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Chai X, Wang G, Hong X, Feng M, Wang H, Liu F, Yao W, Zhu D, Li Q. Inhibition of HIST1H2AB suppresses the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma. J Gene Med 2023; 25:e3469. [PMID: 36511295 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3469] [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: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Histone cluster 1 H2A family member b (HIST1H2AB) is a member of the histone H2A family. Bioinformatic analyses have revealed that HIST1H2AB is highly expressed in some cancers and might be an oncogene. However, information on the function of HIST1H2AB in lung adenocarcinoma is limited. METHODS The expression of HIST1H2AB was analyzed in normal lung, lung adenocarcinoma and paracancerous tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and immunohistochemistry staining. It was further verified in the relative cell lines using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). When the adenocarcinoma cells lines (A549 and H1299) were successfully transfected with shHIST1H2AB or an empty plasmid packaged into a lentivirus, cell proliferation was detected using Celigo fluorescence cell-counting, colony formation and annexin V-allophycocyanin assays. Twenty nude mice were subcutaneously injected with A549 cells transfected with shHIST1H2AB or empty plasmid; the tumor size was recorded on day 25 and then measured every 3 days thereafter. The final tumor weight was measured on day 37. Significantly differentially expressed genes were analyzed using a human gene expression array. Furthermore, the potentially relevant genes were verified using RT-qPCR and western blotting. RESULTS HIST1H2AB was highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues from TCGA database and immunohistochemistry staining. Similar results were seen in the lung adenocarcinoma cells. When the cells were successfully transfected with shHIST1H2AB or an empty plasmid, downregulation of HIST1H2AB inhibited the growth and promoted the apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells. The xenograft results suggested that HIST1H2AB downregulation delayed tumor growth and reduced tumor weight. Moreover, interferon signaling pathway and four genes (HMGB1, FOXM1, F2RL1 and SLC4A7) might be regulated by HIST1H2AB in the development of lung adenocarcinoma as indicated through gene expression array, RT-qPCR and western blotting analyses. CONCLUSIONS HIST1H2AB acts as an oncogenic protein and HIST1H2AB inhibition suppresses the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells. It may be a novel target for lung adenocarcinoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Chai
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangxue Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Hong
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Minghao Feng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - He Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fabing Liu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Yao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyi Zhu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinchuan Li
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Espiritu D, Gribkova AK, Gupta S, Shaytan AK, Panchenko AR. Molecular Mechanisms of Oncogenesis through the Lens of Nucleosomes and Histones. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:3963-3976. [PMID: 33769808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c00694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
At the cellular level, cancer is the disease of both the genome and the epigenome, and the interplay between genetic mutations and epigenetic states may occur at the level of elementary chromatin units, the nucleosomes. They are formed by a segment of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins. In this review, we survey various mechanisms of cancer etiology and progression mediated by histones and nucleosomes. In particular, we discuss the effects of mutations in histones, changes in their expression and slicing on epigenetic dysregulation and carcinogenesis. The links between cancer phenotypes and differential expression of histone variants and isoforms are summarized. Finally, we discourse the geometric and steric effects of DNA compaction in nucleosomes on DNA mutation rate, interactions with transcription factors, including pioneer transcription factors, and prospects of cancer cells' genome and epigenome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Espiritu
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna K Gribkova
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, Sochi, 354340, Russia
| | - Shubhangi Gupta
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexey K Shaytan
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, Sochi, 354340, Russia.,Bioinformatics Lab, Faculty of Computer Science, HSE University, 11 Pokrovsky Boulevard, Moscow, 109028, Russia
| | - Anna R Panchenko
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Histone H2A isoforms: Potential implications in epigenome plasticity and diseases in eukaryotes. J Biosci 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-019-9985-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Shah S, Verma T, Rashid M, Gadewal N, Gupta S. Histone H2A isoforms: Potential implications in epigenome plasticity and diseases in eukaryotes. J Biosci 2020; 45:4. [PMID: 31965982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms including the post-translational modifications of histones, incorporation of histone variants and DNA methylation have been suggested to play an important role in genome plasticity by allowing the cellular environment to define gene expression and the phenotype of an organism. Studies over the past decade have elucidated how these epigenetic mechanisms are significant in orchestrating various biological processes and contribute to different pathophysiological states. However, the role of histone isoforms and their impact on different phenotypes and physiological processes associated with diseases are not fully clear. This review is focussed on the recent advances in our understanding of the complexity of eukaryotic H2A isoforms and their roles in defining nucleosome organization. We elaborate on their potential roles in genomic complexity and regulation of gene expression, and thereby on their overall contribution towards cellular phenotype and development of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanket Shah
