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Wasson MCD, Venkatesh J, Cahill HF, McLean ME, Dean CA, Marcato P. LncRNAs exhibit subtype-specific expression, survival associations, and cancer-promoting effects in breast cancer. Gene 2024; 901:148165. [PMID: 38219875 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in cancer progression, influencing processes such as invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Their reported cell type-dependent expression patterns suggest the potential for specialized functions in specific contexts. In breast cancer, lncRNA expression has been associated with different subtypes, highlighting their relevance in disease heterogeneity. However, our understanding of lncRNA function within breast cancer subtypes remains limited, warranting further investigation. We conducted a comprehensive analysis using the TANRIC dataset derived from the TCGA-BRCA cohort, profiling the expression, patient survival associations and immune cell type correlations of 12,727 lncRNAs across subtypes. Our findings revealed subtype-specific associations of lncRNAs with patient survival, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and other immune cells. Targeting of lncRNAs exhibiting subtype-specific survival associations and expression in a panel of breast cancer cells demonstrated a selective reduction in cell proliferation within their associated subtype, supporting subtype-specific functions of certain lncRNAs. Characterization of HER2 + -specific lncRNA LINC01269 and TNBC-specific lncRNA AL078604.2 showed nuclear localization and altered expression of hundreds of genes enriched in cancer-promoting processes, including apoptosis, cell proliferation and immune cell regulation. This work emphasizes the importance of considering the heterogeneity of breast cancer subtypes and the need for subtype-specific analyses to fully uncover the relevance and potential impact of lncRNAs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the contribution of lncRNAs to the distinct molecular, prognostic, and cellular composition of breast cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hannah F Cahill
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada
| | - Meghan E McLean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada
| | - Cheryl A Dean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H4R2, Canada; Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H1V8, Canada.
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Yang Z, Huang T, Sheng C, Wang K, Li Y, Feng Y, Huo D, Duan F. Prognostic value of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 in breast cancer: a meta-analysis and validated study in Chinese population. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e1923. [PMID: 37916733 PMCID: PMC10809272 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long non encoding RNA (lncRNA) plays a crucial role in breast cancer. However, the prognostic role of AFAP1-AS1 in breast cancer remains unclear. AIMS To investigate the relationship between the expression of long non-coding RNA actin filament-associated protein1 antisense RNA1 (AFAP1-AS1) and prognosis of breast cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS Meta-analysis was performed to explore the correlation between AFAP1-AS1 and breast cancer. The AFAP1-AS1expression in patients with breast cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue from 153 patients was determined by qRT-PCR. Bioinformatics and Cox proportional-hazards risk model were used to explore the relationship between expression of AFAP1-AS1 and prognosis. The combined analysis revealed a significant correlation between AFAP1-AS1 expression and both overall survival (hazard ratios, HR = 2.33, 95%Cl: 1.94-2.81, p < 0.001) as well as disease-free survival/progression-free survival (HR = 2.94, 95%CI: 2.35-3.67, p < 0.001). The relation between expression of AFAP1-AS1 and breast cancer was determined in 153 breast cancer and adjacent normal tissues. The findings revealed a significantly higher AFAP1-AS1expression levels in breast cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.001). Additionally, patients exhibiting heightened levels of AFAP1-AS1 expression were correlated with an unfavorable prognosis (HR = 2.35, 95%CI: 1.47-3.74, p < 0.001), which aligns consistently with the findings of the pooled analysis. The subgroup analysis of clinical characteristics revealed a significant association between high expression of AFAP1-AS1 and TNM stage (HR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.11-2.65, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that AFAP1-AS1 acts as an oncogene and may serve as a novel prognostic marker for breast cancer, particularly in the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenxing Yang
- Department of Medical Research Officethe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Medical Research Officethe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
| | - Chong Sheng
- College of Public HealthZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Kaijuan Wang
- College of Public HealthZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Yilin Li
- Department of Medical Research Officethe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
| | - Yajing Feng
- Department of Hospital Infection Managementthe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Dandan Huo
- Department of Medical Research Officethe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
| | - Fujiao Duan
- Department of Medical Research Officethe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
