Plasma C-MYC level manifesting as an indicator in progression of breast cancer

Radiomic Nomogram for Predicting Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Breast Cancer

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The detection of axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in patients with breast cancer is a crucial determinant in the decision-making process for axillary surgery and potential therapies. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a radiomics nomogram that integrates radiomics features from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with clinical factors to predict ALNM in patients with breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 177 patients with breast cancer were randomly divided into a training set (n = 123) and a validation set (n = 54) using a 7:3 ratio. From the DCE-MRI images, 2818 radiomics features were extracted from the primary tumor and axillary lymph node (ALN). Subsequently, optimal features were selected through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm to construct the Radscore. Clinical factors were identified using univariate logistic regression analysis and included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Using the Radscore and clinical factors, a radiomics nomogram was developed using the Support Vector Machine method. The predicting efficacy of our model was visually appraised utilizing a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, while its clinical application and predictive accuracy were assessed through decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves, respectively.

RESULTS

The results revealed Ki67, multifocality, and MRI-reported ALN status as independent risk factors for ALNM. The radiomics nomogram demonstrated good calibration and discrimination with areas under the ROC curve of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.97) in the training set and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.72-0.90) in the validation set. DCA revealed the clinical usefulness of the radiomics nomogram.

CONCLUSION

The DCE-MRI-based radiomics nomogram is a reliable tool for assessing ALNM in patients with breast cancer.

Laser nanostructured gold biosensor for proto-oncogene detection

The advancement of biosensor research has been a primary driving force in the continuing progress of modern medical science. While traditional nanofabrication methods have long been the foundation of biosensor research, recent years have seen a shift in the field of nanofabrication towards laser-based techniques. Here we report a gold-based biosensor, with a limit of detection (LoD) 3.18 µM, developed using environmentally friendly Laser Ablation Synthesis in Liquid (LASiS) and Confined Atmospheric Pulsed-laser (CAP) deposition techniques for the first time. The sensors were able detect a DNA fragment corresponding to the longest unpaired sequence of the c-Myc gene, indicating their potential for detecting such fragments in the ctDNA signature of various cancers. The LoD of the developed novel biosensor highlights its reliability and sensitivity as an analytical platform. The reproducibility of the sensor was examined via the production and testing of 200 sensors with the same fabrication methodology. This work offers a scalable, and green approach to fabricating viable biosensors capable of detecting clinically relevant oncogenic targets.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of Prognostic and Immune Infiltrates for the TMEM65, Especially for the Breast Cancer

Introduction

Transmembrane protein 65 (TMEM65) is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein, which played important role in mediating autophagy, smooth muscle contraction, protein glycosylation, and immune response. In recent years, the interest had risen for exploring the function of the TMEM genes in the cancer fields. As a consequence, in our pan-cancer research of the TMEM65, we explored the function of the gene in kinds of database and tried to apply the finding in the clinical practice.

Methods

In this research, we provide a comprehensive investigation of TMEM65 expression in a pan-cancer manner containing 33 cancer types. We evaluated the association of TMEM65 with the prognosis, immune infiltration, drug sensitivity analysis, GSVA enrichment analysis, TMB, MSI, NEO, and hotspot mechanisms.

Results

TMEM65 was abnormally expressed in 24 types of cancers and showed correlation with the OS for 6 cancers and PFI for 9 cancers and kpI for 3 types. Moreover, the TME score, CD8 T effector, and immune checkpoint scoring systems showed a close correlation with the TMEM65. Moreover, TMEM65 was strongly correlated with some of the most common tumor-related genes and certain pathways (TGF beta signaling, TNFA signaling, hypoxia, pyroptosis, DNA repairing, autophagy, ferroptosis, and other related genes). Additionally, the TMEM65 showed correlations with the tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), NEO, and drug sensitivity. Finally, we confirmed several pathways by the GSEA and GSVA for the TMEM65 at the breast cancer aspects. Nomogram prediction model was also established for the breast tumors based on the TMEM65 level and other variables.

Conclusion

Above all, the TMEM65 played important roles in predicting the prognosis of the cancers and correlated with the tumor immunity in the pan-cancer analysis.

