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Liu X, Li X, Yu S. CFLAR: A novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in soft tissue sarcoma, which positively modulates the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:151. [PMID: 38406597 PMCID: PMC10885000 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14284] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Anoikis is highly associated with tumor cell apoptosis and tumor prognosis; however, the specific role of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to use a variety of bioinformatics methods to determine differentially expressed anoikis-related genes in STS and healthy tissues. Subsequently, three machine learning algorithms, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, Support Vector Machine and Random Forest, were used to screen genes with the highest importance score. The results of the bioinformatics analyses demonstrated that CASP8 and FADD-like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR) exhibited the highest importance score. Subsequently, the diagnostic and prognostic value of CFLAR in STS development was determined using multiple public and in-house cohorts. The results of the present study demonstrated that CFLAR may be considered a diagnostic and prognostic marker of STS, which acts as an independent prognostic factor of STS development. The present study also aimed to explore the potential role of CFLAR in the STS tumor microenvironment, and the results demonstrated that CFLAR significantly enhanced the immune response of STS, and exerted a positive effect on the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and M1 macrophages in the STS immune microenvironment. Notably, the aforementioned results were verified using multiplex immunofluorescence analysis. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that CFLAR may act as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker for STS, and may positively regulate the immune response of STS. Thus, the present study provided a novel theoretical basis for the use of CFLAR in STS diagnosis, in predicting clinical outcomes and in tailoring individualized treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyang Li
- Department of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
| | - Shengji Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
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2
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Zhao Z, Shen X, Zhao S, Wang J, Tian Y, Wang X, Tang B. A novel telomere-related genes model for predicting prognosis and treatment responsiveness in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:12927-12951. [PMID: 37976136 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly heterogeneous disease with diverse clinical and molecular features. Telomere maintenance is widely present in tumors, but there is a lack of relevant reports on the role of telomere-related genes (TRGs) in DLBCL. In this study, we used consensus clustering based on TRGs expression to identify two molecular clusters with distinct prognoses and immune cell infiltration. We developed a TRGs scoring model using univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression in the GSE10846 training cohort. DLBCL patients in the high-risk group had a worse prognosis than those in the low-risk group, as revealed by Kaplan-Meier curves. The scoring model was validated in the GSE10846 testing cohort and GSE87371 cohort, respectively. The high-risk group was characterized by elevated infiltration of activated DCs, CD56 dim natural killer cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, monocytes, and plasmacytoid DCs, along with reduced infiltration of activated CD4 T cells, Type 2 T helper cells, γδ T cells, NK cells, and neutrophils. Overexpression of immune checkpoints, such as PDCD1, CD274, and LAG3, was observed in the high-risk group. Furthermore, high-risk DLBCL patients exhibited increased sensitivity to bortezomib, rapamycin, AZD6244, and BMS.536924, while low-risk DLBCL patients showed sensitivity to cisplatin and ABT.263. Using RT-qPCR, we found that three protective model genes, namely TCEAL7, EPHA4, and ELOVL4, were down-regulated in DLBCL tissues compared with control tissues. In conclusion, our novel TRGs-based model has great predictive value for the prognosis of DLBCL patients and provides a promising direction for treatment optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaochen Shen
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siqi Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuqin Tian
