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Tang H, Chen L, Liu X, Zeng S, Tan H, Chen G. Pan-cancer dissection of vasculogenic mimicry characteristic to provide potential therapeutic targets. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1346719. [PMID: 38694917 PMCID: PMC11061449 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1346719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) represents a novel form of tumor angiogenesis that is associated with tumor invasiveness and drug resistance. However, the VM landscape across cancer types remains poorly understood. In this study, we elucidate the characterizations of VM across cancers based on multi-omics data and provide potential targeted therapeutic strategies. Methods Multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to conduct comprehensive analyses of the characteristics of VM related genes (VRGs) across cancer types. Pan-cancer vasculogenic mimicry score was established to provide a depiction of the VM landscape across cancer types. The correlation between VM and cancer phenotypes was conducted to explore potential regulatory mechanisms of VM. We further systematically examined the relationship between VM and both tumor immunity and tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, cell communication analysis based on single-cell transcriptome data was used to investigate the interactions between VM cells and TME. Finally, transcriptional and drug response data from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database were utilized to identify potential therapeutic targets and drugs. The impact of VM on immunotherapy was also further clarified. Results Our study revealed that VRGs were dysregulated in tumor and regulated by multiple mechanisms. Then, VM level was found to be heterogeneous among different tumors and correlated with tumor invasiveness, metastatic potential, malignancy, and prognosis. VM was found to be strongly associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Further analyses revealed cancer-associated fibroblasts can promote EMT and VM formation. Furthermore, the immune-suppressive state is associated with a microenvironment characterized by high levels of VM. VM score can be used as an indicator to predict the effect of immunotherapy. Finally, seven potential drugs targeting VM were identified. Conclusion In conclusion, we elucidate the characteristics and key regulatory mechanisms of VM across various cancer types, underscoring the pivotal role of CAFs in VM. VM was further found to be associated with the immunosuppressive TME. We also provide clues for the research of drugs targeting VM. Our study provides an initial overview and reference point for future research on VM, opening up new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Tang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liuxun Chen
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xvdong Liu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shengjie Zeng
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Tan
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Olszewska AM, Nowak JI, Myszczynski K, Słominski A, Żmijewski MA. Dissection of an impact of VDR and RXRA on the genomic activity of 1,25(OH) 2D 3 in A431 squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 582:112124. [PMID: 38123121 PMCID: PMC10872374 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human skin is the natural source, place of metabolism, and target for vitamin D3. The classical active form of vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D3, expresses pluripotent properties and is intensively studied in cancer prevention and therapy. To define the specific role of vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) and its co-receptor retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA) in genomic regulation, VDR or RXRA genes were silenced in the squamous cell carcinoma cell line A431 and treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 at long incubation time points 24 h/72 h. Extending the incubation time of A431 WT (wild-type) cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 resulted in a two-fold increase in DEGs (differentially expressed genes) and a change in the amount of downregulated from 37% to 53%. VDR knockout led to a complete loss of 1,25(OH)2D3-induced genome-wide gene regulation at 24 h time point, but after 72 h, 20 DEGs were found, of which 75% were downregulated, and most of them belonged to the gene ontology group "immune response". This may indicate the existence of an alternative, secondary response to 1,25(OH)2D3. In contrast, treatment of A431 ΔRXRA cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 24 h only partially affected DEGs, suggesting RXRA-independent regulation. Interestingly, overexpression of classic 1,25(OH)2D3 targets, like CYP24A1 (family 24 of subfamily A of cytochrome P450 member 1) or CAMP (cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide) was found to be RXRA-independent. Also, immunofluorescence staining of A431 WT cells revealed partial VDR/RXRA colocalization after 24 h and 72 h 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Comparison of transcriptome changes induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 in normal keratinocytes vs. cancer cells showed high cell type specific expression pattern with only a few genes commonly regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3. Activation of the genomic pathway at least partially reversed the expression of cancer-related genes, forming a basis for anti-cancer activates of 1,25(OH)2D3. In summary, VDR or RXRA independent genomic activities of 1,25(OH)2D3 suggest the involvement of alternative factors, opening new challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Olszewska
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdansk, 1a Debinki, 80-211Gdansk, Poland
| | - Joanna I Nowak
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdansk, 1a Debinki, 80-211Gdansk, Poland
| | - Kamil Myszczynski
- Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Analysis Medical University of Gdansk, 1aDebinki, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Andrzej Słominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35292, USA; Birmingham Veteran Administration Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35292, USA
| | - Michał A Żmijewski
- Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdansk, 1a Debinki, 80-211Gdansk, Poland.
