NEDD4 Plays Roles in the Maintenance of Breast Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics

Transcriptomics analysis reveals distinct mechanism of breast cancer stem cells regulation in mammospheres from MCF-7 and T47D cells

Luminal A breast cancer, constituting 70 % of breast cancer cases, presents a challenge due to the development of resistance and recurrence caused by breast cancer stem cells (BCSC). Luminal breast tumors are characterized by TP53 expression, a tumor suppressor gene involved in maintaining stem cell attributes in cancer. Although a previous study successfully developed mammospheres (MS) from MCF-7 (with wild-type TP53) and T47D (with mutant TP53) luminal breast cancer cells for BCSC enrichment, their transcriptomic profiles remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the transcriptomic disparities between MS of MCF-7 and T47D cells using bioinformatics analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including the KEGG pathway, Gene Ontology (GO), drug-gene association, disease-gene association, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), DNA methylation analysis, correlation analysis of DEGs with immune cell infiltration, and association analysis of genes and small-molecule compounds via the Connectivity Map (CMap). Upregulated DEGs were enriched in metabolism-related KEGG pathways, whereas downregulated DEGs were enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Drug-gene association analysis revealed that both upregulated and downregulated DEGs were associated with fostamatinib. The KEGG pathway GSEA results indicated that the DEGs were enriched for oxidative phosphorylation, whereas the downregulated DEGs were negatively enriched for the p53 signaling pathway. Examination of DNA methylation revealed a noticeable disparity in the expression patterns of the PKM2, ERO1L, SLC6A6, EPAS1, APLP2, RPL10L, and NEDD4 genes when comparing cohorts with low- and high-risk breast cancer. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was identified between SLC6A6 expression and macrophage presence, as well as MSN, and AKR1B1 expression and neutrophil and dentritic cell infiltration. CMap analysis unveiled SA-83851 as a potential candidate to counteract the effects of DEGs, specifically in cells harbouring mutant TP53. Further research, including in vitro and in vivo validations, is warranted to develop drugs targeting BCSCs.

Realm of proteomics in breast cancer management and drug repurposing to alleviate intricacies of treatment

Breast cancer, a multi-networking heterogeneous disease, has emerged as a serious impediment to progress in clinical oncology. Although technological advancements and emerging cancer research studies have mitigated breast cancer lethality, a precision cancer-oriented solution has not been achieved. Thus, this review will persuade the acquiescence of proteomics-based diagnostic and therapeutic options in breast cancer management. Recently, the evidence of breast cancer health surveillance through imaging proteomics, single-cell proteomics, interactomics, and post-translational modification (PTM) tracking, to construct proteome maps and proteotyping for stage-specific and sample-specific cancer subtyping have outperformed conventional ways of dealing with breast cancer by increasing diagnostic efficiency, prognostic value, and predictive response. Additionally, the paradigm shift in applied proteomics for designing a chemotherapy regimen to identify novel drug targets with minor adverse effects has been elaborated. Finally, the potential of proteomics in alleviating the occurrence of chemoresistance and enhancing reprofiled drugs' effectiveness to combat therapeutic obstacles has been discussed. Owing to the enormous potential of proteomics techniques, the clinical recognition of proteomics in breast cancer management can be achievable and therapeutic intricacies can be surmountable.

Expression and regulatory network of E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4 family in cancers

NEDD4 family represent an important group of E3 ligases, which regulate various cellular pathways of cell proliferation, cell junction and inflammation. Emerging evidence suggested that NEDD4 family members participate in the initiation and development of tumor. In this study, we systematically investigated the molecular alterations as well as the clinical relevance regarding NEDD4 family genes in 33 cancer types. Finally, we found that NEDD4 members showed increased expression in pancreas cancer and decreased expression in thyroid cancer. NEDD4 E3 ligase family genes had an average mutation frequency in the range of 0-32.1%, of which HECW1 and HECW2 demonstrated relatively high mutation rate. Breast cancer harbors large amount of NEDD4 copy number amplification. NEDD4 family members interacted proteins were enriched in various pathways including p53, Akt, apoptosis and autophagy, which were confirmed by further western blot and flow cytometric analysis in A549 and H1299 lung cancer cells. In addition, expression of NEDD4 family genes were associated with survival of cancer patients. Our findings provide novel insight into the effect of NEDD4 E3 ligase genes on cancer progression and treatment in the future.

