Comprehensive expression profiling of tumor cell lines identifies molecular signatures of melanoma progression

The Role of CDCA2 in tumor genesis, prognosis and future treatments

The Cell Division Cycle Associated 2 (CDCA2) gene is responsible for encoding a targeting subunit of cell-cycle associated protein. CDCA2 plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including chromosome segregation and decondensation, nuclear envelope reassembly, microtubule assembly, and DNA damage response. Additionally, CDCA2 is involved in multiple signaling pathways such as the PI3K/Akt pathway and p53 pathway. Undoubtedly, there exists a strong association between CDCA2 and cancer. Numerous studies have reported that elevated levels of CDCA2 are correlated with poor prognosis and several clinicopathological characteristics like tumor size and TNM stage across different types of cancer. Therefore, CDCA2 holds great potential as both a biomarker for diagnosis and a therapeutic target for interventions such as targeted therapies or immunotherapy. Given its promising prospects in scientific research and clinical applications, it is imperative for researchers to delve into the underlying mechanisms of CDCA2 and explore its utilization.

Malignant melanoma complicated with cataract and secondary glaucoma: A case report

Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in adults. For patients presenting with cataracts and glaucoma, it is recommended to assess whether an intraocular lesion is present as the primary cause. The present study describes the case of a 52-year-old man with primary intraocular malignant melanoma. The patient experienced painless vision loss in the right eye for 1 year, with recent onset of eye swelling and pain in the week prior to seeking medical attention. A slit-lamp examination revealed a shallow anterior chamber in the right eye, a visibly opaque lens and a faint reflection of the tumor surface in the vitreous humor. In addition, the intraocular pressure of this eye was >60 mmHg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large tumor behind the lens measuring 16×18×14 mm. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. No BRCA-associated protein-1 somatic mutation was detected, whereas germline mutations of MutL protein homolog 1, RAD54 like, and SWI/SNF related, matrix associated, actin dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 4 were identified. Extensive systemic examination excluded the possibility that the tumors originated from another part of the body. The present case report highlights the crucial role of slit-lamp examination in the detection of ocular tumors. It is advocated that for patients presenting with cataracts, attention should be paid to the possibility of intraocular tumors. Meticulous slit-lamp microscopy may reveal a reflection of the surface of a malignant melanoma, preventing misdiagnosis.

Important role and underlying mechanism of non‑SMC condensin I complex subunit G in tumours (Review)

At present, the incidence of tumours is increasing on a yearly basis, and tumourigenesis is usually associated with chromosomal instability and cell cycle dysregulation. Moreover, abnormalities in the chromosomal structure often lead to DNA damage, further exacerbating gene mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. However, the non‑SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) of the structural maintenance of chromosomes family is known to exert a key role in tumour development. It has been shown that high expression of NCAPG is closely associated with tumour development and progression. Overexpression of NCAPG variously affects chromosome condensation and segregation during cell mitosis, influences cell cycle regulation, promotes tumour cell proliferation and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis. In addition, NCAPG has been associated with tumour cell stemness, tumour resistance and recurrence. The aim of the present review was to explore the underlying mechanisms of NCAPG during tumour development, with a view towards providing novel targets and strategies for tumour therapy, and through the elucidation of the mechanisms involved, to lay the foundation for future developments in health.

Transcriptional background effects on a tumor driver gene in different pigment cell types of medaka

The Xiphophorus melanoma receptor kinase gene, xmrk, is a bona fide oncogene driving melanocyte tumorigenesis of Xiphophorus fish. When ectopically expressed in medaka, it not only induces development of several pigment cell tumor types in different strains of medaka but also induces different tumor types within the same animal, suggesting its oncogenic activity has a transcriptomic background effect. Although the central pathways that xmrk utilizes to lead to melanomagenesis are well documented, genes and genetic pathways that modulate the oncogenic effect and alter the course of disease have not been studied so far. To understand how the genetic networks between different histocytes of xmrk-driven tumors are composed, we isolated two types of tumors, melanoma and xanthoerythrophoroma, from the same xmrk transgenic medaka individuals, established the transcriptional profiles of both xmrk-driven tumors, and compared (1) genes that are co-expressed with xmrk in both tumor types, and (2) differentially expressed genes and their associated molecular functions, between the two tumor types. Transcriptomic comparisons between the two tumor types show melanoma and xanthoerythrophoroma are characterized by transcriptional features representing varied functions, indicating distinct molecular interactions between the driving oncogene and the cell-type-specific transcriptomes. Melanoma tumors exhibit gene signatures that are relevant to proliferation and invasion, while xanthoerythrophoroma tumors are characterized by expression profiles related to metabolism and DNA repair. We conclude the transcriptomic backgrounds, exemplified by cell-type-specific genes that are downstream of xmrk effected signaling pathways, contribute the potential to change the course of tumor development and may affect overall tumor outcomes.

Role and mechanism of NCAPD3 in promoting malignant behaviors in gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the major malignancies threatening human lives and health. Non-SMC condensin II complex subunit D3 (NCAPD3) plays a crucial role in the occurrence of many diseases. However, its role in GC remains unexplored.

Materials and Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, clinical samples, and cell lines were used to analyze NCAPD3 expression in GC. NCAPD3 was overexpressed and inhibited by lentiviral vectors and the CRISPR/Cas9 system, respectively. The biological functions of NCAPD3 were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Gene microarray, Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) were performed to establish the potential mechanisms.

Results

NCAPD3 was highly expressed in GC and was associated with a poor prognosis. NCAPD3 upregulation significantly promoted the malignant biological behaviors of gastric cancer cell, while NCAPD3 inhibition exerted a opposite effect. NCAPD3 loss can directly inhibit CCND1 and ESR1 expression to downregulate the expression of downstream targets CDK6 and IRS1 and inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. Moreover, NCAPD3 loss activates IRF7 and DDIT3 to regulate apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that NCAPD3 silencing attenuates malignant phenotypes of GC and that it is a potential target for GC treatment.

miR-638 suppresses cervical cancer progression by inhibiting NCAPG2 under the treatment of Tetrandrine

BACKGROUND

The interaction of microRNA with Chinese herbal medicines is a promising therapeutic approach for prevention of cervical cancer.

METHODS

Western blotting or qRT-PCR were carried out to identify the expression of NCAPG2 and miR-638. A tetrandrine (TET) cell model was used to explore the effects of miR-638 and its target gene NCAPG2 using CCK-8, transwell, wound healing, and western blot assays. Furthermore, luciferase activity assay was conducted to measure the interaction among TET, NCAPG2 and miR-638.

RESULTS

Under TET treatment, Hela and SiHa cells exhibited repressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and these effects were further enhanced by high expression of miR-638. In contrast, NCAPG2 expression was low in TET-treated cells and had an opposite effect to that of miR-638.

CONCLUSION

We highlighted that miR-638 suppresses cervical cancer progression by inhibiting NCAPG2 under tetrandrine treatment.

Synthetic Lethality between Cohesin and WNT Signaling Pathways in Diverse Cancer Contexts

Cohesin is a highly conserved ring-shaped complex involved in topologically embracing chromatids, gene expression regulation, genome compartmentalization, and genome stability maintenance. Genomic analyses have detected mutations in the cohesin complex in a wide array of human tumors. These findings have led to increased interest in cohesin as a potential target in cancer therapy. Synthetic lethality has been suggested as an approach to exploit genetic differences in cancer cells to influence their selective killing. In this study, we show that mutations in ESCO1, NIPBL, PDS5B, RAD21, SMC1A, SMC3, STAG2, and WAPL genes are synthetically lethal with stimulation of WNT signaling obtained following LY2090314 treatment, a GSK3 inhibitor, in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, treatment led to the stabilization of β-catenin and affected the expression of c-MYC, probably due to the occupancy decrease in cohesin at the c-MYC promoter. Finally, LY2090314 caused gene expression dysregulation mainly involving pathways related to transcription regulation, cell proliferation, and chromatin remodeling. For the first time, our work provides the underlying molecular basis for synthetic lethality due to cohesin mutations and suggests that targeting the WNT may be a promising therapeutic approach for tumors carrying mutated cohesin.

