Ezrin Is Associated with Disease Progression in Ovarian Carcinoma

Assessment of Molecular Markers in Pediatric Ovarian Tumors: Romanian Single-Center Experience

Pediatric ovarian tumors exhibit unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study evaluates the expression of SALL4 and OCT3/4 biomarkers in pediatric ovarian tumors and their associations with tumor subtype, stage, and clinical outcome. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 patients under 18 years old, examining demographic data, tumor characteristics, immunohistochemical staining, and clinical outcomes. Our results show that SALL4 was significantly expressed in adenocarcinoma, dysgerminoma (DSG), mixed germ cell tumors (GCTs), and immature teratoma, while OCT3/4 was highly expressed in DSG and mixed GCTs. Both markers are associated with a higher tumor grade and stage, indicating a more aggressive disease. The SALL4 positivity expression was correlated with high alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, while OCT3/4 positivity significantly predicted the risk of subsequent metastasis. The mean progression-free survival (PFS) was notably shorter in patients with positive markers. These findings underscore the diagnostic and prognostic value of SALL4 and OCT3/4 in pediatric ovarian tumors, aligning with previous research and supporting their use in clinical practice for better disease management and patient outcomes.

Moesin affects the plasma membrane expression and the immune checkpoint function of CD47 in human ovarian clear cell carcinoma

Among major histological subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer, a higher incidence of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is observed in East Asian populations, particularly in Japan. Despite recent progress in the immune checkpoint inhibitors for a wide variety of cancer cell types, patients with OCCC exhibit considerably low response rates to these drugs. Hence, urgent efforts are needed to develop a novel immunotherapeutic approach for OCCC. CD47, a transmembrane protein, is overexpressed in almost all cancer cells and disrupts macrophage phagocytic activity in cancer cells. Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) family member of proteins serve as scaffold proteins by crosslinking certain transmembrane proteins with the actin cytoskeleton, contributing to their plasma membrane localization. Here, we examined the role of ERM family in the plasma membrane localization and functionality of CD47 in OCCC cell lines derived from Japanese women. Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis showed colocalization of CD47 with all three ERM in the plasma membrane of OCCC cells. RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of moesin, but not others, decreased the plasma membrane expression and immune checkpoint function of CD47, as determined by flow cytometry and in vitro phagocytosis assay using human macrophage-like cells, respectively. Interestingly, clinical database analysis indicated that moesin expression in OCCC was higher than that in other histological subtypes of ovarian cancers, and the expression of CD47 and moesin increased with the cancer stage. In conclusion, moesin is overexpressed in OCCC and may be the predominant scaffold protein responsible for CD47 plasma membrane localization and function in OCCC.

Increased FOXJ1 protein expression is associated with improved overall survival in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma: an Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis Consortium Study

BACKGROUND

Recently, we showed a >60% difference in 5-year survival for patients with tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) when stratified by a 101-gene mRNA expression prognostic signature. Given the varied patient outcomes, this study aimed to translate prognostic mRNA markers into protein expression assays by immunohistochemistry and validate their survival association in HGSC.

METHODS

Two prognostic genes, FOXJ1 and GMNN, were selected based on high-quality antibodies, correlation with protein expression and variation in immunohistochemical scores in a preliminary cohort (n = 134 and n = 80, respectively). Six thousand four hundred and thirty-four (FOXJ1) and 5470 (GMNN) formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ovarian neoplasms (4634 and 4185 HGSC, respectively) represented on tissue microarrays from the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium underwent immunohistochemical staining and scoring, then univariate and multivariate survival analysis.

RESULTS

Consistent with mRNA, FOXJ1 protein expression exhibited a linear, increasing association with improved overall survival in HGSC patients. Women with >50% expression had the most favourable outcomes (HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.91, p < 0.0001). GMNN protein expression was not significantly associated with overall HSGC patient survival. However, HGSCs with >35% GMNN expression showed a trend for better outcomes, though this was not significant.

CONCLUSION

We provide foundational evidence for the prognostic value of FOXJ1 in HGSC, validating the prior mRNA-based prognostic association by immunohistochemistry.