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Caner Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410 210, India
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Singh R, Bassett E, Chakravarti A, Parthun MR. Replication-dependent histone isoforms: a new source of complexity in chromatin structure and function. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:8665-8678. [PMID: 30165676 PMCID: PMC6158624 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Replication-dependent histones are expressed in a cell cycle regulated manner and supply the histones necessary to support DNA replication. In mammals, the replication-dependent histones are encoded by a family of genes that are located in several clusters. In humans, these include 16 genes for histone H2A, 22 genes for histone H2B, 14 genes for histone H3, 14 genes for histone H4 and 6 genes for histone H1. While the proteins encoded by these genes are highly similar, they are not identical. For many years, these genes were thought to encode functionally equivalent histone proteins. However, several lines of evidence have emerged that suggest that the replication-dependent histone genes can have specific functions and may constitute a novel layer of chromatin regulation. This Survey and Summary reviews the literature on replication-dependent histone isoforms and discusses potential mechanisms by which the small variations in primary sequence between the isoforms can alter chromatin function. In addition, we summarize the wealth of data implicating altered regulation of histone isoform expression in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajbir Singh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Emily Bassett
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Arnab Chakravarti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mark R Parthun
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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Uribe D, Cardona A, Esposti DD, Cros MP, Cuenin C, Herceg Z, Camargo M, Cortés-Mancera FM. Antiproliferative Effects of Epigenetic Modifier Drugs Through E-cadherin Up-regulation in Liver Cancer Cell Lines. Ann Hepatol 2018; 17:444-460. [PMID: 29735783 DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0011.7389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM Epigenetic alterations play an essential role in cancer onset and progression, thus studies of drugs targeting the epigenetic machinery are a principal concern for cancer treatment. Here, we evaluated the potential of the combination of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5aza-dC) and the pan-deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA), at low cytotoxic concentrations, to modulate the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway in liver cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Pyrosequencing was used for DNA methylation analyses of LINE-1 sequences and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway antagonist DKK3, SFRP1, WIF1 and CDH1. qRT-PCR was employed to verify the expression of the antagonist. Pathway regulation were evaluated looking at the expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin by confocal microscopy and the antitumoral effects of the drugs was studied by wound healing and clonogenic assays. RESULTS Our result suggest that 5aza-dC and TSA treatments were enough to induce a significant expression of the pathway antagonists, decrease of β-catenin protein levels, re-localization of the protein to the plasma membrane, and pathway transcriptional activity reduction. These important effects exerted an antitumoral outcome shown by the reduction of the migration and clonogenic capabilities of the cells. CONCLUSION We were able to demonstrate Wnt/ β-catenin pathway modulation through E-cadherin up-regulation induced by 5aza-dC and TSA treatments, under an activation-pathway background, like CTNNB1 and TP53 mutations. These findings provide evidences of the potential effect of epigenetic modifier drugs for liver cancer treatment. However, further research needs to be conducted, to determine the in vivo potential of this treatment regimen for the management of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Uribe
- Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica - GI2B, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, ITM. Medellín, Colombia
| | - Andres Cardona
- Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica - GI2B, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, ITM. Medellín, Colombia
| | - Davide Degli Esposti
- Epigenetics Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC. Lyon, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Cros
- Epigenetics Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC. Lyon, France
| | - Cyrille Cuenin
- Epigenetics Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC. Lyon, France
| | - Zdenko Herceg
- Epigenetics Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC. Lyon, France
| | - Mauricio Camargo
- Grupo Genética, Regeneración y Cáncer - GRC, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, SIU Lab 432, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA. Medellín, Colombia
| | - Fabian M Cortés-Mancera
- Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica - GI2B, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, ITM. Medellín, Colombia