The synergism of SMC1A cohesin gene silencing and bevacizumab against colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

SMC1A is a subunit of the cohesin complex that participates in many DNA- and chromosome-related biological processes. Previous studies have established that SMC1A is involved in cancer development and in particular, is overexpressed in chromosomally unstable human colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate whether SMC1A could serve as a therapeutic target for CRC.

METHODS

At first, we studied the effects of either SMC1A overexpression or knockdown in vitro. Next, the outcome of SMC1A knocking down (alone or in combination with bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor) was analyzed in vivo.

RESULTS

We found that SMC1A knockdown affects cell proliferation and reduces the ability to grow in anchorage-independent manner. Next, we demonstrated that the silencing of SMC1A and the combo treatment were effective in increasing overall survival in a xenograft mouse model. Functional analyses indicated that both treatments lead to atypical mitotic figures and gene expression dysregulation. Differentially expressed genes were implicated in several pathways including gene transcription regulation, cellular proliferation, and other transformation-associated processes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that SMC1A silencing, in combination with bevacizumab, can represent a promising therapeutic strategy for human CRC.

NCAPH drives breast cancer progression and identifies a gene signature that predicts luminal a tumour recurrence

BACKGROUND

Luminal A tumours generally have a favourable prognosis but possess the highest 10-year recurrence risk among breast cancers. Additionally, a quarter of the recurrence cases occur within 5 years post-diagnosis. Identifying such patients is crucial as long-term relapsers could benefit from extended hormone therapy, while early relapsers might require more aggressive treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a study to explore non-structural chromosome maintenance condensin I complex subunit H's (NCAPH) role in luminal A breast cancer pathogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo, aiming to identify an intratumoural gene expression signature, with a focus on elevated NCAPH levels, as a potential marker for unfavourable progression. Our analysis included transgenic mouse models overexpressing NCAPH and a genetically diverse mouse cohort generated by backcrossing. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) multivariate regression analysis was performed on transcripts associated with elevated intratumoural NCAPH levels.

RESULTS

We found that NCAPH contributes to adverse luminal A breast cancer progression. The intratumoural gene expression signature associated with elevated NCAPH levels emerged as a potential risk identifier. Transgenic mice overexpressing NCAPH developed breast tumours with extended latency, and in Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV)-NCAPHErbB2 double-transgenic mice, luminal tumours showed increased aggressiveness. High intratumoural Ncaph levels correlated with worse breast cancer outcome and subpar chemotherapy response. A 10-gene risk score, termed Gene Signature for Luminal A 10 (GSLA10), was derived from the LASSO analysis, correlating with adverse luminal A breast cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS

The GSLA10 signature outperformed the Oncotype DX signature in discerning tumours with unfavourable outcomes, previously categorised as luminal A by Prediction Analysis of Microarray 50 (PAM50) across three independent human cohorts. This new signature holds promise for identifying luminal A tumour patients with adverse prognosis, aiding in the development of personalised treatment strategies to significantly improve patient outcomes.

ESCO2 promotes hypopharyngeal carcinoma progression in a STAT1-dependent manner

BACKGROUND

The establishment of sister chromatid cohesion N-acetyltransferase 2 (ESCO2) is involved in the development of multiple malignancies. However, its role in hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) progression remains uncharacterized.

METHODS

This study employed bioinformatics to determine the ESCO2 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and normal tissues. In vitro cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and/or cell cycle distribution assays were used to determine the function of ESCO2 and its relationship with STAT1. Xenograft models were established in nude mice to determine ESCO2 in HPC growth in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry (Co-IP/MS) was conducted to identify the potential ESCO2 binding partners.

RESULTS

We found that ESCO2 expression was elevated in HNSC tissues, and ESCO2 depletion suppressed tumor cell migration in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Co-IP/MS and immunoblotting assays revealed the interaction between ESCO2 and STAT1 in HPC cells. STAT1-overexpression compromised ESCO2-mediated suppressive effects on HPC cell proliferation, viability, and migration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that ESCO2 is crucial in promoting HPC malignant progression through the STAT1 pathway and provides novel therapeutic targets for HPC treatment.

NCAPH Drives Breast Cancer Progression and Identifies a Gene Signature that Predicts Luminal A Tumor Recurrence

Despite their generally favorable prognosis, luminal A tumors paradoxically pose the highest ten-year recurrence risk among breast cancers. From those that relapse, a quarter of them do it within five years after diagnosis. Identifying such patients is crucial, as long-term relapsers could benefit from extended hormone therapy, whereas early relapsers may require aggressive treatment. In this study, we demonstrate that NCAPH plays a role in the pathogenesis of luminal A breast cancer, contributing to its adverse progression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we reveal that a signature of intratumoral gene expression, associated with elevated levels of NCAPH, serves as a potential marker to identify patients facing unfavorable progression of luminal A breast cancer. Indeed, transgenic mice overexpressing NCAPH generated breast tumors with long latency, and in MMTV-NCAPH/ErbB2+ double-transgenic mice, the luminal tumors formed were more aggressive. In addition, high intratumoral levels of Ncaph were associated with worse breast cancer evolution and poor response to chemotherapy in a cohort of genetically heterogeneous transgenic mice generated by backcrossing. In this cohort of mice, we identified a series of transcripts associated with elevated intratumoral levels of NCAPH, which were linked to adverse progression of breast cancer in both mice and humans. Utilizing the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) multivariate regression analysis on this series of transcripts, we derived a ten-gene risk score. This score is defined by a gene signature (termed Gene Signature for Luminal A 10 or GSLA10) that correlates with unfavorable progression of luminal A breast cancer. The GSLA10 signature surpassed the Oncotype DX signature in discerning tumors with unfavorable outcomes (previously categorized as Luminal A by PAM50) across three independent human cohorts. This GSLA10 signature aids in identifying patients with Luminal A tumors displaying adverse prognosis, who could potentially benefit from personalized treatment strategies.

Cohesin: an emerging master regulator at the heart of cardiac development

Cohesins are ATPase complexes that play central roles in cellular processes such as chromosome division, DNA repair, and gene expression. Cohesinopathies arise from mutations in cohesin proteins or cohesin complex regulators and encompass a family of related developmental disorders that present with a range of severe birth defects, affect many different physiological systems, and often lead to embryonic fatality. Treatments for cohesinopathies are limited, in large part due to the lack of understanding of cohesin biology. Thus, characterizing the signaling networks that lie upstream and downstream of cohesin-dependent pathways remains clinically relevant. Here, we highlight alterations in cohesins and cohesin regulators that result in cohesinopathies, with a focus on cardiac defects. In addition, we suggest a novel and more unifying view regarding the mechanisms through which cohesinopathy-based heart defects may arise.

An epigenetic switch controls an alternative NR2F2 isoform that unleashes a metastatic program in melanoma

Metastatic melanoma develops once transformed melanocytic cells begin to de-differentiate into migratory and invasive melanoma cells with neural crest cell (NCC)-like and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like features. However, it is still unclear how transformed melanocytes assume a metastatic melanoma cell state. Here, we define DNA methylation changes that accompany metastatic progression in melanoma patients and discover Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 2 Group F, Member 2 - isoform 2 (NR2F2-Iso2) as an epigenetically regulated metastasis driver. NR2F2-Iso2 is transcribed from an alternative transcriptional start site (TSS) and it is truncated at the N-terminal end which encodes the NR2F2 DNA-binding domain. We find that NR2F2-Iso2 expression is turned off by DNA methylation when NCCs differentiate into melanocytes. Conversely, this process is reversed during metastatic melanoma progression, when NR2F2-Iso2 becomes increasingly hypomethylated and re-expressed. Our functional and molecular studies suggest that NR2F2-Iso2 drives metastatic melanoma progression by modulating the activity of full-length NR2F2 (Isoform 1) over EMT- and NCC-associated target genes. Our findings indicate that DNA methylation changes play a crucial role during metastatic melanoma progression, and their control of NR2F2 activity allows transformed melanocytes to acquire NCC-like and EMT-like features. This epigenetically regulated transcriptional plasticity facilitates cell state transitions and metastatic spread.