Role of PARP Inhibitors in Cancer Immunotherapy: Potential Friends to Immune Activating Molecules and Foes to Immune Checkpoints

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) induce cytotoxic effects as single agents in tumors characterized by defective repair of DNA double-strand breaks deriving from BRCA1/2 mutations or other abnormalities in genes associated with homologous recombination. Preclinical studies have shown that PARPi-induced DNA damage may affect the tumor immune microenvironment and immune-mediated anti-tumor response through several mechanisms. In particular, increased DNA damage has been shown to induce the activation of type I interferon pathway and up-regulation of PD-L1 expression in cancer cells, which can both enhance sensitivity to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs). Despite the recent approval of ICIs for a number of advanced cancer types based on their ability to reinvigorate T-cell-mediated antitumor immune responses, a consistent percentage of treated patients fail to respond, strongly encouraging the identification of combination therapies to overcome resistance. In the present review, we analyzed both established and unexplored mechanisms that may be elicited by PARPi, supporting immune reactivation and their potential synergism with currently used ICIs. This analysis may indicate novel and possibly patient-specific immune features that might represent new pharmacological targets of PARPi, potentially leading to the identification of predictive biomarkers of response to their combination with ICIs.

Ezrin gone rogue in cancer progression and metastasis: An enticing therapeutic target

Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer as it remains the most complicated, devastating, and enigmatic aspect of cancer. Several decades of extensive research have identified several key players closely associated with metastasis. Among these players, cytoskeletal linker Ezrin (the founding member of the ERM (Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin) family) was identified as a critical promoter of metastasis in pediatric cancers in the early 21st century. Ezrin was discovered 40 years ago as a aminor component of intestinal epithelial microvillus core protein, which is enriched in actin-containing cell surface structures. It controls gastric acid secretion and plays diverse physiological roles including maintaining cell polarity, regulating cell adhesion, cell motility and morphogenesis. Extensive research for more than two decades evinces that Ezrin is frequently dysregulated in several human cancers. Overexpression, altered subcellular localization and/or aberrant activation of Ezrin are closely associated with higher metastatic incidence and patient mortality, thereby justifying Ezrin as a valuable prognostic biomarker in cancer. Ezrin plays multifaceted role in multiple aspects of cancer, with its significant contribution in the complex metastatic cascade, through reorganizing the cytoskeleton and deregulating various cellular signaling pathways. Current preclinical studies using genetic and/or pharmacological approaches reveal that inactivation of Ezrin results in significant inhibition of Ezrin-mediated tumor growth and metastasis as well as increase in the sensitivity of cancer cells to various chemotherapeutic drugs. In this review, we discuss the recent advances illuminating the molecular mechanisms responsible for Ezrin dysregulation in cancer and its pleiotropic role in cancer progression and metastasis. We also highlight its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in various cancers. More importantly, we put forward some potential questions, which we strongly believe, will stimulate both basic and translational research to better understand Ezrin-mediated malignancy, ultimately leading to the development of Ezrin-targeted cancer therapy for the betterment of human life.

Osteosarcoma-Specific Genes as a Diagnostic Tool and Clinical Predictor of Tumor Progression

Simple Summary

The standard method for the diagnosis and monitoring of osteosarcoma is biopsy and tumor imaging, which causes discomfort to patients and is difficult to repeat. A blood sample can be used as a non-invasive method for monitoring tumor material. Vimentin and ezrin show clinical significance in samples obtained from OS patients but need circulating tumor cell purification, since they are expressed in leukocytes. Due to the low-temperature storage of the samples, it proved impossible to perform purification to remove the contamination. We propose that novel or OS-specific biomarkers using differential gene expression from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database is a promising approach for developing diagnostic and tumor progression strategies. Seven genes from the database showed significant expression in OS cell lines/primary cells compared to a normal blood donor, together with ezrin and VIM. The expression of the five candidate genes together with ezrin and vimentin were quantified by qRT-PCR and analyzed using a mathematical model with high efficiency to discriminate between OS patients and normal samples, resulting in the selection of three candidate genes: COL5A2 (one of the five from the database) as well as ezrin and VIM. Our study demonstrates that these genes in retrospective samples could serve as tools of OS detection and predictors of disease progression.

