CDCA4 as a novel molecular biomarker of poor prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma

CDCA gene family promotes progression and prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The cell division cycle-associated (CDCA) family participates in the cell cycle, and the dysregulation of its expression is associated with the development of several types of cancers. However, the roles of CDCAs in lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) have not been investigated in systematic research.

METHODS

Using data retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the expression of CDCAs in LUAD and normal tissues was compared, and survival analysis was performed using the data. Also, the correlation between clinical characteristics and the expression of CDCAs was assessed. Using data from cBioPortal, we investigated genetic alterations in CDCAs and their prognostic implications. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to validate our findings from TCGA data. Following this, we created a risk score model to develop a nomogram. We also performed gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA), gene ontology, and KEGG pathway analysis. We used Timer to analyze the correlation between immune cell infiltration, tumor purity, and expression data.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that all CDCAs were expressed at high levels in LUAD; this could be associated with poor overall survival, as indicated in TCGA data. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses revealed that CDCA4/5 could serve as independent risk factors. The results of immunohistochemical analyses confirmed our results. Based on the estimation of expression levels, clinical characteristics, alterations, and immune infiltration, the low-risk group of CDCA4/5 had a better prognosis than the high-risk group. Immune therapy is also a potential treatment option.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our findings indicate that CDCAs play important roles in LUAD, and CDCA4/5 can serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in LUAD.

Exploring the role of CDCA4 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma using bioinformatics analysis and experiments

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) encompasses diverse therapeutic approaches, among which targeted therapy has gained significant prominence in recent years. The identification of numerous targets and the increasing clinical application of targeted drugs have greatly improved LIHC treatment. However, the precise role of CDCA4 (Cell Division Cycle Associated 4), as well as its underlying mechanisms and prognostic implications in LIHC, remains unclear. CDCA4 expression levels in LIHC were analyzed using multiple databases including the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA), and ULCAN, as well as the datasets E_TABM_36, GSE144269, GSE14520, and GSE54236. The prognostic value of CDCA4 was then evaluated. Subsequently, the association between CDCA4 and immune cells was investigated. Enrichment analysis (GSEA) was utilized to investigate the functional roles and pathways linked to CDCA4. Additionally, the methylation patterns and drug sensitivity of CDCA4 were examined. A predictive model incorporating immune genes related to CDCA4 was developed. The TISCH dataset was used to investigate the single-cell expression patterns of CDCA4. Finally, validation of CDCA4 expression levels was conducted through RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. CDCA4 exhibited significant overexpression in LIHC and demonstrated significant correlations with clinical features. High expression of CDCA4 is associated with a poorer prognosis. Analysis of immune infiltration and enrichment revealed its association with the immune microenvironment. Furthermore, its expression is correlated with methylation and mutation patterns. CDCA4 is associated with 19 drugs. Prognostic models utilizing CDCA4 demonstrate favorable effectiveness. T cell subtypes were found to be associated with CDCA4 through single-cell analysis. The conclusive experiment provided evidence of significant upregulation of CDCA4 in LIHC. The high expression of CDCA4 in LIHC is associated with prognostic significance and is highly expressed in T cell subtypes, providing a new therapeutic target and potential therapeutic strategy for LIHC.

ALKBH5 promotes the development of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating the polarization of M2 macrophages through CDCA4

OBJECTIVE

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, with high morbidity and mortality. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an important regulator of LUAD progression. Here, we investigated the potential biological functions of ALKBH5 (a m6A demethylated enzyme) and cell division cycle associated protein 4 (CDCA4) in the progression of LUAD.