Characteristic gene prognostic model of type 1 diabetes mellitus via machine learning strategy

The present study was designed to detect possible biomarkers associated with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence in an effort to develop novel treatments for this condition. Three mRNA expression datasets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between T1DM patients and healthy controls were identified by Limma package in R, and using the DEGs to conduct GO and DO pathway enrichment. The LASSO-SVM were used to screen the hub genes. We performed immune correlation analysis of hub genes and established a T1DM prognosis model. CIBERSORT algorithm was used to identify the different immune cells in distribution between T1DM and normal samples. The correlation of the hub genes and immune cells was analyzed by Spearman. ROC curves were used to assess the diagnostic value of genes in T1DM. A total of 60 immune related DEGs were obtained from the T1DM and normal samples. Then, DEGs were further screened to obtain 3 hub genes, ANP32A-IT1, ESCO2 and NBPF1. CIBERSORT analysis revealed the percentage of immune cells in each sample, indicating that there was significant difference in monocytes, T cells CD8+, gamma delta T cells, naive CD4+ T cells and activated memory CD4+ T cells between T1DM and normal samples. The area under curve (AUC) of ESCO2, ANP32A-IT1 and NBPF1 were all greater than 0.8, indicating that these three genes have high diagnostic value for T1DM. Together, the findings of these bioinformatics analyses thus identified key hub genes associated with T1DM development.

NUSAP1 Binds ILF2 to Modulate R-Loop Accumulation and DNA Damage in Prostate Cancer

Increased expression of NUSAP1 has been identified as a robust prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer and other malignancies. We have previously shown that NUSAP1 is positively regulated by E2F1 and promotes cancer invasion and metastasis. To further understand the biological function of NUSAP1, we used affinity purification and mass spectrometry proteomic analysis to identify NUSAP1 interactors. We identified 85 unique proteins in the NUSAP1 interactome, including ILF2, DHX9, and other RNA-binding proteins. Using proteomic approaches, we uncovered a function for NUSAP1 in maintaining R-loops and in DNA damage response through its interaction with ILF2. Co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization using confocal microscopy verified the interactions of NUSAP1 with ILF2 and DHX9, and RNA/DNA hybrids. We showed that the microtubule and charged helical domains of NUSAP1 were necessary for the protein-protein interactions. Depletion of ILF2 alone further increased camptothecin-induced R-loop accumulation and DNA damage, and NUSAP1 depletion abolished this effect. In human prostate adenocarcinoma, NUSAP1 and ILF2 mRNA expression levels are positively correlated, elevated, and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Our study identifies a novel role for NUSAP1 in regulating R-loop formation and accumulation in response to DNA damage through its interactions with ILF2 and hence provides a potential therapeutic target.

NCAPG deregulation indicates poor patient survival and contributes to colorectal carcinogenesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the types of cancers with a high incidence and is ranked the 3rd among men and 2nd among women worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) and the prognosis of CRC and its function in CRC cells. The expression of NCAPG in colorectal tissues and cells was detected by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to analyze the correlation between NCAPG and CRC prognosis. RNAi technology was used to investigate how NCAPG inhibition affected the proliferation and migration of CRC cells. Overexpression of NCAPG was positively correlated with several clinicopathologic characteristics, including T stage (P = 0.0198), M stage (P = 0.0005), and TNM stage (P < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overexpression of NCAPG was also negatively correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival. In the culture of CRC cells, the knockdown of NCAPG inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the cells. Meanwhile, it was also found that NCAPG knockdown could interfere with G2/M-G1 transition in the cell cycle, resulting in the inhibition of cell proliferation. The overexpression of NCAPG may serve as a candidate biomarker for CRC prognosis. NCAPG is also a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

LAP1 supports nuclear adaptability during constrained melanoma cell migration and invasion

Metastasis involves dissemination of cancer cells away from a primary tumour and colonization at distal sites. During this process, the mechanical properties of the nucleus must be tuned since they pose a challenge to the negotiation of physical constraints imposed by the microenvironment and tissue structure. We discovered increased expression of the inner nuclear membrane protein LAP1 in metastatic melanoma cells, at the invasive front of human primary melanoma tumours and in metastases. Human cells express two LAP1 isoforms (LAP1B and LAP1C), which differ in their amino terminus. Here, using in vitro and in vivo models that recapitulate human melanoma progression, we found that expression of the shorter isoform, LAP1C, supports nuclear envelope blebbing, constrained migration and invasion by allowing a weaker coupling between the nuclear envelope and the nuclear lamina. We propose that LAP1 renders the nucleus highly adaptable and contributes to melanoma aggressiveness.

Progress of Psf1 and prospects in the tumor: A review

Partner of Sld5-1(Psf1) is a member of Gins complex, which was discovered in 2003. It consists of the predominantly α-helical A-domain and the massively β-stranded B-domain. Some researches indicate that Psf1 plays a prominent part in DNA replication through cell cycle regulation, and plays a key role in early embryo development and tissue regeneration. The overexpression of Psf1 in active proliferating cells is closely correlated with the occurrence of tumors. On the side, tumor cells with high Psf1 expression showed high heterogeneity and poor clinical prognosis. In this review, we will review the research progress of Psf1 in cell cycle regulation, immature cell proliferation and oncology.

From simplicity to complexity in current melanoma models

Despite the recent impressive clinical success of immunotherapy against melanoma, development of primary and adaptive resistance against immune checkpoint inhibitors remains a major issue in a large number of treated patients. This highlights the need for melanoma models that replicate the tumor's intricate dynamics in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and associated immune suppression to study possible resistance mechanisms in order to improve current and test novel therapeutics. While two-dimensional melanoma cell cultures have been widely used to perform functional genomics screens in a high-throughput fashion, they are not suitable to answer more complex scientific questions. Melanoma models have also been established in a variety of experimental (humanized) animals. However, due to differences in physiology, such models do not fully represent human melanoma development. Therefore, fully human three-dimensional in vitro models mimicking melanoma cell interactions with the TME are being developed to address this need for more physiologically relevant models. Such models include melanoma organoids, spheroids, and reconstructed human melanoma-in-skin cultures. Still, while major advances have been made to complement and replace animals, these in vitro systems have yet to fully recapitulate human tumor complexity. Lastly, technical advancements have been made in the organ-on-chip field to replicate functions and microstructures of in vivo human tissues and organs. This review summarizes advancements made in understanding and treating melanoma and specifically aims to discuss the progress made towards developing melanoma models, their applications, limitations, and the advances still needed to further facilitate the development of therapeutics.

NCAPG2 contributes to the progression of malignant melanoma through regulating proliferation and metastasis

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive cutaneous neoplasm with increasing incidence worldwide. Non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2 (NCAPG2) exerts import biological function in the pathogenesis of several tumors. In this study, the functional roles of NCAPG2 knockdown in malignant melanoma were revealed in in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro study demonstrated that NCAPG2 depletion could inhibit proliferation and migration and promote apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells. Our in vivo date further confirmed that NCAPG2 knockdown attenuated tumor growth of malignant melanoma. Interestingly, NCAPG2 drove tumor development of malignant melanoma through activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). In conclusion, this study elaborated the tumor-promoting effects of NCAPG2 on malignant melanoma, and NCAPG2 may be a potential therapeutic target for malignant melanoma therapy.

