Promoter methylation of SEPT9 as a potential biomarker for early detection of cervical cancer and its overexpression predicts radioresistance

Genetic profiling in radiotherapy: a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review explores the pivotal role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, emphasizing the diverse applications of genetic profiling. The review highlights genetic markers for predicting radiation toxicity, enabling personalized treatment planning. It delves into the impact of genetic profiling on radiotherapy strategies across various cancer types, discussing research findings related to treatment response, prognosis, and therapeutic resistance. The integration of genetic profiling is shown to transform cancer treatment paradigms, offering insights into personalized radiotherapy regimens and guiding decisions in cases where standard protocols may fall short. Ultimately, the review underscores the potential of genetic profiling to enhance patient outcomes and advance precision medicine in oncology.

Multiple functions of HMGB1 in cancer

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear DNA-binding protein with a dual role in cancer, acting as an oncogene and a tumor suppressor. This protein regulates nucleosomal structure, DNA damage repair, and genomic stability within the cell, while also playing a role in immune cell functions. This review comprehensively evaluates the biological and clinical significance of HMGB1 in cancer, including its involvement in cell death and survival, its potential as a therapeutic target and cancer biomarker, and as a prosurvival signal for the remaining cells after exposure to cytotoxic anticancer treatments. We highlight the need for a better understanding of the cellular markers and mechanisms involved in the involvement of HMGB1in cancer, and aim to provide a deeper understanding of its role in cancer progression.

The research progress on radiation resistance of cervical cancer

Cervical carcinoma is the most prevalent gynecology malignant tumor and ranks as the fourth most common cancer worldwide, thus posing a significant threat to the lives and health of women. Advanced and early-stage cervical carcinoma patients with high-risk factors require adjuvant treatment following surgery, with radiotherapy being the primary approach. However, the tolerance of cervical cancer to radiotherapy has become a major obstacle in its treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated that radiation resistance in cervical cancer is closely associated with DNA damage repair pathways, the tumor microenvironment, tumor stem cells, hypoxia, cell cycle arrest, and epigenetic mechanisms, among other factors. The development of tumor radiation resistance involves complex interactions between multiple genes, pathways, and mechanisms, wherein each factor interacts through one or more signaling pathways. This paper provides an overview of research progress on an understanding of the mechanism underlying radiation resistance in cervical cancer.

Conserved methylation signatures associate with the tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapy response

BACKGROUND

Aberrant DNA methylation is a major characteristic of cancer genomes. It remains unclear which biological processes determine epigenetic reprogramming and how these processes influence the variants in the cancer methylome, which can further impact cancer phenotypes.

METHODS

We performed pairwise permutations of 381,900 loci in 569 paired DNA methylation profiles of cancer tissue and matched normal tissue from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and defined conserved differentially methylated positions (DMPs) based on the resulting null distribution. Then, we derived independent methylation signatures from 2,465 cancer-only methylation profiles from the TCGA and 241 cell line-based methylation profiles from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) cohort using nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF). We correlated DNA methylation signatures with various clinical and biological features, including age, survival, cancer stage, tumor immune microenvironment factors, and immunotherapy response. We inferred the determinant genes of these methylation signatures by integrating genomic and transcriptomic data and evaluated the impact of these signatures on cancer phenotypes in independent bulk and single-cell RNA/methylome cohorts.

RESULTS

We identified 7,364 differentially methylated positions (2,969 Hyper-DMPs and 4,395 Hypo-DMPs) in nine cancer types from the TCGA. We subsequently retrieved three highly conserved, independent methylation signatures (Hyper-MS1, Hypo-MS1, and Hypo-MS4) from cancer tissues and cell lines based on these Hyper and Hypo-DMPs. Our data suggested that Hypo-MS4 activity predicts poor survival and is associated with immunotherapy response and distant tumor metastasis, and Hypo-MS4 activity is related to TP53 mutation and FOXA1 binding specificity. In addition, we demonstrated a correlation between the activities of Hypo-MS4 in cancer cells and the fractions of regulatory CD4 + T cells with the expression levels of immunological genes in the tumor immune microenvironment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that the methylation signatures of distinct biological processes are associated with immune activity in the cancer microenvironment and predict immunotherapy response.

Endometrial Cancer Detection by DNA Methylation Analysis in Cervical Papanicolaou Brush Samples

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading gynecological cancer worldwide, yet current EC screening approaches are not satisfying. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and capability of DNA methylation analysis in cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) brush samples for EC detection. Methods: We used quantitative methylation-sensitive PCR (qMS-PCR) to determine the methylation status of candidate genes in EC tissue samples, as well as cervical Pap brushes. The ability of RASSF1A and HIST1H4F to serve as diagnostic markers for EC was then examined in cervical Pap brush samples from women with endometrial lesions of varying degrees of severity. Results: Methylated RASSF1A and HIST1H4F were found in EC tissues. Further, methylation of the two genes was also observed in cervical Pap smear samples from EC patients. Methylation levels of RASSF1A and HIST1H4F increased as endometrial lesions progressed, and cervical Pap brush samples from women affected by EC exhibited significantly higher levels of methylated RASSF1A and HIST1H4F compared to noncancerous controls (P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) analyses revealed RASSF1A and HIST1H4F methylation with a combined AUC of 0.938 and 0.951 for EC/pre-EC detection in cervical Pap brush samples, respectively. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that DNA methylation analysis in cervical Pap brush samples may be helpful for EC detection, broadening the scope of the commonly used cytological screening. Our proof-of-concept study provides new insights into the field of clinical EC diagnosis.

Aldolase A promotes cervical cancer cell radioresistance by regulating the glycolysis and DNA damage after irradiation

Radioresistance is the major obstacle that affects the efficacy of radiotherapy which is an important treatment for cervical cancer. By analyzing the databases, we found that aldolase A (ALDOA), which is a key enzyme in metabolic reprogramming, has a higher expression in cervical cancer patients and is associated with poor prognosis. We detected the expression of ALDOA in the constructed cervical cancer radioresistance (RR) cells by repetitive irradiation and found that it was upregulated compared to the control cells. Functional assays were conducted and the results showed that the knockdown of ALDOA in cervical cancer RR cells inhibited the proliferation, migration, and clonogenic abilities by regulating the cell glycolysis. In addition, downregulation of ALDOA enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis and DNA damage by causing G2/M phase arrest and further promoted radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells. The functions of ALDOA in regulating tumor radiosensitivity were also verified by the mouse tumor transplantation model in vivo. Therefore, our study provides new insights into the functions of ALDOA in regulating the efficacy of radiotherapy and indicates that ALDOA might be a promising target for enhancing radiosensitivity in treating cervical cancer patients.

Septin9 DNA methylation as a promising biomarker for cervical cancer

Aberrant Septin9 methylation in cervical cancer has been rarely studied. We aimed to identify its diagnostic value in cervical cancer using cervical scrapings, and its predictive potential in plasma for pelvic nodal metastasis of cervical cancer. The statuses of methylated Septin9 in fresh cervical lesions and cervical scrapings were first evaluated by using quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Subsequently, the relationship between Septin9 methylation in 113 plasma samples and pelvic nodal metastasis of cervical cancer was evaluated. Methylated Septin9 was detected in all cancerous tissues, but not in cervicitis. The degrees of Septin9 methylation increased with growing severity of cervical lesions in cervical scrapings. The sensitivity of methylated Septin9 was lower than that of cytology, while it yielded a high specificity and area under the curve in detecting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or cervical cancer; and when Septin9 methylation combined with HPV16/18 genotyping, the sensitivity would increase from 70.42% to 82.39%. Plasma-based Septin9 methylation had a high discriminatory power in predicting pelvic nodal metastasis of cervical cancer, with an optimal specificity of 81.48%. In conclusion, we demonstrated methylated Septin9 to be an innovative diagnostic biomarker for cervical cancer and its non-invasive predictive potential in plasma for pelvic nodal metastasis of cervical cancer.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? The occurrence of cervical cancer is related to Septin9 methylation. In fresh specimens and cervical scrapings, we found the degrees of methylated Septin9 increased with growing severity of cervical lesions. Compared with HPV16/18 genotyping and cytological detection, Septin9 methylation had a better specificity and AUC in detecting ≥ HSIL. Furthermore, plasma-based Septin9 methylation also had a high specificity for pelvic lymphatic metastasis prediction.What the results of this study add? Methylation analysis of Septin9 indicated a similar sensitivity, specificity and AUC in detecting ≥ HSIL, relative to HPV16/18 genotyping. Compared with cytological method, Septin9 methylation also yielded a higher specificity and AUC in detecting ≥ HSIL. And we also found plasma-based Septin9 methylation had a high discriminatory power in predicting pelvic nodal metastasis of cervical cancer, with an optimal specificity of 81.48%; additionally an increasing sensitivity from 50% to nearly 80% was found when combined with SCCAg.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Septin9 methylation and cervical cancer, and to explore the value of methylated Septin9 in the detection of cervical (pre)cancerous lesions. Moreover, we would explore plasma-based ctDNA biomarkers for pelvic lymphatic metastasis prediction of cervical cancer, to improve non-invasive predictive accuracy of pelvic nodal metastasis and reduce the complications caused by pelvic lymphadenectomy.

PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation analyses in cervical exfoliated cells are highly efficient for detecting cervical (pre)cancer in hrHPV-positive women

Studies have investigated PAX1 and SEPT methylation were closely associated with cervical cancer. For this study, we verified the expressions of PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation in 236 hrHPV women cervical exfoliated cells by using quantitative methylation-specific PCR and we further explored their diagnostic value in cervical (pre)cancer detection. Our results identified that the methylation rates and levels of PAX1 and SEPT9 increased with cervical lesion severity. For a diagnosis of cervical (pre)cancer, the area under the curve (AUC) of PAX1 methylation was 0.77 (95% CI 0.71-0.83) and the AUC of SEPT9 methylation was 0.86 (95% CI 0.81∼0.90). Analyses of the PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation statuses alone or combined with commonly used tests can efficiently identify cervical (pre)cancer. In particular, SEPT9 methylation might serve as an effective and powerful biomarker for the diagnosis of cervical (pre)cancer and as an alternative triage test in HPV-based cervical (pre)cancer screening programs.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? This subject showed that PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation were closely associated with cervical cancer. The methylation rates and levels of PAX1 and SEPT9 increased with cervical lesion severity and reached a peak in cervical cancer exfoliated cells. We further assessed the diagnostic performances of PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation in cervical cancer screening. In detecting cervical (pre)cancer, the sensitivity values of PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation were up to 61.18% and 82.35%, respectively, and the specificity values of PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation were up to 95.36% and 86.75%, respectively. Moreover, the ROC curve analysis showed AUC values of 0.77 for PAX1 methylation and 0.86 for SEPT9 methylation tests, which were significantly superior to other commonly used tests. These findings suggest that PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation detection may have great clinical potential in cervical cancer screening.What the results of this study add? The rates and levels of PAX1 and SEPT9 methylation increased with the severity of the cervical lesions. For a diagnosis of cervical (pre)cancer, the area under the curve (AUC) of PAX1 methylation was 0.77 (95% CI 0.71-0.83), and the sensitivity and specificity values were 61.18% and 95.36%, respectively. The AUC value of the SEPT9 methylation was 0.86 (95% CI 0.81 ∼ 0.90), and the sensitivity and specificity values were 82.35% and 86.75%, respectively. Compared with the various tests we conducted, the PAX1 methylation showed the highest specificity (95.36%), and the SEPT9 methylation demonstrated the highest accuracy(86.00%).What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The methylation levels of PAX1 and SEPT9 had a certain predictive effect on the severity of cervical lesions in hrHPV-positive women. In addition, SEPT9 methylation analysis performs better than PAX1 methylation analysis and commonly used tests in cervical exfoliated cells for detecting cervical (pre)cancer in hrHPV-positive women. SEPT9 methylation analysis merits consideration as an effective and objective, alternative triage test in HPV-based cervical (pre)cancer screening programs.

The Redox Protein High-Mobility Group Box 1 in Cell Death and Cancer

Significance: As a redox-sensitive protein, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is implicated in regulating stress responses to oxidative damage and cell death, which are closely related to the pathology of inflammatory diseases, including cancer. Recent Advances: HMGB1 is a nonhistone nuclear protein that acts as a deoxyribonucleic acid chaperone to control chromosomal structure and function. HMGB1 can also be released into the extracellular space and function as a damage-associated molecular pattern protein during cell death, including during apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, alkaliptosis, and cuproptosis. Once released, HMGB1 binds to membrane receptors to shape immune and metabolic responses. In addition to subcellular localization, the function and activity of HMGB1 also depend on its redox state and protein posttranslational modifications. Abnormal HMGB1 plays a dual role in tumorigenesis and anticancer therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy) depending on the tumor types and stages. Critical Issues: A comprehensive understanding of the role of HMGB1 in cellular redox homeostasis is important for deciphering normal cellular functions and pathological manifestations. In this review, we discuss compartmental-defined roles of HMGB1 in regulating cell death and cancer. Understanding these advances may help us develop potential HMGB1-targeting drugs or approaches to treat oxidative stress-related diseases or pathological conditions. Future Directions: Further studies are required to dissect the mechanism by which HMGB1 maintains redox homeostasis under different stress conditions. A multidisciplinary effort is also required to evaluate the potential applications of precisely targeting the HMGB1 pathway in human health and disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 39, 569-590.

RBM15 m6 A modification-mediated OTUB2 upregulation promotes cervical cancer progression via the AKT/mTOR signaling

Cervical cancer (CC) is a deadly gynecological tumor worldwide. Otubain 2 (OTUB2) has been recently identified as an oncogene in human malignancies. However, its expression and function remain unclear. This work aims to explore the role of OTUB2 in CC progression. Herein, The Cancer Genome Atlas data revealed that OTUB2 expression was significantly upregulated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) and gradually increased with CESC progression; moreover, OTUB2 expression predicted poor outcomes of CESC patients. Then, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were applied to determine mRNA and protein expression in CC and normal cells. Our results confirmed that OTUB2 was highly expressed in CC cell lines. As indicated by CCK-8, Transwell, and flow cytometry results, OTUB2 silencing attenuated proliferative and metastatic capacities of CC cells but promoted CC cell apoptosis. Then, RBM15, an N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) methyltransferase "writer," was also demonstrated to be upregulated in CESC and CC cells. Mechanistically, m6 A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP) results showed that RBM15 inhibition reduced the m6 A methylation level of OTUB2 in CC cells, leading to the decline of OTUB2 expression. In addition, OTUB2 inhibition deactivated the AKT/mTOR signaling in CC cells. Furthermore, SC-79 (AKT/mTOR activator) partially abated the inhibitory effects of OTUB2 knockdown on the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and the malignant phenotypes of CC cells. In summary, this work showed that RBM15-mediated m6 A modification led to OTUB2 upregulation, thereby promoting malignant behaviors of CC cells via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

SEPT9 Expression in Hepatic Nodules: An Immunohistochemical Study of Hepatocellular Neoplasm and Metastasis

The methylated SEPT9 DNA ( mSEPT9 ) in plasma is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved screening biomarker in colorectal cancer and is emerging as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the SEPT9 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in various hepatic tumors from 164 hepatectomies and explants. Cases diagnosed as HCC (n=68), hepatocellular adenoma (n=31), dysplastic nodule (n=24), and metastasis (n=41) were retrieved. SEPT9 stain was performed on representative tissue blocks showing tumor/liver interface. For HCC, archived IHC (SATB2, CK19, CDX2, CK20, and CDH17) slides were also reviewed. The findings were correlated with demographics, risk factors, tumor size, alpha fetoprotein levels at diagnosis, T stage and oncologic outcomes, with significance defined as P <0.05. Percentage of SEPT9 positivity differed significantly among hepatocellular adenoma (3%), dysplastic nodule (0%), HCC (32%), and metastasis (83%, P <0.001). Compared with patients with SEPT9- HCC, those with SEPT9+ HCC were older (70 vs. 63 y, P =0.01). The extent of SEPT9 staining correlated with age ( rs =0.31, P =0.01), tumor grade ( rs =0.30, P =0.01), and extent of SATB2 staining ( rs =0.28, P =0.02). No associations were found between SEPT9 staining and tumor size, T stage, risk factors, CK19, CDX2, CK20, or CDH17 expression, alpha fetoprotein levels at diagnosis, METAVIR fibrosis stage, and oncologic outcome in the HCC cohort. SEPT9 is likely implicated in liver carcinogenesis in a HCC subset. Similar to mSEPT9 DNA measurement in liquid biopsies, SEPT9 staining by IHC may prove helpful as an adjunct diagnostic biomarker with potential prognostic ramifications.

