Low Expression of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 in Bladder Cancer: Novel Potential Indicators of Muscular Invasion

Silencing EPHB2 diminished the malignant biological properties of esophagus cancer cells by blocking autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Eph receptor B2 (EPHB2) is overexpressed in some tumors and relevant to unfavorable outcomes of tumor patients. By searching Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and KM Plot websites, we discovered that EPHB2 was highly expressed in patients with esophageal cancer, leading to poor prognosis. However, the role and molecular mechanism of EPHB2 in esophagus cancer is unknown. Our study aims to unveil the underlying mechanism by which EPHB2 modulates the biological properties of esophagus cancer cells. After si-EPHB2 transfection, the malignant biological properties of esophagus cancer cells were determined by several biological experiments. IWP-4 was applied to block Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The expressions of autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway relevant molecules were tested by western blot assay. An increased expression of EPHB2 was happened in esophagus cancer samples and loss of EPHB2 diminished esophagus cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, our data showed that depletion of EPHB2 blocked the autophagy and in-activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in esophagus cancer cells. While, IWP-4 treatment inhibited the autophagy and limited esophagus cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, EPHB2 knocked down strengthened the effect of IWP-4 treatment in regulating esophagus cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Finally, we illustrated that EPHB2 regulated the biological properties of esophagus cancer cells by modulating autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our study illustrated that EPHB2 might be a worthwhile target considering for the treatment of esophagus cancer.

EphB3 receptor suppressor invasion, migration and proliferation in glioma by inhibiting EGFR-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Eph receptors are the largest subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases, and they have been shown to play a crucial role in glioma. The EphB3 receptor is a member of this family, and its effect on the invasion, migration and proliferation of glioma cells was examined in this study. It was found that the expression of EphB3 was decreased in glioma specimens with increasing tumor grade. Additionally, the U87MG and U251 cell lines showed low levels of EphB3 expression. This finding was consistent with the negative correlation between EphB3 expression in glioma tissues and tumor grade. Depletion of EphB3 gene in U87MG and U251 cell lines resulted in a substantial enhancement of their invasion, migration, and proliferation capacities in vitro. Furthermore, the knockdown of EphB3 led to an upregulation of EGFR, p-PI3K, and p-AKT protein levels. On the other hand, EphB3 overexpression reduced the invasiveness, proliferative capacity and migration rate of U87MG and U251 cells, and downregulated EGFR, p-PI3K and p-AKT. These findings indicate that EphB3 functions as a tumor suppressor in glioma, and its downregulation enhances the malignant potential of glioma cells by activating the EGFR-PI3K/AKT pathway. Thus, EphB3 is a promising diagnostic marker for glioma, and the EphB3-EGFR-PI3K / AKT axis deserves further investigation as a potential therapeutic target.

EphB3 protein is a potential ancillary diagnostic biomarker for thyroid cancers

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of ephrin type B receptor 3 (EphB3) in thyroid tumors and its usage as an ancillary diagnostic biomarker for thyroid tumors.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples (78 cases) and FNAC samples (57 cases) were assessed with the EphB3 antibody using immunohistochemistry. PTC and other thyroid follicular tumors were compared regarding their EphB3 expression. Sanger sequencing was used to assess for the presence of a BRAF V600E mutation.

RESULTS

EphB3 was positive in 81.8 % (27/33) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 83.3 % (5/6) of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), 25 % (1/4) of hyperplastic/adenomatoid nodule (HN), 14.3 % (1/7) of follicular adenoma (FA), and negative in follicular tumors of uncertain malignant potential (FT-UMP) (0/13), noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) (0/7), thyroid follicular carcinoma (TFC) (0/4), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (0/4), and normal thyroid follicular tissues (0/33). In cellular blocks, EphB3 was positive in 87.1 % (20/23) of PTC, 75 % (3/4) of MTC, 20 % (2/10) of HN, and negative in atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) (0/20) and normal thyroid follicular cells (0/10).

CONCLUSION

EphB3 is expressed in the majority of PTC, but less so in benign follicular nodules. EphB3 expression in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimens can be used as a diagnostic tool to differentiate thyroid cancer from other follicular lesions in its differential diagnosis, especially AUS/FLUS and PTC.