Multi-omics data integration for hepatocellular carcinoma subtyping with multi-kernel learning

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading malignant liver tumor with high mortality and morbidity. Patients at the same stage can be defined as different molecular subtypes associated with specific genomic disorders and clinical features. Thus, identifying subtypes is essential to realize efficient treatment and improve survival outcomes of HCC patients. Here, we applied a regularized multiple kernel learning with locality preserving projections method to integrate mRNA, miRNA and DNA methylation data of HCC patients to identify subtypes. We identified two HCC subtypes significantly correlated with the overall survival. The patient 3-years mortality rates in the high-risk and low-risk group was 51.0% and 23.5%, respectively. The high-risk group HCC patients were 3.37 times higher in death risk compared to the low-risk group after adjusting for clinically relevant covariates. A total of 196 differentially expressed mRNAs, 2,151 differentially methylated genes and 58 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between the two subtypes. Additionally, pathway activity analysis showed that the activities of six pathways between the two subtypes were significantly different. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that the abundance of nine immune cells differed significantly between the two subtypes. We further applied the weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify gene modules that may affect patients prognosis. Among the identified modules, the key module genes significantly associated with prognosis were found to be involved in multiple biological processes and pathways, revealing the mechanism underlying the progression of HCC. Hub gene analysis showed that the expression levels of CDK1, CDCA8, TACC3, and NCAPG were significantly associated with HCC prognosis. Our findings may bring novel insights into the subtypes of HCC and promote the realization of precision medicine.

NCAPH promotes proliferation as well as motility of breast cancer cells by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway

Objective

This study aimed to assess the expression of NCAPH in human breast cancer, and to investigate its effects on breast cancer cells.

Methods

Bioinformation analysis was performed to analyze the expression of NCAPH in human breast cancer tissues and normal tissues in TCGA database. qPCR and Immunoblot assays were performed to clarify the expression of NCAPH in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, respectively. CCK-8, colony formation, FCM, transwell, and immunoblot assays were performed to reveal the effects of NCAPH on breast cancer proliferation, cell cycle, motility and EMT of breast cancer cells. Additionally, immunoblot assays were performed to investigate the effects of NCAPH on the PI3K/AKT pathway in breast cancer.

Results

We found that NCAPH was highly expressed in human breast cancer cell lines. The depletion of NCAPH suppressed the viability of breast cancer cells. Further, we noticed that its downregulation restrained breast cancer cell migration as well as invasion, and the EMT process. Mechanically, we noticed that NCAPH mediated the PI3K/AKT pathway, and therefore contributed to breast cancer progression.

Conclusion

In summary, NCAPH has the potential to serve as a breast cancer target.

NCAPG promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma through the CKII-dependent regulation of PTEN

BACKGROUND

NCAPG, non-SMC subunit in the concentrate I complex, might promote the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore how NCAPG affects PTEN to influence the proliferation of HCC.

METHODS

Western blotting, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect NCAPG expression in HCC tissues. The effect of NCAPG on the proliferation of HCC cell lines was evaluated using an EdU incorporation assay, a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). BALB/c-nu/nu mice were used for the in vivo proliferation experiment. Transcriptome sequencing was used to determine the relationship between NCAPG and PTEN. Immunocoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS), proteomic sequencing and Co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) were used to identify and examine the interaction between the NCAPG and CKII proteins.

RESULTS

We confirmed that NCAPG was abnormally overexpressed in HCC and promoted the proliferation of HCC cells. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that NCAPG inhibited the transcription of PTEN and promoted the activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway. We found a close association between NCAPG and CKII through proteomic sequencing; their interaction was confirmed by Co-IP. There was a positive correlation between NCAPG and CKII that promoted the phosphorylation of PTEN and thus inhibited its transcription and functions. We also proved that CKII was the key factor in the induction of proliferation by NCAPG.

CONCLUSION

We revealed the mechanism by which NCAPG regulates the proliferation of HCC: NCAPG inhibits PTEN through its interaction with CKII, and then activates the PI3K-AKT pathway to promote the proliferation of HCC.

Evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of NUSAP1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma and identify the relationship with genes, proteins, and immune factors

Background

Nucleolar spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) is reported to be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for a variety of cancers, but relevant studies are lacking in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods

The relationship between NUSAP1 expression and the overall survival (OS) of pan-cancer was examined by GEPIA and KMplot. We explored the relationship between NUSAP1 and clinical PTC data based on the THCA dataset of TCGA and the GEO dataset of NCBI; GO, KEGG analysis, and ceRNA networks were performed on co-expressed genes through LinkedOmics and Starbase. We assessed the relevance between NUSAP1 and the tumor microenvironment using ESTIMATE, correlations between NUSAP1 and immune cells with TIMER, the relationship between NUSAP1 and immunotherapy by TCIA, and small-molecule drugs targeting NUSAP1 that can be discovered using the CMap database.

Results

Higher expression of NUSAP1 in pan-cancer tissues was correlated with shorter OS. NUSAP1 was also significantly expressed in PTC tissues and was an independent prognostic risk factor. Compared to the NUSAP1 low expression group, the NUSAP1 high expression group was more likely to also have lymph node metastasis, pathological PTC type, shorter progression-free survival (PFS), and higher scores for immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. The genes associated with NUSAP1 were mostly involved in the cell cycle, immune-related pathways, and AITD. Ten lncRNAs (GAS5, SNHG7, UCA1, SNHG1, HCP5, DLEU2, HOTAIR, TP53TG1, SNHG12, C9orf106), eleven miRNAs (hsa-miR-10a-5p, hsa-miR-10b-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, hsa-miR-18b-5p, hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-214-3p, hsa-miR-219a-2-3p, hsa-miR-339-5p, hsa-miR-494-3p, hsa-miR-545-3p, hsa-miR-769-5p), and one mRNA (NUSAP1) were constructed. NUSAP1 participated in the formation of the tumor microenvironment. CMap predicted the 10 most important small molecules about NUSAP1.

Conclusions

In PTC, NUSAP1 shows good diagnostic value and prognostic value; NUSAP1 impacts the cell cycle, immune-related pathways, and AITD and has a complex effect on the tumor microenvironment in PTC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02652-9.

Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Immunological Roles of HELLS in Pan-Cancer: A Bioinformatics Analysis

Background

Inappropriate repair of DNA damage drives carcinogenesis. Lymphoid-specific helicase (HELLS) is an important component of the chromatin remodeling complex that helps repair DNA through various mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modification, and nucleosome remodeling. Its role in human cancer initiation and progression has garnered recent attention. Our study aims to provide a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of the role of HELLS in the development and progression of multiple malignancies through analysis of HELLS in cancers.

Methods

We explored the role of HELLS in cancers using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. Multiple web platforms and software were used for data analysis, including R, Cytoscape, HPA, Archs4, TISIDB, cBioPortal, STRING, GSCALite, and CancerSEA.

Results

High HELLS expression was found in a variety of cancers and differentially expressed across molecular and immune subtypes. HELLS was involved in many cancer pathways. Its expression positively correlated with Th2 and Tcm cells in most cancers. It also correlated with genetic markers of immunomodulators in various cancers.

Conclusions

Our study elucidates the role HELLS plays in promotion, inhibition, and treatment of different cancers. HELLS is a potential cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarker with immune, targeted, or cytotoxic therapeutic value. This work is a prerequisite to clinical validation and treatment of HELLS in cancers.