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Tang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Guo M, Fang Z, Chen B, Songyang Z, Xiong Y. Distinct dosage compensations of ploidy-sensitive and -insensitive X chromosome genes during development and in diseases. iScience 2023; 26:105997. [PMID: 36798435 PMCID: PMC9926305 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105997] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The active X chromosome in mammals is upregulated to balance its dosage to autosomes during evolution. However, it is elusive why the known dosage compensation machinery showed uneven and small influence on X genes. Here, based on >20,000 transcriptomes, we identified two X gene groups (ploidy-sensitive [PSX] and ploidy-insensitive [PIX]), showing distinct but evolutionarily conserved dosage compensations (termed XAR). We demonstrated that XAR-PIX was downregulated whereas XAR-PSX upregulated at both RNA and protein levels across cancer types, in contrast with their trends during stem cell differentiation. XAR-PIX, but not XAR-PSX, was lower and correlated with autoantibodies and inflammation in patients of lupus, suggesting that insufficient dosage of PIX genes contribute to lupus pathogenesis. We further identified and experimentally validated two XAR regulators, TP53 and ATRX. Collectively, we provided insights into X dosage compensation in mammals and demonstrated different regulation of PSX and PIX and their pathophysiological roles in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengbiao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhengwen Fang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bohong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuanyan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China,Corresponding author
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4
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Functional characterization of miR-708 microRNA in telomerase positive and negative human cancer cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17052. [PMID: 34426596 PMCID: PMC8382839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96096-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of a telomere length maintenance mechanism (TMM), including telomerase and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), is essential for replicative immortality of tumor cells, although its regulatory mechanisms are incompletely understood. We conducted a microRNA (miRNA) microarray analysis on isogenic telomerase positive (TEP) and ALT cancer cell lines. Amongst nine miRNAs that showed difference in their expression in TEP and ALT cancer cells in array analysis, miR-708 was selected for further analysis since it was consistently highly expressed in a large panel of ALT cells. miR-708 in TEP and ALT cancer cells was not correlated with C-circle levels, an established feature of ALT cells. Its overexpression induced suppression of cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in both TEP and ALT cells, although cell proliferation was inhibited only in TEP cells suggesting that ALT cells may have acquired the ability to escape inhibition of cell proliferation by sustained miR-708 overexpression. Further, cell proliferation regulation in TEP cells by miR708 appears to be through the CARF-p53 pathway. We demonstrate here that miR-708 (i) is the first miRNA shown to be differentially regulated in TEP and ALT cancer cells, (ii) possesses tumor suppressor function, and (iii) deregulates CARF and p21WAF1-mediated signaling to limit proliferation in TEP cells.
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5
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Liu X, Song X, Li H. Transcription elongation factor A-like 7, regulated by miR-758-3p inhibits the progression of melanoma through decreasing the expression levels of c-Myc and AKT1. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:43. [PMID: 33430878 PMCID: PMC7802185 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01737-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ectopic expression of transcription elongation factor A (SII)-like 7 (TCEAL7) has been observed in several kinds of cancers, but its role in melanoma is still unclear. This study was carried out to investigate TCEAL7 role in melanoma progression, and uncover the underlying mechanisms. METHODS TCEAL7 expression levels in melanoma tissues and cells were determined by using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting. CCK-8, transwell chambers, flow cytometry, starch assay and tumorigenesis assay were applied to detect cell growth, invasion, apoptosis, migration and tumorigenesis, respectively. RESULTS A low expression level of TCEAL7 was observed in melanoma tissues and cells, which was associated with malignant clinical process and poor prognosis. TCEAL7 negatively modulated AKT1, AKT2, c-Myc, N-cadherin and PCNA expression and inhibited cancer progression via decreasing AKT1 and c-Myc levels. In addition, TCEAL7 was negatively modulated by miR-758-3p which promoted melanoma progression. Moreover, overexpression of TCEAL7 abolished miR-758-3p role in promoting melanoma progression. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that TCEAL7, regulated by miR-758-3p inhibited melanoma progression through decreasing the expression levels of c-Myc and AKT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xilin Liu
- Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin, China
| | - Xianji Song
- Orthopaedic Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin, China
| | - Hong Li
- Emergency Medical of China Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Xian Tai Street, Changchun, 130033, Jilin, China.
