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Liu J, Xing R, Shao J, Jiao S. Relationship Between MUC4 Variants and Metastatic Recurrence in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:5077-5087. [PMID: 37942474 PMCID: PMC10629456 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s437957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recurrent metastasis after radical resection in patients of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a great challenge for the world, in which genomic alterations play a major role in tumorigenesis. MUC4 plays a significant role in recurrence and metastasis in tumor. This study is aimed at exploring the association between MUC4 variants and metastatic recurrence of CRC. Methods Forty-seven patients relapsing with metastasis and 37 patients remaining disease-free postoperatively were enrolled. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) detected mutations. Mutation and mRNA expression data were downloaded from TCGA and cBioPortal databases. We analyzed the relationship between MUC4 variants and clinical parameters, as well as possible molecular mechanisms. Results MUC4 variants rs56359992 and rs781124621 were associated with survival in patients with CRC. Rs56359992 was more common in patients with metastatic recurrence. MAPK pathway, PI3K-Akt pathway, JAK-STAT pathway, cell cycle, WNT pathway and mTOR pathway were found to correlate with MUC4 mutation by GO/KEGG analysis, as well as resting and activated mast cell related to MUC4 mutation by CIBERSORT analysis. Conclusion Genetic variants of MUC4 with CRC may constitute a molecular signature of metastatic recurrence. MUC4 may become a new target for the treatment of CRC recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieqiong Liu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rongge Xing
- Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, 061000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiakang Shao
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shunchang Jiao
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Bruni S, Mercogliano MF, Mauro FL, Cordo Russo RI, Schillaci R. Cancer immune exclusion: breaking the barricade for a successful immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1135456. [PMID: 37284199 PMCID: PMC10239871 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1135456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has changed the course of cancer treatment. The initial steps were made through tumor-specific antibodies that guided the setup of an antitumor immune response. A new and successful generation of antibodies are designed to target immune checkpoint molecules aimed to reinvigorate the antitumor immune response. The cellular counterpart is the adoptive cell therapy, where specific immune cells are expanded or engineered to target cancer cells. In all cases, the key for achieving positive clinical resolutions rests upon the access of immune cells to the tumor. In this review, we focus on how the tumor microenvironment architecture, including stromal cells, immunosuppressive cells and extracellular matrix, protects tumor cells from an immune attack leading to immunotherapy resistance, and on the available strategies to tackle immune evasion.
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Dhanisha SS, Guruvayoorappan C. Pathological Implications of Mucin Signaling in Metastasis. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2023; 23:585-602. [PMID: 36941808 DOI: 10.2174/1568009623666230320121332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic mucosal layer provides a selective protective barrier for the epithelial cells lining the body cavities. Diverse human malignancies exploit their intrinsic role to protect and repair epithelia for promoting growth and survival. Aberrant expression of mucin has been known to be associated with poor prognosis of many cancers. However, the emergence of new paradigms in the study of metastasis recognizes the involvement of MUC1, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC16 during metastasis initiation and progression. Hence mucins can be used as an attractive target in future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we discuss in detail about mucin family and its domains and the role of different mucins in regulating cancer progression and metastasis. In addition, we briefly discuss insights into mucins as a therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chandrasekharan Guruvayoorappan
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College Campus, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695011, India
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4
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Kshirsagar PG, Gulati M, Junker WM, Aithal A, Spagnol G, Das S, Mallya K, Gautam SK, Kumar S, Sorgen P, Pandey KK, Batra SK, Jain M. Characterization of recombinant β subunit of human MUC4 mucin (rMUC4β). Sci Rep 2021; 11:23730. [PMID: 34887447 PMCID: PMC8660890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02860-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
MUC4 is a transmembrane mucin expressed on various epithelial surfaces, including respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and helps in their lubrication and protection. MUC4 is also aberrantly overexpressed in various epithelial malignancies and functionally contributes to cancer development and progression. MUC4 is putatively cleaved at the GDPH site into a mucin-like α-subunit and a membrane-tethered growth factor-like β-subunit. Due to the presence of several functional domains, the characterization of MUC4β is critical for understanding MUC4 biology. We developed a method to produce and purify multi-milligram amounts of recombinant MUC4β (rMUC4β). Purified rMUC4β was characterized by Far-UV CD and I-TASSER-based protein structure prediction analyses, and its ability to interact with cellular proteins was determined by the affinity pull-down assay. Two of the three EGF-like domains exhibited typical β-fold, while the third EGF-like domain and vWD domain were predominantly random coils. We observed that rMUC4β physically interacts with Ezrin and EGFR family members. Overall, this study describes an efficient and simple strategy for the purification of biologically-active rMUC4β that can serve as a valuable reagent for a variety of biochemical and functional studies to elucidate MUC4 function and generating domain-specific antibodies and vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash G Kshirsagar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Mansi Gulati
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Wade M Junker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA.,Sanguine Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Abhijit Aithal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Gaelle Spagnol
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Srustidhar Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Kavita Mallya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Shailendra K Gautam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Paul Sorgen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA
| | - Krishan K Pandey
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA. .,Sanguine Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5870, USA. .,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Dreyer CA, VanderVorst K, Free S, Rowson-Hodel A, Carraway KL. The role of membrane mucin MUC4 in breast cancer metastasis. Endocr Relat Cancer 2021; 29:R17-R32. [PMID: 34726614 PMCID: PMC8697635 DOI: 10.1530/erc-21-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A major barrier to the emergence of distant metastases is the survival of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) within the vasculature. Lethal stressors, including shear forces from blood flow, anoikis arising from cellular detachment, and exposure to natural killer cells, combine to subvert the ability of primary tumor cells to survive and ultimately seed distant lesions. Further attenuation of this rate-limiting process via therapeutic intervention offers a very attractive opportunity for improving cancer patient outcomes, in turn prompting the need for a deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying CTC viability. MUC4 is a very large and heavily glycosylated protein expressed at the apical surfaces of the epithelia of a variety of tissues, is involved in cellular growth signaling and adhesiveness, and contributes to the protection and lubrication of cellular linings. Analysis of patient-matched breast tumor specimens has demonstrated that MUC4 protein levels are upregulated in metastatic lesions relative to primary tumor among all breast tumor subtypes, pointing to a possible selective advantage for MUC4 overexpression in metastasis. Analysis of a genetically engineered mouse model of HER2-positive breast cancer has demonstrated that metastatic efficiency is markedly suppressed with Muc4 deletion and Muc4-knockout tumor cells are poorly associated with platelets and white blood cells known to support CTC viability. In this review, we discuss the diverse roles of MUC4 in tumor progression and metastasis and propose that intervening in MUC4 intercellular interactions with binding partners on blood-borne aggregating cells could potentially thwart breast cancer metastatic efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kermit L. Carraway
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Kermit Carraway, Research Building III, Room 1100B, 4645 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, P: (916) 734-3114,
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6
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Stergiou N, Urschbach M, Gabba A, Schmitt E, Kunz H, Besenius P. The Development of Vaccines from Synthetic Tumor-Associated Mucin Glycopeptides and their Glycosylation-Dependent Immune Response. CHEM REC 2021; 21:3313-3331. [PMID: 34812564 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202100182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens are overexpressed as altered-self in most common epithelial cancers. Their glycosylation patterns differ from those of healthy cells, functioning as an ID for cancer cells. Scientists have been developing anti-cancer vaccines based on mucin glycopeptides, yet the interplay of delivery system, adjuvant and tumor associated MUC epitopes in the induced immune response is not well understood. The current state of the art suggests that the identity, abundancy and location of the glycans on the MUC backbone are all key parameters in the cellular and humoral response. This review shares lessons learned by us in over two decades of research in glycopeptide vaccines. By bridging synthetic chemistry and immunology, we discuss efforts in designing synthetic MUC1/4/16 vaccines and focus on the role of glycosylation patterns. We provide a brief introduction into the mechanisms of the immune system and aim to promote the development of cancer subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Stergiou
- Radionuclide Center, Radiology and Nuclear medicine Amsterdam UMC, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085c, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Moritz Urschbach
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Adele Gabba
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Edgar Schmitt
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Horst Kunz
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Pol Besenius
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
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7
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Neagu AN, Whitham D, Buonanno E, Jenkins A, Alexa-Stratulat T, Tamba BI, Darie CC. Proteomics and its applications in breast cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4006-4049. [PMID: 34659875 PMCID: PMC8493401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is an individually unique, multi-faceted and chameleonic disease, an eternal challenge for the new era of high-integrated precision diagnostic and personalized oncomedicine. Besides traditional single-omics fields (such as genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) and multi-omics contributions (proteogenomics, proteotranscriptomics or reproductomics), several new "-omics" approaches and exciting proteomics subfields are contributing to basic and advanced understanding of these "multiple diseases termed breast cancer": phenomics/cellomics, connectomics and interactomics, secretomics, matrisomics, exosomics, angiomics, chaperomics and epichaperomics, phosphoproteomics, ubiquitinomics, metalloproteomics, terminomics, degradomics and metadegradomics, adhesomics, stressomics, microbiomics, immunomics, salivaomics, materiomics and other biomics. Throughout the extremely complex neoplastic process, a Breast Cancer Cell Continuum Concept (BCCCC) has been modeled in this review as a spatio-temporal and holistic approach, as long as the breast cancer represents a complex cascade comprising successively integrated populations of heterogeneous tumor and cancer-associated cells, that reflect the carcinoma's progression from a "driving mutation" and formation of the breast primary tumor, toward the distant secondary tumors in different tissues and organs, via circulating tumor cell populations. This BCCCC is widely sustained by a Breast Cancer Proteomic Continuum Concept (BCPCC), where each phenotype of neoplastic and tumor-associated cells is characterized by a changing and adaptive proteomic profile detected in solid and liquid minimal invasive biopsies by complex proteomics approaches. Such a profile is created, beginning with the proteomic landscape of different neoplastic cell populations and cancer-associated cells, followed by subsequent analysis of protein biomarkers involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and intravasation, circulating tumor cell proteomics, and, finally, by protein biomarkers that highlight the extravasation and distant metastatic invasion. Proteomics technologies are producing important data in breast cancer diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers discovery and validation, are detecting genetic aberrations at the proteome level, describing functional and regulatory pathways and emphasizing specific protein and peptide profiles in human tissues, biological fluids, cell lines and animal models. Also, proteomics can identify different breast cancer subtypes and specific protein and proteoform expression, can assess the efficacy of cancer therapies at cellular and tissular level and can even identify new therapeutic target proteins in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca-Narcisa Neagu
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
- Laboratory of Animal Histology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of IașiCarol I bvd. No. 22, Iași 700505, Romania
| | - Danielle Whitham
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
| | - Emma Buonanno
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
| | - Avalon Jenkins
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
| | - Teodora Alexa-Stratulat
- Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and PharmacyIndependenței bvd. No. 16-18, Iași 700021, Romania
| | - Bogdan Ionel Tamba
- Advanced Center for Research and Development in Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and PharmacyMihail Kogălniceanu Street No. 9-13, Iași 700454, Romania
| | - Costel C Darie
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
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Hammoudeh SM, Hammoudeh AM, Bhamidimarri PM, Al Safar H, Mahboub B, Künstner A, Busch H, Halwani R, Hamid Q, Rahmani M, Hamoudi R. Systems Immunology Analysis Reveals the Contribution of Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tissues to the Immunopathogenesis of Severe COVID-19 Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:595150. [PMID: 34262555 PMCID: PMC8273737 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.595150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the current global health conundrums, COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic increase of cases exceeding 79 million and 1.7 million deaths worldwide. Severe presentation of COVID-19 is characterized by cytokine storm and chronic inflammation resulting in multi-organ dysfunction. Currently, it is unclear whether extrapulmonary tissues contribute to the cytokine storm mediated-disease exacerbation. In this study, we applied systems immunology analysis to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung, liver, kidney, and heart tissues and the potential contribution of these tissues to cytokines production. Notably, genes associated with neutrophil-mediated immune response (e.g. CXCL1) were particularly upregulated in lung, whereas genes associated with eosinophil-mediated immune response (e.g. CCL11) were particularly upregulated in heart tissue. In contrast, immune responses mediated by monocytes, dendritic cells, T-cells and B-cells were almost similarly dysregulated in all tissue types. Focused analysis of 14 cytokines classically upregulated in COVID-19 patients revealed that only some of these cytokines are dysregulated in lung tissue, whereas the other cytokines are upregulated in extrapulmonary tissues (e.g. IL6 and IL2RA). Investigations of potential mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 modulates the immune response and cytokine production revealed a marked dysregulation of NF-κB signaling particularly CBM complex and the NF-κB inhibitor BCL3. Moreover, overexpression of mucin family genes (e.g. MUC3A, MUC4, MUC5B, MUC16, and MUC17) and HSP90AB1 suggest that the exacerbated inflammation activated pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues remodeling. In addition, we identified multiple sets of immune response associated genes upregulated in a tissue-specific manner (DCLRE1C, CHI3L1, and PARP14 in lung; APOA4, NFASC, WIPF3, and CD34 in liver; LILRA5, ISG20, S100A12, and HLX in kidney; and ASS1 and PTPN1 in heart). Altogether, these findings suggest that the cytokines storm triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection is potentially the result of dysregulated cytokine production by inflamed pulmonary and extrapulmonary (e.g. liver, kidney, and heart) tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Musa Hammoudeh
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Luebeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Arabella Musa Hammoudeh
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- General Surgery Department, Tawam Hospital, SEHA, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Poorna Manasa Bhamidimarri
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Habiba Al Safar
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bassam Mahboub
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Axel Künstner
- Luebeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Hauke Busch
- Luebeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Rabih Halwani
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Qutayba Hamid
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohamed Rahmani
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rifat Hamoudi
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Reynolds IS, O'Connell E, Fichtner M, Blümel A, Mason SE, Kinross J, McNamara DA, Kay EW, O'Connor DP, Das S, Burke JP, Prehn JHM. An Insight Into the Driver Mutations and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum. Dis Colon Rectum 2021; 64:677-688. [PMID: 33955407 DOI: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000001825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum accounts for 10% of all rectal cancers and has an impaired response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and worse overall survival. To date, insufficient genomic research has been performed on this histological subtype. OBJECTIVE This study aims to define the mismatch repair deficiency rate and the driver mutations underpinning mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum and to compare it with rectal adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified. DESIGN Immunohistochemistry and sequencing were performed on tumor samples from our tumor biobank. SETTINGS This study was conducted across 2 tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS Patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma and rectal adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified who underwent rectal resection between 2008 and 2018 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mismatch repair status was performed by immunohistochemical staining. Mutations in the panel of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes were determined by sequencing on the MiSeq V3 platform. RESULTS The study included 33 patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum and 100 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified. Those with mucinous adenocarcinoma had a mismatch repair deficiency rate of 12.1% compared to 2.0% in the adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified cohort (p = 0.04). Mucinous adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified rectal tumors had similar mutation frequencies in most oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. No difference was found in the KRAS mutation rate (50.0% vs 37.1%, p = 0.29) or BRAF mutation rate (6.7% vs 3.1%, p = 0.34) between the cohorts. No difference was found between the cohorts regarding recurrence-free (p = 0.29) or overall survival (p = 0.14). LIMITATIONS The major limitations of this study were the use of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue over fresh-frozen tissue and the small number of patients included, in particular, in the mucinous rectal cohort. CONCLUSIONS Most mucinous rectal tumors develop and progress along the chromosomal instability pathway. Further research in the form of transcriptomics, proteomics, and analysis of the effects of the mucin barrier may yield valuable insights into the mechanisms of resistance to chemoradiotherapy in this cohort. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B464. UNA PERCEPCIN SOBRE MUTACIONES IMPULSORAS Y MECANISMOS MOLECULARES SUBYACENTES AL ADENOCARCINOMA MUCINOSO DEL RECTO ANTECEDENTES:El adenocarcinoma mucinoso del recto, representa el 10% de todos los cánceres rectales y tiene una respuesta deficiente a la quimioradioterapia neoadyuvante y una peor supervivencia en general. A la fecha, se han realizado muy pocas investigaciones genómicas sobre este subtipo histológico.OBJETIVO:Definir la tasa de deficiencia en la reparación de desajustes y mutaciones impulsoras, que sustentan el adenocarcinoma mucinoso del recto y compararlo con el adenocarcinoma rectal no especificado de otra manera.DISEÑO:Se realizaron inmunohistoquímica y secuenciación en muestras tumorales de nuestro biobanco de tumores.AJUSTE:El estudio se realizó en dos centros de referencia terciarios.PACIENTES:Se incluyeron pacientes con adenocarcinoma mucinoso y adenocarcinoma no especificado de otra manera, sometidos a resección rectal entre 2008 y 2018.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:El estado de reparación de desajustes se realizó mediante tinción inmunohistoquímica. Las mutaciones en el panel de oncogenes y genes supresores de tumores, se determinaron mediante secuenciación en la plataforma MiSeq V3.RESULTADOS:El estudio incluyó a 33 pacientes con adenocarcinoma mucinoso del recto y 100 pacientes con adenocarcinoma del recto no especificado de otra manera. Aquellos con adenocarcinoma mucinoso, tenían una tasa de deficiencia de reparación de desajustes del 12,1% en comparación con el 2,0% en la cohorte de adenocarcinoma no especificado de otra manera (p = 0,04). El adenocarcinoma mucinoso y el adenocarcinoma no especificado de otra manera, tuvieron frecuencias de mutación similares en la mayoría de los oncogenes y genes supresores de tumores. No se encontraron diferencias en la tasa de mutación de KRAS (50,0% frente a 37,1%, p = 0,29) o la tasa de mutación de BRAF (6,7% frente a 3,1%, p = 0,34) entre las cohortes. No se encontraron diferencias entre las cohortes con respecto a la supervivencia libre de recurrencia (p = 0,29) o la supervivencia global (p = 0,14).LIMITACIONES:Las mayores limitaciones de este estudio, fueron el uso de tejido embebido en parafina y fijado con formalina, sobre el tejido fresco congelado y el pequeño número de pacientes incluidos, particularmente en la cohorte mucinoso rectal.CONCLUSIONES:La mayoría de los tumores rectales mucinosos se desarrollan y progresan a lo largo de la vía de inestabilidad cromosómica. La investigación adicional en forma transcriptómica, proteómica y análisis de los efectos de la barrera de la mucina, puede proporcionar información valiosa sobre los mecanismos de resistencia a la quimioradioterapia, en esta cohorte. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B464.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S Reynolds
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emer O'Connell
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Fichtner
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anna Blümel
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sam E Mason
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Kinross
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah A McNamara
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elaine W Kay
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darran P O'Connor
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sudipto Das
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John P Burke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jochen H M Prehn
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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10
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Luo Y, Ma S, Sun Y, Peng S, Zeng Z, Han L, Li S, Sun W, Xu J, Tian X, Wang F, Wu Q, Xiao Y, Zhang J, Gong Y, Xie C. MUC3A induces PD-L1 and reduces tyrosine kinase inhibitors effects in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:1671-1681. [PMID: 33994852 PMCID: PMC8120466 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.57964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune checkpoint ligand programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and the transmembrane mucin (MUC) 3A are upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), contributing to the aggressive pathogenesis and poor prognosis. Here, we report that knocking down the oncogenic MUC3A suppresses the PD-L1 expression in NSCLC cells. MUC3A is a potent regulator of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) stability, and MUC3A deficiency downregulates the activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, which subsequently reduces the expression of PD-L1. Furthermore, knockdown of MUC3A and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells play a synergistic effect on inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in vitro. In the BALB/c nude mice xenograft model, MUC3A deficiency enhances EGFR-mutated NSCLC sensitivity to TKIs. Our study shows that transmembrane mucin MUC3A induces PD-L1, thereby promoting immune escape in NSCLC, while downregulation of MUC3A enhances TKIs effects in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. These findings offer insights into the design of novel combination treatment for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Luo
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shijing Ma
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Geriatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingming Sun
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shan Peng
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zihang Zeng
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Linzhi Han
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuying Li
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjie Sun
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jieyu Xu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoli Tian
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiuji Wu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junhong Zhang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Gong
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Conghua Xie
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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11
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MUC4 is overexpressed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and collaborates with transforming growth factor β inducing fibrotic responses. Mucosal Immunol 2021; 14:377-388. [PMID: 32887938 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-020-00343-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Several mucins are implicated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); however, there is no evidence regarding the role of MUC4 in the development of IPF. Here we demonstrated that MUC4 was overexpressed in IPF patients (n = 22) compared with healthy subjects (n = 21) and located in pulmonary arteries, bronchial epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and hyperplastic alveolar type II cells. Decreased expression of MUC4 using siRNA-MUC4 inhibited the mesenchymal/myofibroblast transformations of alveolar type II A549 cells and lung fibroblasts, as well as cell senescence and fibroblast proliferation induced by TGF-β1. The induction of the overexpression of MUC4 increased the effects of TGF-β1 on mesenchymal/myofibroblast transformations and cell senescence. MUC4 overexpression and siRNA-MUC4 gene silencing increased or decreased, respectively, the phosphorylation of TGFβRI and SMAD3, contributing to smad-binding element activation. Immunoprecipitation analysis and confocal immunofluorescence showed the formation of a protein complex between MUC4β/p-TGFβRI and p-SMAD3 in the cell membrane after TGF-β1 stimulation and in lung tissue from IPF patients. Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis was reduced in mice transiently transfected with siRNA-MUC4. This study shows that MUC4 expression is enhanced in IPF and promotes fibrotic processes in collaboration with TGF-β1 canonical pathway that could be an attractive druggable target for human IPF.