Biological Significance of EphB4 Expression in Cancer

Eph receptors and their Eph receptor-interacting (ephrin) ligands comprise a vital cell communication system with several functions. In cancer cells, there was evidence of bilateral Eph receptor signaling with both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting actions. As a member of the Eph receptor family, EphB4 has been linked to tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis, which makes it a viable and desirable target for drug development in therapeutic applications. Many investigations have been conducted over the last decade to elucidate the structure and function of EphB4 in association with its ligand ephrinB2 for its involvement in tumorigenesis. Although several EphB4-targeting drugs have been investigated, and some selective inhibitors have been evaluated in clinical trials. This article addresses the structure and function of the EphB4 receptor, analyses its possibility as an anticancer therapeutic target, and summarises knowledge of EphB4 kinase inhibitors. To summarise, EphB4 is a difficult but potential treatment option for cancers.

Cancer invasion and metastasis: Insights from murine pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis

Cancer invasion and metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer related mortality. A better understanding of the players that drive the aberrant invasion and migration of tumors cells will provide critical targets to inhibit metastasis. Postnatal pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis is characterized by highly proliferative, invasive, and migratory normal epithelial cells. Identifying the molecular regulators of pubertal gland development is a promising strategy since tumorigenesis and metastasis is postulated to be a consequence of aberrant reactivation of developmental stages. In this review, we summarize the pubertal morphogenesis regulators that are involved in cancer metastasis and revisit pubertal mammary gland transcriptome profiling to uncover both known and unknown metastasis genes. Our updated list of pubertal morphogenesis regulators shows that most are implicated in invasion and metastasis. This review highlights molecular linkages between development and metastasis and provides a guide for exploring novel metastatic drivers.

Comprehensive Molecular Profiling of Oncocytic Salivary Gland Malignancies

Oncocytic histologic features can be seen in a variety of salivary gland carcinomas. We performed a comprehensive molecular profiling of 15 salivary gland malignancies with oncocytic features (diagnosed as oncocytic carcinoma, carcinoma NOS with oncocytic features, or salivary duct carcinoma with oncocytic features). We reveal multiple novel molecular alterations that have not been previously described in other salivary gland malignancies, including, but not limited to, KEL amplification (13.3%, 2/15), PARP1 amplification (13.3%, 2/15), and EPHB4 amplification (13.3%, 2/15). Alterations in KMT2C (13.3%, 2/15), ERBB3 (13.3%, 2/15), CTNNA1 (13.3%, 2/15), and SMAD4 (20%, 3/15) were also found in this series and have been reported in other salivary gland malignancies. Alterations that have been reported in salivary duct carcinoma were also identified, including TP53 (40%, 6/15) , ERBB2 mutations (13.3%, 2/15) , ERBB2 amplification (13.3%, 2/15), PIK3CA (26.7%, 4/15) , PTEN (20%, 3/15), BRCA2 (20%, 3/15), BRAF (20%, 3/15), CDKN2A/B (20%, 3/15), CDH1 (13.3%, 2/15), and HRAS (13.3%, 2/15). Oncocytic salivary gland malignancies are a molecularly heterogenous group of tumors with partial overlap with salivary duct carcinoma subtypes.

The Roles of EphB2 in Cancer

The erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptors and their Eph receptor-interacting (ephrin) ligands together constitute a vital cell communication system with diverse roles. Experimental evidence revealed Eph receptor bidirectional signaling with both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing activities in different cancer types and surrounding environment. Eph receptor B2 (EphB2), an important member of the Eph receptor family, has been proved to be aberrantly expressed in many cancer types, such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, resulting in tumor occurrence and progression. However, there are no reviews focusing on the dual roles of EphB2 in cancer. Thus, in this paper we systematically summarize and discuss the roles of EphB2 in cancer. Firstly, we review the main biological features and the related signaling regulatory mechanisms of EphB2, and then we summarize the roles of EphB2 in cancer through current studies. Finally, we put forward our viewpoint on the future prospects of cancer research focusing on EphB2, especially with regard to the effects of EphB2 on tumor immunity.