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6
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Bilsland AE, Liu Y, Turnbull A, Sumpton D, Stevenson K, Cairney CJ, Boyd SM, Roffey J, Jenkinson D, Keith WN. A Novel Pyrazolopyrimidine Ligand of Human PGK1 and Stress Sensor DJ1 Modulates the Shelterin Complex and Telomere Length Regulation. Neoplasia 2019; 21:893-907. [PMID: 31401411 PMCID: PMC6700475 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2019.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Telomere signaling and metabolic dysfunction are hallmarks of cell aging. New agents targeting these processes might provide therapeutic opportunities, including chemoprevention strategies against cancer predisposition. We report identification and characterization of a pyrazolopyrimidine compound series identified from screens focused on cell immortality and whose targets are glycolytic kinase PGK1 and oxidative stress sensor DJ1. We performed structure-activity studies on the series to develop a photoaffinity probe to deconvolute the cellular targets. In vitro binding and structural analyses confirmed these targets, suggesting that PGK1/DJ1 interact, which we confirmed by immunoprecipitation. Glucose homeostasis and oxidative stress are linked to telomere signaling and exemplar compound CRT0063465 blocked hypoglycemic telomere shortening. Intriguingly, PGK1 and DJ1 bind to TRF2 and telomeric DNA. Compound treatment modulates these interactions and also affects Shelterin complex composition, while conferring cellular protection from cytotoxicity due to bleomycin and desferroxamine. These results demonstrate therapeutic potential of the compound series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Yu Liu
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Andrew Turnbull
- Cancer Research Technology Ltd., Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David Sumpton
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Katrina Stevenson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Claire J Cairney
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Susan M Boyd
- CompChem Solutions Ltd, St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK
| | - Jon Roffey
- Cancer Research Technology Ltd., Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David Jenkinson
- Cancer Research Technology Ltd., Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - W Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
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7
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Kottaridi C, Spathis A, Margari N, Koureas N, Terzakis E, Chrelias C, Pappas A, Bilirakis E, Pouliakis A, Panayiotides IJ, Karakitsos P. Evaluation Analysis of miRNAs Overexpression in Liquid-Based Cytology Endometrial Samples. J Cancer 2017; 8:2699-2703. [PMID: 28928858 PMCID: PMC5604201 DOI: 10.7150/jca.19947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: miRNAs have an important role as their deregulation is linked to endometrial cancer. Methods: A custom miScript® miRNA PCR Array was used to investigate for the first time the expression of eight miRNAs in forty-nine histologically confirmed Liquid Based cytology endometrial samples. The expression profile of the same miRNAs was also examined in sixty formalin-fixed tissue samples. Results: Expression of seven miRNAs was significantly higher in malignant samples with three of them (mir-182, mir-141 and mir-205) performing optimally. Conclusion: These results suggest the potential use of this non-invasive method of sampling for miRNA expression studies. Furthermore miRNA overexpression could serve as an ancillary or reflex test for optimal identification of malignant samples especially in morphologically inadequate samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kottaridi
- Department of Cytopathology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Aris Spathis
- Department of Cytopathology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Niki Margari
- Department of Cytopathology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Koureas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, "Saint Savvas" Anticancer Hospital, Athens 11522, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Terzakis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, "Saint Savvas" Anticancer Hospital, Athens 11522, Greece
| | - Charalampos Chrelias
- 3 rd Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Asimakis Pappas
- 3 rd Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Evripidis Bilirakis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IASO Hospital, 37-39 Kifisias Av., Maroussi, 15123, Athens, Greece.,Colposcopy Unit, 1 st Department Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, General Hospital "Elena Venizelou", Athens, 11521, Greece
| | - Abraham Pouliakis
- Department of Cytopathology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Ioannis J Panayiotides
- 2 nd Department of Pathology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
| | - Petros Karakitsos
- Department of Cytopathology, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 12464, Greece
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8
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Cairney CJ, Godwin LS, Bilsland AE, Burns S, Stevenson KH, McGarry L, Revie J, Moore JD, Wiggins CM, Collinson RS, Mudd C, Tsonou E, Sadaie M, Bennett DC, Narita M, Torrance CJ, Keith WN. A 'synthetic-sickness' screen for senescence re-engagement targets in mutant cancer backgrounds. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006942. [PMID: 28806777 PMCID: PMC5570495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Senescence is a universal barrier to immortalisation and tumorigenesis. As such, interest in the use of senescence-induction in a therapeutic context has been gaining momentum in the past few years; however, senescence and immortalisation remain underserved areas for drug discovery owing to a lack of robust senescence inducing agents and an incomplete understanding of the signalling events underlying this complex process. In order to address this issue we undertook a large-scale morphological siRNA screen for inducers of senescence phenotypes in the human melanoma cell line A375P. Following rescreen and validation in a second cancer cell line, HCT116 colorectal carcinoma, a panel of 16 of the most robust hits were selected for further validation based on significance and the potential to be targeted by drug-like molecules. Using secondary assays for detection of senescence biomarkers p21, 53BP1 and senescence associated beta-galactosidase (SAβGal) in a panel of HCT116 cell lines carrying cancer-relevant mutations, we show that partial senescence phenotypes can be induced to varying degrees in a context dependent manner, even in the absence of p21 or p53 expression. However, proliferation arrest varied among genetic backgrounds with predominantly toxic effects in p21 null cells, while cells lacking PI3K mutation failed to arrest. Furthermore, we show that the oncogene ECT2 induces partial senescence phenotypes in all mutant backgrounds tested, demonstrating a dependence on activating KRASG13D for growth suppression and a complete senescence response. These results suggest a potential mechanism to target mutant KRAS signalling through ECT2 in cancers that are reliant on activating KRAS mutations and remain refractory to current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J. Cairney
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren S. Godwin
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan E. Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Burns
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Katrina H. Stevenson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn McGarry
- RNAi Screening Facility, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - John Revie
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jon D. Moore
- Horizon Discovery Ltd, Cambridge Research Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ceri M. Wiggins
- Horizon Discovery Ltd, Cambridge Research Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca S. Collinson
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Mudd
- Horizon Discovery Ltd, Cambridge Research Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Elpida Tsonou
- Horizon Discovery Ltd, Cambridge Research Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mahito Sadaie
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothy C. Bennett
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Masashi Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - W. Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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9
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Amorim JP, Santos G, Vinagre J, Soares P. The Role of ATRX in the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) Phenotype. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:E66. [PMID: 27657132 PMCID: PMC5042396 DOI: 10.3390/genes7090066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are responsible for protecting chromosome ends in order to prevent the loss of coding DNA. Their maintenance is required for achieving immortality by neoplastic cells and can occur by upregulation of the telomerase enzyme or through a homologous recombination-associated process, the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The precise mechanisms that govern the activation of ALT or telomerase in tumor cells are not fully understood, although cellular origin may favor one of the other mechanisms that have been found thus far in mutual exclusivity. Specific mutational events influence ALT activation and maintenance: a unifying frequent feature of tumors that acquire this phenotype are the recurrent mutations of the Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation Syndrome X-Linked (ATRX) or Death-Domain Associated Protein (DAXX) genes. This review summarizes the established criteria about this phenotype: its prevalence, theoretical molecular mechanisms and relation with ATRX, DAXX and other proteins (directly or indirectly interacting and resulting in the ALT phenotype).
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Affiliation(s)
- João P Amorim
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, Porto 4050-313, Portugal.
| | - Gustavo Santos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, Porto 4050-313, Portugal.
| | - João Vinagre
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, Porto 4050-313, Portugal.
| | - Paula Soares
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Porto 4200-135, Portugal.
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, Porto 4050-313, Portugal.
- Departamento de Patologia e Oncologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto 4200-139, Portugal.
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10
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Cancer-Specific Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) Promoter Mutations: Biological and Clinical Implications. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7070038. [PMID: 27438857 PMCID: PMC4962008 DOI: 10.3390/genes7070038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulated evidence has pointed to a key role of telomerase in carcinogenesis. As a RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, telomerase synthesizes telomeric DNA at the end of linear chromosomes, and attenuates or prevents telomere erosion associated with cell divisions. By lengthening telomeres, telomerase extends cellular life-span or even induces immortalization. Consistent with its functional activity, telomerase is silent in most human normal somatic cells while active only in germ-line, stem and other highly proliferative cells. In contrast, telomerase activation widely occurs in human cancer and the enzymatic activity is detectable in up to 90% of malignancies. Recently, hotspot point mutations in the regulatory region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, encoding the core catalytic component of telomerase, was identified as a novel mechanism to activate telomerase in cancer. This review discusses the cancer-specific TERT promoter mutations and potential biological and clinical significances.