Effect of Ethanol-Induced Methyl Donors Consumption on the State of Hypomethylation in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer causes malignant tumors in females and threatens the physical and mental health of women. Current research shows that persistent infection of high-risk HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. However, not all cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection, which may also be related to other factors, such as nutritional status and lifestyle. This study focuses on the effect of alcohol consumption on the methylation status of cervical cancer from the perspective of methyl donors. We established a mouse tumor-bearing model with cervical cancer SiHa cells, and at the same time, we cultured SiHa cells in vitro. Different concentrations of ethanol were administered to the model mice and SiHa cells. Then, we detected the levels of the methyl-donor folate and methionine and their metabolite homocysteine levels in mice serum, tumor tissues, and SiHa cells. Furthermore, we determined the expression of the members of the DNA methyltransferase family (DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b) in tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry. qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of members of the DNA methyltransferase family in cervical cancer SiHa cells. Our results show that the levels of the methyl donor (folate and methionine) decreased with the increase of ethanol concentration (p < 0.05), and the homocysteine level increased significantly (p < 0.05). In SiHa cells, the mRNA and protein levels of the DNMT family members and their receptors were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results suggest that ethanol could influence DNMT expression by inducing methyl donor consumption, thereby causing cervical cancer cells to exhibit genome-wide hypomethylation.

Advances in epigenetic modifications and cervical cancer research

Cervical cancer (CC) is an important public health problem for women, and perspectives and information regarding its prevention and treatment are quickly evolving. Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been recognized as a major contributor to CC development; however, HPV infection is not the only cause of CC. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression levels caused by non-gene sequence changes. Growing evidence suggests that the disruption of gene expression patterns which were governed by epigenetic modifications can result in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and various other maladies. This article mainly reviews the current research status of epigenetic modifications in CC based on four aspects, respectively DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA regulation and chromatin regulation, and we also discuss their functions and molecular mechanisms in the occurrence and progression of CC. This review provides new ideas for early screening, risk assessment, molecular targeted therapy and prognostic prediction of CC.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Exposed to High-Dose Ionizing Radiation Promote M2 Polarization of Macrophages, Which Induce Radiosensitivity in Cervical Cancer

Radiotherapy, including brachytherapy, is a major therapeutic regimen for cervical cancer. Radioresistance is a decisive factor in radiation treatment failure. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment are critical factors in the curative effects of cancer therapies. However, the interactions between TAMs and CAFs in the context of ionizing radiation are not fully understood. This study was undertaken to investigate whether M2 macrophages induce radioresistance in cervical cancer and to explore the TAMs' phenotypic transformation after IR and its underlying mechanisms. The radioresistance of cervical cancer cells was enhanced after being co-cultured with M2 macrophages. TAMs tended to undergo M2 polarization after high-dose irradiation, which was strongly associated with CAFs in both mouse models and patients with cervical cancer. Additionally, cytokine and chemokine analysis was performed to find that high-dose irradiated CAFs promoted macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype through chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2. Collectively, our results highlight the crucial role that high-dose irradiated CAFs play in the regulation of M2 phenotype polarization, which ultimately induces radioresistance in cervical cancer.

Radiation resistance of cancer cells caused by mitochondrial dysfunction depends on SIRT3-mediated mitophagy

Radiation resistance is the leading cause of radiotherapy failure in patients with cancer. Enhanced DNA damage repair is the main reason for cancer cells to develop resistance to radiation. Autophagy has been widely reported to be linked to increased genome stability and radiation resistance. Mitochondria are highly involved in the cell response to radiotherapy. However, the autophagy subtype mitophagy has not been studied in terms of genome stability. We have previously demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is the cause of radiation resistance in tumour cells. In the present study, we found that SIRT3 was highly expressed in colorectal cancer cells with mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Excessive activation of mitophagy enhanced DNA damage repair, therefore promoting the resistance of tumour cells to radiation. Mechanistically, mitophagy resulted in decreased RING1b expression, which led to a reduction in the ubiquitination of histone H2A at K119, thereby enhancing the repair of DNA damage caused by radiation. Additionally, high expression of SIRT3 was related to a poor tumour regression grade in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy. These findings suggest that restoring mitochondrial function could be an effective method for increasing the radiosensitivity of patients with colorectal cancer.

Relationship Between Expression of microRNA and Chemotherapy Resistance in Cervical Carcinoma

Cervical cancer (CC), although being a potentially avoidable disease, is the second most often diagnose gynecological cancer, with at minimum 530,000 new instant reported each year, and optimism for CC remains poor. Nearly half of individuals with locally advanced cervical cancer have a poor pathological response to standard therapy. As a result, research into the molecular pathogenesis of cervical cancer and associated therapeutic targets is a must. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are possible biomarkers in cervical cancer; elevations or reductions in many distinct miRNAs discovered in individuals with this illness indicate that miRNA could contain a function to play in the illness's pathogenesis. Nevertheless, little is known about their significance in detecting individuals who do not respond to traditional therapy. As a consequence, the intention of this study is to look at the relationship among the synthesis of miRNAs (miR 217 and miR-140-3p), which can be utilized as molecular biomarkers to predict pathological responses in cervical cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. Various analytical techniques were used to analyze the data, including quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), growth and apoptosis analysis, western blot analysis, luciferase reporter gene analysis, immunohistochemistry, and statistical analysis. The results show that such miRNAs participate a crucial responsibility in CC cell proliferation inhibition. They might be a new therapeutic target for microRNA-mediated cell proliferation inhibition in cervical cancer.

CMTM7 inhibits breast cancer progression by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the major cause of death in females globally. Chemokine-like factor like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing 7 (CMTM7) is reported as a tumor suppressor and is involved in epidermal growth factor receptor degradation and PI3K/AKT signaling in previous studies. However, other molecular mechanisms of CMTM7 remain unclear.

METHODS

The expression level of CMTM7 in breast cancer cells and tissues was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot, and the methylation of CMTM7 promoter was detected by BSP sequencing. The effect of CMTM7 was verified both in vitro and in vivo, including MTT, colony formation, EdU assay, transwell assay and wound healing assay. The interaction between CMTM7 and CTNNA1 was investigated by co-IP assay. The regulation of miR-182-5p on CMTM7 and TCF3 on miR-182-5p was detected by luciferase reporter assay and ChIP analysis.

RESULTS

This study detected the hypermethylation levels of the CMTM7 promoter region in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. CMTM7 was performed as a tumor suppressor both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, CMTM7 was a direct miR-182-5p target. Besides, we found that CMTM7 could interact with Catenin Alpha 1 (CTNNA1) and regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Finally, transcription factor 3 (TCF3) can regulate miR-182-5p. We identified a feedback loop with the composition of miR-182-5p, CMTM7, CTNNA1, CTNNB1 (β-catenin), and TCF3, which play essential roles in breast cancer progression.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal the emerging character of CMTM7 in Wnt/β-catenin signaling and bring new sights of gene interaction. CMTM7 and other elements in the feedback loop may serve as emerging targets for breast cancer therapy.