E3 Ubiquitin Ligase NEDD4 Affects Estrogen Receptor α Expression and the Prognosis of Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 4-1 (NEDD4) is an E3 ligase that leads to the degradation of proteins, including estrogen receptor α. We evaluated whether the expression level of NEDD4 affected the outcome of breast cancer patients. We performed a retrospective cohort study enrolling 143 patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early breast cancer. Of the 66 patients with high NEDD4 mRNA levels (high NEDD4 group) and 77 patients with low NEDD4 mRNA levels (low NEDD4 group), 98.4% and 96.1%, respectively, of the patients had received neoadjuvant/adjuvant hormone therapy. Disease-free survival and overall survival were significantly longer in the low NEDD4 group than in the high NEDD4 group (p = 0.048 and p = 0.022, respectively). Western blotting revealed a high expression of estrogen receptor α in the NEDD4-knockdown culture cells. The proliferation of NEDD4-knockdown cells treated with tamoxifen or estradiol deprivation was suppressed, compared with that of NEDD4-expressing cells. Knockdown of NEDD4 in breast cancer cells induced the accumulation of estrogen receptor α and increased sensitivity to hormone therapy. In summary, this mechanism may lead to a better prognosis in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients with a low expression of NEDD4.

Unraveling the Potential Role of NEDD4-like E3 Ligases in Cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease worldwide, with an anticipated 19.3 million new cases and 10.0 million deaths occurring in 2020 according to GLOBOCAN 2020. It is well established that carcinogenesis and cancer development are strongly linked to genetic changes and post-translational modifications (PTMs). An important PTM process, ubiquitination, regulates every aspect of cellular activity, and the crucial enzymes in the ubiquitination process are E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) that affect substrate specificity and must therefore be carefully regulated. A surfeit of studies suggests that, among the E3 ubiquitin ligases, neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 4 (NEDD4)/NEDD4-like E3 ligases show key functions in cellular processes by controlling subsequent protein degradation and substrate ubiquitination. In addition, it was demonstrated that NEDD4 mainly acts as an oncogene in various cancers, but also plays a tumor-suppressive role in some cancers. In this review, to comprehend the proper function of NEDD4 in cancer development, we summarize its function, both its tumor-suppressive and oncogenic role, in multiple types of malignancies. Moreover, we briefly explain the role of NEDD4 in carcinogenesis and progression, including cell survival, cell proliferation, autophagy, cell migration, invasion, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemoresistance, and multiple signaling pathways. In addition, we briefly explain the significance of NEDD4 as a possible target for cancer treatment. Therefore, we conclude that targeting NEDD4 as a therapeutic method for treating human tumors could be a practical possibility.

DEAD-Box RNA Helicases DDX3X and DDX5 as Oncogenes or Oncosuppressors: A Network Perspective

Simple Summary

The transformation of a normal cell into a cancerous one is caused by the deregulation of different metabolic pathways, involving a complex network of protein–protein interactions. The cellular enzymes DDX3X and DDX5 play important roles in the maintenance of normal cell metabolism, but their deregulation can accelerate tumor transformation. Both DDX3X and DDX5 interact with hundreds of different cellular proteins, and depending on the specific pathways in which they are involved, both proteins can either act as suppressors of cancer or as oncogenes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the roles of DDX3X and DDX5 in different tumors. In addition, we present a list of interacting proteins and discuss the possible contribution of some of these protein–protein interactions in determining the roles of DDX3X and DDX5 in the process of cancer proliferation, also suggesting novel hypotheses for future studies.