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Wu H, Wang A, Wang L, Shi F, Lin F, Cui H. A Novel circ_0104345/miR-876-3p/ZBTB20 Axis Regulates the Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells. Biochem Genet 2023; 61:2548-2565. [PMID: 37148331 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10391-z] [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: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. CircRNA/miRNA/mRNA regulatory axes have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of BC. Here, we sought to analyze the functional mechanism of circ_0104345 in BC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the levels of circ_0104345, miR-876-3p and zinc finger and BTB domain containing 20 (ZBTB20) mRNA. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to test cell viability and proliferation, respectively. Cell migration was tested by wound healing assay, and cell invasion was examined by transwell assay. Tube formation ability was tested by angiogenesis assay. Flow cytometry was applied for cell apoptosis. Western blot assay was utilized to measure the protein expression. The relationship between miR-876-3p and circ_0104345 or ZBTB20 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Xenografts in mice were conducted to analyze the effect of sh-circ_0104345 on tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0104345 and ZBTB20 were upregulated and miR-876-3p expression was decreased in BC. Circ_0104345 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and enhanced cell apoptosis. MiR-876-3p was targeted by circ_0104345. MiR-876-3p depletion reversed the effects of circ_0104345 downregulation on the progression of BC cells. ZBTB20 was regulated by circ_0104345 through miR-876-3p. The effects of miR-876-3p on BC cell behaviors were restored by ZBTB20 increase. The results of in vivo experiments indicated that silencing of circ_0104345 blocked the growth of xenograft tumors. In this study, we demonstrated, for the first time, the crucial regulation of the new circ_0104345/miR-876-3p/ZBTB20 axis in the biological phenotypes of BC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, No. 606, Xindu Road, Yancheng, 224000, China
| | - Aikun Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, No. 606, Xindu Road, Yancheng, 224000, China
| | - Lisheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, No. 606, Xindu Road, Yancheng, 224000, China
| | - Feng Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, No. 606, Xindu Road, Yancheng, 224000, China
| | - Fengli Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, No. 606, Xindu Road, Yancheng, 224000, China
| | - Hengfeng Cui
- Department of General Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, No. 606, Xindu Road, Yancheng, 224000, China.
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Zhou X, Zhang Q, Liang G, Liang X, Luo B. Overexpression of HMGB3 and its prognostic value in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1048921. [PMID: 36620553 PMCID: PMC9815698 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1048921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High mobility group protein B3 (HMGB3) is abundantly expressed in a number of malignancies, contributing to tumor cell growth and predicting poor outcomes. More research on the connection between HMGB3 and breast cancer is needed. The prognostic significance of HMGB3 in breast cancer was examined and validated in this study. Methods Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database RNA sequencing and clinical data, we investigated the associations between HMGB3 expression and tumor mutations, prognosis, and immune infiltration in breast cancer. The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), breast cancer gene-expression miner (bc-GenExMiner), UALCAN, OncoLnc, cBio Cancer Genomics Portal (cBioPortal), and LinkedOmics databases were applied to examine the levels of expression, mutation, coexpression, and immune correlation of HMGB3 in breast cancer. cBioPortal and the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) were used for coexpression and enrichment analyses, respectively. Experimental tests and a separate cohort of breast cancer patients in our center were used for validation. To determine independent risk factors affecting breast carcinoma prognosis, multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to analyze the connection between HMGB3 expression and overall survival time in breast cancer. Results Pan-cancer investigation using the GEPIA and UALCAN databases revealed a high level of HMGB3 expression in different malignancies, including breast cancer. HMGB3 might be a potential diagnostic biomarker, according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC=0.932). And immunohistochemistry confirmed higher HMGB3 protein expression in breast cancer tissues in clinical samples. Experimental tests also showed that breast cancer cells have higher expression of HMGB3, and knockdown of HMGB3 can promote the proliferation of breast cancer cells and increase sensitivity to chemotherapy. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), basal-like status, nodal status (N+), triple-negative status, and Scarff-Bloom-Richardson (SBR) grade all showed positive correlations with HMGB3 expression. Conversely, HMGB3 expression was negatively associated with the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancer. Breast cancer patients with high HMGB3 expression had poor overall survival, which was validated by an analysis of a separate cohort of breast cancer patients in our center. Cox regression analysis identified high HMGB3 expression as an independently associated risk factor for breast carcinoma. The amount of immunological infiltration was substantially linked with the high expression of HMGB3. The chromosome centromeric region, ATPase activity, and the cell cycle are critical areas where HMGB3 is involved, according to enrichment analysis. Therefore, we suspected that HMGB3 might be a potential biomarker for detecting and treating breast carcinoma. Conclusion Breast cancer tissues had higher HMGB3 expression than normal breast tissues. HMGB3 overexpression may serve as an indicator for poor breast cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Zhou
- Department of Radiotherapy Center, Hubei Cancer Hospital, The Seventh Clinical School Affiliated of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qu Zhang