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12
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Abstract
A dynamic mucosal layer shields the epithelial cells lining the body cavities and is made up of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated, multidomain proteins called mucins. Mucins, broadly grouped into transmembrane and secreted mucins, are the first responders to any mechanical or chemical insult to the epithelia and help maintain tissue homeostasis. However, their intrinsic properties to protect and repair the epithelia are exploited during oncogenic processes, where mucins are metamorphosed to aid the tumor cells in their malignant journey. Diverse domains, like the variable number tandem repeats (VNTR), sea urchin sperm protein enterokinase and agrin (SEA), adhesion-associated domain (AMOP), nidogen-like domain (NIDO), epidermal growth factor-like domain (EGF), and von Willebrand factor type D domain (vWD) on mucins, including MUC1, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC16, have been shown to facilitate cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions, and cell-autonomous signaling to promote tumorigenesis and distant dissemination of tumor cells. Several obstacles have limited the study of mucins, including technical difficulties in working with these huge glycoproteins, the dearth of scientific tools, and lack of animal models; thus, the tissue-dependent and domain-specific roles of mucins during mucosal protection, chronic inflammation, tumorigenesis, and hematological dissemination of malignant cells are still unclear. Future studies should try to integrate information on the rheological, molecular, and biological characteristics of mucins to comprehensively delineate their pathophysiological role and evaluate their suitability as targets in future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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13
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Kaushik G, Seshacharyulu P, Rauth S, Nallasamy P, Rachagani S, Nimmakayala RK, Vengoji R, Mallya K, Chirravuri-Venkata R, Singh AB, Foster JM, Ly QP, Smith LM, Lele SM, Malafa MP, Jain M, Ponnusamy MP, Batra SK. Selective inhibition of stemness through EGFR/FOXA2/SOX9 axis reduces pancreatic cancer metastasis. Oncogene 2020; 40:848-862. [PMID: 33288882 PMCID: PMC7848971 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is difficult to defeat due to mechanism (s) driving metastasis and drug resistance. Cancer stemness is a major challenging phenomenon associated with PC metastasis and limiting therapy efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the pre-clinical and clinical significance of eradicating pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSC) and its components using a pan-EGFR inhibitor afatinib in combination with gemcitabine. Afatinib in combination with gemcitabine, significantly reduced KrasG12D/+; Pdx-1 Cre (KC) (P<0.01) and KrasG12D/+; p53R172H/+; Pdx-1 Cre (KPC) (P<0.05) derived mouse tumoroids and KPC-derived murine syngeneic cell line growth compared to gemcitabine/afatinib alone treatment. The drug combination also reduced PC xenograft tumor burden (P<0.05) and the incidence of metastasis by affecting key stemness markers, as confirmed by co-localization studies. Moreover, the drug combination significantly decreases the growth of various PC patient-derived organoids (P<0.001). We found that SOX9 is significantly overexpressed in high-grade PC tumors (P<0.05) and in chemotherapy-treated patients compared to chemo-naïve patients (P<0.05). These results were further validated using publicly available datasets. Moreover, afatinib alone or in combination with gemcitabine decreased stemness and tumorspheres by reducing phosphorylation of EGFR family proteins, ERK, FAK, and CSC markers. Mechanistically, afatinib treatment decreased CSC markers by downregulating SOX9 via FOXA2. Indeed, EGFR and FOXA2 depletion reduced SOX9 expression in PCSCs. Taken together, pan EGFR inhibition by afatinib impedes PCSCs growth and metastasis via the EGFR/ERK/FOXA2/SOX9 axis. This novel mechanism of panEGFR inhibitor and its ability to eradicate CSC may serve as a tailor-made approach to enhance chemotherapeutic benefits in other cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Kaushik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Sanchita Rauth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Palanisamy Nallasamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Rama Krishna Nimmakayala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Raghupathy Vengoji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kavita Mallya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Amar B Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jason M Foster
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Quan P Ly
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Subodh M Lele
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Mokenge P Malafa
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Disease, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Disease, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Department of Pathology and Microbiology, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Disease, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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14
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Breugelmans T, Van Spaendonk H, De Man JG, De Schepper HU, Jauregui-Amezaga A, Macken E, Lindén SK, Pintelon I, Timmermans JP, De Winter BY, Smet A. In-Depth Study of Transmembrane Mucins in Association with Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction During the Course of T Cell Transfer and DSS-Induced Colitis. J Crohns Colitis 2020; 14:974-994. [PMID: 32003421 DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS There is evidence for a disturbed intestinal barrier function in inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Because mucins represent the major components of the mucus barrier and disturbed mucin expression is reported in the colon of IBD patients, we studied the association between mucin expression, inflammation and intestinal permeability in experimental colitis. METHODS We quantified 4-kDa FITC-dextran intestinal permeability and the expression of cytokines, mucins, junctional and polarity proteins at dedicated time points in the adoptive T cell transfer and dextran sodium sulfate [DSS]-induced colitis models. Mucin expression was also validated in biopsies from IBD patients. RESULTS In both animal models, the course of colitis was associated with increased interleukin-1β [IL-1β] and tumour necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] expression and increased Muc1 and Muc13 expression. In the T cell transfer model, a gradually increasing Muc1 expression coincided with gradually increasing 4-kDa FITC-dextran intestinal permeability and correlated with enhanced IL-1β expression. In the DSS model, Muc13 expression coincided with rapidly increased 4-kDa FITC-dextran intestinal permeability and correlated with TNF-α and Muc1 overexpression. Moreover, a significant association was observed between Muc1, Cldn1, Ocln, Par3 and aPKCζ expression in the T cell transfer model and between Muc13, Cldn1, Jam2, Tjp2, aPkcζ, Crb3 and Scrib expression in the DSS model. Additionally, MUC1 and MUC13 expression was upregulated in inflamed mucosa of IBD patients. CONCLUSIONS Aberrantly expressed MUC1 and MUC13 might be involved in intestinal barrier dysfunction upon inflammation by affecting junctional and cell polarity proteins, indicating their potential as therapeutic targets in IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Breugelmans
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med Research Consortium of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hanne Van Spaendonk
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med Research Consortium of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joris G De Man
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med Research Consortium of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Heiko U De Schepper
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med Research Consortium of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Elisabeth Macken
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara K Lindén
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Isabel Pintelon
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Timmermans
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Y De Winter
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med Research Consortium of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Smet
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med Research Consortium of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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15
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Abdelhady AS, Abdel Hamid FF, Hassan NM, Ibrahim DM. Prognostic value of bone marrow MUC4 expression in acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Biomed Sci 2020; 77:202-207. [PMID: 32270747 DOI: 10.1080/09674845.2020.1754583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Background: Aberrant expression of mucin-4 (MUC4) is present in a variety of solid cancers, but the expression pattern of MUC4 and its clinical relevance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the expression level of MUC4 and explore its prognostic value in newly diagnosed adult patients with AML. Methods: Bone marrow from 70 AML patients and 26 healthy donors was obtained. MUC4 levels were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Routine blood indices were measured by standard techniques. Results: Bone marrow MUC4 expression levels were significantly elevated in AML patients compared to controls at median (range) 2.77 (0.7-16.6) and 1.14 (0.5-1.99) respectively (p = 0.005). Moreover, lower MUC4 expression was strongly associated with persistent remission (p = 0.001) while higher MUC4 levels were associated with worse overall as well as disease-free survival (p = 0.011 and p = 0.006, respectively). Thus, its level may act as an indicator of disease progression. High MUC4 expression was identified as an independent prognostic predictor for both overall survival and disease-free survival. Conclusion: MUC4 over-expression is an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Abdelhady
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University , Cairo, Egypt
| | - F F Abdel Hamid
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University , Cairo, Egypt
| | - N M Hassan
- Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt
| | - D M Ibrahim
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University , Cairo, Egypt
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16
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Mercogliano MF, Bruni S, Elizalde PV, Schillaci R. Tumor Necrosis Factor α Blockade: An Opportunity to Tackle Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:584. [PMID: 32391269 PMCID: PMC7189060 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the principal cause of mortality by malignancy in women and represents a main problem for public health worldwide. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine whose expression is increased in a variety of cancers. In particular, in breast cancer it correlates with augmented tumor cell proliferation, higher malignancy grade, increased occurrence of metastasis and general poor prognosis for the patient. These characteristics highlight TNFα as an attractive therapeutic target, and consequently, the study of soluble and transmembrane TNFα effects and its receptors in breast cancer is an area of active research. In this review we summarize the recent findings on TNFα participation in luminal, HER2-positive and triple negative breast cancer progression and metastasis. Also, we describe TNFα role in immune response against tumors and in chemotherapy, hormone therapy, HER2-targeted therapy and anti-immune checkpoint therapy resistance in breast cancer. Furthermore, we discuss the use of TNFα blocking strategies as potential therapies and their clinical relevance for breast cancer. These TNFα blocking agents have long been used in the clinical setting to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. TNFα blockade can be achieved by monoclonal antibodies (such as infliximab, adalimumab, etc.), fusion proteins (etanercept) and dominant negative proteins (INB03). Here we address the different effects of each compound and also analyze the use of potential biomarkers in the selection of patients who would benefit from a combination of TNFα blocking agents with HER2-targeted treatments to prevent or overcome therapy resistance in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Mercogliano
- Laboratorio de Biofisicoquímica de Proteínas, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IQUIBICEN-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofía Bruni
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia V Elizalde
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roxana Schillaci
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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17
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Reynolds IS, Fichtner M, McNamara DA, Kay EW, Prehn JHM, Burke JP. Mucin glycoproteins block apoptosis; promote invasion, proliferation, and migration; and cause chemoresistance through diverse pathways in epithelial cancers. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2020; 38:237-257. [PMID: 30680581 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-019-09781-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of mucin glycoproteins has been demonstrated in many epithelial-derived cancers. The significance of this overexpression remains uncertain. The aim of this paper was to define the association of mucin glycoproteins with apoptosis, cell growth, invasion, migration, adhesion, and clonogenicity in vitro as well as tumor growth, tumorigenicity, and metastasis in vivo in epithelial-derived cancers by performing a systematic review of all published data. A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed to identify all papers that evaluated the association between mucin glycoproteins with apoptosis, cell growth, invasion, migration, adhesion, and clonogenicity in vitro as well as tumor growth, tumorigenicity, and metastasis in vivo in epithelial-derived cancers. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to. Results of individual studies were extracted and pooled together based on the organ in which the cancer was derived from. The initial search revealed 2031 papers, of which 90 were deemed eligible for inclusion in the study. The studies included details on MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC13, and MUC16. The majority of studies evaluated MUC1. MUC1 overexpression was consistently associated with resistance to apoptosis and resistance to chemotherapy. There was also evidence that overexpression of MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC13, and MUC16 conferred resistance to apoptosis in epithelial-derived cancers. The overexpression of mucin glycoproteins is associated with resistance to apoptosis in numerous epithelial cancers. They cause resistance through diverse signaling pathways. Targeting the expression of mucin glycoproteins represents a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of epithelial-derived cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S Reynolds
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Michael Fichtner
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Deborah A McNamara
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Elaine W Kay
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jochen H M Prehn
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - John P Burke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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18