METHODS

The expressions of CDCA4, METTL3, ALKBH5, FTO, YTHDC2 and YTHDC1 mRNA and proteins in LUAD and adjacent tissues, as well as NCI-H1299 and NCI-H157 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Meanwhile, the role of ALKBH5 and CDCA4 in macrophage polarization was explored through tumor formation in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) mice and the co-culture system of NCI-H1299 and NCI-H157/THP-1 cells. Cell characterization was further analyzed. The expression of Ki-67 in tumor tissue was tested by immunohistochemistry. The scale of M1 and M2 macrophages was determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

CDCA4 was significantly overexpressed in NCI-H1299 and NCI-H157 cell lines compared with BEAS-2B cells. The fold enrichment of CDCA4 m6A level in the overexpression (oe)-METTL3 or short hairpin (sh)-ALKBH5 cells was enhanced. Overexpression of CDCA4 promoted the cell viability, proliferation and migration, and inhibited apoptosis, which was reversed by sh-ALKBH5 intervention. Overexpression of YTHDC2 (not YTHDC1) inhibited the effect of CDCA4 on sh-ALKBH5 cells. sh-CDCA4 inhibited tumor growth and weight of LLC cells in mice, and promoted M1/M2 ratio in LLC mice and NCI-H1299/THP-1 and NCI-H157/THP-1 co-culture systems. Oe-CDCA4 promoted the volume and weight of tumor and inhibited the M1/M2 ratio of tumor tissue in LLC mice, but was reversed by sh-ALKBH5 intervention.

CONCLUSION

m6A demethylase ALKBH5 promotes the development of LUAD through CDCA4 regulation of malignant characterization and M1/M2 macrophage polarization.

Construction of shared gene signature between rheumatoid arthritis and lung adenocarcinoma helps to predict the prognosis and tumor microenvironment of the LUAD patients

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease with high incidence rate and high disability rate. One of the top complications is cancer, especially lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the molecular mechanisms linking RA and LUAD are still not clear. Therefore, in this study, we tried to identify the shared genetic signatures and local immune microenvironment between RA and LUAD and construct a clinical model for survival prediction. Methods: We obtained gene expression profiles and clinical information of patients with RA and LUAD from GEO and TCGA datasets. We performed differential analysis and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to discover the shared genes between RA and LUAD. Then, COX regression and LASSO analysis were employed to figure out genes significantly associated with survival. qRT-PCR and Western blot were utilized to validate the expression level of candidate genes. For clinical application, we constructed a nomogram, and also explored the value of RALUADS in characterizing immune infiltration features by CIBERSORT and xCell. Finally, responses to different drug therapy were predicted according to different RALUADS. Results: Our analysis identified two gene sets from differentially expressed genes and WGCNA gene modules of RA and LUAD. Filtered by survival analysis, three most significant shared genes were selected, CCN6, CDCA4 and ERLIN1, which were all upregulated in tumors and associated with poor prognosis. The three genes constituted RA and LUAD score (RALUADS). Our results demonstrated that RALUADS was higher in tumor patients and predicted poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Clinical nomogram combining RALUADS and other clinicopathological parameters had superior performance in survival prediction (AUC = 0.722). We further explored tumor immune microenvironment (TME) affected by RALUADS and observed RALUADS was closely related to the sensitivity of multiple immune blockades, chemotherapy and targeted drugs. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there are shared physiopathologic processes and molecular profiles between RA and LUAD. RALUADS represents an excellent prognosis predictor and immune-related biomarker, which can be applied to select potential effective drugs and for LUAD patients with RA.

NSUN6 Regulates NM23-H1 Expression in an m5C Manner to Affect Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

The expression and regulatory mechanism of NSUN6 in lung cancer are still unclear. Our study explored whether NSUN6 mediates progression of lung cancer by affecting NM23-H1 expression in an m5C-dependent manner.

METHODS

qRT-PCR, CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, and Western blot analysis were employed to probe the impact of NSUN6 on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). RMVar database was utilized to forecast the downstream genes of NSUN6. The mode of interaction between NSUN6 and NM23-H1 was determined by dot blot, luciferase assay, m5C RIP, and cell function assays. The effect of NSUN6 expression on tumor growth was verified in vivo.

RESULTS

Expression of NSUN6 was reduced in lung cancer cells, and over-expression of NSUN6 restricted the proliferation of lung cancer cells, migration, and EMT. NSUN6 regulated NM23-H1 expression by modifying the 3'-UTR of NM23-H1 mRNA through m5C and inhibited lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and EMT. In vivo experiments also showed that over-expression of NSUN6 inhibited the occurrence of lung cancer.

CONCLUSION

NSUN6 regulates NM23-H1 expression in an m5C-dependent manner to affect EMT in lung cancer. Thus, NSUN6 may be considered as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.