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Li D, Guo J, Wang S, Zhu L, Shen Z. Identification of novel methylated targets in colorectal cancer by microarray analysis and construction of co-expression network. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:2643-2648. [PMID: 28928808 PMCID: PMC5588160 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate novel methylated targets in colorectal cancer (CRC). The mRNA expression profiles of GSE32323 in 17 cancer and non-cancerous tissues from CRC patients, as well as expression profiles of 5 CRC cell lines prior and subsequent to 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment, were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in 5 CRC cell lines prior and subsequent to 5-aza-dC treatment were combined with the CRC-specific gene expression profiling array data. Context likelihood of relatedness algorithm was used to construct the co-expression network of CRC-specific gene expression profile. A sub-network of identified reverse-overlapped DEGs was selected and underwent Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway Analysis. A total of 6 reverse-overlapped DEGs were identified. This present study verified fibulin 2 (FBLN2) and protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 14A (PPP1R14A) to be downregulated in the CRC tissue sample but upregulated in CRC cell lines following 5-aza-dC treatment. The identified reverse-overlapped DEGs were enriched in tumor-associated signaling pathways, including cellular tumor antigen p53, cell cycle and NOD-like receptor (NLR) signaling pathway. A total of 2 silenced genes with abnormal methylation in CRC were identified, including FBLN2 and PPP1R14A. The reverse-overlapped DEGs were enriched in p53, cell cycle and NLR signaling pathways, indicating that reverse-overlapped DEGs, particularly FBLN2 and PPP1R14A, may be important tumor suppressors and that these reverse-overlapped DEGs are inactivated by methylation in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Li
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
| | - Jialin Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
| | - Song Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
| | - Liangchen Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
| | - Zugang Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
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Gnoni A, Santini D, Scartozzi M, Russo A, Licchetta A, Palmieri V, Lupo L, Faloppi L, Palasciano G, Memeo V, Angarano G, Brunetti O, Guarini A, Pisconti S, Lorusso V, Silvestris N. Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment over sorafenib: epigenetics, microRNAs and microenvironment. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2015. [PMID: 26212068 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2015.1071354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sorafenib is currently the only approved therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alternative first- and second-line treatments are a significant unmet medical need, and several biologic agents have been tested in recent years, with poor results. Therefore, angiogenic pathways and the cytokine cascade remain possible targets in HCC. Recent studies suggest a role of epigenetic processes, associated with the initiation and development of HCC. In this field, DNA methylation, micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and tumor microenvironment cells became a possible new target for HCC treatment. AREAS COVERED This review explains the possible role of DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibitors as predictive biomarkers and target therapy, the extensive world of the promising miRNA blockade strategy, and the recent strong evidence of correlation between HCC tumors and peritumoral stroma cells. The literature and preclinic/clinic data were obtained through an electronic search. EXPERT OPINION Future research should aim to understand how best to identify patient groups that would benefit most from the prescribed therapy. To overcome the 'therapeutic stranding' of HCC, a possible way out from the current therapeutic tunnel might be to evaluate the major epigenetic and genetic processes involved in HCC carcinogenesis, not underestimating the tumor microenvironment and its 'actors' (angiogenesis, immune system, platelets). We are only at the start of a long journey towards the elucidation of HCC molecular pathways as therapeutic targets. Yet, currently this path appears to be the only one to cast some light at the end of the tunnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Gnoni
- a 1 Hospital of Taranto, Medical Oncology Unit , Taranto, Italy
| | - Daniele Santini
- b 2 University Campus Biomedico, Medical Oncology Unit , Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- c 3 University of Cagliari, Medical Oncology Unit , Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Russo
- d 4 University of Palermo, Medical Oncology Unit , Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Palmieri
- e 5 University of Bari, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Clinica Medica "A. Murri" , Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Lupo
- f 6 University of Bari, Institute of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation , Bari, Italy
| | - Luca Faloppi
- g 7 Polytechnic University of the Marche, Medical Oncology Unit , Ancona, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Palasciano
- e 5 University of Bari, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Clinica Medica "A. Murri" , Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Memeo
- f 6 University of Bari, Institute of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation , Bari, Italy
| | | | - Oronzo Brunetti
- i 9 National Cancer Research Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", Medical Oncology Unit , Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy +39 080 555 5419 ; +39 080 555 5419 ;
| | - Attilio Guarini
- j 10 National Cancer Research Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", Medical Ematology Unit , Bari, Italy
| | | | - Vito Lorusso
- i 9 National Cancer Research Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", Medical Oncology Unit , Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy +39 080 555 5419 ; +39 080 555 5419 ;
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- i 9 National Cancer Research Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", Medical Oncology Unit , Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy +39 080 555 5419 ; +39 080 555 5419 ;