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Yokoyama S, Hamada T, Higashi M, Matsuo K, Maemura K, Kurahara H, Horinouchi M, Hiraki T, Sugimoto T, Akahane T, Yonezawa S, Kornmann M, Batra SK, Hollingsworth MA, Tanimoto A. Predicted Prognosis of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer by Machine Learning. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:2411-2421. [PMID: 31992588 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-1247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic cancer remains a disease of high mortality despite advanced diagnostic techniques. Mucins (MUC) play crucial roles in carcinogenesis and tumor invasion in pancreatic cancers. MUC1 and MUC4 expression are related to the aggressive behavior of human neoplasms and a poor patient outcome. In contrast, MUC2 is a tumor suppressor, and we have previously reported that MUC2 is a favorable prognostic factor in pancreatic neoplasia. This study investigates whether the methylation status of three mucin genes from postoperative tissue specimens from patients with pancreatic neoplasms could serve as a predictive biomarker for outcome after surgery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We evaluated the methylation status of MUC1, MUC2, and MUC4 promoter regions in pancreatic tissue samples from 191 patients with various pancreatic lesions using methylation-specific electrophoresis. Then, integrating these results and clinicopathologic features, we used support vector machine-, neural network-, and multinomial-based methods to develop a prognostic classifier. RESULTS Significant differences were identified between the positive- and negative-prediction classifiers of patients in 5-year overall survival (OS) in the cross-validation test. Multivariate analysis revealed that these prognostic classifiers were independent prognostic factors analyzed by not only neoplastic tissues but also nonneoplastic tissues. These classifiers had higher predictive accuracy for OS than tumor size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and age and can complement the prognostic value of the TNM staging system. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of epigenetic changes in mucin genes may be of diagnostic utility and one of the prognostic predictors for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiya Yokoyama
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Taiji Hamada
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Michiyo Higashi
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
| | - Kei Matsuo
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kosei Maemura
- Center for the Research of Advanced Diagnosis and Therapy of Cancer, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.,Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kurahara
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Michiko Horinouchi
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Hiraki
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Sugimoto
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering (Science), Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Akahane
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Suguru Yonezawa
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Marko Kornmann
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Michael A Hollingsworth
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Akihide Tanimoto
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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19
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Sawant PR, Spadigam A, Dhupar A, Syed S, Carvalho K. Assessing the prognostic significance of MUC4β in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands: An immunohistochemical study. Heliyon 2019; 5:e02753. [PMID: 31844699 PMCID: PMC6895766 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives – Routine histopathological grading for salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) have failed to prognosticate these tumors, resulting in poor post-surgical outcomes. In developing countries, the lack of technologically advanced infrastructure curtails, efficient treatment modalities. This study aimed at determining if MUC4β can characterize salivary gland MEC and serve as a practical and inexpensive method to prognosticate salivary gland MEC. Materials and methods – Fifteen cases of archived paraffin embedded tissue blocks of mucoepidermoid carcinomas were reassessed for histopathological grading using Healey's system, modified by Batsakis and Luna and immunohistochemically evaluated for expression of MUC4β. Statistical analysis (Kappa statistics and Spearman's rho correlation coefficient) was performed to assess inter-observer reproducibility and to correlate the expression of MUC4β with the histopathological grade of the tumor. Results MUC4β expression is related to tumor differentiation in an inverse relationship. Two cases of high grade MEC were the exception to this rule. Conclusion Our study revealed that MUC4β alone cannot serve as a reliable prognostic marker due to its divergent tumor suppressor and oncogenic pathway. The role of MUC4β needs further evaluation and research so as to potentiate therapeutics depending upon its context dependent function, as a cancer marker or an oncogenic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam R Sawant
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Goa Dental College & Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
| | - Anita Spadigam
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Goa Dental College & Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
| | - Anita Dhupar
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Goa Dental College & Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
| | - Shaheen Syed
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Goa Dental College & Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
| | - Karla Carvalho
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Goa Dental College & Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
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Wu J, Mamidi TKK, Zhang L, Hicks C. Deconvolution of the Genomic and Epigenomic Interaction Landscape of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111692. [PMID: 31683572 PMCID: PMC6896043 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer. Emerging evidenced suggests that both genetics and epigenetic factors play a role in the pathogenesis of TNBC. However, oncogenic interactions and cooperation between genomic and epigenomic variation have not been characterized. The objective of this study was to deconvolute the genomic and epigenomic interaction landscape in TNBC using an integrative genomics approach, which integrates information on germline, somatic, epigenomic and gene expression variation. We hypothesized that TNBC originates from a complex interplay between genomic (both germline and somatic variation) and epigenomic variation. We further hypothesized that these complex arrays of interacting genomic and epigenomic factors affect entire molecular networks and signaling pathways which, in turn, drive TNBC. We addressed these hypotheses using germline variation from genome-wide association studies and somatic, epigenomic and gene expression variation from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The investigation revealed signatures of functionally related genes containing germline, somatic and epigenetic variations. DNA methylation had an effect on gene expression. Network and pathway analysis revealed molecule networks and signaling pathways enriched for germline, somatic and epigenomic variation, among them: Role of BRCA1 in DNA Damage Response, Hereditary Breast Cancer Signaling, Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer, Estrogen-Dependent Breast Cancer, p53, MYC Mediated Apoptosis, and PTEN Signaling pathways. The investigation revealed that integrative genomics is a powerful approach for deconvoluting the genomic-epigenomic interaction landscape in TNBC. Further studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms underlying oncogenic interactions between genomic and epigenomic factors in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiande Wu
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, 533 Bolivar Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| | - Tarun Karthik Kumar Mamidi
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, 513 Edwards Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| | - Chindo Hicks
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, 533 Bolivar Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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Two Opposing Faces of Retinoic Acid: Induction of Stemness or Induction of Differentiation Depending on Cell-Type. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9100567. [PMID: 31590252 PMCID: PMC6843238 DOI: 10.3390/biom9100567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have the capacity of self-renewal and, through proliferation and differentiation, are responsible for the embryonic development, postnatal development, and the regeneration of tissues in the adult organism. Cancer stem cells, analogous to the physiological stem cells, have the capacity of self-renewal and may account for growth and recurrence of tumors. Development and regeneration of healthy tissues and tumors depend on the balance of different genomic and nongenomic signaling pathways that regulate stem cell quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation. During evolution, this balance became dependent on all-trans retinoic acid (RA), a molecule derived from the environmental factor vitamin A. Here we summarize some recent findings on the prominent role of RA on the proliferation of stem and progenitor cells, in addition to its well-known function as an inductor of cell differentiation. A better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of stemness and cell differentiation by RA may improve the therapeutic options of this molecule in regenerative medicine and cancer.
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22
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Blaeschke F, Paul MC, Schuhmann MU, Rabsteyn A, Schroeder C, Casadei N, Matthes J, Mohr C, Lotfi R, Wagner B, Kaeuferle T, Feucht J, Willier S, Handgretinger R, StevanoviĆ S, Lang P, Feuchtinger T. Low mutational load in pediatric medulloblastoma still translates into neoantigens as targets for specific T-cell immunotherapy. Cytotherapy 2019; 21:973-986. [PMID: 31351799 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in childhood and adolescence. Although some patients present with distinct genetic alterations, such as mutated TP53 or MYC amplification, pediatric medulloblastoma is a tumor entity with minimal mutational load and low immunogenicity. METHODS We identified tumor-specific mutations using next-generation sequencing of medulloblastoma DNA and RNA derived from primary tumor samples from pediatric patients. Tumor-specific mutations were confirmed using deep sequencing and in silico analyses predicted high binding affinity of the neoantigen-derived peptides to the patients' human leukocyte antigen molecules. Tumor-specific peptides were synthesized and used to induce a de novo T-cell response characterized by interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha release of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in vitro. RESULTS Despite low mutational tumor burden, at least two immunogenic tumor-specific peptides were identified in each patient. T cells showed a balanced CD4/CD8 ratio and mostly effector memory phenotype. Induction of a CD8-specific T-cell response was achieved for the neoepitopes derived from Histidine Ammonia-Lyase (HAL), Neuraminidase 2 (NEU2), Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin (PCSK9), Programmed Cell Death 10 (PDCD10), Supervillin (SVIL) and tRNA Splicing Endonuclease Subunit 54 (TSEN54) variants. CONCLUSION Detection of patient-specific, tumor-derived neoantigens confirms that even in tumors with low mutational load a molecular design of targets for specific T-cell immunotherapy is possible. The identified neoantigens may guide future approaches of adoptive T-cell transfer, transgenic T-cell receptor transfer or tumor vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Blaeschke
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Milan Cedric Paul
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Ulrich Schuhmann
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Armin Rabsteyn
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christopher Schroeder
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Casadei
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Matthes
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christopher Mohr
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Institute for Translational Bioinformatics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ramin Lotfi
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Services Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Beate Wagner
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostaseology, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Theresa Kaeuferle
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Feucht
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Center for Cell Engineering, New York, New York, USA
| | - Semjon Willier
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan StevanoviĆ
- Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Lang
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Feuchtinger
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Phillips L, Gill AJ, Baxter RC. Novel Prognostic Markers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Discovered by MALDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Front Oncol 2019; 9:379. [PMID: 31139569 PMCID: PMC6527753 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There are no widely-accepted prognostic markers currently available to predict outcomes in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and no targeted therapies with confirmed benefit. We have used MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of tryptic peptides to compare regions of cancer and benign tissue in 10 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of TNBC tumors. Proteins were identified by reference to a peptide library constructed by LC-MALDI-MS/MS analyses of the same tissues. The prognostic significance of proteins that distinguished between cancer and benign regions was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis of their gene expression from public databases. Among peptides that distinguished between cancer and benign tissue in at least 3 tissues with a ROC area under the curve >0.7, 14 represented proteins identified from the reference library, including proteins not previously associated with breast cancer. Initial network analysis using the STRING database showed no obvious functional relationships except among collagen subunits COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL63A, but manual curation, including the addition of EGFR to the analysis, revealed a unique network connecting 10 of the 14 proteins. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to examine the relationship between tumor expression of genes encoding the 14 proteins, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with basal-like TNBC showed that, compared to low expression, high expression of nine of the genes was associated with significantly worse RFS, most with hazard ratios >2. In contrast, in estrogen receptor-positive tumors, high expression of these genes showed only low, or no, association with worse RFS. These proteins are proposed as putative markers of RFS in TNBC, and some may also be considered as possible targets for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Phillips
- Hormones and Cancer Group, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Anthony J Gill
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert C Baxter
- Hormones and Cancer Group, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
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PRDM16 functions as a suppressor of lung adenocarcinoma metastasis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:35. [PMID: 30683132 PMCID: PMC6347838 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transcription factor PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) is known to play a significant role in the determination and function of brown and beige fat. However, the role of PRDM16 in tumor biology has not been well addressed. Here we investigated the impact of PRDM16 on tumor growth and metastasis in lung cancer. METHODS UALCAN database, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to assess PRDM16 expression in lung cancer patients. Kaplan-Meier plotter database was used to analyze the overall survival of patients with lung cancer stratified by PRDM16 expression. PRDM16 overexpression and knockdown experiments were conducted to assess the effects of PRDM16 on growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, and its molecular mechanism was investigated in lung adenocarcinoma cells by chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq), real time-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), luciferase assay, xenograft models and rescue experiments. RESULTS PRDM16 was downregulated in lung adenocarcinomas, and its expression level correlated with key pathological characteristics and prognoses of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Overexpressing PRDM16 inhibited the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro by repressing the transcription of Mucin-4 (MUC4), one of the regulators of EMT in lung adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, deleting the PR domain from PRDM16 increased the transcriptional repression of MUC4 by exhibiting significant differences in histone modifications on its promoter. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate a critical interplay between transcriptional and epigenetic modifications during lung adenocarcinoma progression involving EMT of cancer cells and suggest that PRDM16 is a metastasis suppressor and potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinomas.
