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Meril S, Muhlbauer Avni M, Lior C, Bahlsen M, Olender T, Savidor A, Krausz J, Belhanes Peled H, Birisi H, David N, Bialik S, Scherz-Shouval R, Ben David Y, Kimchi A. Loss of EIF4G2 mediates aggressiveness in distinct human endometrial cancer subpopulations with poor survival outcome in patients. Oncogene 2024; 43:1098-1112. [PMID: 38388710 PMCID: PMC10997518 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-02981-x] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The non-canonical translation initiation factor EIF4G2 plays essential roles in cellular stress responses via translation of selective mRNA cohorts. Currently there is limited and conflicting information regarding its involvement in cancer development and progression. Here we assessed its role in endometrial cancer (EC), in a cohort of 280 EC patients across different types, grades, and stages, and found that low EIF4G2 expression highly correlated with poor overall- and recurrence-free survival in Grade 2 EC patients, monitored over a period of up to 12 years. To establish a causative connection between low EIF4G2 expression and cancer progression, we stably knocked-down EIF4G2 in two human EC cell lines in parallel. EIF4G2 depletion resulted in increased resistance to conventional therapies and increased the prevalence of molecular markers for aggressive cell subsets, altering their transcriptional and proteomic landscapes. Prominent among the proteins with decreased abundance were Kinesin-1 motor proteins, KIF5B and KLC1, 2, 3. Multiplexed imaging of the EC patient tumor cohort showed a correlation between decreased expression of the kinesin proteins, and poor survival in patients with tumors of certain grades and stages. These findings reveal potential novel biomarkers for Grade 2 EC with ramifications for patient stratification and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Meril
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Maya Muhlbauer Avni
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Chen Lior
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Marcela Bahlsen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Tsviya Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Alon Savidor
- The de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine (G-INCPM), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Judit Krausz
- Pathology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | | | - Hila Birisi
- Pathology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Nofar David
- Pathology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Shani Bialik
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yehuda Ben David
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Adi Kimchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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