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11
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Bilsland AE, Pugliese A, Liu Y, Revie J, Burns S, McCormick C, Cairney CJ, Bower J, Drysdale M, Narita M, Sadaie M, Keith WN. Identification of a Selective G1-Phase Benzimidazolone Inhibitor by a Senescence-Targeted Virtual Screen Using Artificial Neural Networks. Neoplasia 2015; 17:704-715. [PMID: 26476078 PMCID: PMC4611071 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2015.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a barrier to tumorigenesis in normal cells, and tumor cells undergo senescence responses to genotoxic stimuli, which is a potential target phenotype for cancer therapy. However, in this setting, mixed-mode responses are common with apoptosis the dominant effect. Hence, more selective senescence inducers are required. Here we report a machine learning-based in silico screen to identify potential senescence agonists. We built profiles of differentially affected biological process networks from expression data obtained under induced telomere dysfunction conditions in colorectal cancer cells and matched these to a panel of 17 protein targets with confirmatory screening data in PubChem. We trained a neural network using 3517 compounds identified as active or inactive against these targets. The resulting classification model was used to screen a virtual library of ~2M lead-like compounds. One hundred and forty-seven virtual hits were acquired for validation in growth inhibition and senescence-associated β-galactosidase assays. Among the found hits, a benzimidazolone compound, CB-20903630, had low micromolar IC50 for growth inhibition of HCT116 cells and selectively induced senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in the entire treated cell population without cytotoxicity or apoptosis induction. Growth suppression was mediated by G1 blockade involving increased p21 expression and suppressed cyclin B1, CDK1, and CDC25C. In addition, the compound inhibited growth of multicellular spheroids and caused severe retardation of population kinetics in long-term treatments. Preliminary structure-activity and structure clustering analyses are reported, and expression analysis of CB-20903630 against other cell cycle suppressor compounds suggested a PI3K/AKT-inhibitor-like profile in normal cells, with different pathways affected in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Angelo Pugliese
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Yu Liu
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - John Revie
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Sharon Burns
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Carol McCormick
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Claire J Cairney
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Justin Bower
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Martin Drysdale
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Masashi Narita
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Mahito Sadaie
- Kyoto University, Graduate School of Biostudies, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8501 Japan
| | - W Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
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12
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Mori T, Sumii M, Fujishima F, Ueno K, Emi M, Nagasaki M, Ishioka C, Chiba N. Somatic alteration and depleted nuclear expression of BAP1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2015; 106:1118-29. [PMID: 26081045 PMCID: PMC4582980 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that is involved in the regulation of cell growth. Recently, many somatic and germline mutations of BAP1 have been reported in a broad spectrum of tumors. In this study, we identified a novel somatic non-synonymous BAP1 mutation, a phenylalanine-to-isoleucine substitution at codon 170 (F170I), in 1 of 49 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) of BAP1 gene in this ESCC tumor disclosed monoallelic deletion (LOH), suggesting BAP1 alterations on both alleles in this tumor. The deubiquitinase activity and the auto-deubiquitinase activity of F170I-mutant BAP1 were markedly suppressed compared with wild-type BAP1. In addition, wild-type BAP1 mostly localizes to the nucleus, whereas the F170I mutant preferentially localized in the cytoplasm. Microarray analysis revealed that expression of the F170I mutant drastically altered gene expression profiles compared with expressed wild-type BAP1. Gene-ontology analyses indicated that the F170I mutation altered the expression of genes involved in oncogenic pathways. We found that one candidate, TCEAL7, previously reported as a putative tumor suppressor gene, was significantly induced by wild-type BAP1 as compared to F170I mutant BAP1. Furthermore, we found that the level of BAP1 expression in the nucleus was reduced in 44% of ESCC examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Because the nuclear localization of BAP1 is important for its tumor suppressor function, BAP1 may be functionally inactivated in a substantial portion of ESCC. Taken together, BAP1 is likely to function as a tumor suppressor in at least a part of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Mori
- Tohoku Community Cancer Services Program, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Makiko Sumii
- Tohoku Community Cancer Services Program, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Kazuko Ueno
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Emi
- Thoracic Oncology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Masao Nagasaki
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Chikashi Ishioka
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Natsuko Chiba
- Department of Cancer Biology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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13
