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Rapisarda V, Salemi R, Marconi A, Loreto C, Graziano AC, Cardile V, Basile MS, Candido S, Falzone L, Spandidos DA, Fenga C, Libra M. Fluoro-edenite induces fibulin-3 overexpression in non-malignant human mesothelial cells. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:3363-3367. [PMID: 27900005 PMCID: PMC5103952 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.5051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to asbestos is associated with the development of mesothelioma. In addition to asbestos, other fibers have been identified as risk factors for malignant and non-malignant diseases of the lungs. Among these, fluoro-edenite (FE) was found in patients from Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy) with pleural and lung disease, suggesting its role for tumor expansion. In this context, the identification of early biomarkers useful for the diagnosis of cancer is mandatory. Fibulin-3 represents an important marker for the diagnosis of mesothelioma. However, it remains to be determined whether it is directly associated with exposure to asbestos-like fibers. In the present study, peripheral blood levels of fibulin-3 from 40 asbestos-exposed workers were compared with those detected in 27 street cleaners from Biancavilla. Intriguingly, the results showed that fibulin-3 levels were higher in the group of street cleaners compared with those of the asbestos-exposed workers, suggesting that these workers used the personal protective equipment according to the current regulations. These data suggest that subjects exposed to FE should be monitored for the risk of mesothelioma. FE and volcanic particulates are probably contained within dust inhaled by street cleaners from Biancavilla during their work activities. Based on these criteria, in this study, such fibers were used to treat mesothelial cells (MeT5A) in order to verify whether fibulin-3 levels are affected by these treatments. The results showed that only treatment with FE was associated with fibulin-3 overexpression at both the transcript and protein levels. It was previously demonstrated that mesothelial cells exhibited low levels of p27 following treatment with FE. Notably, p27 downregulation is associated with stathmin upregulation in cancer, conferring an aggressive phenotype of tumor cells. This observation prompted us to perform a computational evaluation demonstrating the activation of stathmin in lung cancer in patients exposed to asbestos. Overall, it can be speculated that both fibulin-3 and stathmin overexpression may be associated with the malignant transformation of mesothelial cells following exposure to asbestos-like fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venerando Rapisarda
- Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Rossella Salemi
- Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Marconi
- Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Loreto
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Adriana C. Graziano
- Section of Physiology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Venera Cardile
- Section of Physiology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria S. Basile
- Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Saverio Candido
- Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Luca Falzone
- Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Concettina Fenga
- Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of the Environment, Safety, Territory, Food and Health Sciences, University of Messina, I-98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Massimo Libra
- Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
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Falzone L, Marconi A, Loreto C, Franco S, Spandidos DA, Libra M. Occupational exposure to carcinogens: Benzene, pesticides and fibers (Review). Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:4467-4474. [PMID: 27748850 PMCID: PMC5101963 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that the occupational exposure to contaminants and carcinogens leads to the development of cancer in exposed workers. In the 18th century, Percivall Pott was the first to hypothesize that chronic exposure to dust in the London chimney sweeps was associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. Subsequently a growing body of evidence indicated that other physical factors were also responsible for oncogenic mutations. Over the past decades, many carcinogens have been found in the occupational environment and their presence is often associated with an increased incidence of cancer. Occupational exposure involves several factors and the association between carcinogens, occupational exposure and cancer is still unclear. Only a fraction of factors is recognized as occupational carcinogens and for each factor, there is an increased risk of cancer development associated with a specific work activity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the majority of carcinogens are classified as 'probable' and 'possible' human carcinogens, while, direct evidence of carcinogenicity is provided in epidemiological and experimental studies. In the present review, exposures to benzene, pesticides and mineral fibers are discussed as the most important cancer risk factors during work activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Falzone
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Marconi
- Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Loreto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human Anatomy and Histology Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Sabrina Franco
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technology Sciences ‘G.F. Ingrassia’, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of General and Clinical Pathology and Oncology, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy
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Assis LVMD, Isoldi MC. Overview of the biochemical and genetic processes in malignant mesothelioma. J Bras Pneumol 2015; 40:429-42. [PMID: 25210967 PMCID: PMC4201175 DOI: 10.1590/s1806-37132014000400012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive form of cancer, has a long latency period, and is resistant to chemotherapy. It is extremely fatal, with a mean survival of less than one year. The development of MM is strongly correlated with exposure to asbestos and with other factors, such as erionite and simian virus 40 [corrected]. Although various countries have banned the use of asbestos, MM has proven to be difficult to control and there appears to be a trend toward an increase in its incidence in the years to come. In Brazil, MM has not been widely studied from a genetic or biochemical standpoint. In addition, there have been few epidemiological studies of the disease, and the profile of its incidence has yet to be well established in the Brazilian population. The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding the processes of malignant transformation, as well as the respective mechanisms of tumorigenesis, in MM.