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25
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Chang CS, Kitamura E, Johnson J, Bollag R, Hawthorn L. Genomic analysis of racial differences in triple negative breast cancer. Genomics 2018; 111:1529-1542. [PMID: 30366040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more prevalent in African Americans (AAs), has a more aggressive clinical course including a higher mortality rate and an increased occurrence of metastases. This study was designed to determine if racial differences at the molecular level might explain the more aggressive phenotype in AAs. Mutation profiling, was performed on 51 AA and 77 CA tumor/ normal pairs. Transcript expression analysis was performed on 35AA and 37CA. Genes with high frequency mutation rates such as MUC4 and TP53 were common to both racial populations, however genes that were less frequently mutated differed between the races suggesting that those cause the more aggressive nature of TNBC in AA women. JAK-Stat and HER2 signaling were unique to the AA and PTEN and mTOR were unique to the CA profiles. Many pathways identified by the mutational profiles were predicted to be down-regulated by the transcript expression profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eiko Kitamura
- Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Joan Johnson
- Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Roni Bollag
- Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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26
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Jahan R, Macha MA, Rachagani S, Das S, Smith LM, Kaur S, Batra SK. Axed MUC4 (MUC4/X) aggravates pancreatic malignant phenotype by activating integrin-β1/FAK/ERK pathway. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1864:2538-2549. [PMID: 29777904 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is evolving as an eminent player of oncogenic signaling for tumor development and progression. Mucin 4 (MUC4), a type I membrane-bound mucin, is differentially expressed in pancreatic cancer (PC) and plays a critical role in its progression and metastasis. However, the molecular implications of MUC4 splice variants during disease pathogenesis remain obscure. The present study delineates the pathological and molecular significance of a unique splice variant of MUC4, MUC4/X, which lacks the largest exon 2, along with exon 3. Exon 2 encodes for the highly glycosylated tandem repeat (TR) domain of MUC4 and its absence creates MUC4/X, which is devoid of TR. Expression analysis from PC clinical samples revealed significant upregulation of MUC4/X in PC tissues with most differential expression in poorly differentiated tumors. In vitro studies suggest that overexpression of MUC4/X in wild-type-MUC4 (WT-MUC4) null PC cell lines markedly enhanced PC cell proliferation, invasion, and adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Furthermore, MUC4/X overexpression leads to an increase in the tumorigenic potential of PC cells in orthotopic transplantation studies. In line with these findings, doxycycline-induced expression of MUC4/X in an endogenous WT-MUC4 expressing PC cell line (Capan-1) also displayed enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, and adhesion to ECM, compared to WT-MUC4 alone, emphasizing its direct involvement in the aggressive behavior of PC cells. Investigation into the molecular mechanism suggested that MUC4/X facilitated PC tumorigenesis via integrin-β1/FAK/ERK signaling pathway. Overall, these findings revealed the novel role of MUC4/X in promoting and sustaining the oncogenic features of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahat Jahan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA
| | - Srustidhar Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA
| | - Lynette M Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA
| | - Sukhwinder Kaur
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE-68198, USA.
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All-trans-retinoic acid activates the pro-invasive Src-YAP-Interleukin 6 axis in triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells while cerivastatin reverses this action. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7047. [PMID: 29728589 PMCID: PMC5935706 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
All-trans-retinoic acid (RA), the active metabolite of vitamin A, can reduce the malignant phenotype in some types of cancer and paradoxically also can promote cancer growth and invasion in others. For instance, it has been reported that RA induces tumor suppression in tumor xenografts of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells while increasing tumor growth and metastases in xenografts of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The signaling pathways involved in the pro-invasive action of retinoic acid remain mostly unknown. We show here that RA activates the pro-invasive axis Src-YAP-Interleukin 6 (Src-YAP-IL6) in triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, yielding to increased invasion of these cells. On the contrary, RA inhibits the Src-YAP-IL6 axis of triple-negative MDA-MB-468 cells, which results in decreased invasion phenotype. In both types of cells, inhibition of the Src-YAP-IL6 axis by the Src inhibitor PP2 drastically reduces migration and invasion. Src inhibition also downregulates the expression of a pro-invasive isoform of VEGFR1 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, interference of YAP nuclear translocation using the statin cerivastatin reverses the upregulation of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the pro-invasive effect of RA on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and also decreases invasion and viability of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. These results altogether suggest that RA induces pro-invasive or anti-invasive actions in two triple-negative breast cancer cell lines due to its ability to activate or inhibit the Src-YAP-IL6 axis in different cancer cells. The pro-invasive effect of RA can be reversed by the statin cerivastatin.
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Mercogliano MF, Inurrigarro G, De Martino M, Venturutti L, Rivas MA, Cordo-Russo R, Proietti CJ, Fernández EA, Frahm I, Barchuk S, Allemand DH, Figurelli S, Deza EG, Ares S, Gercovich FG, Cortese E, Amasino M, Guzmán P, Roa JC, Elizalde PV, Schillaci R. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast overexpresses MUC4 and is associated with poor outcome to adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:895. [PMID: 29281999 PMCID: PMC5745882 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3897-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC) is a histological tumor variant that occurs with low frequency characterized by an inside-out formation of tumor clusters with a pseudopapillary arrangement. IMPC is an aggressive tumor with poor clinical outcome. In addition, this histological subtype usually expresses human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) which also correlates with a more aggressive tumor. In this work we studied the clinical significance of IMPC in HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. We also analyzed mucin 4 (MUC4) expression as a novel biomarker to identify IMPC. Methods We retrospectively studied 86 HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting. We explored the association of the IMPC component with clinicopathological parameters at diagnosis and its prognostic value. We compared MUC4 expression in IMPC with respect to other histological breast cancer subtypes by immunohistochemistry. Results IMPC, either as a pure entity or associated with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), was present in 18.6% of HER2-positive cases. It was positively correlated with estrogen receptor expression and tumor size and inversely correlated with patient’s age. Disease-free survival was significantly lower in patients with IMPC (hazard ratio = 2.6; 95%, confidence interval 1.1–6.1, P = 0.0340). MUC4, a glycoprotein associated with metastasis, was strongly expressed in all IMPC cases tested. IMPC appeared as the histological breast cancer subtype with the highest MUC4 expression compared to IDC, lobular and mucinous carcinoma. Conclusion In HER2-positive breast cancer, the presence of IMPC should be carefully examined. As it is often not informed, because it is relatively difficult to identify or altogether overlooked, we propose MUC4 expression as a useful biomarker to highlight IMPC presence. Patients with MUC4-positive tumors with IMPC component should be more frequently monitored and/or receive additional therapies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-017-3897-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- María F Mercogliano
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gloria Inurrigarro
- Servicio de Patología, Sanatorio Mater Dei, C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mara De Martino
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Venturutti
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín A Rivas
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Rosalía Cordo-Russo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia J Proietti
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elmer A Fernández
- UA AREA CS. AGR.ING.BIO.Y S, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, CONICET, Facultad de Ingeniería, Campus Universitario, X5016DHK, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Isabel Frahm
- Servicio de Patología, Sanatorio Mater Dei, C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sabrina Barchuk
- Unidad de Patología Mamaria, Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández", C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel H Allemand
- Unidad de Patología Mamaria, Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández", C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Figurelli
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández", C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ernesto Gil Deza
- Instituto Oncológico Henry Moore, C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sandra Ares
- Instituto Oncológico Henry Moore, C1425DND, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Eduardo Cortese
- Hospital Aeronáutico Central, C1437HPA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Amasino
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Guzmán
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, 4811230, Temuco, Chile
| | - Juan C Roa
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, 4811230, Temuco, Chile
| | - Patricia V Elizalde
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roxana Schillaci
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Cell membrane-anchored MUC4 promotes tumorigenicity in epithelial carcinomas. Oncotarget 2017; 8:14147-14157. [PMID: 27829225 PMCID: PMC5355169 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell surface membrane-bound mucin protein MUC4 promotes tumorigenicity, aggressive behavior, and poor outcomes in various types of epithelial carcinomas, including pancreatic, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. This review summarizes the theories and findings regarding MUC4 function, and its role in epithelial carcinogenesis. Based on these insights, we developed an outline of the processes and mechanisms by which MUC4 critically supports the propagation and survival of cancer cells in various epithelial organs. MUC4 may therefore be a useful prognostic and diagnostic tool that improves our ability to eradicate various forms of cancer.