The redox protein HMGB1 in cell death and cancer

SIGNIFICANCE

As a redox-sensitive protein, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is implicated in regulating stress responses to oxidative damage and cell death, which are closely related to the pathology of inflammatory diseases, including cancer.

RECENT ADVANCES

HMGB1 is a non-histone nuclear protein that acts as a DNA chaperone to control chromosomal structure and function. HMGB1 can also be released into the extracellular space and function as a damage-associated molecular pattern protein during cell death, including during apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, alkaliptosis, and cuproptosis. Once released, HMGB1 binds to membrane receptors to shape immune and metabolic responses. In addition to subcellular localization, the function and activity of HMGB1 also depends on its redox state and protein posttranslational modifications. Abnormal HMGB1 plays a dual role in tumorigenesis and anticancer therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy) depending on tumor types and stages.

CRITICAL ISSUES

A comprehensive understanding of the role of HMGB1 in cellular redox homeostasis is important for deciphering normal cellular functions and pathological manifestations. In this review, we discuss compartmental-defined roles of HMGB1 in regulating cell death and cancer. Understanding these advances may help us develop potential HMGB1-targeting drugs or approaches to treat oxidative stress-related diseases or pathological conditions.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Further studies are required to dissect the mechanism by which HMGB1 maintains redox homeostasis under different stress conditions. A multidisciplinary effort is also required to evaluate the potential applications of precisely targeting the HMGB1 pathway in human health and disease.

Exploration of Immunogenic Cell Death-Associated Genes for Predicting Prognosis and Immunological Characteristics in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has gradually entered the vision of researchers and is becoming a vital part of the occurrence of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). However, understanding the specific composition of TME still confront enormous challenges, particularly immune and stromal components. Methods. In this study, we performed an unsupervised cluster analysis to determine the immunogenic cell death-associated subtype of CSCC patients. The differences in immune status, genomic alteration, and clinical outcomes between each subtype were compared. Subsequently, we screened vital prognostic factors. The HPA database was employed to verify the protein localization and the expression level between cancer and adjacent tissues. Results. CSCC patients were divided into three subtypes according to the expression of immunogenic cell death-associated genes. Cluster C has the highest survival rate because of the lower activation of tumor-related pathways. The immune score and stromal score of patients with Cluster B were the highest, so it may be considered that stromal tissue inhibits the anti-tumor effect of immunocytes. In addition, we constructed a risk score based on immunogenic cell death-associated genes to screen for vital markers. We systematically revealed the genomic alteration of vital markers. Conclusions. We have established a novel immunogenic cell death-associated risk scoring system in CSCC, and the expression of immunogenic cell death-associated genes may be a valuable biomarker for immunotherapy strategies. Our work may contribute to the development of new immunomodulators and develop new precision immunotherapies for CSCC.

The stool syndecan2 methylation test is more robust than blood tests for methylated septin9, CEA, CA19-9 and CA724: a diagnostic test for the early detection of colorectal neoplasms

Background

Methylated syndecan2 (mSDC2) in stool samples has been found to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and precancerous lesions. However, the available data are limited, and no previous studies have compared the analysis of mSDC2 with other diagnostic tests. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of a stool mSDC2 test and compare its performance with that of blood-based tests for methylated septin9 (mSEPT9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) in detecting colorectal neoplasms.

Methods

The gold standard diagnostic technique that was used was colonoscopy combined with a pathological analysis of biopsied tissue. Stool DNA was extracted from 1,002 stool samples (445 from CRCs, 115 from adenomas, and 442 from controls) and then bisulfite-converted, followed by real-time quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Blood mSEPT9 levels were quantified by the Epi proColon 2.0 assay, and serum CEA, CA19-9 and CA724 levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence. The main indexes used during the evaluation were sensitivity, specificity and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

Stool mSDC2 detected 69.7% of CRCs, which was significantly higher than 53.8% by plasma mSEPT9, 37.2% by CEA, 13.1% by CA19-9 and 17.5% by CA724; for adenoma, the detection rates were 31.3%, 11.1%, 2.3% and 11.9%, respectively. The AUC of mSDC2 in detecting CRC was 0.83, compared to 0.72, 0.75, 0.63 and 0.54 for mSEPT9, CEA, CA19-9 and CA724, respectively. mSDC2 identified patients with stage I-III CRC with a sensitivity of 71.6%, which was significantly higher than that of mSEPT9, CEA, CA19-9 and CA724 (54.2%, 35.5%, 11.9%, and 15.0%, respectively); for stage IV CRC, the sensitivities of mSDC2, mSEPT9, CEA, CA19-9 and CA724 were 75.9%, 82.6%, 79.3%, 36.0% and 56.5%, respectively. SDC2 and CEA had a significantly higher sensitivity for distal CRC than for proximal CRC.

Conclusions

The stool SDC2 methylation test had a better performance in detecting nonmetastatic CRC and adenoma than evaluations of mSEPT9, CEA, CA19-9 and CA724 in blood. Our findings could be used to modify approaches for CRC prevention and early detection.

Methylation biomarkers for early cancer detection and diagnosis: Current and future perspectives

The increase in recent scientific studies on cancer biomarkers has brought great new insights into the field. Moreover, novel technological breakthroughs such as long read sequencing and microarrays have enabled high throughput profiling of many biomarkers, while advances in bioinformatic tools have made the possibility of developing highly reliable and accurate biomarkers a reality. These changes triggered renewed interest in biomarker research and provided tremendous opportunities for enhancing cancer management and improving early disease detection. DNA methylation alterations are known to accompany and contribute to carcinogenesis, making them promising biomarkers for cancer, namely due to their stability, frequency and accessibility in bodily fluids. The advent of newer minimally invasive experimental methods such as liquid biopsies provide the perfect setting for methylation-based biomarker development and application. Despite their huge potential, accurate and robust biomarkers for the conclusive diagnosis of most cancer types are still not routinely used, hence a strong need for sustained research in this field is still needed. This review provides a brief exposition of current methylation biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and early detection, including markers already in clinical use as well as various upcoming ones. It also outlines how recent big data and novel technologies will revolutionise the next generation of cancer tests in supplementing or replacing currently existing invasive techniques.

Predicting disease-free survival in colorectal cancer by circulating tumor DNA methylation markers

BACKGROUND

Recurrence represents a well-known poor prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study aimed to establish an effective prognostic prediction model based on noninvasive circulating tumor DNA methylation markers for CRC patients receiving radical surgery.

RESULTS

Two methylation markers (cg11186405 and cg17296166) were identified by Cox regression and receiver operating characteristics, which could classify CRC patients into high recurrence risk and low recurrence risk group. The 3-year disease-free survival was significantly different between CRC patients with low and high recurrence risk [Training set: hazard ratio (HR) 28.776, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.594-230.400; P = 0.002; Validation set: HR 7.796, 95% CI 1.425-42.660, P = 0.018]. The nomogram based on the above two methylation markers and TNM stage was established which demonstrated robust prognostic prediction potential, as evidenced by the decision curve analysis result.

CONCLUSIONS

A cell-free DNA methylation model consisting of two DNA methylation markers is a promising method for prognostic prediction in CRC patients.

