivo.

Results

According to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, ACOT7 mRNA was found to be upregulated and predicted the poor prognosis. Overexpression of ACOT7 enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of HCC cells in vitro, as well as the HCC cells proliferation in vivo. Moreover, ACOT7 overexpression increased the yield of the monounsaturated fatty acid Oleic acid (C18:1), which strengthened the proliferation and migration abilities of HCC cells. Mechanistically, KLF13 transcriptionally promoted ACOT7 expression. Further, KLF13 was also overexpressed in HCC tissues and facilitated HCC progression.

Conclusion

Acyl-CoA thioesterase 7 is transcriptionally activated by Krüppel-like factor 13 and promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 00152 in pancreatic cancer glycolysis via the manipulation of the microRNA-185-5p/Krüppel-like factor 7 axis

The current study set out to investigate the role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA (LINC) 00152 in pancreatic cancer (PC) cell glycolysis with the microRNA (miR)-185-5p/Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) axis. Firstly, PC tissues and cells as well as the control ones were collected from 53 PC patients, and assessed for LINC00152 expression patterns. Besides, PC cells with the most differentially expressed LINC00152 were selected for further experiments. When LINC00152 was silenced or overexpressed, PC cell glucose consumption, lactic acid production, adenosine triphosphate and levels of glycolysis-associated enzymes were detected. In addition, the binding relation between LINC00152 and miR-185-5p as well as the target relation between miR-185-5p and KLF7 was clarified and validated. Additionally, xenograft transplantation was performed to confirm the in vitro experiments. It was found that LINC00152 was over-expressed in PC, and it predicted a poor prognosis. Besides, LINC00152 knockdown inhibited PC cell glycolysis. Moreover, LINC00152 could specifically targeted miR-185-5p. Meanwhile, LINC00152 exhaustion blocked PC cell glycolysis through the up-regulation of miR-185-5p. Lastly, LINC00152 inhibition targeted miR-185-5p to quench KLF7, therefore suppressing PC cell tumorigenesis and glycolysis. Collectively, our findings indicated that silencing LINC00152 restricted PC cell glycolysis via promoting miR-185-5p and reducing KLF7.

Stat1 confers sensitivity to radiation in cervical cancer cells by controlling Parp1 levels: a new perspective for Parp1 inhibition

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in women. According to international guidelines, a standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) consists of exclusive concurrent chemoradiation treatment (CRT). However, chemoradioresistance and subsequent relapse and metastasis of cancer occur in many patients, and survival for these women has generally remained poor. Therefore, strategies to overcome resistance are urgently needed. We have recently reported a radiosensitizing effect of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in CC, associated with the control of [Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase −1] PARP1 levels, a key factor in cell response to DNA damage induced by radiation. Here, we sought to decipher the underlying mechanism of STAT1-mediated control of PARP1, elucidating its role as a radiosensitizer in CC. Functional and molecular biology studies demonstrated that STAT1 may act at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels to modulate PARP1 expression in CC cells. In light of these results, we tested the effect of Olaparib in sensitizing CC cells to radiation and investigated signaling pathways involved in the activity observed. Results showed that PARP1 inhibition, at clinically achievable doses, may indeed selectively improve the sensitivity of resistant CC cells to DNA-damaging treatment. The translational relevance of our findings was supported by preliminary results in a limited patient cohort, confirming that higher PARP1 levels are significantly associated with a radioresistant phenotype. Finally, bioinformatics analysis of GEPIA and TCGA databases, demonstrated that PARP1 mRNA is higher in CC than in normal tissues and that increased PARP1 mRNA expression levels are associated with poor prognosis of LACC patients. Overall, our data open new opportunities for the development of personalized treatments in women diagnosed with CC.