Abstract

A liquid biopsy is currently an interesting tool for measuring tumor material with the advantage of being non-invasive. The overexpression of vimentin and ezrin genes was associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in metastasis and progression in osteosarcoma (OS). In this study, we identified other OS-specific genes by calculating differential gene expression using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, confirmed by using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) to detect OS-specific genes, including VIM and ezrin in the buffy coat, which were obtained from the whole blood of OS patients and healthy donors. Furthermore, the diagnostic model for OS detection was generated by utilizing binary logistic regression with a multivariable fractional polynomial (MFP) algorithm. The model incorporating VIM, ezrin, and COL5A2 genes exhibited outstanding discriminative ability, as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC = 0.9805, 95% CI 0.9603, 1.000). At the probability cut-off value of 0.3366, the sensitivity and the specificity of the model for detecting OS were 98.63% (95% CI 90.5, 99.7) and 94.94% (95% CI 87.5, 98.6), respectively. Bioinformatic analysis and qRT-PCR, in our study, identified three candidate genes that are potential diagnostic and prognostic genes for OS.

Ezrin Contributes to the Plasma Membrane Expression of PD-L1 in A2780 Cells

Programmed death ligand–1 (PD–L1) is one of the immune checkpoint molecule localized on the plasma membrane of numerous cancer cells that negatively regulates T-cell-mediated immunosurveillance. Despite the remarkable efficacy and safety profile of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-PD–L1 antibodies, restricted poor therapeutic responses to ICIs are often observed in patients with ovarian cancer. Because higher expression of PD–L1 in advanced ovarian cancer is associated with a decreased survival rate, identifying the potential molecules to regulate the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy to improve the efficacy of ICIs against ovarian cancers. Here, we reveal the involvement of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family, which crosslinks transmembrane proteins with the actin cytoskeleton by serving as a scaffold protein, in the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1 in the human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line A2780. Our results demonstrate that PD–L1 and all three ERMs were expressed at the mRNA and protein levels in A2780 cells, and that PD–L1 was highly colocalized with ezrin and moesin, but moderately with radixin, in the plasma membrane. Interestingly, RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of ezrin, but not of radixin or moesin, substantially reduced the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1 without altering its mRNA expression. In conclusion, our results indicate that ezrin may be responsible for the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1, possibly by serving as a scaffold protein in A2780 cells. Ezrin is a potential therapeutic target for improving the efficacy of ICIs against ovarian cancers.

Expression Patterns of Ezrin and AJAP1 and Clinical Significance in Breast Cancer

Ezrin and adherens junction-associated protein 1 (AJAP1) are structural proteins which are involved in numerous human malignancies. However, little is known about the relationship between them in breast cancer. This study was set out to investigate the relationship between them and to further explore the mechanism of AJAP1-mediating cytoskeleton in breast cancer progression. Ezrin and AJAP1 expressions were detected in 377 samples of breast cancer by immunohistochemistry, and different expression patterns between AJAP1 and Ezrin with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Besides, univariate and multivariate Cox models were used to evaluate their prognostic potential. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, qRT-PCR, and phalloidin staining of F-actin were used to explore the relationship and the mechanism between AJAP1 and Ezrin in cytoskeleton arrangement. 377 cases of breast cancer results showed that AJAP1 expression was negatively related with histological grade and lymph node involvement and could be an independent prognosis marker of breast cancer. AJAP1 expression tended to be higher in the Ezrin-negative expression case. Patients with AJAP1^negative and Ezrin^positive expression had a worse prognosis (p < 0.0001) and shorter DFS (p = 0.015). More importantly, AJAP1 depletion increased the cell ability of F-actin formation through promoting Ezrin expression. AJAP1 depletion might mediate breast cancer malignancy potential through promoting Ezrin expression and cytoskeleton formation.