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Mathematical model of a telomerase transcriptional regulatory network developed by cell-based screening: analysis of inhibitor effects and telomerase expression mechanisms. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003448. [PMID: 24550717 PMCID: PMC3923661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells depend on transcription of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). Many transcription factors affect TERT, though regulation occurs in context of a broader network. Network effects on telomerase regulation have not been investigated, though deeper understanding of TERT transcription requires a systems view. However, control over individual interactions in complex networks is not easily achievable. Mathematical modelling provides an attractive approach for analysis of complex systems and some models may prove useful in systems pharmacology approaches to drug discovery. In this report, we used transfection screening to test interactions among 14 TERT regulatory transcription factors and their respective promoters in ovarian cancer cells. The results were used to generate a network model of TERT transcription and to implement a dynamic Boolean model whose steady states were analysed. Modelled effects of signal transduction inhibitors successfully predicted TERT repression by Src-family inhibitor SU6656 and lack of repression by ERK inhibitor FR180204, results confirmed by RT-QPCR analysis of endogenous TERT expression in treated cells. Modelled effects of GSK3 inhibitor 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) predicted unstable TERT repression dependent on noise and expression of JUN, corresponding with observations from a previous study. MYC expression is critical in TERT activation in the model, consistent with its well known function in endogenous TERT regulation. Loss of MYC caused complete TERT suppression in our model, substantially rescued only by co-suppression of AR. Interestingly expression was easily rescued under modelled Ets-factor gain of function, as occurs in TERT promoter mutation. RNAi targeting AR, JUN, MXD1, SP3, or TP53, showed that AR suppression does rescue endogenous TERT expression following MYC knockdown in these cells and SP3 or TP53 siRNA also cause partial recovery. The model therefore successfully predicted several aspects of TERT regulation including previously unknown mechanisms. An extrapolation suggests that a dominant stimulatory system may programme TERT for transcriptional stability. Tumour cells acquire the ability to divide and multiply indefinitely whereas normal cells can undergo only a limited number of divisions. The switch to immortalisation of the tumour cell is dependent on maintaining the integrity of telomere DNA which forms chromosome ends and is achieved through activation of the telomerase enzyme by turning on synthesis of the TERT gene, which is usually silenced in normal cells. Suppressing telomerase is toxic to cancer cells and it is widely believed that understanding TERT regulation could lead to potential cancer therapies. Previous studies have identified many of the factors which individually contribute to activate or repress TERT levels in cancer cells. However, transcription factors do not behave in isolation in cells, but rather as a complex co-operative network displaying inter-regulation. Therefore, full understanding of TERT regulation will require a broader view of the transcriptional network. In this paper we take a computational modelling approach to study TERT regulation at the network level. We tested interactions between 14 TERT-regulatory factors in an ovarian cancer cell line using a screening approach and developed a model to analyse which network interventions were able to silence TERT.
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14
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Overcoming intratumor heterogeneity of polygenic cancer drug resistance with improved biomarker integration. Neoplasia 2013; 14:1278-89. [PMID: 23308059 DOI: 10.1593/neo.122096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Improvements in technology and resources are helping to advance our understanding of cancer-initiating events as well as factors involved with tumor progression, adaptation, and evasion of therapy. Tumors are well known to contain diverse cell populations and intratumor heterogeneity affords neoplasms with a diverse set of biologic characteristics that can be used to evolve and adapt. Intratumor heterogeneity has emerged as a major hindrance to improving cancer patient care. Polygenic cancer drug resistance necessitates reconsidering drug designs to include polypharmacology in pursuit of novel combinatorial agents having multitarget activity to overcome the diverse and compensatory signaling pathways in which cancer cells use to survive and evade therapy. Advances will require integration of different biomarkers such as genomics and imaging to provide for more adequate elucidation of the spatially varying location, type, and extent of diverse intratumor signaling molecules to provide for a rationale-based personalized cancer medicine strategy.
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15
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Huang CY, Chen YM, Zhao JJ, Chen YB, Jiang SS, Yan SM, Zhao BW, Pan K, Wang DD, Lv L, Li YF, Wang W, Zhou ZW, Xia JC. Decreased expression of transcription elongation factor A-like 7 is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma prognosis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54671. [PMID: 23372750 PMCID: PMC3555988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We sought to investigate the expression levels and prognosis value of TCEAL7 in primary gastric cancer. Methods and Results We investigated TCEAL7 and other homologous five members of the TCEAL family expression in normal gastricepithelial cell line and gastric cancer cell lines using real-time quantitative PCR. Furthermore, we examined the expression of TCEAL7 in 39 paired cancerous and matched adjacent noncancerous gastric mucosa tissues by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting. Moreover, we analyzed TCEAL7 expression in 406 gastric cancer patients using immunohistochemistry. The relationships between the TCEAL7 expression levels, the clinicopathological factors, and patient survival were investigated. RT- qPCR data showed that mRNA expression level of TCEAL7 was significantly lower in the gastric cancer cell lines comparing with the levels of other five members of the TCEAL family. Results also revealed decreased TCEAL7 mRNA (P = 0.025) and protein (P = 0.012) expression in tumor tissue samples compared with matched adjacent non-tumor tissue samples. Immunohistochemical staining data showed that TCEAL7 expression was significantly decreased in 43.3% of gastric adenocarcinoma cases. The result also showed that the low TCEAL7 expression was significantly correlated with female, larger tumor size, higher histological grade and worse nodal status. Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed that the reduced expression of TCEAL7 was associated with a poor prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma patients (P<0.001). Based on a univariate analysis that included all 406 patients, TCEAL7 expression was found to have statistically significant associations with overall survival (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis also demonstrated that TCEAL7 expression (P = 0.009), age, tumor size, histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, T stage, N stage and M stage were independent risk factors in the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Conclusions Our study suggests that TCEAL7 might serve as a candidate tumor suppressor and a potential prognostic biomarker in gastric carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-yu Huang