- Department of Radiotherapy Center, Hubei Cancer Hospital, The Seventh Clinical School Affiliated of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Gai Liang
- Department of Radiotherapy Center, Hubei Cancer Hospital, The Seventh Clinical School Affiliated of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinjun Liang
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, The Seventh Clinical School Affiliated of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Luo
- Department of Radiotherapy Center, Hubei Cancer Hospital, The Seventh Clinical School Affiliated of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Bo Luo,
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Liang X, Liu X, Song Z, Zhu J, Zhang J. Hsa_circ_0097922 promotes tamoxifen resistance and cell malignant behaviour of breast cancer cells by regulating ACTN4 expression via miR-876-3p. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2022; 49:1257-1269. [PMID: 35856314 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of findings have verified the critical roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in human cancers, and chemotherapy resistance is a poor prognostic factor for breast cancer (BC). This study is designed to explore the function of hsa_circ_0097922 in the tamoxifen resistance of breast cancer. Hsa_circ_0097922, microRNA-876-3p (miR-876-3p), and alpha-actinin 4 (ACTN4) level were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell survival, proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assays. Protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cleaved caspase 3, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and ACTN4 were determined using western blot assay. Using bioinformatics software, the binding between miR-876-3p and hsa_circ_0097922 or ACTN4 was predicted, followed by confirmation by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays. A xenograft tumour model in vivo analysed the biological role of hsa_circ_0097922 on BC tumour growth and drug resistance. Hsa_circ_0097922 and ACTN4 were increased, and miR-876-3p was decreased in tamoxifen resistance BC cells. Moreover, hsa_circ_0097922 knockdown can block BC cell malignant behaviour and tamoxifen resistance in vitro. Mechanically, hsa_circ_0097922 acted as a sponge of miR-876-3p to regulate ACTN4 expression. Hsa_circ_0097922 silencing increased the drug sensitivity of BC in vivo. Hsa_circ_0097922 might regulate BC cell malignant behaviour and tamoxifen resistance partly by regulating the miR-876-3p/ACTN4 axis, hinting at a promising therapeutic target for the BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuju Liang
- Department of Oncology, No. 960 Hospital, the People's Liberation Army, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Oncology, No. 960 Hospital, the People's Liberation Army, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Zhonghua Song
- Department of General Practice, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Thyroid Breast Surgery, No. 960 Hospital, the People's Liberation Army, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Jinqing Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan City, Shandong, China
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Yuan M, Zhang J, He Y, Yi G, Rong L, Zheng L, Zhan T, Zhou C. Circ_0062558 promotes growth, migration, and glutamine metabolism in triple-negative breast cancer by targeting the miR-876-3p/SLC1A5 axis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2022; 306:1643-1655. [PMID: 35284960 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06481-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to function as vital regulators in cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This study aimed to explore the role of circ_0062558 in TNBC. METHODS The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to quantify the expressions of circ_0062558, microRNA-876-3p (miR-876-3p), and solute carrier family 1 (neutral amino acid transporter), member 5 (SLC1A5) in TNBC tissues and cells. 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT), thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, wound healing, and Transwell assays were employed for cell phenotype analyses. Protein expression was tested by western blot analysis. Dual-luciferase reporter was used to confirm the association among circ_0062558, miR-876-3p, and SLC1A5 in TNBC. Xenograft experiments were performed to elucidate the function of circ_0062558 in vivo. RESULTS TNBC tissues and cells showed the higher level of circ_0062558 when compared with control samples. Downregulation of circ_0062558 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and glutamine metabolism, while enhanced apoptosis of TNBC cells, and silencing of circ_0062558 also inhibited the growth of tumor in vivo. MiR-876-3p was confirmed as a target of circ_0062558, and circ_0062558 knockdown repressed TNBC cell malignant behaviors by increasing miR-876-3p. Furthermore, miR-876-3p inhibited malignant behaviors of TNBC cells by down-regulating SLC1A5, a newly identified target of miR-876-3p. CONCLUSION Circ_0062558 promoted TNBC progression by enhancing proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and glutamine metabolism via miR-876-3p/SLC1A5 axis, which was helpful for understanding the carcinogenic roles of circ_0062558.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhen Yuan
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxin He
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Guangming Yi
- The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
| | - Liwen Rong
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Liangjian Zheng
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Tingting Zhan
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Congming Zhou
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, No.82, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China.