Platelet CLEC2-Podoplanin Axis as a Promising Target for Oral Cancer Treatment

Cancer tissues are not just simple masses of malignant cells, but rather complex and heterogeneous collections of cellular and even non-cellular components, such as endothelial cells, stromal cells, immune cells, and collagens, referred to as tumor microenvironment (TME). These multiple players in the TME develop dynamic interactions with each other, which determines the characteristics of the tumor. Platelets are the smallest cells in the bloodstream and primarily regulate blood coagulation and hemostasis. Notably, cancer patients often show thrombocytosis, a status of an increased platelet number in the bloodstream, as well as the platelet infiltration into the tumor stroma, which contributes to cancer promotion and progression. Thus, platelets function as one of the important stromal components in the TME, emerging as a promising chemotherapeutic target. However, the use of traditional antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin, has limitations mainly due to increased bleeding complications. This requires to implement new strategies to target platelets for anti-cancer effects. In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients, both high platelet counts and low tumor-stromal ratio (high stroma) are strongly correlated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis. OSCC tends to invade adjacent tissues and bones and spread to the lymph nodes for distant metastasis, which is a huge hurdle for OSCC treatment in spite of relatively easy access for visual examination of precancerous lesions in the oral cavity. Therefore, locoregional control of the primary tumor is crucial for OSCC treatment. Similar to thrombocytosis, higher expression of podoplanin (PDPN) has been suggested as a predictive marker for higher frequency of lymph node metastasis of OSCC. Cumulative evidence supports that platelets can directly interact with PDPN-expressing cancer cells via C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC2), contributing to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Thus, the platelet CLEC2-PDPN axis could be a pinpoint target to inhibit interaction between platelets and OSCC, avoiding undesirable side effects. Here, we will review the role of platelets in cancer, particularly focusing on CLEC2-PDPN interaction, and will assess their potentials as therapeutic targets for OSCC treatment.

EZR promotes pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis by activating FAK/AKT signaling pathway

Background

As a member of the ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) protein family, EZR has been recognized as a regulator of adhesion signal pathways by researchers. Moreover, EZR was thought to play irreplaceable roles in invasion and metastasis of versatile cancers. In this study, we managed to undermine the effect of EZR on proliferation and metastasis in pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods

To analyze the impact of EZR expression on overall survival and free diseases survival of PC patients, we screened abnormally expressed EZR in PC using the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO database) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Following, Gene Ontology (GO)-based functional analysis and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to predicate the possible biological processes in which EZR were involved. The clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of PC patients were analyzed according to clinical data. Further, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and real time PCR analysis were conducted to analyze the expression level of EZR in PC and paired paracancerous tissues. The effect of EZR on proliferation of PC cell lines were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and meanwhile, Transwell assay was performed to detect the effect of EZR on invasion and migration of PC cell.

Result

EZR exhibited higher expression level in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell than paracancerous tissues and cell, and its expression level was positively correlated with poor overall survival and diseases-free survival in PC patients. CCK8 assay indicated that EZR facilitated the proliferation of PC cells, meanwhile, Transwell assay showed that EZR promoted the migration and invasion of PC cells. The GO analysis predicated that EZR was involved in biological processes including cell adhesion, ameboidal-type cell migration, cell junction assembly. Through GSEA analysis, pancreatic cancer pathway, and the adhesion junction pathway were screened as the mostly enriched pathways in EZR-regulated pathological process. The inhibition of EZR suppressed proliferation and migration of PC cells. Western blot experiment revealed a positive correlation between EZR and FAK, the proliferation invasion and migration ability of PC cells were significantly decreased after knockdown of EZR.

Conclusion

Our finding revealed EZR accelerated the progression of PC via FAK/AKT signaling pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02222-1.

Ezrin as a prognostic indicator regulates colon adenocarinoma progression through glycolysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) is a distinctive metabolic hallmark of colon adenocarcinoma. Ezrin was a member of the Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin protein family and has been found profoundly implicated in tumorigenesis. However, the specific functional roles of Ezrin in metabolic reprogramming of colon adenocarcinoma remain poorly characterized and need to be explored.