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-ming Chen
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-bing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan-shan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-mei Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bai-wei Zhao
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan-dan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-fang Li
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-wei Zhou
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (ZWZ); (JCX)
| | - Jian-chuan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (ZWZ); (JCX)
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16
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Gocha ARS, Harris J, Groden J. Alternative mechanisms of telomere lengthening: permissive mutations, DNA repair proteins and tumorigenic progression. Mutat Res 2012; 743-744:142-150. [PMID: 23219603 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2012.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Revised: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres protect chromosome termini to maintain genomic stability and regulate cellular lifespan. Maintenance of telomere length is required for neoplastic cells after the acquisition of mutations that deregulate cell cycle control and increase cellular proliferation, and can occur through expression of the enzyme telomerase or in a telomerase-independent manner termed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The precise mechanisms that govern the activation of ALT or telomerase in tumor cells are unknown, although cellular origin may favor one or the other mechanisms. ALT pathways are incompletely understood to date; however, recent publications have increasingly broadened our understanding of how ALT is activated, how it proceeds, and how it influences tumor growth. Specific mutational events influence ALT activation, as mutations in genes that suppress recombination and/or alterations in the regulation of telomerase expression are associated with ALT. Once engaged, ALT uses DNA repair proteins to maintain telomeres in the absence of telomerase; experiments that manipulate the expression of specific proteins in cells using ALT are illuminating some of its mechanisms. Furthermore, ALT may influence tumor growth, as experimental and clinical data suggest that telomerase expression may favor tumor progression. This review summarizes recent findings in mammalian cells and models, as well as clinical data, that identify the genetic mutations permissive to ALT, the DNA repair proteins involved in ALT mechanisms and the importance of telomere maintenance mechanisms for tumor progression. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that permit tumor cell immortalization will be important for identifying novel therapeutic targets in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- April Renee Sandy Gocha
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Julia Harris
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Joanna Groden
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, United States.
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17
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Cairney CJ, Bilsland AE, Evans TRJ, Roffey J, Bennett DC, Narita M, Torrance CJ, Keith WN. Cancer cell senescence: a new frontier in drug development. Drug Discov Today 2012; 17:269-76. [PMID: 22314100 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2012.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Revised: 01/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Senescence forms a universal block to tumorigenesis which impacts on all hallmarks of cancer, making it an attractive target for drug discovery. Therefore a strategy must be devised to focus this broad potential into a manageable drug discovery programme. Several issues remain to be addressed including the lack of robust senescence-inducing compounds and causally related biomarkers to measure cellular response. Here, we review the latest progress in translating senescence as a target for cancer therapy and some promising approaches to drug and biomarker discovery. Finally, we discuss the potential application of a senescence-induction therapy in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Cairney
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, CRUK Beatson Laboratories, Bearsden, Glasgow, UK
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18
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The interconnectedness of cancer cell signaling. Neoplasia 2012; 13:1183-93. [PMID: 22241964 DOI: 10.1593/neo.111746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2011] [Revised: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The elegance of fundamental and applied research activities have begun to reveal a myriad of spatial and temporal alterations in downstream signaling networks affected by cell surface receptor stimulation including G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases. Interconnected biochemical pathways serve to integrate and distribute the signaling information throughout the cell by orchestration of complex biochemical circuits consisting of protein interactions and covalent modification processes. It is clear that scientific literature summarizing results from both fundamental and applied scientific research activities has served to provide a broad foundational biologic database that has been instrumental in advancing our continued understanding of underlying cancer biology. This article reflects on historical advances and the role of innovation in the competitive world of grant-sponsored research.