NCAPG Promotes Tumor Progression and Modulates Immune Cell Infiltration in Glioma

Glioma is one of the most deadly types of brain cancer. As it is highly invasive, the prognosis for glioma patients remains dismal, with median survival rarely exceeding 16 months. Thus, developing a new prognostic biomarker for glioma and investigating its molecular mechanisms is necessary for the development of an efficient treatment strategy. In this study, we analyzed a cohort of 1,131 glioma patients using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA project) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE4290 and GSE16011 datasets), and validated the results using the RNA-seq data of 1,018 gliomas from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA project). We used the R language as the main tool for statistical analysis and data visualization. We found that NCAPG, a mitosis-associated chromosomal condensing protein, is highly expressed in glioma tissues. Furthermore, the expression of NCAPG increased significantly with the increase in tumor grade, and high NCAPG expression was found to be a predictor of poor overall survival in glioma patients (P < 0.001). This result shows that NCAPG expression could be an independent prognostic factor. Importantly, when the expression of NCAPG was knocked down, the CCK-8 assay revealed that the proliferation of glioma cells (LN-229 and T98G cell lines) decreased significantly compared with the control group. In addition, the healing rates of these cells were significantly lower in the si-NCAPG group than in the control group (P < 0.001). We then used the CIBERSORT algorithm to analyze the expression levels of 22 subpopulations of immune cells and found that NCAPG was significantly negatively correlated with natural killer cell activation. In addition, it was positively correlated with MHC-I molecules and ADAM17. Our study is first in comprehensively describing the high expression of NCAPG in glioma. It also shows that NCAPG can function as an independent prognostic predictor of glioma, and that targeting NCAPG can be a new strategy for the treatment of glioma patients.

The multifaceted roles of cohesin in cancer

The cohesin complex controls faithful chromosome segregation by pairing sister chromatids after DNA replication until mitosis. In addition, it is crucial for hierarchal three-dimensional organization of the genome, transcription regulation and maintaining DNA integrity. The core complex subunits SMC1A, SMC3, STAG1/2, and RAD21 as well as its modulators, have been found to be recurrently mutated in human cancers. The mechanisms by which cohesin mutations trigger cancer development and disease progression are still poorly understood. Since cohesin is involved in a range of chromosome-related processes, the outcome of cohesin mutations in cancer is complex. Herein, we discuss recent discoveries regarding cohesin that provide new insight into its role in tumorigenesis.

Innovative GenExpA software for selecting suitable reference genes for reliable normalization of gene expression in melanoma

The algorithms commonly used to select the best stable reference gene in RT-qPCR data analysis have their limitations. We showed that simple selection of the reference gene or pair of genes with the lowest stability value from the pool of potential reference genes—a commonly used approach—is not sufficient to accurately and reliably normalize the target gene transcript and can lead to biologically incorrect conclusions. For reliable assessment of changes in a target gene expression level, we propose our innovative GenExpA software, which works in a manner independent of the experimental model and the normalizer used. GenExpA software selects the best reference by combining the NormFinder algorithm with progressive removal of the least stable gene from the candidate genes in a given experimental model and in the set of daughter models assigned to it. The reliability of references is validated based on the consistency of the statistical analyses of normalized target gene expression levels through all models, described by the coherence score (CS). The use of the CS value imparts a new quality to qPCR analysis because it clarifies how low the stability value of reference must be in order for biologically correct conclusions to be drawn. We tested our method on qPCR data for the B4GALT genes family in melanoma, which is characterized by a high mutation rate, and in melanocytes. GenExpA is available at https://github.com/DorotaHojaLukowicz/GenExpA or https://www.sciencemarket.pl/baza-programow-open-source#oferty.

Genetically induced redox stress occurs in a yeast model for Roberts syndrome

Roberts syndrome (RBS) is a multispectrum developmental disorder characterized by severe limb, craniofacial, and organ abnormalities and often intellectual disabilities. The genetic basis of RBS is rooted in loss-of-function mutations in the essential N-acetyltransferase ESCO2 which is conserved from yeast (Eco1/Ctf7) to humans. ESCO2/Eco1 regulate many cellular processes that impact chromatin structure, chromosome transmission, gene expression, and repair of the genome. The etiology of RBS remains contentious with current models that include transcriptional dysregulation or mitotic failure. Here, we report evidence that supports an emerging model rooted in defective DNA damage responses. First, the results reveal that redox stress is elevated in both eco1 and cohesion factor Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant cells. Second, we provide evidence that Eco1 and cohesion factors are required for the repair of oxidative DNA damage such that ECO1 and cohesin gene mutations result in reduced cell viability and hyperactivation of DNA damage checkpoints that occur in response to oxidative stress. Moreover, we show that mutation of ECO1 is solely sufficient to induce endogenous redox stress and sensitizes mutant cells to exogenous genotoxic challenges. Remarkably, antioxidant treatment desensitizes eco1 mutant cells to a range of DNA damaging agents, raising the possibility that modulating the cellular redox state may represent an important avenue of treatment for RBS and tumors that bear ESCO2 mutations.

Consensus Virtual Screening Identified [1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5-b]isoquinolines As MELK Inhibitor Chemotypes

Maternal Embryonic Leucine-zipper Kinase (MELK) is a current oncotarget involved in a diverse range of human cancers, with the usage of MELK inhibitors being explored clinically. Here, we aimed to discover new MELK inhibitor chemotypes from our in-house compound library with a consensus-based virtual screening workflow, employing three screening concepts. After careful retrospective validation, prospective screening and in vitro enzyme inhibition testing revealed a series of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-b]isoquinolines as a new structural class of MELK inhibitors, with the lead compound of the series exhibiting a sub-micromolar inhibitory activity. The structure-activity relationship of the series was explored by testing further analogs based on a structure-guided selection process. Importantly, the present work marks the first disclosure of the synthesis and bioactivity of this class of compounds.

Inhibition of NCAPG expression inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin signal to suppresses endometrial cancer cell growth in vitro

Endometrial cancer (EC) ranks as the most prevalent malignancy occurring in the female genital tract. Non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG), a mitotic associated chromosomal condensing protein, is reported to be frequently abnormally expressed in several tumors and plays a vital role in carcinogenesis. Our study aimed to explore the effect of NCAPG on cell proliferation and apoptosis in EC cells and to determine the underlying mechanism. Expression and survival data of NCAPG in EC tissues were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Cell proliferation was evaluated by EdU and CCK-8 assays. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry analysis. Expression of NCAPG, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki67, Bcl-2, Bax, active caspase-3, active β-catenin, and c-Myc were determined by western blotting. NCAPG was highly expressed in EC tissues and cells and predicted poor survival for EC patients. NCAPG knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in EC cells. Additionally, NCAPG knockdown inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in EC cells. Mechanistically, β-catenin overexpression blocked the tumorigenic effects of NCAPG in EC cells. In conclusion, NCAPG silencing inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in EC cells via inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Identification of Prognostic Biomarker Candidates Associated With Melanoma Using High-Dimensional Genomic Data

Survival of patients with metastatic melanoma varies widely. Melanoma is a highly proliferative, chemo-resistant disease. With the recent availability of immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors, durable response rates have improved but are often still limited to 2–3 years. Response rates to treatment range from 30 to 45% with combination therapy however no improvement in overall survival is frequently observed. Of the available therapies, many have targeted the BRAFV600E mutation that results in abnormal MAPK pathway activation which is important for regulating cell proliferation. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 offer better success but response rates are still low. Identifying biomarkers to better target those who will respond and identify the right combination of treatment is the best approach. In this study, we utilize data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), including 62 samples, to examine features of gene expression (19K+) and copy number (20K+) in the melanoma cell lines. We perform a clustering analysis on the feature set to assess genetically similarity among the cell lines. We then discover which specific genes and combinations thereof maximize cluster density. We design a feature selection approach for high-dimensional datasets that integrates multiple disparate machine learning techniques into one cohesive pipeline. Our approach provides a small subset of genes that can accurately distinguish between the clusters of melanoma cell lines across multiple types of classifiers. In particular, we find only the 15 highest ranked genes among the original 19 K are necessary to achieve perfect or near-perfect test split classification performance. Of these 15 genes, some are known to be linked to melanoma or other cancer progressions, while others have not previously been linked to melanoma and are of interest for further examination.