METHODS

The expression of Ezrin in colon adenocarcinoma tissues was screened by bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical assay. Si-RNA-mediated transfection and overexpression plasmid transfection were performed in colon adenocarcinoma cells. The proliferation viability was measured using MTT, colony formation, and EdU assays. The migration ability was determined using wound healing and transwell assay. The expression of EMT markers and transcriptional factors was detected using immunofluorescence staining and western blot assays. Glucose uptake, lactate production, and ATP assay were performed to validate the effect of Ezrin on glycolysis-mediated colon adenocarcinoma progression.

RESULTS

Ezrin was upregulated in colon adenocarcinoma tissues and associated with poor survival. Ezrin stimulated colon adenocarcinoma cell proliferation, migration, and the process of EMT. Ezrin aroused significant increase in glucose uptake, lactate production, and ATP level in colon adenocarcinoma cells. Further investigations demonstrated that treatment with a glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose reversed the effects reduced by Ezrin on colon adenocarcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results evidenced a novel mechanism for colon adenocarcinoma cells proliferation and migration induced by Ezrin via glycolysis.

Ezrin Mediates Invasion and Metastasis in Tumorigenesis: A Review

Ezrin, as encoded by the EZR gene, is a member of the Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin (ERM) family. The ERM family includes three highly related actin filament binding proteins, Ezrin, Radixin, and Moesin. These three members share similar structural properties containing an N-terminal domain named FERM, a central helical linker region, and a C-terminal domain that mediates the interaction with F-actin. Ezrin protein is highly regulated through the conformational change between a closed, inactivate form and an open, active form. As a membrane-cytoskeleton linker protein, Ezrin facilitates numerous signal transductions in tumorigenesis and mediates diverse essential functions through interactions with a variety of growth factor receptors and adhesion molecules. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that Ezrin is an oncogene protein, as high levels of Ezrin are associated with metastatic behavior in various types of cancer. The diverse functions attributed to Ezrin and the understanding of how Ezrin drives the deadly process of metastasis are complex and often controversial. Here by reviewing recent findings across a wide spectrum of cancer types we will highlight the structures, protein interactions and oncogenic roles of Ezrin as well as the emerging therapeutic agents targeting Ezrin. This review provides a comprehensive framework to guide future studies of Ezrin and other ERM proteins in basic and clinical studies.

Role of the Exosome Secretion Machinery in Ovarian Carcinoma: In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Objective. We recently reported on the expression and clinical role of molecules that mediate exosome secretion in high-grade serous carcinoma. In the present study, the biological role of these molecules was analyzed. Methods. OVCAR8 and ES-2 ovarian carcinoma cells were studied using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and two 3D in vitro models—spheroids emulating effusions and alginate scaffolds representing solid lesions. Isolation of exosomes was validated by electron microscopy. TSAP6, NSMASE2, RAB27A, and RAB27B mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Tumor aggressiveness was studied in vitro using scratch assay, invasion assay, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity assay and in vivo using a mouse model. Results. In OVCAR8 cells, mRNA expression of TSAP6 and RAB27A was significantly higher in spheroids compared to scaffolds, whereas the opposite was true for NSMASE2 mRNA. In ES-2 cells, TSAP6 and RAB27B mRNA expression was significantly higher in spheroids versus scaffolds. In addition, nSMase2 and TSAP6 protein expression was significantly higher in scaffolds compared to spheroids. CRISPR-edited cells with silencing of NSMASE2, TSAP6, and RAB27A/B had reduced migration, invasion, and MMP activity. Additionally, knockout (KO) of these molecules resulted in significantly diminished exosome secretion. In vivo assay showed that when injected to mice, OVCAR8 RAB27A/B KO cells, as opposed to control OVCAR8 cells, did not form ascites or visible tumor lesions and had reduced MMP expression. Conclusion. The present study provides evidence that different models for culturing ovarian carcinoma cells affect the expression of molecules mediating exosome secretion and that these molecules have a tumor-promoting role. Silencing these molecules may consequently have therapeutic relevance in this cancer.

