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Hu H, He B, He M, Tao H, Li B. A glycosylation-related signature predicts survival in pancreatic cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:13710-13737. [PMID: 38048216 PMCID: PMC10756102 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205258] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor initiation and progression are closely associated with glycosylation. However, glycosylated molecules have not been the subject of extensive studies as prognostic markers for pancreatic cancer. The objectives of this study were to identify glycosylation-related genes in pancreatic cancer and use them to construct reliable prognostic models. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were used to assess the differential expression of glycosylation-related genes; four clusters were identified based on consistent clustering analysis. Kaplan-Meier analyses identified three glycosylation-related genes associated with overall survival. LASSO analysis was then performed on The Cancer Genome Atlas and International Cancer Genome Consortium databases to identify glycosylation-related signatures. We identified 12 GRGs differently expressed in pancreatic cancer and selected three genes (SEL1L, TUBA1C, and SDC1) to build a prognostic model. Thereafter, patients were divided into high and low-risk groups. Eventually, we performed Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to validate the signature. RESULTS Clinical outcomes were significantly poorer in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. There were also significant correlations between the high-risk group and several risk factors, including no-smoking history, drinking history, radiotherapy history, and lower tumor grade. Furthermore, the high-risk group had a higher proportion of immune cells. Eventually, three glycosylation-related genes were validated in human PC cell lines. CONCLUSION This study identified the glycosylation-related signature for pancreatic cancer. It is an effective predictor of survival and can guide treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huidong Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Bingsheng He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Mingang He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Tumor Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Hengmin Tao
- Department of Head and Neck Radiotherapy, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Baosheng Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
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Duan C, Zhang Y, Li L, Liu K, Yao X, Wu X, Li B, Mao X, Wu H, Liu H, Zeng J, Li S, Gong Y, Hu Z, Xu H. Identification of alternative splicing associated with clinical features: from pan-cancers to genitourinary tumors. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1249932. [PMID: 37810965 PMCID: PMC10557043 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1249932] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alternative splicing events (ASEs) are vital causes of tumor heterogeneity in genitourinary tumors and many other cancers. However, the clinicopathological relevance of ASEs in cancers has not yet been comprehensively characterized. Methods By analyzing splicing data from the TCGA SpliceSeq database and phenotype data for all TCGA samples from the UCSC Xena database, we identified differential clinical feature-related ASEs in 33 tumors. CIBERSORT immune cell infiltration data from the TIMER2.0 database were used for differential clinical feature-related immune cell infiltration analysis. Gene function enrichment analysis was used to analyze the gene function of ASEs related to different clinical features in tumors. To reveal the regulatory mechanisms of ASEs, we integrated race-related ASEs and splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTLs) data in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) to comprehensively assess the impact of SNPs on ASEs. In addition, we predicted regulatory RNA binding proteins in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) based on the enrichment of motifs around alternative exons for ASEs. Results Alternative splicing differences were systematically analyzed between different groups of 58 clinical features in 33 cancers, and 30 clinical features in 24 cancer types were identified to be associated with more than 50 ASEs individually. The types of immune cell infiltration were found to be significantly different between subgroups of primary diagnosis and disease type. After integrating ASEs with sQTLs data, we found that 63 (58.9%) of the race-related ASEs were significantly SNP-correlated ASEs in KIRC. Gene function enrichment analyses showed that metastasis-related ASEs in KIRC mainly enriched Rho GTPase signaling pathways. Among those ASEs associated with metastasis, alternative splicing of GIT2 and TUBB3 might play key roles in tumor metastasis in KIRC patients. Finally, we identified several RNA binding proteins such as PCBP2, SNRNP70, and HuR, which might contribute to splicing differences between different groups of neoplasm grade in BLCA. Conclusion We demonstrated the significant clinical relevance of ASEs in multiple cancer types. Furthermore, we identified and validated alternative splicing of TUBB3 and RNA binding proteins such as PCBP2 as critical regulators in the progression of urogenital cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Duan
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yangjun Zhang
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangyang Yao
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoliang Wu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiongmin Mao
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huahui Wu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Haoran Liu
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jin Zeng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Gong
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiquan Hu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hua Xu
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Sahin I, George A, Seyhan AA. Therapeutic Targeting of Alternative RNA Splicing in Gastrointestinal Malignancies and Other Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11790. [PMID: 34769221 PMCID: PMC8583749 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent comprehensive genomic studies including single-cell RNA sequencing and characterization have revealed multiple processes by which protein-coding and noncoding RNA processing are dysregulated in many cancers. More specifically, the abnormal regulation of mRNA and precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) processing, which includes the removal of introns by splicing, is frequently altered in tumors, producing multiple different isoforms and diversifying protein expression. These alterations in RNA processing result in numerous cancer-specific mRNAs and pathogenically spliced events that generate altered levels of normal proteins or proteins with new functions, leading to the activation of oncogenes or the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Abnormally spliced pre-mRNAs are also associated with resistance to cancer treatment, and certain cancers are highly sensitive to the pharmacological inhibition of splicing. The discovery of these alterations in RNA processing has not only provided new insights into cancer pathogenesis but identified novel therapeutic vulnerabilities and therapeutic opportunities in targeting these aberrations in various ways (e.g., small molecules, splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs), and protein therapies) to modulate alternative RNA splicing or other RNA processing and modification mechanisms. Some of these strategies are currently progressing toward clinical development or are already in clinical trials. Additionally, tumor-specific neoantigens produced from these pathogenically spliced events and other abnormal RNA processes provide a potentially extensive source of tumor-specific therapeutic antigens (TAs) for targeted cancer immunotherapy. Moreover, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with aberrant RNA processes and the biological impact they play might provide insights into cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. Our goal is to highlight key alternative RNA splicing and processing mechanisms and their roles in cancer pathophysiology as well as emerging therapeutic alternative splicing targets in cancer, particularly in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilyas Sahin
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Andrew George
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA;
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Attila A. Seyhan
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Cancer Center at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Functional Characteristics and Regulated Expression of Alternatively Spliced Tissue Factor: An Update. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184652. [PMID: 34572880 PMCID: PMC8471299 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In human and mouse, alternative splicing of tissue factor's primary transcript yields two mRNA species: one features all six TF exons and encodes full-length tissue factor (flTF), and the other lacks exon 5 and encodes alternatively spliced tissue factor (asTF). flTF, which is oftentimes referred to as "TF", is an integral membrane glycoprotein due to the presence of an alpha-helical domain in its C-terminus, while asTF is soluble due to the frameshift resulting from the joining of exon 4 directly to exon 6. In this review, we focus on asTF-the more recently discovered isoform of TF that appears to significantly contribute to the pathobiology of several solid malignancies. There is currently a consensus in the field that asTF, while dispensable to normal hemostasis, can activate a subset of integrins on benign and malignant cells and promote outside-in signaling eliciting angiogenesis; cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; and monocyte recruitment. We provide a general overview of the pioneering, as well as more recent, asTF research; discuss the current concepts of how asTF contributes to cancer progression; and open a conversation about the emerging utility of asTF as a biomarker and a therapeutic target.
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