Expression and Clinical Significance of the NCAPH, AGGF1, and FOXC2 Proteins in Serous Ovarian Cancer

Purpose

Recurrence and metastasis are the most common causes of high mortality rates in patients with serous ovarian cancer (SOC). Non-structural maintenance of chromosomes (non-SMC) condensin I complex subunit H (NCAPH) is a newly identified essential oncoprotein whose function in SOC pathogenesis has not been reported yet. Angiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains 1 (AGGF1) is an effective promoter of angiogenesis in humans, leading to cancer cell infiltration and progression. Forkhead box C2 (FOXC2) plays a pivotal role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The present study analyzed the correlations among the expressions of these three proteins and their relationships with the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of patients with SOC.

Patients and Methods

The expressions of NCAPH, AGGF1, and FOXC2 were detected by the immunohistochemical examination of 153 SOC tissue samples and 30 serous ovarian cystadenoma tissue samples. Clinicopathologic and follow-up data of the patients were collected.

Results

The expressions of NCAPH, AGGF1, and FOXC2 were remarkably higher in the SOC tissue samples than in the serous ovarian cystadenoma tissue samples. The protein expressions were positively correlated with the histological tumor grade, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, lymph node metastasis, and intraperitoneal implantation, but were negatively correlated with the overall survival (OS). Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that the NCAPH, AGGF1, and FOXC2 expressions, FIGO stage, and histological tumor grade were independent adverse prognostic factors for OS in patients with SOC.

Conclusion

The results of this study show that the expressions of NCAPH, AGGF1, and FOXC2 are promising biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets in patients with SOC.

Changes in cytoarchitecture and mobility in B16F1 melanoma cells induced by 5-Br-2'-dU coincide with Rock2, miRNAs 138-5p and 455-3p reciprocal expressions

ROCK2 is a protein involved in the restructuring of the cytoskeleton in cell adhesion and contractibility processes. miR-138-5p and miR-455-3p regulate Rock2 expression, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in different experimental cell models. However, their participation in the cytoarchitecture and mobility of B16F1 melanoma cells exposed to 5-Br-2'-dU is partially known. This work aimed to analyze ROCK2 and miRs 138-5p and 455-3p expression associated with morphological and mobility changes of B16F1 mouse melanoma cells exposed to the thymidine analog 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (5-Br-2'-dU). We observed an increase (2.2X n = 3, p < 0.05) in the cell area, coinciding with an increase in cell diameter (1.27X n = 3, p < 0.05), as well as greater cell granularity, capacity for circularization, adhesion, which was associated with more significant polymerization of F-actin, collapsed in the intermediate filaments of vimentin (VIM), and coinciding with a decrease in migration (87%). Changes coincided with a decrease in Rock2 mRNA expression (2.88X n = 3, p < 0.05), increased vimentin and a reciprocal decrease in miR-138-5p (1.8X), and an increase in miR-455-3p (2.39X). The Rock2 kinase inhibitor Y27632 partially rescued these changes. These results suggest ROCK2 and VIM regulate the morphological and mobility changes of B16 melanoma cells after exposure to 5-Br-2'-dU, and its expression may be reciprocally regulated, at least in part, by miR-138-5p and miR-455-3p.

Modulation of serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) complexes: A promising approach in cancer treatment

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the availability of numerous therapeutic options, tumor heterogeneity and chemoresistance have limited the success of these treatments, and the development of effective anticancer therapies remains a major focus in oncology research. The serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and its complexes have been recognized as potential drug targets. Research on the modulation of PP1 complexes is currently at an early stage, but has immense potential. Chemically diverse compounds have been developed to disrupt or stabilize different PP1 complexes in various cancer types, with the objective of inhibiting disease progression. Beneficial results obtained in vitro now require further pre-clinical and clinical validation. In conclusion, the modulation of PP1 complexes seems to be a promising, albeit challenging, therapeutic strategy for cancer.

A preclinical pipeline to evaluate migrastatics as therapeutic agents in metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND

Metastasis is a hallmark of cancer and responsible for most cancer deaths. Migrastatics were defined as drugs interfering with all modes of cancer cell invasion and thus cancers' ability to metastasise. First anti-metastatic treatments have recently been approved.

METHODS

We used bioinformatic analyses of publicly available melanoma databases. Experimentally, we performed in vitro target validation (including 2.5D cell morphology analysis and mass spectrometric analysis of RhoA binding partners), developed a new traceable spontaneously metastasising murine melanoma model for in vivo validation, and employed histology (haematoxylin/eosin and phospho-myosin II staining) to confirm drug action in harvested tumour tissues.

RESULTS

Unbiased and targeted bioinformatic analyses identified the Rho kinase (ROCK)-myosin II pathway and its various components as potentially relevant targets in melanoma. In vitro validation demonstrated redundancy of several RhoGEFs upstream of RhoA and confirmed ROCK as a druggable target downstream of RhoA. The anti-metastatic effects of two ROCK inhibitors were demonstrated through in vivo melanoma metastasis tracking and inhibitor effects also confirmed ex vivo by digital pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

We proposed a migrastatic drug development pipeline. As part of the pipeline, we provide a new traceable spontaneous melanoma metastasis model for in vivo quantification of metastasis and anti-metastatic effects by non-invasive imaging.

CRL4DCAF8 dependent opposing stability control over the chromatin remodeler LSH orchestrates epigenetic dynamics in ferroptosis

Despite the emerging evidence on ferroptosis implicated in diverse pathologies, molecular linkage between oxidative inducers and chromatin as epigenetic memory carrier for its propagation remains elusive. Here, we report the identification of two WD40 proteins DCAF8 and WDR76 as substrate adapter and molecular inhibitor respectively of the Cullin-4 RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL4) system for stability control of chromatin remodeler LSH. Degradation analysis and CRL4-DCAF8 complex reconstitution demonstrate that CRL4^DCAF8 is a bona fide E3 ligase for LSH. In contrast, WDR76 antagonizes DCAF8-targeted LSH proteolysis through competitive inhibition of the holo-CRL4^DCAF8-LSH complex assembly. Importantly, this opposing regulatory strategy is utilized in lipid hydroperoxide induced ferroptosis, where we identify key redox homeostasis genes significantly regulated by the DCAF8/WDR76/LSH axis through transcriptomic epistasis analysis. This regulation is mechanistically attributed to DNA hydroxymethylation fostered WDR76 interaction with LSH and increased ratio of DCAF8 to WDR76 for antagonistic LSH association accompanying decreased DNA oxidation along with ROS overproduction. Evaluation of epigenetic dynamics at ferroptosis gene promoters reveals linker histone H1- and LSH-associated transcriptional repression is coordinately removed upon lipid peroxidation stress. Together with the phenotypes driven by WDR76 and DCAF8 manipulations, these data identify DCAF8- and WDR76-adapted oxidative damage sensing through DNA hydroxymethylation for LSH degradation control as a crucial nexus in epigenetic regulation of ferroptosis.

Knockdown of GINS2 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis through the p53/GADD45A pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumour type with the highest morbidity and mortality, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological type. GINS complex subunit 2 (GINS2) is a member of the GINS family and is closely related to DNA replication and damage, participates in cell cycle regulation and plays a key role in cell proliferation and apoptosis. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role and underlying molecular mechanism of GINS2 in the development of NSCLC. The results showed that GINS2 is significantly increased in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of GINS2 significantly decreases cell proliferation, causing G₂/M phase cell cycle arrest. Knockdown of GINS2 reverses the effect of nocodazole on the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and cyclin-B1. Meanwhile, knockdown of GINS2 significantly elevates the apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related protein Bax and decreases Bcl-2. In addition, GINS2 knockdown induces an increase in the levels of p53 and growth arrest and DNA damage 45A (GADD45A). Co-transfection with GINS2-siRNA and siRNA against p53 (p53-siRNA) or co-transfection with GINS2-siRNA and siRNA against GADD45A (GADD45A-siRNA) partially reverses the effects of GINS2 knockdown on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that GINS2 knockdown down-regulates cell proliferation, induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and increases apoptosis, possibly through the p53/GADD45A pathway.