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Keith WN, Lafferty-Whyte K, Cairney CJ, Zaffaroni N, Bilsland A. Response to ‘Validating a gene expression signature proposed to differentiate liposarcomas that use different telomere maintenance mechanisms’. Oncogene 2012. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2011.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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20
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Gladych M, Wojtyla A, Rubis B. Human telomerase expression regulation. Biochem Cell Biol 2011; 89:359-76. [DOI: 10.1139/o11-037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since telomerase has been recognized as a relevant factor distinguishing cancer cells from normal cells, it has become a very promising target for anti-cancer therapy. A correlation between short telomere length and increased mortality was revealed in many studies. The telomerase expression/activity appears to be one of the most crucial factors to study to improve cancer therapy and prevention. However, this multisubunit enzymatic complex can be regulated at various levels. Thus, several strategies have been proposed to control telomerase in cancer cells such as anti-sense technology against TR and TERT, ribozymes against TERT, anti-estrogens, progesterone, vitamin D, retinoic acid, quadruplex stabilizers, telomere and telomerase targeting agents, modulation of interaction with other proteins involved in the regulation of telomerase and telomeres, etc. However, the transcription control of key telomerase subunits seems to play the crucial role in whole complexes activity and cancer cells immortality. Thus, the research of telomerase regulation can bring significant insight into the knowledge concerning stem cells metabolism but also ageing. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of numerous telomerase regulation mechanisms at the transcription level in human that might become attractive anti-cancer therapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gladych
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Przybyszewskiego 49 St., 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Aneta Wojtyla
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Przybyszewskiego 49 St., 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Blazej Rubis
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Przybyszewskiego 49 St., 60-355 Poznan, Poland
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21
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Dinosaurs and ancient civilizations: reflections on the treatment of cancer. Neoplasia 2011; 12:957-68. [PMID: 21170260 DOI: 10.1593/neo.101588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Revised: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Research efforts in the area of palaeopathology have been seen as an avenue to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer. Answers to questions of whether dinosaurs had cancer, or if cancer plagued ancient civilizations, have captured the imagination as well as the popular media. Evidence for dinosaurian cancer may indicate that cancer may have been with us from the dawn of time. Ancient recorded history suggests that past civilizations attempted to fight cancer with a variety of interventions. When contemplating the issue why a generalized cure for cancer has not been found, it might prove useful to reflect on the relatively limited time that this issue has been an agenda item of governmental attention as well as continued introduction of an every evolving myriad of manmade carcinogens relative to the total time cancer has been present on planet Earth. This article reflects on the history of cancer and the progress made following the initiation of the "era of cancer chemotherapy."
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22
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Lafferty-Whyte K, Bilsland A, Cairney CJ, Hanley L, Jamieson NB, Zaffaroni N, Oien KA, Burns S, Roffey J, Boyd SM, Keith WN. Scoring of senescence signalling in multiple human tumour gene expression datasets, identification of a correlation between senescence score and drug toxicity in the NCI60 panel and a pro-inflammatory signature correlating with survival advantage in peritoneal mesothelioma. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:532. [PMID: 20920304 PMCID: PMC3091681 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 10/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cellular senescence is a major barrier to tumour progression, though its role in pathogenesis of cancer and other diseases is poorly understood in vivo. Improved understanding of the degree to which latent senescence signalling persists in tumours might identify intervention strategies to provoke "accelerated senescence" responses as a therapeutic outcome. Senescence involves convergence of multiple pathways and requires ongoing dynamic signalling throughout its establishment and maintenance. Recent discovery of several new markers allows for an expression profiling approach to study specific senescence phenotypes in relevant tissue samples. We adopted a "senescence scoring" methodology based on expression profiles of multiple senescence markers to examine the degree to which signals of damage-associated or secretory senescence persist in various human tumours. Results We first show that scoring captures differential induction of damage or inflammatory pathways in a series of public datasets involving radiotherapy of colon adenocarcinoma, chemotherapy of breast cancer cells, replicative senescence of mesenchymal stem cells, and progression of melanoma. We extended these results to investigate correlations between senescence score and growth inhibition in response to ~1500 compounds in the NCI60 panel. Scoring of our own mesenchymal tumour dataset highlighted differential expression of secretory signalling pathways between distinct subgroups of MPNST, liposarcomas and peritoneal mesothelioma. Furthermore, a pro-inflammatory signature yielded by hierarchical clustering of secretory markers showed prognostic significance in mesothelioma. Conclusions We find that "senescence scoring" accurately reports senescence signalling in a variety of situations where senescence would be expected to occur and highlights differential expression of damage associated and secretory senescence pathways in a context-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Lafferty-Whyte
- Centre for Oncology and Applied Pharmacology, University of Glasgow, Cancer Research UK Beatson Laboratories, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G611BD, UK
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