Abstract

RNA helicases of the DEAD-box family are involved in several metabolic pathways, from transcription and translation to cell proliferation, innate immunity and stress response. Given their multiple roles, it is not surprising that their deregulation or mutation is linked to different pathological conditions, including cancer. However, while in some cases the loss of function of a given DEAD-box helicase promotes tumor transformation, indicating an oncosuppressive role, in other contexts the overexpression of the same enzyme favors cancer progression, thus acting as a typical oncogene. The roles of two well-characterized members of this family, DDX3X and DDX5, as both oncogenes and oncosuppressors have been documented in several cancer types. Understanding the interplay of the different cellular contexts, as defined by the molecular interaction networks of DDX3X and DDX5 in different tumors, with the cancer-specific roles played by these proteins could help to explain their apparently conflicting roles as cancer drivers or suppressors.

Protein Degradation by E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Cancer Stem Cells

Simple Summary

The aim of this review was to discuss the fundamental role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in controlling cancer stem cells. It will be surmised that protein degradation controlled by the E3 ubiquitin ligases plays a fundamental role in the self-renewal, maintenance and differentiation of cancer stem cells, highlighting its potential as an effective therapeutic target for anticancer drug development.

Abstract

Cancer stem cells are a small subpopulation within the tumor with high capacity for self-renewal, differentiation and reconstitution of tumor heterogeneity. Cancer stem cells are major contributors of tumor initiation, metastasis and therapy resistance in cancer. Emerging evidence indicates that ubiquitination-mediated post-translational modification plays a fundamental role in the maintenance of cancer stem cell characteristics. In this review, we will discuss how protein degradation controlled by the E3 ubiquitin ligases plays a fundamental role in the self-renewal, maintenance and differentiation of cancer stem cells, highlighting the possibility to develop novel therapeutic strategies against E3 ubiquitin ligases targeting CSCs to fight cancer.

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells by Dietary Agents: An Important Therapeutic Strategy against Human Malignancies

As a multifactorial disease, treatment of cancer depends on understanding unique mechanisms involved in its progression. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumor stemness and by enhancing colony formation, proliferation as well as metastasis, and these cells can also mediate resistance to therapy. Furthermore, the presence of CSCs leads to cancer recurrence and therefore their complete eradication can have immense therapeutic benefits. The present review focuses on targeting CSCs by natural products in cancer therapy. The growth and colony formation capacities of CSCs have been reported can be attenuated by the dietary agents. These compounds can induce apoptosis in CSCs and reduce tumor migration and invasion via EMT inhibition. A variety of molecular pathways including STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin, Sonic Hedgehog, Gli1 and NF-κB undergo down-regulation by dietary agents in suppressing CSC features. Upon exposure to natural agents, a significant decrease occurs in levels of CSC markers including CD44, CD133, ALDH1, Oct4 and Nanog to impair cancer stemness. Furthermore, CSC suppression by dietary agents can enhance sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition to in vitro studies, as well as experiments on the different preclinical models have shown capacity of natural products in suppressing cancer stemness. Furthermore, use of nanostructures for improving therapeutic impact of dietary agents is recommended to rapidly translate preclinical findings for clinical use.

Application of Proteomics in Cancer: Recent Trends and Approaches for Biomarkers Discovery

Proteomics has become an important field in molecular sciences, as it provides valuable information on the identity, expression levels, and modification of proteins. For example, cancer proteomics unraveled key information in mechanistic studies on tumor growth and metastasis, which has contributed to the identification of clinically applicable biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets. Several cancer proteome databases have been established and are being shared worldwide. Importantly, the integration of proteomics studies with other omics is providing extensive data related to molecular mechanisms and target modulators. These data may be analyzed and processed through bioinformatic pipelines to obtain useful information. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of cancer proteomics and recent advances in proteomic techniques. In particular, we aim to offer insights into current proteomics studies of brain cancer, in which proteomic applications are in a relatively early stage. This review covers applications of proteomics from the discovery of biomarkers to the characterization of molecular mechanisms through advances in technology. Moreover, it addresses global trends in proteomics approaches for translational research. As a core method in translational research, the continued development of this field is expected to provide valuable information at a scale beyond that previously seen.