Expression and prognosis analysis of GINS subunits in human breast cancer

ABSTRACT

GINS subunits, a protein complex composed of GINS1, GINS2, GINS3 and GINS4 in the human genome and the expression level of each GINS subunits plays an important role in different human cancers. As one of the most common malignancies after lung cancer in the world, precise biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment in breast cancer are important. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the expression and prognostic value of GINS subunits in breast cancer.The purpose of present study was to explore the expression level of GINS subunits in breast cancer patients.In the present study, we investigated the gene alteration, gene expression and potential prognostic value of GINS subunits by using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), UALCAN, cBioPortal, and bc-GenExMiner databases. Then, the GeneMANIA database was used to show the genes that associated with GINS subunits. Furthermore, gene ontology pathway analysis was conducted by using the Metascape database. Finally, immune infiltration analysis in GINS subunits were evaluated using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database.Our analyses demonstrated that the expression levels of different GINS subunits were different between breast cancer and normal breast tissues. The expression levels of GINS1, GINS2, and GINS4 were significantly higher in breast cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Survival analysis revealed that increased the expression levels of GINS subunits were associated with poor prognoses in all patients with breast cancer. Gene ontology pathway enrichment analysis of the GINS subunits suggested that GINS subunits involved in pathways including the cell cycle checkpoint, DNA replication and other meaningful signaling pathways.We systemically analyzed the expression, prognostic, clinicopathologic values, and potential functional networks of GINS subunits in breast cancer. Our findings showed that individual GINS subunits could be new potential prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer. However, further verification studies are still needed to prove the clinical value of GINS subunits in breast cancer patients.

Nucleolar and spindle‑associated protein 1 promotes non‑small cell lung cancer progression and serves as an effector of myocyte enhancer factor 2D

As a potential oncogene, nucleolar and spindle‑associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) is involved in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. However, the role of NUSAP1 in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the biological function and underlying molecular mechanisms of NUSAP1 in NSCLC. NUSAP1 expression was measured in NSCLC tissues and cell lines via immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively. NSCLC cell lines stably inhibiting NUSAP1 were established to investigate its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion, and on in vivo tumorigenicity. Additionally, the upstream and downstream mechanisms of NUSAP1 in regulating NSCLC progression were investigated. The results indicated that NUSAP1 expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. High NUSAP1 expression was associated with tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and poor patient survival, whereas knockdown of NUSAP1 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion. Furthermore, downregulation of NUSAP1 decreased the growth of NSCLC xenografts in vivo. In addition, myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) directly targeted the NUSAP1 promoter, thereby enhancing the mRNA and protein expression levels of NUSAP1. Moreover, the results demonstrated that MEF2D expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and was positively correlated with NUSAP1 expression. MEF2D‑knockdown decreased NSCLC cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion. NUSAP1 upregulation reversed the effects of MEF2D‑knockdown on NSCLC progression. Furthermore, it was observed that MEF2D‑knockdown inhibited the accumulation and nuclear translocation of β‑catenin, thereby repressing the activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway in NSCLC cells, whereas NUSAP1 upregulation rescued the effects of MEF2D‑knockdown on the activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, the findings of the present study indicated that the MEF2D/NUSAP1 signaling pathway promoted NSCLC progression by inducing the activation of Wnt/β‑catenin signaling, and this novel mechanism may represent a potential treatment target for patients with NSCLC.

ESCO2 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by regulating hnRNPA1 acetylation

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence indicates that metabolism reprogramming and abnormal acetylation modification play an important role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression, although the mechanism is largely unknown.

METHODS

Here, we used three public databases (Oncomine, Gene Expression Omnibus [GEO], The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA]) to analyze ESCO2 (establishment of cohesion 1 homolog 2) expression in LUAD. The biological function of ESCO2 was studiedusing cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration, and invasion assays in vitro, and mouse xenograft models in vivo. ESCO2 interacting proteins were searched using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and mass spectrometry. Pyruvate kinase M1/2 (PKM) mRNA splicing assay was performed using RT-PCR together with restriction digestion. LUAD cell metabolism was studied using glucose uptake assays and lactate production. ESCO2 expression was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues, and higher ESCO2 expression indicated worse prognosis for patients with LUAD.

RESULTS

We found that ESCO2 promoted LUAD cell proliferation and metastasis metabolic reprogramming in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ESCO2 increased hnRNPA1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1) binding to the intronic sequences flanking exon 9 (EI9) of PKM mRNA by inhibiting hnRNPA1 nuclear translocation, eventually inhibiting PKM1 isoform formation and inducing PKM2 isoform formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm that ESCO2 is a key factor in promoting LUAD malignant progression and suggest that it is a new target for treating LUAD.

Reciprocal Changes in miRNA Expression with Pigmentation and Decreased Proliferation Induced in Mouse B16F1 Melanoma Cells by L-Tyrosine and 5-Bromo-2'-Deoxyuridine

Background: Many microRNAs have been identified as critical mediators in the progression of melanoma through its regulation of genes involved in different cellular processes such as melanogenesis, cell cycle control, and senescence. However, microRNAs’ concurrent participation in syngeneic mouse B16F1 melanoma cells simultaneously induced decreased proliferation and differential pigmentation by exposure to 5-Brd-2′-dU (5’Bromo-2-deoxyuridine) and L-Tyr (L-Tyrosine) respectively, is poorly understood. Aim: To evaluate changes in the expression of microRNAs and identify which miRNAs in-network may contribute to the functional bases of phenotypes of differential pigmentation and reduction of proliferation in B16F1 melanoma cells exposed to 5-Brd-2′-dU and L-Tyr. Methods: Small RNAseq evaluation of the expression profiles of miRNAs in B16F1 melanoma cells exposed to 5-Brd-2′-dU (2.5 μg/mL) and L-Tyr (5 mM), as well as the expression by qRT-PCR of some molecular targets related to melanogenesis, cell cycle, and senescence. By bioinformatic analysis, we constructed network models of regulation and co-expression of microRNAs. Results: We confirmed that stimulation or repression of melanogenesis with L-Tyr or 5-Brd-2′-dU, respectively, generated changes in melanin concentration, reduction in proliferation, and changes in expression of microRNAs 470-3p, 470-5p, 30d-5p, 129-5p, 148b-3p, 27b-3p, and 211-5p, which presented patterns of coordinated and reciprocal co-expression, related to changes in melanogenesis through their putative targets Mitf, Tyr and Tyrp1, and control of cell cycle and senescence: Cyclin D1, Cdk2, Cdk4, p21, and p27. Conclusions: These findings provide insights into the molecular biology of melanoma of the way miRNAs are coordinated and reciprocal expression that may operate in a network as molecular bases for understanding changes in pigmentation and decreased proliferation induced in B16F1 melanoma cells exposed to L-Tyr and 5-Brd-2′-dU.

Expression of cell divisioncycle-associated genes and their prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma

The cell division cycle-associated (CDCA) protein family plays an essential role in tumor progression by cell division. However, the function of each CDCA family member in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well known. This study is to find the roles of CDCAs in the prognosis of HCC patients by using ONCOMINE, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, and cBioPortal databases. Overexpression of CDCA mRNA and protein were found to be significantly associated with individual cancer stages and tumor grades in HCC patients. Higher mRNA expressions of 6 CDCA family members were found to be significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) in HCC patients. Multivariate analysis showed that overexpressions of CDCA mRNA were independent prognostic factors for shorter OS in HCC patients. Moreover, a high mutation rate of CDCAs (27%) was also detected in HCC patients, and genetic alteration in CDCAs was associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in HCC patients. Finally, a functional analysis showed that CDCAs were mainly enriched in the cell cycle (hsa04110) and oocyte meiosis. Overall, these results indicated that CDCA2/3/4/5/8 could be prognostic biomarkers of survival in HCC patients.