Unexpected therapeutic effects of cisplatin

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent that is clinically approved to fight both carcinomas and sarcomas. It has relatively high efficiency in treating ovarian cancers and metastatic testicular cancers. It is generally accepted that the major mechanism of cisplatin anti-cancer action is DNA damage. However, cisplatin is also effective in metastatic cancers and should, therefore, affect slow-cycling cancer stem cells in some way. In this review, we focused on the alternative effects of cisplatin that can support a good therapeutic response. First, attention was paid to the effects of cisplatin at the cellular level such as changes in intracellular pH and cellular mechanical properties. Alternative cellular targets of cisplatin, and the effects of cisplatin on cancer cell metabolism and ER stress were also discussed. Furthermore, the impacts of cisplatin on the tumor microenvironment and in the whole organism context were reviewed. In this review, we try to reveal possible causes of the unexpected effectiveness of this anti-cancer drug.

Ezrin interacts with L-periaxin by the "head to head and tail to tail" mode and influences the location of L-periaxin in Schwann cell RSC96

In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), Schwann cells (SCs) are required for the myelination of axons. Periaxin (PRX), one of the myelination proteins expressed in SCs, is critical for the normal development and maintenance of PNS. As a member of the ERM (ezrin-radxin-moesin) protein family, ezrin holds our attention since their link to the formation of the nodes of Ranvier. Furthermore, PRX and ezrin are co-expressed in cytoskeletal complexes with periplakin and desmoyokin in lens fiber cells. In the present study, we observed that L-periaxin and ezrin interacted in a "head to head and tail to tail" mode in SC RSC96 through NLS3 region of L-periaxin with F3 subdomain of ezrin interaction, and the region of L-periaxin (residues 1368-1461) with ezrin (residues 475-557) interaction. A phosphorylation-mimicking mutation of ezrin resulted in L-periaxin accumulation on SC RSC96 membrane. Ezrin could inhibit the self-association of L-periaxin, and ezrin overexpression in sciatic nerve injury rats could facilitate the repair of impaired myelin sheath. Therefore, the interaction between L-periaxin and ezrin may adopt a close form to complete protein accumulation and to participate in myelin sheath maintenance.

MicroRNA-183 inhibits A375 human melanoma cell migration and invasion by targeting Ezrin and MMP-9

To assess the influence of microRNA-183 (miR-183) on the migration and invasion of A375 human melanoma cells, an A375 cell line with stable miR-183 overexpression or knockdown was constructed using lentiviral transfection. The change of miR-183 expression in these cells and in non-transfected controls was verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The impact of miR-183 on experimental A375 cell migration and invasion was assessed using a scratch and Transwell assay. The expression of Ezrin and matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), which are two mediator proteins that serve roles in tumor cell migration and invasion, were analyzed in each cell group via western blotting. The results of the present study indicated that miR-183 overexpression significantly inhibits A375 cell migration and invasion, which may be facilitated by miR-183 knockdown. Furthermore, Ezrin and MMP-9 protein levels were negatively associated with miR-183 expression, indicating that miR-183 may function as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the expression of these two proteins. Additionally, miR-183 downregulation may be associated with the progression of melanoma.

Detecting the location and significance of Ezrin protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

To explore the characteristics of localization and prognostic implication of Ezrin expression in HCC, 92 cases of HCC meeting strict follow-up criteria were selected for immunohistochemical staining of Ezrin protein. Correlations between Ezrin expression and clinicopathological features of HCC were evaluated using Chi-square tests, survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the relationship between prognostic factors and patient overallsurvival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard analysis. In results, Ezrin protein was mainly expressed in the inner side of the cell membrane of the adjacent non tumor tissues, and diffusely expressed in cytoplasm of HCC tissues. There was an obviously difference between the benign and malignant tissues about the location of Ezrin expression. Ezrin strong-expression rates were significantly higher in HCC samples compared with the adjacent non tumor tissues (P<0.05). The Ezrin strong-expression rate was closely related with the differentiation (P<0.01), AJCC stage and metastasis of HCC (P<0.05, respectively). Therefore, the sub-cellular localization of Ezrin protein in the liver cells will be changed in the process of the transformation from the benign to malignant, and Ezrin plays an important role in the progression of HCC.