NEDD9 overexpression: Prognostic and guidance value in acute myeloid leukaemia

It has been demonstrated that neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein (NEDD) plays crucial roles in tumorigenesis and may serve as potential biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, few studies systematically investigated the expression of NEDD family members in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). We systemically determined the expression of NEDD family members in AML and determined their clinical significance. We identified that NEDD9 expression was the only member among NEDD family which was significantly increased in AML. NEDD9 overexpression was more frequently classified as FAB‐M4/M5 (p = 0.008 and 0.013, respectively), hardly as FAB‐M2/M3. Moreover, NEDD9 overexpression was significantly associated with complex karyotype and TP53 mutation. The significant association between NEDD9 overexpression and survival was also observed in whole‐cohort AML and non‐M3 AML patients. Notably, AML patients with NEDD9 overexpression may benefit from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), whereas those cases without NEDD9 overexpression did not. Finally, a total of 822 mRNAs and 31 microRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between two groups. Among the microRNAs, miR‐381 was also identified as a microRNA that could direct target NEDD9. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that NEDD9 overexpression is associated with genetic abnormalities as well as prognosis and might act as a potential biomarker guiding the choice between HSCT and chemotherapy in patients with AML after achieving complete remission.

Curcumin: Modulator of Key Molecular Signaling Pathways in Hormone-Independent Breast Cancer

Simple Summary

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease, classified according to hormone and growth factor receptor expression. Patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-negative) and hormone-independent HER2 overexpressing subtypes still represent highly aggressive behavior, metastasis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance. Thus, new alternative anticancer agents based on the use of natural products have been receiving enormous attention. In this regard, curcumin is a promising lead in cancer drug discovery due its ability to modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and signaling pathways. The current review has emphasized the underlying mechanism of curcumin anticancer action mediated through the modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, MAPK, NF-ĸB, p53, Wnt/β-catenin, apoptosis, and cell cycle pathways in hormone-independent breast cancer, providing frameworks for future studies and insights to improve its efficiency in clinical practice.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Despite the overall successes in breast cancer therapy, hormone-independent HER2 negative breast cancer, also known as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacking estrogens and progesterone receptors and with an excessive expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), along with the hormone-independent HER2 positive subtype, still remain major challenges in breast cancer treatment. Due to their poor prognoses, aggressive phenotype, and highly metastasis features, new alternative therapies have become an urgent clinical need. One of the most noteworthy phytochemicals, curcumin, has attracted enormous attention as a promising drug candidate in breast cancer prevention and treatment due to its multi-targeting effect. Curcumin interrupts major stages of tumorigenesis including cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis in hormone-independent breast cancer through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways. The current review has highlighted the anticancer activity of curcumin in hormone-independent breast cancer via focusing on its impact on key signaling pathways including the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, JAK/STAT pathway, MAPK pathway, NF-ĸB pathway, p53 pathway, and Wnt/β-catenin, as well as apoptotic and cell cycle pathways. Besides, its therapeutic implications in clinical trials are here presented.

METTL8 mRNA Methyltransferase Enhances Cancer Cell Migration via Direct Binding to ARID1A

The association of RNA modification in cancer has recently been highlighted. Methyltransferase like 8 (METTL8) is an enzyme and its role in mRNA m3C modification has barely been studied. In this study, we found that METTL8 expression was significantly up-regulated in canine mammary tumor and investigated its functional roles in the tumor process, including cancer cell proliferation and migration. METTL8 expression was up-regulated in most human breast cancer cell lines tested and decreased by Yin Yang 1 (YY1) transcription factor knockdown, suggesting that YY1 is a regulating transcription factor. The knockdown of METTL8 attenuated tumor cell growth and strongly blocked tumor cell migration. AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A) was identified as a candidate mRNA by METTL8. ARID1A mRNA binds to METTL8 protein. ARID1A mRNA expression was not changed by METTL8 knockdown, but ARID1A protein level was significantly increased. Collectively, our study indicates that METTL8 up-regulated by YY1 in breast cancer plays an important role in cancer cell migration through the mRNA modification of ARID1A, resulting in the attenuation of its translation.