Cervical cancer heterogeneity: a constant battle against viruses and drugs

Cervical cancer is the first identified human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancer and the most promising malignancy to be eliminated. However, the ever-changing virus subtypes and acquired multiple drug resistance continue to induce failure of tumor prevention and treatment. The exploration of cervical cancer heterogeneity is the crucial way to achieve effective prevention and precise treatment. Tumor heterogeneity exists in various aspects including the immune clearance of viruses, tumorigenesis, neoplasm recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance. Tumor development and drug resistance are often driven by potential gene amplification and deletion, not only somatic genomic alterations, but also copy number amplifications, histone modification and DNA methylation. Genomic rearrangements may occur by selection effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy which exhibits genetic intra-tumor heterogeneity in advanced cervical cancers. The combined application of cervical cancer therapeutic vaccine and immune checkpoint inhibitors has become an effective strategy to address the heterogeneity of treatment. In this review, we will integrate classic and recently updated epidemiological data on vaccination rates, screening rates, incidence and mortality of cervical cancer patients worldwide aiming to understand the current situation of disease prevention and control and identify the direction of urgent efforts. Additionally, we will focus on the tumor environment to summarize the conditions of immune clearance and gene integration after different HPV infections and to explore the genomic factors of tumor heterogeneity. Finally, we will make a thorough inquiry into completed and ongoing phase III clinical trials in cervical cancer and summarize molecular mechanisms of drug resistance among chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Comprehensive analyses of one-carbon metabolism related genes and their association with prognosis, tumor microenvironment, chemotherapy resistance and immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer and is a global public health concern. One-carbon (1C) metabolism plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of multiple cancer types. However, there are limited studies investigating 1C metabolism in LUAD. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of 1C metabolism-related genes in LUAD and to explore the potential correlation of these genes with gene methylation, the tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy. Methods: We identified 26 1C metabolism-related genes and performed a Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of these genes. Consensus clustering was further performed to determine the 1C metabolism-related gene patterns in LUAD. The clinical and molecular characteristics of subgroups were investigated based on consensus clustering. CIBERSORT and ssGSEA algorithms were used to calculate the relative infiltration levels of multiple immune cell subsets. The relationship between 1C metabolism-related genes and drug sensitivity to immunotherapy was evaluated using the CellMiner database and IMvigor210 cohort, respectively. Results: The expression levels of 23 1C metabolism-related genes were significantly different between LUAD tumor tissues and normal tissues. Seventeen of these genes were related to prognosis. Two clusters (cluster 1 and cluster 2) were identified among 497 LUAD samples based on the expression of 7 prognosis-related genes. Distinct expression patterns were observed between the two clusters. Compared to cluster 2, cluster 1 was characterized by inferior overall survival (OS) (median OS = 41 vs. 60 months, p = 0.00031), increased tumor mutation burden (15.8 vs. 7.5 mut/Mb, p < 0.001), high expression of PD-1 (p < 0.001) and PD-L1 (p < 0.001), as well as enhanced immune infiltration. 1C metabolism-related genes were positively correlated with the expression of methylation enzymes, and a lower methylation level was observed in cluster 1 (p = 0.0062). Patients in cluster 1 were resistant to chemotherapy drugs including pemetrexed, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, etoposide, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin. The specific expression pattern of 1C metabolism-related genes was correlated with a better OS in patients treated with immunotherapy (median OS: 11.2 vs. 7.8 months, p = 0.0034). Conclusion: This study highlights that 1C metabolism is correlated with the prognosis of LUAD patients and immunotherapy efficacy. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of 1C metabolism in the occurrence, development, and treatment of LUAD, and can assist in guiding immunotherapy for LUAD patients.

A novel cervix carcinoma biomarker: Pathological-epigenomics, integrated analysis of MethylMix algorithm and pathology for predicting response to cancer immunotherapy

Herein, A non-invasive pathomics approach was developed to reveal the methylation status in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma and predict clinical outcomes and treatment response. Using the MethylMix algorithm, 14 methylation-driven genes were selected for further analysis. We confirmed that methylation-driven genes were differentially expressed in immune, stromal, and tumor cells. In addition, we constructed a methylation-driven model and explored the alterations in immunocyte infiltration between the different models. The methylation-driven subtypes identified in our investigation could effectively predict the clinical outcomes of cervical cancer. To further evaluate the level of methylation-driven patterns, we constructed a risk model with four genes. Significant correlations were observed between the score and immune response markers, including PD1 and CTLA4. Multiple immune infiltration algorithms evaluated the level of immunocyte infiltration between the high- and low-risk groups, while the components of anti-tumor immunocytes in the low-risk group were significantly increased. Subsequently, a total of 205 acquired whole-slide imaging (WSI) images were processed to capture image signatures, and the pathological algorithm was employed to construct an image prediction model based on the risk score classification. The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.737 and 0.582 for the training and test datasets, respectively. Moreover, we conducted vitro assays for validation of hub risk gene. The proposed prediction model is a non-invasive method that combines pathomics features and genomic profiles and shows satisfactory performance in predicting patient survival and treatment response. More interdisciplinary fields combining medicine and electronics should be explored in the future.

Recent progress of the tumor microenvironmental metabolism in cervical cancer radioresistance

Radiotherapy is widely used as an indispensable treatment option for cervical cancer patients. However, radioresistance always occurs and has become a big obstacle to treatment efficacy. The reason for radioresistance is mainly attributed to the high repair ability of tumor cells that overcome the DNA damage caused by radiotherapy, and the increased self-healing ability of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Accumulating findings have demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely related to cervical cancer radioresistance in many aspects, especially in the metabolic processes. In this review, we discuss radiotherapy in cervical cancer radioresistance, and focus on recent research progress of the TME metabolism that affects radioresistance in cervical cancer. Understanding the mechanism of metabolism in cervical cancer radioresistance may help identify useful therapeutic targets for developing novel therapy, overcome radioresistance and improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in clinics and quality of life of patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic effectiveness of human papillomavirus methylation biomarkers for detection of cervical cancer

Background: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the evidence for the diagnostic effectiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) methylation biomarkers for detection of cervical cancer. Methods: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Nine articles focusing on HPV methylation for detection of precancerous and cancerous cervical lesions were included. The QUADAS-2 tool was used for quality assessment. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was the main diagnostic performance parameter extracted. Results: Of the nine articles included in this study, seven were of moderate quality and two were of high quality. A meta-analysis of the ROC for 27 HPV methylation biomarkers revealed an overall pooled ROC of 0.770 (95% CI: 0.720-0.819; I²: 98.4%; Q: 1537.4; p < 0.01). Four methylation biomarkers had strong diagnostic ability (ROC > 0.900), 17 were moderate (ROC: 0.7000-0.8999) and six were poor (ROC < 0.700). Conclusion: HPV methylation biomarkers hold significant promise as independent screening tests for the detection of cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions.

Promoter Methylation of QKI as a Potential Specific Biomarker for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer

Early and specific detection of cancer provides an opportunity for appropriate treatment. Although studies have suggested that QKI is a tumor suppressor gene, no studies have evaluated the diagnostic utility of QKI methylation in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we evaluated the methylation status of QKI by integrating the methylation data of tissues and cell lines of multiple cancer types. The diagnostic performance of QKI was analyzed in the discovery dataset from the TCGA CRC 450K array (n = 440) and tested in the test sets (n = 845) from the GEO. The methylation level of QKI was further validated in our independent dataset (n = 388) using targeted bisulfite sequencing. All detected CpG sites in the QKI promoter showed CRC-specific hypermethylation in 31 types of tumor tissues. In the discovery dataset, six consecutive CpG sites achieved high diagnostic performances, with AUCs ranging from 0.821 to 0.930. In the test set, a region (chr6: 163,834,452–163,834,924) including four consecutive CpG sites had robust diagnostic ability in distinguishing CRC and adenoma from normal samples. In the validation dataset, similar robust results were observed in both early- and advanced-stage CRC patients. In addition, QKI exhibited hypermethylation in the cfDNA of patients with CRC (n = 14). Collectively, the QKI promoter is a CRC-specific methylation biomarker and holds great promise for improving the diagnosis using minimally invasive biopsy.