No evidence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma specific autoantibodies to Ezrin in a liquid phase LIPS immunoassay

BACKGROUND

Sensitive and specific biomarkers of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are desperately needed to allow early diagnosis and improve patient's survival. Ezrin autoantibodies were recently described as present in 93% of PDAC patients and 40% of healthy subjects who later developed PDAC. However, another prospective study failed to replicate these findings. Both studies were based on the use of a solid phase ELISA immunoassay.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at re-evaluating the usefulness of Ezrin autoantibodies as PDAC biomarkers using the Luciferase Immuno Precipitation System (LIPS), an alternative immunoassay format that found successful application for the measurement of autoantibodies against pancreatic autoantigens.

METHODS

We produced a Nanoluciferase™ tagged Ezrin (NLuc-Ezrin). NLuc-Ezrin was then used as antigen in LIPS to test for Ezrin autoantibodies patients affected by PDAC (n= 40), other pancreatic diseases (OPD, n= 50), and healthy controls (n= 60).

RESULTS

Overall, binding in liquid phase to Ezrin by serum antibodies was rare and low titer. Furthermore, we did not find statistically significant differences in the prevalence of Ezrin autoantibodies between patients affected by either PDAC or OPD compared to control.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results do not confirm the usefulness of Ezrin autoAbs as biomarker of PDAC.

Ezrin expression combined with MSI status in prognostication of stage II colorectal cancer

Currently used factors predicting disease recurrence in stage II colorectal cancer patients are not optimal for risk stratification. Thus, new biomarkers are needed. In this study the applicability of ezrin protein expression together with MSI status and BRAF mutation status were tested in predicting disease outcome in stage II colorectal cancer. The study population consisted of 173 stage II colorectal cancer patients. Paraffin-embedded cancer tissue material from surgical specimens was used to construct tissue microarrays (TMAs) with next-generation technique. The TMA-slides were subjected to following immunohistochemical stainings: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, ezrin and anti-BRAF V600E antibody. The staining results were correlated with clinicopathological variables and survival. In categorical analysis, high ezrin protein expression correlated with poor disease-specific survival (p = 0.038). In univariate analysis patients having microsatellite instabile / low ezrin expression tumors had a significantly longer disease-specific survival than patients having microsatellite stable / high ezrin expression tumors (p = 0.007). In multivariate survival analysis, the presence of BRAF mutation was associated to poor overall survival (p = 0.028, HR 3.29, 95% CI1.14–9.54). High ezrin protein expression in patients with microsatellite stable tumors was linked to poor disease-specific survival (p = 0.01, HR 5.68, 95% CI 1.53–21.12). Ezrin protein expression is a promising biomarker in estimating the outcome of stage II colorectal cancer patients. When combined with microsatellite status its ability in predicting disease outcome is further improved.

Similar expression pattern of NHERF1 and EZRIN in papillary but not in solid areas of human serous ovarian carcinomas

NHERF1 is an adaptor protein expressed in the apical membrane of polarized epithelia, which interacts with the EZRIN-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) family of proteins connecting signaling pathways to the cell cytoskeleton. NHERF1 and EZRIN cooperate in the maintenance of the apical microvilli in polarized epithelial cells. In several types of cancers, NHERF1 and EZRIN are displaced from the apical compartment to the cytoplasm and nuclei of cancer cells. At the present, the distribution of NHERF1 in ovarian tumors is not well known. In this study, NHERF1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in cyst adenofibromas, serous borderline tumors, and serous ovarian carcinomas. We observed a strong staining of NHERF1 and EZRIN at the membrane level of borderline tumors and areas of papillary structures in ovarian carcinomas. In tumors without papillary structures and compact structure, NHERF1 was exclusively expressed in the apical pole of the cells at the edges of the clefts of luminal spaces. In contrast, positive expression of EZRIN was found in the membrane of tumor cells within the solid tumor where NHERF1 was not expressed. In summary, this study shows, for the first time, the distribution of NHERF1 in ovarian cancer and reveals a different regulation of NHERF1 and EZRIN expression in ovarian tumors which represents the complexity of the molecular changes of this disease.