Identification of potential microRNA diagnostic panels and uncovering regulatory mechanisms in breast cancer pathogenesis

Early diagnosis of breast cancer (BC), as the most common cancer among women, increases the survival rate and effectiveness of treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control various cell behaviors, and their dysregulation is widely involved in pathophysiological processes such as BC development and progress. In this study, we aimed to identify potential miRNA biomarkers for early diagnosis of BC. We also proposed a consensus-based strategy to analyze the miRNA expression data to gain a deeper insight into the regulatory roles of miRNAs in BC initiation. Two microarray datasets (GSE106817 and GSE113486) were analyzed to explore the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in serum of BC patients and healthy controls. Utilizing multiple bioinformatics tools, six serum-based miRNA biomarkers (miR-92a-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-191-5p, miR-141-3p, miR-590-5p and miR-190a-5p) were identified for BC diagnosis. We applied our consensus and integration approach to construct a comprehensive BC-specific miRNA-TF co-regulatory network. Using different combination of these miRNA biomarkers, two novel diagnostic models, consisting of miR-92a-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-191-5p (model 1) and miR-92a-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-141-3p, and miR-590-5p (model 2), were obtained from bioinformatics analysis. Validation analysis was carried out for the considered models on two microarray datasets (GSE73002 and GSE41922). The model based on similar network topology features, comprising miR-92a-3p, miR-23b-3p and miR-191-5p was the most promising model in the diagnosis of BC patients from healthy controls with 0.89 sensitivity, 0.96 specificity and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98. These findings elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying BC and represent novel biomarkers for early BC diagnosis.

The circACTN4 interacts with FUBP1 to promote tumorigenesis and progression of breast cancer by regulating the expression of proto-oncogene MYC

Background

Recent studies have revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play significant roles in the occurrence and development of many kinds of cancers including breast cancer (BC). However, the potential functions of most circRNAs and the molecular mechanisms underlying progression of BC remain elusive.

Method

Here, Circular RNA microarray was executed in 4 pairs of breast cancer tissues and para-cancer tissues. The expression and prognostic significance of circACTN4 in BC cells and tissues were determined by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization. Gain-and loss-of-function experiments were implemented to observe the impacts of circACTN4 on the growth, invasion, and metastasis of BC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter, RNA pulldown, mass spectrum, RNA immunoprecipitation, fluorescence in situ hybridization and co-immunoprecipitation assays were executed.

Results

CircACTN4 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues and cells, its expression was correlated with clinical stage and poor prognosis of patients with BC. Ectopic expression of circACTN4 strikingly facilitated the growth, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Whereas knockdown of circACTN4 revealed opposite roles. CircACTN4 was mainly distributed in the nucleus. Further mechanistic research proved that circACTN4 could competitively bind to far upstream element binding protein 1 (FUBP1) to prevent the combination between FUBP1 and FIR, thereby activating MYC transcription and facilitating tumor progression of breast cancer. Furthermore, we found that upstream transcription factor 2 (USF2) might promote the biogenesis of circACTN4.

Conclusion

Our findings uncover a pivotal mechanism that circACTN4 mediated by USF2 might interact with FUBP1 to promote the occurrence and development of breast cancer via enhancing the expression of MYC. CircACTN4 could be a novel potential target for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-021-01383-x.

Targeting a novel LncRNA SNHG15/miR-451/c-Myc signaling cascade is effective to hamper the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC) in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

To our knowledge, LncRNA SNHG15 exerted its tumor-promoting effects to facilitate the development of breast cancer (BC), but there still needed more data to elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

We examined genes expression status by performing Real-Time qPCR and Western Blot analysis, and cellular functions, including cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis, mobility, were measured by using the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, trypan blue staining assay, flow cytometer (FCM), transwell assay and wound scratch assay, respectively. The predicted targeting sites in LncRNA SNHG15, miR-451 and c-Myc 3'UTR were validated by dual-luciferase reporter gene system assay. Finally, we established the tumor-bearing mice models, and the expression status, including its enrichment and cellular localization were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay.

RESULTS

Our data indicated LncRNA SNHG15 upregulated c-Myc to facilitate BC progression by sponging miR-451 in a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA)-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, LncRNA SNHG15 and c-Myc were upregulated, while miR-451 was downregulated in BC cells and clinical tissues, compared to their normal counterparts. In addition, miR-451 negatively correlated with LncRNA SNHG15 and c-Myc, and LncRNA SNHG15 was positively relevant to c-Myc in BC tissues. Next, we validated that LncRNA SNHG15 sponged miR-451 to upregulate c-Myc in BC cells. Further gain- and loss-of-function experiments evidenced that LncRNA SNHG15 promoted, while miR-451 inhibited malignant phenotypes, including cell proliferation, viability, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC cells. Interestingly, the inhibiting effects of LncRNA SNHG15 ablation on BC progression were abrogated by both silencing miR-451 and overexpressing c-Myc.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that targeting the LncRNA SNHG15/miR-451/c-Myc signaling cascade was novel to hamper BC progression, which broadened our knowledge in this field, and provided potential biomarkers for BC diagnosis and treatment.