Cervical Cancer Prophylaxis—State-of-the-Art and Perspectives

Background: Each year 604,127 new cases of cervical cancer (CC) are diagnosed, and 341,831 individuals die from the disease. It is the fourth most common cancer among women and the fourth most common cause of death from female cancers worldwide. The pathogenesis of CC is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and consists of several steps involving cell proliferation outside the human body’s control mechanisms. Strategies to prevent CC are based on screening and vaccination. Scope of the Review: The aim of this paper was to collect and analyze the available literature on the issue of CC prevention and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its implementation. For this purpose, PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using keywords, such as “cervical cancer”; “HPV”; “prevention”; “prophylaxis”; “vaccination”; “screening” and “COVID-19” in different variations. Only articles published since 2018 were included in the study. Conclusions: Selected European countries have different CC prevention programs funded by national budgets. This translates into observed differences in the risk of death from CC (age-standardized rate Malta = 1.1, Poland = 5.9). COVID-19 pandemic due to disruption of CC screening may exacerbate these differences in the future. To improve the situation, new screening methods, such as p16/Ki67, HPV self-testing, and the use of artificial intelligence in colposcopic assessment, should be disseminated, as well as free HPV vaccination programs implemented in all countries. The search for new solutions is not without significance and entails ultra-sensitive screening tests for risk groups (mRNA E6/E7, SOX1/SOX14), HPV vaccines with shorter dosing schedules, and new therapeutic pathways using nanotheranostics.

PRKCI Mediates Radiosensitivity via the Hedgehog/GLI1 Pathway in Cervical Cancer

Objective

Insensitivity to radiotherapy accounts for the majority of therapeutic failures in cervical cancer (CC) patients who undergo radical radiotherapy. We aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying radiosensitivity to identify methods to improve the overall 5-year survival rate. The atypical protein kinase C iota (aPKCι) gene PRKCI exhibits tumor-specific copy number amplification (CNA) in CC. We investigated how PRKCI decreases radiosensitivity in CC and assessed the interplay between PRKCI and the Hedgehog (Hh)/GLI1 pathway in the present research.

Methods

The biological functions of PRKCI in CC radiosensitivity were explored through immunohistochemistry, colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), cell cycle, apoptosis assays, and xenograft models. qRT-PCR, Western blotting analysis, and immunofluorescence assays were utilized to evaluate the interplay between PRKCI and the Hh/GLI1 pathway and its mechanism in PRKCI-decreased radiosensitivity in CC. Furthermore, the effect of auranofin (AF), a selective inhibitor of PKCι, on CC cells was explored through biochemical assays in vitro and in vivo.

Results

We found that high PRKCI expression was responsible for decreased survival in CC. PRKCI was intimately associated with radiation-triggered alterations in proliferation, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and xenograft growth. The Hh/GLI1 pathway was activated when PRKCI expression was altered. PRKCI functions downstream of the Hh/GLI1 pathway to phosphorylate and activate the transcription factor GLI1. AF acts as a radiosensitizer and showed biological effects in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

PRKCI is a therapeutic target for regulating radiosensitivity in CC. This molecule regulates radiosensitivity by modulating GLI1 relocalization and phosphorylation in CC via the Hh/GLI1 pathway.

Review of the Standard and Advanced Screening, Staging Systems and Treatment Modalities for Cervical Cancer

Simple Summary

This review discusses the timeline and development of the recommended screening tests, diagnosis system, and therapeutics implemented in clinics for precancer and cancer of the uterine cervix. The incorporation of the latest automation, machine learning modules, and state-of-the-art technologies into these aspects are also discussed.

Abstract

Cancer arising from the uterine cervix is the fourth most common cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Almost 90% of cervical cancer mortality has occurred in low- and middle-income countries. One of the major aetiologies contributing to cervical cancer is the persistent infection by the cancer-causing types of the human papillomavirus. The disease is preventable if the premalignant lesion is detected early and managed effectively. In this review, we outlined the standard guidelines that have been introduced and implemented worldwide for decades, including the cytology, the HPV detection and genotyping, and the immunostaining of surrogate markers. In addition, the staging system used to classify the premalignancy and malignancy of the uterine cervix, as well as the safety and efficacy of the various treatment modalities in clinical trials for cervical cancers, are also discussed. In this millennial world, the advancements in computer-aided technology, including robotic modules and artificial intelligence (AI), are also incorporated into the screening, diagnostic, and treatment platforms. These innovations reduce the dependence on specialists and technologists, as well as the work burden and time incurred for sample processing. However, concerns over the practicality of these advancements remain, due to the high cost, lack of flexibility, and the judgment of a trained professional that is currently not replaceable by a machine.

Global DNA Methylation Profiling Reveals Differentially Methylated CpGs between Salivary Gland Pleomorphic Adenomas with Distinct Clinical Course

Pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) are the most frequently diagnosed benign salivary gland tumors. Although the majority of PAs are characterized by slow growth, some develop very fast and are more prone to recur. The reason for such differences remains unidentified. In this study, we performed global DNA methylation profiling using the Infinium Human Methylation EPIC 850k BeadChip Array (Illumina) to search for epigenetic biomarkers that could distinguish both groups of tumors. The analysis was performed in four fast-growing tumors (FGTs) and four slow-growing tumors (SGTs). In all, 85 CpG dinucleotides differentiating both groups were identified. Six CpG tags (cg06748470, cg18413218, cg10121788, cg08249296, cg18455472, and cg19930657) were selected for bisulfite pyrosequencing in the extended group of samples. We confirmed differences in DNA methylation between both groups of samples. To evaluate the potential diagnostic accuracy of the selected markers, ROC curves were constructed. We indicated that CpGs included in two assays showed an area under the curve with an acceptable prognostic value (AUC > 0.7). However, logistic regression analysis allowed us to indicate a more optimal model consisting of five CpGs ((1) cg06748470, (2) cg00600454, (3) CpG located in chr14: 77,371,501−77,371,502 (not annotated in GRCh37/hg19), (4) CpG2 located in chr16: 77,469,589−77,469,590 (not annotated GRCh37/hg19), and (5) cg19930657) with AUC > 0.8. This set of epigenetic biomarkers may be considered as differentiating factors between FGT and SGT during salivary gland tumor diagnosis. However, this data should be confirmed in a larger cohort of samples.

Everolimus (RAD001) combined with programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade enhances radiosensitivity of cervical cancer and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression by blocking the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) pathway

Cervical cancer (CC) is the 4^th most prevalent malignancy in females. This study explored the mechanism of everolimus (RAD001) combined with programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade on radiosensitivity by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and autophagy in CC cells. Low-radiosensitive CaSki cells were selected as study objects. After RAD001 treatment, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation, autophagy, migration and invasion abilities, autophagy-related proteins (LC3-I, LC3-II, and p62), and PD-L1 expression in CC cells were detected. After triple treatment of radiotherapy (RT), RAD001, and PD-1 blockade to the CC mouse models, tumor weight and volume were recorded. Ki67 expression, the number of CD8 + T cells, and the ability to produce IFN-γ and TNF-α in tumor tissues were determined. RAD001 promoted autophagy by repressing PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, augmented RT-induced apoptosis, and weakened migration and invasion, thereby increasing CC cell radiosensitivity. RAD001 elevated RT-induced PD-L1 level. RT combined with RAD001 and PD-1 blockade intensified the inhibitory effect of RT on tumor growth, reduced the amount of Ki67-positive cells, enhanced radiosensitivity of CC mice, and increased the quantity and killing ability of CD8 + T cells. Briefly, RAD001 combined with PD-1 blockade increases radiosensitivity of CC by impeding the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and potentiating cell autophagy.

A Novel Small Molecular Inhibitor of DNMT1 Enhances the Antitumor Effect of Radiofrequency Ablation in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a relatively new and effective therapeutic strategy for treating lung squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs). However, RFA is rarely used in the clinic for LSCC which still suffers from a lack of effective comprehensive treatment strategies. In the present work, we investigate iDNMT, a novel small molecular inhibitor of DNMT1 with a unique structure. In clinical LSCC specimens, endogenous DNMT1 was positively associated with methylation rates of miR-27-3p's promoter. Moreover, endogenous DNMT1 was negatively correlated with miR-27-3p expression which targets PSEN-1, the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, which mediates the cleavage and activation of the Notch pathway. We found that DNMT1 increased activation of the Notch pathway in clinical LSCC samples while downregulating miR-27-3p expression and hypermethylation of miR-27-3p's promoter. In addition of inhibiting activation of the Notch pathway by repressing methylation of the miR-27-3p promoter, treatment of LSCC cells with iDNMT1 also enhanced the sensitivity of LSCC tumor tissues to RFA treatment. These data suggest that iDNMT-induced inhibition of DNMT-1 enhances miR-27-3p expression in LSCC to inhibit activation of the Notch pathway. Furthermore, the combination of iDNMT and RFA may be a promising therapeutic strategy for LSCC.