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The role of key genes and pathways involved in the tumorigenesis of Malignant Mesothelioma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2014; 1845:232-47. [PMID: 24491449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a very aggressive cancer with low survival rates and often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Several players have been implicated in the development of this cancer, such as asbestos, erionite and the simian virus 40 (SV40). Here, we have reviewed the involvement of erionite, SV40, as well as, the role of several genes (p16(INK4a), p14(ARF), NF2, LATS2, SAV, CTNNB1 and among others), the pathways (RAS, PI3K, Wnt, BCL and Hippo), and their respective roles in the development of MM.
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de Assis LVM, Isoldi MC. The function, mechanisms, and role of the genes PTEN and TP53 and the effects of asbestos in the development of malignant mesothelioma: a review focused on the genes' molecular mechanisms. Tumour Biol 2013; 35:889-901. [PMID: 24081673 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer with a mean survival rate of less than a year. Moreover, environmental exposure to minerals is an important factor in the development of malignant mesothelioma (MM), especially the mineral asbestos, which has a well-documented role in MM, and more recently, the mineral erionite has been proven to be a strong carcinogenic inducer of MM. In addition, the virus simian virus 40 has been implicated as a co-carcinogenic player in MM. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this cancer are still not fully understood. Indeed, it is known that several genes are altered or mutated in MM, among those are p16(INK4A), p14(ARF), and neurofibromatosis type II. Furthermore, TP53 has been reported to be mutated in the majority of the cancers; however, in MM, it is very uncommon mutations in this gene. Also, the PTEN gene has been shown to play an important role in endometrial cancer and glioblastoma, although the role of PTEN in MM has yet to be established. Taken altogether, this review focuses on the historical aspects, molecular mechanisms, interaction with other genes and proteins, and the role of these genes in MM. Lastly, this review questions the cancer theory of the two hits because the functions of both PTEN and TP53 are not fully explained by this theory.
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Suchy SL, Landreneau RJ, Schuchert MJ, Wang D, Ervin PR, Brower SL. Adaptation of a chemosensitivity assay to accurately assess pemetrexed in ex vivo cultures of lung cancer. Cancer Biol Ther 2012; 14:39-44. [PMID: 23114649 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.22622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Pemetrexed is the only FDA approved treatment for mesothelioma and is a second line agent for treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Pemetrexed is inhibited by folate and its analogs, which are components of many culture media, making it challenging to study pemetrexed in vitro. In order to accurately evaluate pemetrexed's effects in vitro, the protocol for a standard chemosensitivity assay, the ChemoFx drug response marker, had to be modified. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Novel rinse and media change steps were assessed and then added to the assay protocol in order to observe pemetrexed activity. The intraday and interday stability of pemetrexed were also established under the adapted protocol. Then, the modified protocol was used to examine pemetrexed in 65 ex vivo lung cancer specimens. RESULTS Substituting 5% RPMI + EGF for BEGM allowed pemetrexed to exert its anticancer activity in the ChemoFx DRM. ChemoFx classified 6.2% of the lung specimens as responsive, 9.2% as intermediate responsive and 84.6% as non-responsive to pemetrexed. CONCLUSIONS Adapting the ChemoFx protocol allowed for the accurate evaluation of pemetrexed anticancer activity in ex vivo lung specimens. ChemoFx evaluation may provide an indication of a patient's clinical response to the drug prior to pemetrexed treatment. Having this information when treatment options are being considered could avoid wasted time, unnecessary costs and needless side effects that are the result of an inappropriate chemotherapy regimen.
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