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Lin T, Zhang Y, Lin Z, Peng L. Roles of HMGBs in Prognosis and Immunotherapy: A Pan-Cancer Analysis. Front Genet 2021; 12:764245. [PMID: 34777483 PMCID: PMC8585836 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.764245] [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: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: High mobility group box (HMGB) proteins are DNA chaperones involved in transcription, DNA repair, and genome stability. Extracellular HMGBs also act as cytokines to promote inflammatory and immune responses. Accumulating evidence has suggested that HMGBs are implicated in cancer pathogenesis; however, their prognostic and immunological values in pan-cancer are not completely clear. Methods: Multiple tools were applied to analyze the expression, genetic alternations, and prognostic and clinicopathological relevance of HMGB in pan-cancer. Correlations between HMGB expression and tumor immune-infiltrating cells (TIICs), immune checkpoint (ICP) expression, microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor mutational burden (TMB) in pan-cancer were investigated to uncover their interactions with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted for correlated genes of HMGBs to expound potential mechanisms. Results: HMGB expression was significantly elevated in various cancers. Both prognostic and clinicopathological significance was observed for HMGB1 in ACC; HMGB2 in ACC, LGG, LIHC, and SKCM; and HMGB3 in ESCA. Prognostic values were also found for HMGB2 in KIRP and MESO and HMGB3 in BRCA, SARC, SKCM, OV, and LAML. The global alternation of HMGBs showed prognostic significance in ACC, KIRC, and UCEC. Furthermore, HMGBs were significantly correlated with TIIC infiltration, ICP expression, MSI, and TMB in various cancers, indicating their regulations on the TIME. Lastly, results of GSEA-illuminated genes positively correlated with HMGBs which were similarly chromosome components participating in DNA activity-associated events. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that HMGBs might be promising predictive biomarkers for the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response, also immunotherapy targets of multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Lin
- The Fourth Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingzhao Zhang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhimei Lin
- The Fourth Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lisheng Peng
- Department of Science and Education, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Saghafinia S, Homicsko K, Di Domenico A, Wullschleger S, Perren A, Marinoni I, Ciriello G, Michael IP, Hanahan D. Cancer Cells Retrace a Stepwise Differentiation Program during Malignant Progression. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:2638-2657. [PMID: 33910926 PMCID: PMC7611766 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET) comprise two molecular subtypes, relatively benign islet tumors (IT) and invasive, metastasis-like primary (MLP) tumors. Until now, the origin of aggressive MLP tumors has been obscure. Herein, using multi-omics approaches, we revealed that MLP tumors arise from IT via dedifferentiation following a reverse trajectory along the developmental pathway of islet β cells, which results in the acquisition of a progenitor-like molecular phenotype. Functionally, the miR-181cd cluster induces the IT-to-MLP transition by suppressing expression of the Meis2 transcription factor, leading to upregulation of a developmental transcription factor, Hmgb3. Notably, the IT-to-MLP transition constitutes a distinct step of tumorigenesis and is separable from the classic proliferation-associated hallmark, temporally preceding accelerated proliferation of cancer cells. Furthermore, patients with PanNET with elevated HMGB3 expression and an MLP transcriptional signature are associated with higher-grade tumors and worse survival. Overall, our results unveil a new mechanism that modulates cancer cell plasticity to enable malignant progression. SIGNIFICANCE: Dedifferentiation has long been observed as a histopathologic characteristic of many cancers, albeit inseparable from concurrent increases in cell proliferation. Herein, we demonstrate that dedifferentiation is a mechanistically and temporally separable step in the multistage tumorigenesis of pancreatic islet cells, retracing the developmental lineage of islet β cells.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2355.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Saghafinia
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Stephan Wullschleger
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurel Perren
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Marinoni
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Ciriello
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Iacovos P Michael
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
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