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Wise R, Zolkiewska A. Metalloprotease-dependent activation of EGFR modulates CD44 +/CD24 - populations in triple negative breast cancer cells through the MEK/ERK pathway. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2017; 166:421-433. [PMID: 28791489 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-017-4440-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The CD44+/CD24- cell phenotype is enriched in triple negative breast cancers, is associated with tumor invasive properties, and serves as a cell surface marker profile of breast cancer stem-like cells. Activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) promotes the CD44+/CD24- phenotype, but the specific signaling pathway downstream of EGFR responsible for this effect is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the MEK/ERK pathway in the expansion of CD44+/CD24- populations in TNBC cells in response to EGFR activation. METHODS Representative TNBC cell lines SUM159PT (claudin-low) and SUM149PT (basal) were used to evaluate cell surface expression of CD44 and CD24 by flow cytometry in response to EGFR and MEK inhibition or activation. EGFR and ERK phosphorylation levels were analyzed by Western blotting. The relationship between EGFR phosphorylation and MEK activation score in basal and claudin-low tumors from the TCGA database was examined. RESULTS Inhibition of ERK activation with selumetinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, blocked EGF-induced expansion of CD44+/CD24- populations. Sustained activation of ERK by overexpression of constitutively active MEK1 was sufficient to expand CD44+/CD24- populations in cells in which EGFR activity was blocked by either erlotinib, an EGFR kinase inhibitor, or BB-94, a metalloprotease inhibitor that prevents generation of soluble EGFR ligands. In basal and claudin-low tumors from the TCGA database, there was a positive correlation between EGFR_pY1068 and MEK activation score in tumors without genomic loss of DUSP4, a negative regulator of ERK, but not in tumors harboring DUSP4 deletion. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that ERK activation is a key event in EGFR-dependent regulation of CD44+/CD24- populations. Furthermore, our findings highlight the role of ligand-mediated EGFR signaling in the control of MEK/ERK pathway output in TNBC tumors without DUSP4 loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi Wise
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, 141 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Anna Zolkiewska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, 141 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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Kakkassery V, Winterhalter S, Nick AC, Joachim SC, Joussen AM, Kociok N. Vascular-Associated Muc4/Vwf Co-Localization in Human Conjunctival Malignant Melanoma Specimens-Tumor Metastasis by Migration? Curr Eye Res 2017. [PMID: 28622066 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2017.1324630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether vascular differentiation marker von Willebrand factor (vWf) and proliferation marker KI67 expression correlate with MUC4 localization around stromal tumor vascularization in human conjunctival malignant melanoma (CMM). MATERIALS AND METHODS For the purposes of this study, we analyzed samples from human CMMs (n = 4), conjunctival compound nevi (n = 7), and samples from healthy conjunctiva (n = 7) for MUC1, 4, and 16 by immunohistochemistry. To test CMM vessel association of MUC4, we investigated the co-localization of MUC4 with vWf or KI67 in human CMM specimens (n = 10) by immunohistochemistry. Also, we investigated the MUC4 localization around vessels of healthy conjunctiva (n = 10). RESULTS The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated membrane-associated mucin expression in epithelia of CMM, nevi and healthy conjunctiva, whereas only MUC4 was localized perivascular in CMM tissue in this preliminary analysis. Co-staining analysis with vWf and KI67 demonstrated MUC4 localization around stromal vessels in human CMM specimens. In contrast, no MUC4 localization has been seen around healthy conjunctiva stroma vessels. CONCLUSIONS MUC4 was detected around vWf/KI67-positive CMM stromal vascular tissue, but not around healthy conjunctival stroma vessels. Therefore, we assume that MUC4 might play a role in tumor cell migration toward vessels inducing metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinodh Kakkassery
- a Department of Ophthalmology , Charité Universitätsmedizin , Berlin , Germany.,b Department of Ophthalmology , University Eye Clinic, Ruhr-University , Bochum , Germany.,c Department of Ophthalmology , University of Rostock , Rostock , Germany
| | | | - Ann-Christin Nick
- b Department of Ophthalmology , University Eye Clinic, Ruhr-University , Bochum , Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- b Department of Ophthalmology , University Eye Clinic, Ruhr-University , Bochum , Germany
| | - Antonia M Joussen
- a Department of Ophthalmology , Charité Universitätsmedizin , Berlin , Germany
| | - Norbert Kociok
- a Department of Ophthalmology , Charité Universitätsmedizin , Berlin , Germany
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Wang WH, Chen J, Zhao F, Zhang BR, Yu HS, Jin HY, Dai JH. MiR-150-5p suppresses colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion through targeting MUC4. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2017; 15:6269-73. [PMID: 25124610 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.15.6269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that miR-150-5p has an important role in regulating genesis of various types of cancer. However, the roles and the underlying mechanisms of miR-150-5p in development of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown. Transwell chambers were used to analyze effects on cell migration and invasion by miR-150-5p. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and dual-luciferase 3' UTR reporter assay were carried out to identify the target genes of miR-150-5p. In our research, miR-150-5p suppressed CRC cell migration and invasion, and MUC4 was identified as a direct target gene. Its effects were partly blocked by re-expression of MUC4. In conclusiomn, miR-150-5p may suppress CRC metastasis through directly targeting MUC4, highlighting its potential as a novel agent for the treatment of CRC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hua Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China E-mail :
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Xu D, Liu S, Zhang L, Song L. MiR-211 inhibits invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical cancer cells via targeting MUC4. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 485:556-562. [PMID: 27923652 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The dysregulated molecules and their involvement in lymph node metastases of cervical cancer are far from been fully revealed. In this study, by reviewing MUC4 expression in The Human Protein Atlas and retrieving gene microarray data in GEO dataset (No. GDS4664), we found that MUC4 upregulation is associated with lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer. Knockdown of MUC4 in Hela and SiHa cells significantly reduced their invasion and also reduced the mesenchymal properties. By performing bioinformatics analysis, we observed that miR-211 is a potential suppressor of MUC4, which has a predicted highly conserved binding site in the 3'UTR of MUC among mammals. The following assays confirmed that miR-211 can directly target the 3'UTR of MUC4 and inhibit its expression at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, enforced miR-211 expression phenocopies the effects of MUC4 siRNA in inhibiting cervical cancer cell invasion and reversing EMT properties. Therefore, we infer that miR-211 is a novel miRNA with suppressive effect on MUC4 expression and can inhibit cervical cancer cell invasion and EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongkui Xu
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Hebei, 061001, China
| | - Shikai Liu
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Hebei, 061001, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Hebei, 061001, China
| | - Lili Song
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Hebei, 061001, China.
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Novel insight into triple-negative breast cancers, the emerging role of angiogenesis, and antiangiogenic therapy. Expert Rev Mol Med 2016; 18:e18. [DOI: 10.1017/erm.2016.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group of tumours characterised by lack of expression of oestrogen-, progesterone- and human epidermal growth factor receptors. TNBC, which represents approximately 15% of all mammary tumours, has a poor prognosis because of an aggressive behaviour and the lack of specific treatment. Accordingly, TNBC has become a major focus of research into breast cancer and is now classified into several molecular subtypes, each with a different prognosis. Pathological angiogenesis occurs at a late stage in the proliferation of TNBC and is associated with invasion and metastasis; there is an association with metabolic syndrome. Semaphorins are a versatile family of proteins with multiple roles in angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastasis and may represent a clinically useful focus for therapeutic targeting in this type of breast cancer. Another important field of investigation into the control of pathological angiogenesis is related to the expression of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) – these molecules can be considered as a therapeutic target or as a biomarker. Several molecular agents for intervening in the activity of different signalling pathways are being explored in TNBC, but none has so far proved effective in clinical trials and the disease continues to pose a defining challenge for clinical management as well as innovative cancer research.
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Abstract
Mucins are heavily O-glycosylated proteins primarily produced by glandular and ductal epithelial cells, either in membrane-tethered or secretory forms, for providing lubrication and protection from various exogenous and endogenous insults. However, recent studies have linked their aberrant overexpression with infection, inflammation, and cancer that underscores their importance in tissue homeostasis. In this review, we present current status of the existing mouse models that have been developed to gain insights into the functional role(s) of mucins under physiological and pathological conditions. Knockout mouse models for membrane-associated (Muc1 and Muc16) and secretory mucins (Muc2) have helped us to elucidate the role of mucins in providing effective and protective barrier functions against pathological threats, participation in disease progression, and improved our understanding of mucin interaction with biotic and abiotic environmental components. Emphasis is also given to available transgenic mouse models (MUC1 and MUC7), which has been exploited to understand the context-dependent regulation and therapeutic potential of human mucins during inflammation and cancer.
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Functional Consequences of Differential O-glycosylation of MUC1, MUC4, and MUC16 (Downstream Effects on Signaling). Biomolecules 2016; 6:biom6030034. [PMID: 27483328 PMCID: PMC5039420 DOI: 10.3390/biom6030034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation is one of the most abundant post-translational modifications that occur within the cell. Under normal physiological conditions, O-linked glycosylation of extracellular proteins is critical for both structure and function. During the progression of cancer, however, the expression of aberrant and truncated glycans is commonly observed. Mucins are high molecular weight glycoproteins that contain numerous sites of O-glycosylation within their extracellular domains. Transmembrane mucins also play a functional role in monitoring the surrounding microenvironment and transducing these signals into the cell. In cancer, these mucins often take on an oncogenic role and promote a number of pro-tumorigenic effects, including pro-survival, migratory, and invasive behaviors. Within this review, we highlight both the processes involved in the expression of aberrant glycan structures on mucins, as well as the potential downstream impacts on cellular signaling.