Tumour-associated macrophages heterogeneity drives resistance to clinical therapy

Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a plastic and heterogeneous cell population of the tumour microenvironment (TME) that can account for up to 50% of solid tumours. TAMs heterogeneous are associated with different cancer types and stages, different stimulation of bioactive molecules and different TME, which are crucial drivers of tumour progression, metastasis and resistance to therapy. In this context, understanding the sources and regulatory mechanisms of TAM heterogeneity and searching for novel therapies targeting TAM subpopulations are essential for future studies. In this review, we discuss emerging evidence highlighting the redefinition of TAM heterogeneity from three different directions: origins, phenotypes and functions. We notably focus on the causes and consequences of TAM heterogeneity which have implications for the evolution of therapeutic strategies that targeted the subpopulations of TAMs.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1/chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 autocrine loop contributes to cellular proliferation, migration and apoptosis in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common malignant tumor in gynecology with high mortality rate, so novel approaches for cervical cancer treatment are urgently needed. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression data and clinicopathological data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) downloaded from University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Xena database. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) was screened out as a key prognostic gene for cervical cancer. Revealed by the results of ELISA and Western blot, the expression of CXCL1 and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2) in cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and C33A) was significantly higher than that in the primary cervical epithelial cells. Cellular immunofluorescence was used in this study to observe CXCR2 localization. Through CCK8, clone formation assay, wound healing assay and Annexin V/PI staining, it was found that down-regulation of CXCL1 expression or treatment with CXCR2 antagonist (SB 225002) could reduce the cell viability, affect the proliferation, weaken the migration ability, and promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells; however, the effect of CXCR2 antagonist was improved after over-expressed CXCL1. CXCL1/CXCR2 chemokine system regulates the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells in the form of an autocrine loop, thus affecting the development of cervical cancer. This study provides a theoretical basis for researching the molecular mechanism of cervical cancer deterioration and development, and brings forward a new idea for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

miR-140-Modified Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Chemotherapy Sensitization in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via Targeting Microtubule Depolymerization Protein 1 (STMN1)

Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs and microRNAs (miRNAs) is still unclear. This study explored the role of miR-140 modified BMSCs in enhancing paclitaxel sensitivity of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Hela cells, BMSCs cells, and miR-140 modified BMSCs were transfected with miR-140 mimic, miR-140 inhibitor, and miR-140 NC, respectively. After transfection, they were co-cultured with Hela cells and paclitaxel to set up miR-140 mimic group, miR-140 inhibitor group, and miR-140 NC group (without paclitaxel treatment) followed by analysis of cell proliferation, apoptosis, ROS generation, expression of miR-140, STMN1, STAT3, p-STAT3, and survivin mRNA and protein. miR-140 inhibitor group showed lowest cell proliferation number and expressions of miR-140, STMN1, STAT3, p-STAT3, and survivin mRNA and protein with highest number of apoptotic cells, which were all reversed in miR-140 mimic group. There was a positive correlation between STMN1 level and miR-140 expression (r = 0.449, P = 0.108). BMSCs modified with miR-140 inhibitor can target STMN1, enhance the sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs, and exert an inhibitory effect on CSCC cell proliferation, suggesting that STMN1 might be a therapy target for treating CSCC.

Human Papillomaviruses-Associated Cancers: An Update of Current Knowledge

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which are small, double-stranded, circular DNA viruses infecting human epithelial cells, are associated with various benign and malignant lesions of mucosa and skin. Intensive research on the oncogenic potential of HPVs started in the 1970s and spread across Europe, including Croatia, and worldwide. Nowadays, the causative role of a subset of oncogenic or high-risk (HR) HPV types, led by HPV-16 and HPV-18, of different anogenital and head and neck cancers is well accepted. Two major viral oncoproteins, E6 and E7, are directly involved in the development of HPV-related malignancies by targeting synergistically various cellular pathways involved in the regulation of cell cycle control, apoptosis, and cell polarity control networks as well as host immune response. This review is aimed at describing the key elements in HPV-related carcinogenesis and the advances in cancer prevention with reference to past and on-going research in Croatia.

Posttranscriptional inhibition of γ-adducin promotes the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells

OBJECTIVE

The expression of cytoskeleton-related protein γ-adducin (ADD3) was abnormally reduced in some tumors. Functional experiments demonstrated that it could inhibit the malignant progression of lung cancer and glioma, whereas the involvement of ADD3 in osteosarcoma was not clear. This study aimed to investigate the role of ADD3 in osteosarcoma and its upstream regulatory mechanisms.

METHODS

ADD3 was knocked down by siRNA transfection and the expression level of ADD3 was determined using quantitative real-time PCR assay and Western blot. CCK-8 assay and colony formation were performed to detect the capacity of cell proliferation. Transwell assay and PI and Annexin V-FITC staining were used to determine cell migration and apoptosis, respectively. Luciferase reporter experiment was performed to investigate the interaction between ADD3 and miR-23b-3p.

RESULTS

Based on gene silencing assays, we showed that knockdown of ADD3 suppressed apoptosis and promoted the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells, revealing inhibitory effects of ADD3 in osteosarcoma. Luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that miR-23b-3p could bind to the 3'-UTR of ADD3. Upregulation of miR-23b-3p not only inhibited the expression of ADD3, but also released the tumor suppressive role of ADD3 on the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that ADD3 functioned as a tumor suppressor gene during osteosarcoma development. The abnormal upregulation of miR-23b-3p targeted the expression of ADD3 and resulted in accelerated osteosarcoma cell proliferation and migration. Thus, the miR-23b-3p/ADD3 axis contributes to the development of osteosarcoma and ADD3 is a key driver of malignancy.

Prognostic Significance of Dysregulated Epigenomic and Chromatin Modifiers in Cervical Cancer

To broaden the understanding of the epigenomic and chromatin regulation of cervical cancer, we examined the status and significance of a set of epigenomic and chromatin modifiers in cervical cancer using computational biology. We observed that 61 of 917 epigenomic and/or chromatin regulators are differentially upregulated in human cancer, including 25 upregulated in invasive squamous cell carcinomas and 29 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3), of which 14 are upregulated in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 (CIN2). Interestingly, 57 of such regulators are uniquely upregulated in cervical cancer, but not ovarian and endometrial cancers. The observed overexpression of 57 regulators was found to have a prognostic significance in cervical cancer. The collective overexpression of these regulators, as well as its subsets belonging to specific histone modifications and corresponding top ten positively co-overexpressed genes, correlated with reduced survival of patients with high expressions of the tested overexpressed regulators compared to cases with low expressions. Using cell-dependency datasets from human cervical cancer cells, we found that 20 out of 57 epigenomic and chromatin regulators studied here appeared to be essential genes, as the depletion of these genes was accompanied by the loss in cellular viability. In brief, the results presented here provide further insights into the role of epigenomic and chromatin regulators in the oncobiology of cervical cancer and broaden the list of new potential molecules of therapeutic importance.

Expression and prognosis of CDC45 in cervical cancer based on the GEO database

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing year by year worldwide. Therefore, an urgent and challenging task is to identify potential biomarkers for cervical cancer. This study aims to identify the hub genes based on the GEO database and then validate their prognostic values in cervical cancer by multiple databases. By analysis, we obtained 83 co-expressed differential genes from the GEO database (GSE63514, GSE67522 and GSE39001). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these 83 co-expressed it mainly involved differential genes in DNA replication, cell division, cell cycle, etc.. The PPI network was constructed and top 10 genes with protein-protein interaction were selected. Then, we validated ten genes using some databases such as TCGA, GTEx and oncomine. Survival analysis demonstrated significant differences in CDC45, RFC4, TOP2A. Differential expression analysis showed that these genes were highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis indicated that CDC45 and clinical stage IV were independent prognostic factors for cervical cancer. In addition, the HPA database validated the protein expression level of CDC45 in cervical cancer. Further studies investigated the relationship between CDC45 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells via CIBERSORT. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed CDC45 related genes were mainly enriched in cell cycle, chromosome, catalytic activity acting on DNA, etc. These results suggested CDC45 may be a potential biomarker associated with the prognosis of cervical cancer.