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Zekri AERN, Nassar AAM, El-Din El-Rouby MN, Shousha HI, Barakat AB, El-Desouky ED, Zayed NA, Ahmed OS, El-Din Youssef AS, Kaseb AO, Abd El-Aziz AO, Bahnassy AA. Disease progression from chronic hepatitis C to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with increasing DNA promoter methylation. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2015; 14:6721-6. [PMID: 24377595 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.11.6721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in DNA methylation patterns are believed to be early events in hepatocarcinogenesis. A better understanding of methylation states and how they correlate with disease progression will aid in finding potential strategies for early detection of HCC. The aim of our study was to analyze the methylation frequency of tumor suppressor genes, P14, P15, and P73, and a mismatch repair gene (O6MGMT) in HCV related chronic liver disease and HCC to identify candidate epigenetic biomarkers for HCC prediction. MATERIALS AND METHODS 516 Egyptian patients with HCV-related liver disease were recruited from Kasr Alaini multidisciplinary HCC clinic from April 2010 to January 2012. Subjects were divided into 4 different clinically defined groups - HCC group (n=208), liver cirrhosis group (n=108), chronic hepatitis C group (n=100), and control group (n=100) - to analyze the methylation status of the target genes in patient plasma using EpiTect Methyl qPCR Array technology. Methylation was considered to be hypermethylated if >10% and/or intermediately methylated if >60%. RESULTS In our series, a significant difference in the hypermethylation status of all studied genes was noted within the different stages of chronic liver disease and ultimately HCC. Hypermethylation of the P14 gene was detected in 100/208 (48.1%), 52/108 (48.1%), 16/100 (16%) and 8/100 (8%) among HCC, liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and control groups, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the studied groups (p-value 0.008). We also detected P15 hypermethylation in 92/208 (44.2%), 36/108 (33.3%), 20/100 (20%) and 4/100 (4%) , respectively (p-value 0.006). In addition, hypermethylation of P73 was detected in 136/208 (65.4%), 72/108 (66.7%), 32/100 (32%) and 4/100 (4%) (p-value <0.001). Also, we detected O6MGMT hypermethylation in 84/208 (40.4%), 60/108 (55.3%), 20/100 (20%) and 4/100 (4%), respectively (p value <0.001. CONCLUSIONS The epigenetic changes observed in this study indicate that HCC tumors exhibit specific DNA methylation signatures with potential clinical applications in diagnosis and prognosis. In addition, methylation frequency could be used to monitor whether a patient with chronic hepatitis C is likely to progress to liver cirrhosis or even HCC. We can conclude that methylation processes are not just early events in hepatocarcinogenesis but accumulate with progression to cancer.
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Anestopoulos I, Voulgaridou GP, Georgakilas AG, Franco R, Pappa A, Panayiotidis MI. Epigenetic therapy as a novel approach in hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 145:103-19. [PMID: 25205159 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver malignancy and one with high fatality. Its 5-year survival rate remains low and thus, there is a need for improvement of current treatment strategies as well as development of novel targeted methodologies in order to optimize existing therapeutic protocols. To this end, only recently, it was discovered that its pathophysiology also involves epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications and/or non-coding microRNA patterns. Unlike genetic events, epigenetic alterations are reversible and thus potentially considered to be an alternative option in cancer treatment protocols. In this review, we describe the general characteristics and resulted major alterations of the epigenetic machinery as well as current state of progress of epigenetic therapy (via different single or combinatorial experimental approaches) in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Anestopoulos
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | | | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- School of Applied Mathematical & Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Rodrigo Franco
- Redox Biology Center, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
| | - Aglaia Pappa
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Dong Y, Wang A. Aberrant DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma tumor suppression (Review). Oncol Lett 2014; 8:963-968. [PMID: 25120642 PMCID: PMC4114628 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2014.2301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation leads to altered gene expression, resulting in cancerous features. Numerous tumor suppressor genes are silenced by DNA methylation during hepatocarcinogenesis. Promoter CpG island hypermethylation is an important mechanism for inactivating tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the p16 (INK4a) and p15 (INK4b) promoters may increase the risk of developing HCC, particularly hepatitis B virus-related HCC. Environmental factors can lead to geographic variations in the methylation status of CpG islands. Aberrant DNA methylation of CpG islands is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Thus, abnormal variations of DNMTs can contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. In hepatitis-related HCC, microRNAs participate in hepatocarcinogenesis by directly targeting DNMTs, during which hepatitis B virus X acts as a regulator. DNA methylation may also contribute to HCC tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle. Based on the importance of DNA methylation in tumor suppression of HCC, certain DNA methylations may predict the risk of tumor development, tumor staging, patient survival and HCC recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhong Dong
- Oncology Department, Xiangyang Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China
| | - Anping Wang
- Oncology Department, Xiangyang Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China
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