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Wang X, Guda C. Integrative exploration of genomic profiles for triple negative breast cancer identifies potential drug targets. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e4321. [PMID: 27472710 PMCID: PMC5265847 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000004321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is high-risk due to its rapid drug resistance and recurrence, metastasis, and lack of targeted therapy. So far, no molecularly targeted therapeutic agents have been clinically approved for TNBC. It is imperative that we discover new targets for TNBC therapy. OBJECTIVES A large volume of cancer genomics data are emerging and advancing breast cancer research. We may integrate different types of TNBC genomic data to discover molecular targets for TNBC therapy. DATA SOURCES We used publicly available TNBC tumor tissue genomic data in the Cancer Genome Atlas database in this study. METHODS We integratively explored genomic profiles (gene expression, copy number, methylation, microRNA [miRNA], and gene mutation) in TNBC and identified hyperactivated genes that have higher expression, more copy numbers, lower methylation level, or are targets of miRNAs with lower expression in TNBC than in normal samples. We ranked the hyperactivated genes into different levels based on all the genomic evidence and performed functional analyses of the sets of genes identified. More importantly, we proposed potential molecular targets for TNBC therapy based on the hyperactivated genes. RESULTS Some of the genes we identified such as FGFR2, MAPK13, TP53, SRC family, MUC family, and BCL2 family have been suggested to be potential targets for TNBC treatment. Others such as CSF1R, EPHB3, TRIB1, and LAD1 could be promising new targets for TNBC treatment. By utilizing this integrative analysis of genomic profiles for TNBC, we hypothesized that some of the targeted treatment strategies for TNBC currently in development are more likely to be promising, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, while the others are more likely to be discouraging, such as angiogenesis inhibitors. LIMITATIONS The findings in this study need to be experimentally validated in the future. CONCLUSION This is a systematic study that combined 5 different types of genomic data to molecularly characterize TNBC and identify potential targets for TNBC therapy. The integrative analysis of genomic profiles for TNBC could assist in identifying potential new therapeutic targets and predicting the effectiveness of a targeted treatment strategy for TNBC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosheng Wang
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinic Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Correspondence: Xiaosheng Wang, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (e-mail: )
| | - Chittibabu Guda
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Core
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Seshacharyulu P, Ponnusamy MP, Rachagani S, Lakshmanan I, Haridas D, Yan Y, Ganti AK, Batra SK. Targeting EGF-receptor(s) - STAT1 axis attenuates tumor growth and metastasis through downregulation of MUC4 mucin in human pancreatic cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 6:5164-81. [PMID: 25686822 PMCID: PMC4467140 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmembrane proteins MUC4, EGFR and HER2 are shown to be critical in invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Besides, we and others have demonstrated de novo expression of MUC4 in ~70-90% of pancreatic cancer patients and its stabilizing effects on HER2 downstream signaling in pancreatic cancer. Here, we found that use of canertinib or afatinib resulted in reduction of MUC4 and abrogation of in vitro and in vivo oncogenic functions of MUC4 in pancreatic cancer cells. Notably, silencing of EGFR family member in pancreatic cancer cells decreased MUC4 expression through reduced phospho-STAT1. Furthermore, canertinib and afatinib treatment also inhibited proliferation, migration and survival of pancreatic cancer cells by attenuation of signaling events including pERK1/2 (T202/Y204), cyclin D1, cyclin A, pFAK (Y925) and pAKT (Ser473). Using in vivo bioluminescent imaging, we demonstrated that canertinib treatment significantly reduced tumor burden (P=0.0164) and metastasis to various organs. Further, reduced expression of MUC4 and EGFR family members were confirmed in xenografts. Our results for the first time demonstrated the targeting of EGFR family members along with MUC4 by using pan-EGFR inhibitors. In conclusion, our studies will enhance the translational acquaintance of pan-EGFR inhibitors for combinational therapies to combat against lethal pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Imayavaramban Lakshmanan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Dhanya Haridas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ying Yan
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Apar K Ganti
- Department of Internal Medicine, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Transcriptome analysis reveals mucin 4 to be highly associated with periodontitis and identifies pleckstrin as a link to systemic diseases. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18475. [PMID: 26686060 PMCID: PMC4685297 DOI: 10.1038/srep18475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease periodontitis, which is characterized by destruction of tooth-supporting tissues, has also been implicated as a risk factor for various systemic diseases. Although periodontitis has been studied extensively, neither disease-specific biomarkers nor therapeutic targets have been identified, nor its link with systemic diseases. Here, we analyzed the global transcriptome of periodontitis and compared its gene expression profile with those of other inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ulcerative colitis (UC). Gingival biopsies from 62 patients with periodontitis and 62 healthy subjects were subjected to RNA sequencing. The up-regulated genes in periodontitis were related to inflammation, wounding and defense response, and apoptosis, whereas down-regulated genes were related to extracellular matrix organization and structural support. The most highly up-regulated gene was mucin 4 (MUC4), and its protein product was confirmed to be over-expressed in periodontitis. When comparing the expression profile of periodontitis with other inflammatory diseases, several gene ontology categories, including inflammatory response, cell death, cell motion, and homeostatic processes, were identified as common to all diseases. Only one gene, pleckstrin (PLEK), was significantly overexpressed in periodontitis, CVD, RA, and UC, implicating this gene as an important networking link between these chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Pai P, Rachagani S, Lakshmanan I, Macha MA, Sheinin Y, Smith LM, Ponnusamy MP, Batra SK. The canonical Wnt pathway regulates the metastasis-promoting mucin MUC4 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol Oncol 2015; 10:224-39. [PMID: 26526617 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant Wnt signaling frequently occurs in pancreatic cancer (PC) and contributes to disease progression/metastases. Likewise, the transmembrane-mucin MUC4 is expressed de novo in early pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs) and incrementally increases with PC progression, contributing to metastasis. To determine the mechanism of MUC4 upregulation in PC, we examined factors deregulated in early PC progression, such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling. MUC4 promoter analysis revealed the presence of three putative TCF/LEF-binding sites, leading us to hypothesize that MUC4 can be regulated by β-catenin. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of rapid autopsy PC tissues showed a correlation between MUC4 and cytosolic/nuclear β-catenin expression. Knock down (KD) of β-catenin in CD18/HPAF and T3M4 cell lines resulted in decreased MUC4 transcript and protein. Three MUC4 promoter luciferase constructs, p3778, p3000, and p2700, were generated. The construct p3778, encompassing the entire MUC4 promoter, elicited increased luciferase activity in the presence of stabilized β-catenin. Mutation of the TCF/LEF site closest to the transcription start site (i.e., -2629/-2612) and furthest from the start site (i.e., -3425/-3408) reduced MUC4 promoter luciferase activity. Transfection with dominant negative TCF4 decreased MUC4 transcript and protein levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed enrichment of β-catenin on -2629/-2612 and -3425/-3408 of the MUC4 promoter in CD18/HPAF. Functionally, CD18/HPAF and T3M4 β-catenin KD cells showed decreased migration and decreased Vimentin, N-cadherin, and pERK1/2 expression. Tumorigenicity studies in athymic nude mice showed CD18/HPAF β-catenin KD cells significantly reduced primary tumor sizes and metastases compared to scrambled control cells. We show for the first time that β-catenin directly governs MUC4 in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Pai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Imayavaramban Lakshmanan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Yuri Sheinin
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, UNMC, Omaha, NE 68198-5900, USA
| | - Lynette M Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, UNMC College of Public Health, UNMC, Omaha, NE 68198-4375, USA
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, UNMC, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, UNMC, Omaha, NE 68198-5950, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, UNMC, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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Chugh S, Gnanapragassam VS, Jain M, Rachagani S, Ponnusamy MP, Batra SK. Pathobiological implications of mucin glycans in cancer: Sweet poison and novel targets. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2015; 1856:211-25. [PMID: 26318196 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mucins are large glycoproteins expressed on the epithelia that provide a protective barrier against harsh insults from toxins and pathogenic microbes. These glycoproteins are classified primarily as being secreted and membrane-bound; both forms are involved in pathophysiological functions including inflammation and cancer. The high molecular weight of mucins is attributed to their large polypeptide backbone that is extensively covered by glycan moieties that modulate the function of mucins and, hence, play an important role in physiological functions. Deregulation of glycosylation machinery during malignant transformation results in altered mucin glycosylation. This review describes the functional implications and pathobiological significance of altered mucin glycosylation in cancer. Further, this review delineates various factors such as glycosyltransferases and tumor microenvironment that contribute to dysregulation of mucin glycosylation during cancer. Finally, this review discusses the scope of mucin glycan epitopes as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Chugh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Vinayaga S Gnanapragassam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA.
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Joshi S, Kumar S, Choudhury A, Ponnusamy MP, Batra SK. Altered Mucins (MUC) trafficking in benign and malignant conditions. Oncotarget 2015; 5:7272-84. [PMID: 25261375 PMCID: PMC4202122 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucins are high molecular weight O-glycoproteins that are predominantly expressed at the apical surface of epithelial cells and have wide range of functions. The functional diversity is attributed to their structure that comprises of a peptide chain with unique domains and multiple carbohydrate moieties added during posttranslational modifications. Tumor cells aberrantly overexpress mucins, and thereby promote proliferation, differentiation, motility, invasion and metastasis. Along with their aberrant expression, accumulating evidence suggest the critical role of altered subcellular localization of mucins under pathological conditions due to altered endocytic processes. The mislocalization of mucins and their interactions result in change in the density and activity of important cell membrane proteins (like, receptor tyrosine kinases) to facilitate various signaling, which help cancer cells to proliferate, survive and progress to more aggressive phenotype. In this review article, we summarize studies on mucins trafficking and provide a perspective on its importance to pathological conditions and to answer critical questions including its use for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhasini Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, U.S.A
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, U.S.A
| | | | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, U.S.A
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, U.S.A. Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, U.S.A
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Macha MA, Rachagani S, Pai P, Gupta S, Lydiatt WM, Smith RB, Johansson SL, Lele SM, Kakar SS, Lee JH, Meza J, Ganti AK, Jain M, Batra SK. MUC4 regulates cellular senescence in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through p16/Rb pathway. Oncogene 2015; 34:1698-708. [PMID: 24747969 PMCID: PMC4205229 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The limited effectiveness of therapy for patients with advanced stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) or recurrent disease is a reflection of an incomplete understanding of the molecular basis of HNSCC pathogenesis. MUC4, a high molecular weight glycoprotein, is differentially overexpressed in many human cancers and implicated in cancer progression and resistance to several chemotherapies. However, its clinical relevance and the molecular mechanisms through which it mediates HNSCC progression are not well understood. This study revealed a significant upregulation of MUC4 in 78% (68/87) of HNSCC tissues compared with 10% positivity (1/10) in benign samples (P=0.006, odds ratio (95% confidence interval)=10.74 (2.0-57.56). MUC4 knockdown (KD) in SCC1 and SCC10B HNSCC cell lines resulted in significant inhibition of growth in vitro and in vivo, increased senescence as indicated by an increase in the number of flat, enlarged and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal)-positive cells. Decreased cellular proliferation was associated with G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and decrease expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins like cyclin E, cyclin D1 and decrease in BrdU incorporation. Mechanistic studies revealed upregulation of p16, pRb dephosphorylation and its interaction with histone deacetylase 1/2. This resulted in decreased histone acetylation (H3K9) at cyclin E promoter leading to its downregulation. Orthotopic implantation of MUC4 KD SCC1 cells into the floor of the mouth in nude mice resulted in the formation of significantly smaller tumors (170±18.30 mg) compared to those (375±17.29 mg) formed by control cells (P=0.00007). In conclusion, our findings showed that MUC4 overexpression has a critical role by regulating proliferation and cellular senescence of HNSCC cells. Downregulation of MUC4 may be a promising therapeutic approach for treating HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzafar A. Macha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Priya Pai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Suprit Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Williams M. Lydiatt
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Russell B. Smith
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Sonny L. Johansson
- Department of Pathology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Subodh M. Lele
- Department of Pathology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Sham S. Kakar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Louisville, KY 40208
| | - John H. Lee
- Sanford ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, Sanford Cancer Research Center, Sioux Falls SD 57104-0589