HMGB1 Protein Interactions in Prostate and Ovary Cancer Models Reveal Links to RNA Processing and Ribosome Biogenesis through NuRD, THOC and Septin Complexes

Simple Summary

HMGB1 over-expression is associated to prostate and ovary cancers: in this work, using a proteomic approach, we aimed to discover new protein interactions that might contribute to understand the oncogenic function of HMGB1 in cancers models. Our findings show that HMGB1 interacts with components of the NuRD, THOC and septin complexes, revealing new connections of HMGB1 functions to RNA processing and ribosome biogenesis. Results might contribute to consider the components of these interactomes as targets for diagnosis and therapy in future studies.

Abstract

This study reports the HMGB1 interactomes in prostate and ovary cancer cells lines. Affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry confirmed that the HMGB1 nuclear interactome is involved in HMGB1 known functions such as maintenance of chromatin stability and regulation of transcription, and also in not as yet reported processes such as mRNA and rRNA processing. We have identified an interaction between HMGB1 and the NuRD complex and validated this by yeast-two-hybrid, confirming that the RBBP7 subunit directly interacts with HMGB1. In addition, we describe for the first time an interaction between two HMGB1 interacting complexes, the septin and THOC complexes, as well as an interaction of these two complexes with Rab11. Analysis of Pan-Cancer Atlas public data indicated that several genes encoding HMGB1-interacting proteins identified in this study are dysregulated in tumours from patients diagnosed with ovary and prostate carcinomas. In PC-3 cells, silencing of HMGB1 leads to downregulation of the expression of key regulators of ribosome biogenesis and RNA processing, namely BOP1, RSS1, UBF1, KRR1 and LYAR. Upregulation of these genes in prostate adenocarcinomas is correlated with worse prognosis, reinforcing their functional significance in cancer progression.

[Value of plasma SEPTIN9 methylation detection for diagnosis and predicting radiosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of plasma mSEPT9 detection in the diagnosis and prediction of radiosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma.

METHODS

This study was conducted in 72 patients with esophageal cancer who received radical radiotherapy in the Department of Radiotherapy of First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College between January, 2019 and December, 2020.Plasma mSEPT9 of the patients were examined with PCR before and after radiotherapy, with 20 healthy subjects from the physical examination center as the controls.The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to assess the value of mSEPT9 in diagnosis of esophageal cancer, and the correlation between mSEPT9 and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients was analyzed.According to their response to radiotherapy, the patients were divided into radiosensitive group and insensitive group, and their plasma mSEPT9 levels were compared before radiotherapy.All the patients were observed for dynamic changes of mSEPT9 levels after radiotherapy to analyze the association of mSEPT9 variation with radiosensitivity of the tumors.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of mSEPT9 for the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma were 62.5% and 100%, respectively, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.813.Plasma mSEPT9 level was correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stages of esophageal carcinoma (P < 0.05), but not with gender, age, invasion site, tumor length, degree of differentiation, or depth of invasion (P > 0.05).The radiosensitive patients had a significantly lower positivity rate for mSEPT9 than the insensitive patients before radiotherapy(53.06% vs 82.61%, P=0.016).In the 72 patients, the positivity rate for mSEPT9 decreased significantly after radiotherapy (30.56% vs 62.5%, P < 0.001); the positivity rate was significantly lowered after radiotherapy in the radiosensitive group (14.29% vs 53.06%, P < 0.001), but the reduction was not significant in the insensitive group (65.22% vs 82.61%, P=0.125).

CONCLUSION

Detection of plasma mSEPT9 level is helpful for diagnosis and prediction of radiosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma.

HPV Infection Leaves a DNA Methylation Signature in Oropharyngeal Cancer Affecting Both Coding Genes and Transposable Elements

HPV oncoproteins can modulate DNMT1 expression and activity, and previous studies have reported both gene-specific and global DNA methylation alterations according to HPV status in head and neck cancer. However, validation of these findings and a more detailed analysis of the transposable elements (TEs) are still missing. Here we performed pyrosequencing to evaluate a 5-CpG methylation signature and Line1 methylation in an oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cohort. We further evaluated the methylation levels of the TEs, their correlation with gene expression and their impact on overall survival (OS) using the TCGA cohort. In our dataset, the 5-CpG signature distinguished HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC with 66.67% sensitivity and 84.33% specificity. Line1 methylation levels were higher in HPV-positive cases. In the TCGA cohort, Line1, Alu and long terminal repeats (LTRs) showed hypermethylation in a frequency of 60.5%, 58.9% and 92.3%, respectively. ZNF541 and CCNL1 higher expression was observed in HPV-positive OPSCC, correlated with lower methylation levels of promoter-associated Alu and LTR, respectively, and independently associated with better OS. Based on our findings, we may conclude that a 5-CpG methylation signature can discriminate OPSCC according to HPV status with high accuracy and TEs are differentially methylated and may regulate gene expression in HPV-positive OPSCC.

An epigenomic landscape of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer using single-base resolution methylome and hydroxymethylome

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression through DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation plays a pivotal role during tumorigenesis. In this study, to analyze the epigenomic landscape and identify potential biomarkers for CCs, we selected a series of samples from normal to cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CINs) to CCs and performed an integrative analysis of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS-seq), oxidative WGBS, RNA-seq, and external histone modifications profiling data.

RESULTS

In the development and progression of CC, there were genome-wide hypo-methylation and hypo-hydroxymethylation, accompanied by local hyper-methylation and hyper-hydroxymethylation. Hydroxymethylation prefers to distribute in the CpG islands and CpG shores, as displayed a trend of gradual decline from health to CIN2, while a trend of increase from CIN3 to CC. The differentially methylated and hydroxymethylated region-associated genes both enriched in Hippo and other cancer-related signaling pathways that drive cervical carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we identified eight novel differentially methylated/hydroxymethylated-associated genes (DES, MAL, MTIF2, PIP5K1A, RPS6KA6, ANGEL2, MPP, and PAPSS2) significantly correlated with the overall survival of CC. In addition, no any correlation was observed between methylation or hydroxymethylation levels and somatic copy number variations in CINs and CCs.

CONCLUSION

Our current study systematically delineates the map of methylome and hydroxymethylome from CINs to CC, and some differentially methylated/hydroxymethylated-associated genes can be used as the potential epigenetic biomarkers in CC prognosis.

The serum CK17 and CK19 expressions in cervical cancer patients and their prognostic value

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to quantify the serum CK17 and CK19 expressions in cervical cancer (CC) patients and determine their predictive value.

METHODS

A total of 124 CC patients admitted to Zhejiang North Medical Center (Huzhou Central Hospital) between November 2014 and November 2017 were recruited for the study and placed in a research group (the Res group), and 99 healthy individuals during the same period were also recruited for the study and placed in a control group (the Con group). Their serum CK17 and CK19 expressions were quantified, and the diagnostic significance of the two for CC was analyzed. Additionally, the patients were followed up for three years. The patients were then assigned to favorable and unfavorable prognosis groups, and then the predictive significance of CK17 and CK19 for such patients was evaluated.

RESULTS

The Res group presented significantly higher serum CK17 and CK19 expression levels than the Con group, and the two factors were positively associated. Additionally, neither of the AUCs for serum CK17 and CK19 in identifying CC were less than 0.800, and the AUC of the combination of the two in identifying it was not smaller than 0.900. The AUC of the combination of serum CK17 and CK19 in identifying unfavorable CC prognoses was approximate 0.850, and high expression levels CK17 and CK19 were closely related with low three-year overall survival rates.

CONCLUSION

Serum CK17 combined with serum CK19 is of great diagnostic and predictive significance for CC.