NCAPG2 facilitates glioblastoma cells' malignancy and xenograft tumor growth via HBO1 activation by phosphorylation

NCAPG2 (non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2), as an important factor in cell mitosis, has been the focus in the study of different cancers. However, the role of NCAPG2 in the malignancy of glioblastoma cells remains unknown. The findings from the present study demonstrated that NCAPG2 was significantly increased in human glioblastoma tissues and was associated with poor clinical outcome. Moreover, NCAPG2 could promote proliferation, migration, and invasion and regulate cell cycle in glioblastoma cells. Investigation of the molecular mechanism indicated that NCAPG2 regulated HBO1 phosphorylation and H4 histone acetylase activation, modulated the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and the binding of MCM protein to chromatin to exert its role. Furthermore, knockdown of HBO1 was found to reverse the effect of NCAPG2 overexpression on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle. In addition, knockdown of NCAPG2 attenuated glioblastoma tumorigenesis in vivo. Taken together, the findings demonstrated that NCAPG2 facilitates the malignancy of glioblastoma cells and xenograft tumor growth via HBO1 activation by phosphorylation. These results improve our understanding of the mechanism underlying glioblastoma progression and may contribute to the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.

Medicinal attributes of pyridine scaffold as anticancer targeting agents

Background

The heterocyclic compounds particularly pyridine displayed clinical and biological implementation. Pyridine scaffolds have been detected in most relevant drug molecules that included pyridine provided a great possibility for treatment.

Main text

Pyridine-containing compounds have increasing importance for medicinal application as antiviral, anticholinesterase activities, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anticancer. This has generated concern among researchers in synthesising a variety of pyridine derivatives.

Conclusion

This review focuses on different pyridine targets as anticancer and their pharmacophoric elements controlling its activity.

Discovery of a new molecule inducing melanoma cell death: dual AMPK/MELK targeting for novel melanoma therapies

In the search of biguanide-derived molecules against melanoma, we have discovered and developed a series of bioactive products and identified the promising new compound CRO15. This molecule exerted anti-melanoma effects on cells lines and cells isolated from patients including the ones derived from tumors resistant to BRAF inhibitors. Moreover, CRO15 was able to decrease viability of cells lines from a broad range of cancer types. This compound acts by two distinct mechanisms. First by activating the AMPK pathway induced by a mitochondrial disorder. Second by inhibition of MELK kinase activity, which induces cell cycle arrest and activation of DNA damage repair pathways by p53 and REDD1 activation. All of these mechanisms activate autophagic and apoptotic processes resulting in melanoma cell death. The strong efficacy of CRO15 to reduce the growth of melanoma xenograft sensitive or resistant to BRAF inhibitors opens interesting perspective.

DNA damage induces Yap5-dependent transcription of ECO1/CTF7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast Eco1 (ESCO2 in humans) acetyltransferase converts chromatin-bound cohesins to a DNA tethering state, thereby establishing sister chromatid cohesion. Eco1 establishes cohesion during DNA replication, after which Eco1 is targeted for degradation by SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase. SCF E3 ligase, and sequential phosphorylations that promote Eco1 ubiquitination and degradation, remain active throughout the M phase. In this way, Eco1 protein levels are high during S phase, but remain low throughout the remaining cell cycle. In response to DNA damage during M phase, however, Eco1 activity increases-providing for a new wave of cohesion establishment (termed Damage-Induced Cohesion, or DIC) which is critical for efficient DNA repair. To date, little evidence exists as to the mechanism through which Eco1 activity increases during M phase in response to DNA damage. Possibilities include that either the kinases or E3 ligase, that target Eco1 for degradation, are inhibited in response to DNA damage. Our results reveal instead that the degradation machinery remains fully active during M phase, despite the presence of DNA damage. In testing alternate models through which Eco1 activity increases in response to DNA damage, the results reveal that DNA damage induces new transcription of ECO1 and at a rate that exceeds the rate of Eco1 turnover, providing for rapid accumulation of Eco1 protein. We further show that DNA damage induction of ECO1 transcription is in part regulated by Yap5-a stress-induced transcription factor. Given the role for mutated ESCO2 (homolog of ECO1) in human birth defects, this study highlights the complex nature through which mutation of ESCO2, and defects in ESCO2 regulation, may promote developmental abnormalities and contribute to various diseases including cancer.

Downregulation of lncRNA FGF12-AS2 suppresses the tumorigenesis of NSCLC via sponging miR-188-3p

Background

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) seriously threatens the health of human beings. Aberrant expression of lncRNAs has been confirmed to be related with the progression of multiple malignant tumors, including NSCLC. LncRNA FGF12-AS2 has been considered to be upregulated in NSCLC. However, the mechanism by which FGF12-AS2 promotes the tumorigenesis of NSCLC remains elusive.

Methods

Gene and protein expressions in NSCLC cells were measured by q-PCR and western blot, respectively. CCK-8 and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry. Transwell assay was used to detect the cell migration and invasion. Finally, the dual luciferase report assay was used to verify the relation among FGF12-AS2, miR-188-3p, and NCAPG2.

Results

Downregulation of FGF12-AS2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells via inducing apoptosis. In addition, FGF12-AS2 silencing notably suppressed the migration and invasion of A549 cells. Meanwhile, FGF12-AS2 modulated the progression of NSCLC via regulation of miR-188-3p/NCAPG2 axis. Finally, knockdown of FGF12-AS2 inhibited the tumorigenesis of NSCLC via suppressing the EMT process of NSCLC.

Conclusion

Downregulation of lncRNA FGF12-AS2 suppressed the tumorigenesis of NSCLC via sponging miR-188-3p. Thus, FGF12-AS2 may serve as a potential target for the treatment of NSCLC.

HPV E7-mediated NCAPH ectopic expression regulates the carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma via PI3K/AKT/SGK pathway

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological tumors in the world, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is its causative agent. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer still require clarification. Here we found that knockdown of Non-SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) condensin I complex subunit H (NCAPH) gene expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical cancer cells in vitro, and restrained xenograft tumor formation in vivo. Intriguingly, HPV E7 could form a positive feedback loop with NCAPH. E7 upregulated NCAPH gene expression via E2F1 which initiated NCAPH transcription by binding to its promoter directly. Silencing of NCAPH reduced E7 transcription via promoting the transition of AP-1 heterodimer from c-Fos/c-Jun to Fra-1/c-Jun. Moreover, the E7-mediated NCAPH overexpression was involved in the activation of the PI3K/AKT/SGK signaling pathway. In vivo, NCAPH expression in cervical cancer tissues was significantly higher than which in normal cervix and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) tissues, and its expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis. Patients with high NCAPH expression had a significantly better survival outcomes than those with low-expression, suggesting that NCAPH-induced cell proliferation might sensitize cancer cells to adjuvant therapy. In conclusion, our results revealed the role of NCAPH in the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. The interaction between E7 and NCAPH expands the mechanism of HPV induced tumorigenesis and that of host genes regulating HPV E7.

A Nuclear Stress Pathway that Parallels Cytoplasmic Stress Granule Formation

Stress adaptation is exploited by cancer cells to survive and proliferate under adverse conditions. Survival pathways induced by stress are thus highly promising therapeutic targets. One key pathway involves formation of cytoplasmic stress granules, which regulate the location, stability, and translation of specific mRNAs. Here, we describe a transcriptional stress response that is triggered by similar stressors and characterized by accumulation of RepoMan (cell division cycle associated 2) at nuclear stress foci (nucSF). Formation of these structures is reversible, and they are distinct from known nuclear organelles and stress bodies. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed accumulation of heterochromatic markers, and increased association of RepoMan with the adenylate cyclase 2 (ADCY2) gene locus in stressed cells accompanied reduced levels of ADCY2 mRNA and protein. Quantitative comparison of the RepoMan interactome in stressed vs. unstressed cells identified condensin II as a nucSF factor, suggesting their functional association in the establishment and/or maintenance of these facultative heterochromatic domains.