| | - Jane Meza
- College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Apar K. Ganti
- Department of Internal Medicine, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Surinder K. Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
- Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
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Suo C, Hrydziuszko O, Lee D, Pramana S, Saputra D, Joshi H, Calza S, Pawitan Y. Integration of somatic mutation, expression and functional data reveals potential driver genes predictive of breast cancer survival. Bioinformatics 2015; 31:2607-13. [PMID: 25810432 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btv164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Genome and transcriptome analyses can be used to explore cancers comprehensively, and it is increasingly common to have multiple omics data measured from each individual. Furthermore, there are rich functional data such as predicted impact of mutations on protein coding and gene/protein networks. However, integration of the complex information across the different omics and functional data is still challenging. Clinical validation, particularly based on patient outcomes such as survival, is important for assessing the relevance of the integrated information and for comparing different procedures. RESULTS An analysis pipeline is built for integrating genomic and transcriptomic alterations from whole-exome and RNA sequence data and functional data from protein function prediction and gene interaction networks. The method accumulates evidence for the functional implications of mutated potential driver genes found within and across patients. A driver-gene score (DGscore) is developed to capture the cumulative effect of such genes. To contribute to the score, a gene has to be frequently mutated, with high or moderate mutational impact at protein level, exhibiting an extreme expression and functionally linked to many differentially expressed neighbors in the functional gene network. The pipeline is applied to 60 matched tumor and normal samples of the same patient from The Cancer Genome Atlas breast-cancer project. In clinical validation, patients with high DGscores have worse survival than those with low scores (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the DGscore outperforms the established expression-based signatures MammaPrint and PAM50 in predicting patient survival. In conclusion, integration of mutation, expression and functional data allows identification of clinically relevant potential driver genes in cancer. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The documented pipeline including annotated sample scripts can be found in http://fafner.meb.ki.se/biostatwiki/driver-genes/. CONTACT yudi.pawitan@ki.se SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Suo
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olga Hrydziuszko
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Donghwan Lee
- Department of Statistics, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Setia Pramana
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Computational Statistics, Institute of Statistics, Jakarta, Indonesia and
| | - Dhany Saputra
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Himanshu Joshi
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefano Calza
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Yudi Pawitan
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Ottewell PD, O'Donnell L, Holen I. Molecular alterations that drive breast cancer metastasis to bone. BONEKEY REPORTS 2015; 4:643. [PMID: 25848532 DOI: 10.1038/bonekey.2015.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial cancers including breast and prostate commonly progress to form incurable bone metastases. For this to occur, cancer cells must adapt their phenotype and behaviour to enable detachment from the primary tumour, invasion into the vasculature, and homing to and subsequent colonisation of bone. It is widely accepted that the metastatic process is driven by the transformation of cancer cells from a sessile epithelial to a motile mesenchymal phenotype through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dissemination of these motile cells into the circulation provides the conduit for cells to metastasise to distant organs. However, accumulating evidence suggests that EMT is not sufficient for metastasis to occur and that specific tissue-homing factors are required for tumour cells to lodge and grow in bone. Once tumour cells are disseminated in the bone environment, they can revert into an epithelial phenotype through the reverse process of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) and form secondary tumours. In this review, we describe the molecular alterations undertaken by breast cancer cells at each stage of the metastatic cascade and discuss how these changes facilitate bone metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope D Ottewell
- Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Medical School, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, UK
| | - Liam O'Donnell
- Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Medical School, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, UK
| | - Ingunn Holen
- Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Medical School, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, UK
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Ponnusamy MP, Seshacharyulu P, Lakshmanan I, Vaz AP, Chugh S, Batra SK. Emerging role of mucins in epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2014; 13:945-56. [PMID: 24168188 DOI: 10.2174/15680096113136660100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2013] [Revised: 07/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important and complex phenomenon that determines the aggressiveness of cancer cells. The morphological transformation of cancerous cells is accompanied by various cellular processes such as alterations in cell-cell adhesion, cell matrix degradation, down regulation of epithelial marker Ecadherin and upregulation of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and Vimentin. Besides these markers several other important tumor antigens/mucins are also involved in the EMT process. Mainly high molecular weight glycoproteins such as mucin molecules (MUC1, MUC4 and MUC16) play a major role in the cellular transformation and signaling alteration in EMT process. In addition to these factors, EMT may be an essential process triggering the emergence or expansion of the CSC population, which slowly results in the initiation of tumor at metastatic sites. Furthermore, mucins have been demonstrated to be involved in the EMT process and also in the enrichment of cancer stem cell population. Mucin mediated EMT is very complex since the key components of tumor microenvironment are also regulating mucin molecules. In this review, we have discussed all the aforementioned factors and their mechanistic involvement for EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, 68198-5870, USA.
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Marcato P, Dean CA, Liu RZ, Coyle KM, Bydoun M, Wallace M, Clements D, Turner C, Mathenge EG, Gujar SA, Giacomantonio CA, Mackey JR, Godbout R, Lee PWK. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 influences breast cancer progression via differential retinoic acid signaling. Mol Oncol 2014; 9:17-31. [PMID: 25106087 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 1A enzymes produce retinoic acid (RA), a transcription induction molecule. To investigate if ALDH1A1 or ALDH1A3-mediated RA signaling has an active role in breast cancer tumorigenesis, we performed gene expression and tumor xenograft studies. Analysis of breast patient tumors revealed that high levels of ALDH1A3 correlated with expression of RA-inducible genes with retinoic acid response elements (RAREs), poorer patient survival and triple-negative breast cancers. This suggests a potential link between ALDH1A3 expression and RA signaling especially in aggressive and/or triple-negative breast cancers. In MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-435 cells, ALDH1A3 and RA increased expression of RA-inducible genes. Interestingly, ALDH1A3 had opposing effects in tumor xenografts, increasing tumor growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 cells, but decreasing tumor growth of MDA-MB-468 cells. Exogenous RA replaced ALDH1A3 in inducing the same opposing tumor growth and metastasis effects, suggesting that ALDH1A3 mediates these effects by promoting RA signaling. Genome expression analysis revealed that ALDH1A3 induced largely divergent gene expression in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells which likely resulted in the opposing tumor growth effects. Treatment with DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine restored uniform RA-inducibility of RARE-containing HOXA1 and MUC4 in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, suggesting that differences in epigenetic modifications contribute to differential ALDH1A3/RA-induced gene expression in breast cancer. In summary, ALDH1A3 induces differential RA signaling in breast cancer cells which affects the rate of breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Cheryl A Dean
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Rong-Zong Liu
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Krysta M Coyle
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Moamen Bydoun
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Melissa Wallace
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Derek Clements
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Colin Turner
- Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Shashi A Gujar
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Strategy and Organizational Performance, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - John R Mackey
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Roseline Godbout
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Patrick W K Lee
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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MUC4 modulates human glioblastoma cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating EGFR expression. Neurosci Lett 2014; 566:82-7. [PMID: 24582898 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2013] [Revised: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary brain tumor, is the leading cause of deaths related to tumors in the central nervous system. The prognosis of GBM patients is currently poor, and the mechanisms underlying GBM genesis remain unclear. The expression of MUC4, a high-molecular-weight and highly glycosylated protein, has been studied in many cancers. However, information on MUC4 expression in GBM is limited. In this study, we found that MUC4 was overexpressed in GBM cell lines and tissues. The proliferation and invasive potential of GBM cells were significantly increased by the ectopic expression of MUC4. By contrast, RNA interference targeting MUC4 in GBM cells significantly decreased the proliferation and invasive potential of GBM cells. We also found that the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was modulated by MUC4. EGFR inhibition by siRNA reversed the MUC4-induced proliferation and invasion. These results indicated that MUC4 expression in GBM was important in GBM cell proliferation and invasion, which may be partly associated with EGFR overexpression.
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Koumangoye RB, Nangami GN, Thompson PD, Agboto VK, Ochieng J, Sakwe AM. Reduced annexin A6 expression promotes the degradation of activated epidermal growth factor receptor and sensitizes invasive breast cancer cells to EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Mol Cancer 2013; 12:167. [PMID: 24354805 PMCID: PMC3922904 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-12-167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The expression of annexin A6 (AnxA6) in AnxA6-deficient non-invasive tumor cells has been shown to terminate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation and downstream signaling. However, as a scaffolding protein, AnxA6 may stabilize activated cell-surface receptors to promote cellular processes such as tumor cell motility and invasiveness. In this study, we investigated the contribution of AnxA6 in the activity of EGFR in invasive breast cancer cells and examined whether the expression status of AnxA6 influences the response of these cells to EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and/or patient survival. Results We demonstrate that in invasive BT-549 breast cancer cells AnxA6 expression is required for sustained membrane localization of activated (phosho-Y1068) EGFR and consequently, persistent activation of MAP kinase ERK1/2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathways. Depletion of AnxA6 in these cells was accompanied by rapid degradation of activated EGFR, attenuated downstream signaling and as expected enhanced anchorage-independent growth. Besides inhibition of cell motility and invasiveness, AnxA6-depleted cells were also more sensitive to the EGFR-targeted TKIs lapatinib and PD153035. We also provide evidence suggesting that reduced AnxA6 expression is associated with a better relapse-free survival but poorer distant metastasis-free and overall survival of basal-like breast cancer patients. Conclusions Together this demonstrates that the rapid degradation of activated EGFR in AnxA6-depleted invasive tumor cells underlies their sensitivity to EGFR-targeted TKIs and reduced motility. These data also suggest that AnxA6 expression status may be useful for the prediction of the survival and likelihood of basal-like breast cancer patients to respond to EGFR-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Amos M Sakwe
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr, DB Todd Jr, Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
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Heterogeneity of functional properties of Clone 66 murine breast cancer cells expressing various stem cell phenotypes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78725. [PMID: 24265713 PMCID: PMC3827106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer grows, metastasizes and relapses from rare, therapy resistant cells with a stem cell phenotype (cancer stem cells/CSCs). However, there is a lack of studies comparing the functions of CSCs isolated using different phenotypes in order to determine if CSCs are homogeneous or heterogeneous. METHODS Cells with various stem cell phenotypes were isolated by sorting from Clone 66 murine breast cancer cells that grow orthotopically in immune intact syngeneic mice. These populations were compared by in vitro functional assays for proliferation, growth, sphere and colony formation; and in vivo limiting dilution analysis of tumorigenesis. RESULTS The proportion of cells expressing CD44(high)CD24(low/neg), side population (SP) cells, ALDH1(+), CD49f(high), CD133(high), and CD34(high) differed, suggesting heterogeneity. Differences in frequency and size of tumor spheres from these populations were observed. Higher rates of proliferation of non-SP, ALDH1(+), CD34(low), and CD49f(high) suggested properties of transit amplifying cells. Colony formation was higher from ALDH1(-) and non-SP cells than ALDH1(+) and SP cells suggesting a progenitor phenotype. The frequency of clonal colonies that grew in agar varied and was differentially altered by the presence of Matrigel™. In vivo, fewer cells with a stem cell phenotype were needed for tumor formation than "non-stem" cells. Fewer SP cells were needed to form tumors than ALDH1(+) cells suggesting further heterogeneities of cells with stem phenotypes. Different levels of cytokines/chemokines were produced by Clone 66 with RANTES being the highest. Whether the heterogeneity reflects soluble factor production remains to be determined. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that Clone 66 murine breast cancer cells that express stem cell phenotypes are heterogeneous and exhibit different functional properties, and this may also be the case for human breast cancer stem cells.
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