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Vo HVT, Nguyen YT, Kim N, Lee HJ. Vitamin A, D, E, and K as Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/9 Regulators That Affect Expression and Enzymatic Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17038. [PMID: 38069361 PMCID: PMC10707015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, and K) assume a pivotal role in maintaining human homeostasis by virtue of their enzymatic functions. The daily inclusion of these vitamins is imperative to the upkeep of various physiological processes including vision, bone health, immunity, and protection against oxidative stress. Current research highlights fat-soluble vitamins as potential therapeutics for human diseases, especially cancer. Fat-soluble vitamins exert their therapeutic effects through multiple pathways, including regulation of matrix metalloproteinases' (MMPs) expression and enzymatic activity. As MMPs have been reported to be involved in the pathology of various diseases, such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders, regulating the expression and/or activity of MMPs could be considered as a potent therapeutic strategy. Here, we summarize the properties of fat-soluble vitamins and their potential as promising candidates capable of effectively modulating MMPs through multiple pathways to treat human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Vy Thi Vo
- Department of Chemistry Education, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yen Thi Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea;
| | - Namdoo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hyuck Jin Lee
- Department of Chemistry Education, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea;
- Kongju National University Institute of Science Education, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea
- Kongju National University’s Physical Fitness for Health Research Lab (KNUPFHR), Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea
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Lesko P, Vlkova B, Kalavska K, De Angelis V, Novotna V, Obertova J, Orszaghova Z, Palacka P, Rejlekova K, Sycova-Mila Z, Kollarik B, Aziri R, Pindak D, Mardiak J, Chovanec M, Celec P, Mego M. Prognostic role of plasma vitamin D and its association with disease characteristics in germ cell tumours. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1149432. [PMID: 37114140 PMCID: PMC10126247 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1149432] [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: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among young men. Vitamin D has pluripotent effects on cancer pathogenesis and plays a role in the metastatic cascade. The aim of this study is to analyze plasma vitamin D in association with clinico-pathological findings and prognosis in patients with germ-cell tumors (GCTs). Methods This study included 120 newly diagnosed and/or relapsed GCT patients treated from April 2013 to July 2020, for whom plasma was available in the biobank. Blood samples were drawn the 1st chemotherapy cycle as well as before the 2nd cycle. Plasma vitamin D was measured using ELISA and correlated with disease characteristics and the outcome. For survival analysis, the cohort was dichotomized into "low" and "high" based on median vitamin D. Results There was no significant difference in vitamin D plasma levels between healthy donors and GCT patients (p = 0.71). Vitamin D level was not associated with disease characteristics except for brain metastases, where patients with brain metastases had a vitamin D level that was 32% lower compared to patients without brain metastases, p = 0.03. Vitamin D was also associated with response to chemotherapy, with an approximately 32% lower value in patients with an unfavorable response compared to a favorable response, p = 0.02. Moreover, low plasma levels of vitamin D were significantly associated with disease recurrence and inferior progression-free survival (PFS), but not with overall survival (OS) (HR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.36-6.71, p = 0.01 for PFS and HR = 2.06, 95% CI 0.84-5.06, p = 0.14 for OS, respectively). Conclusion Our study suggests the prognostic value of pretreatment vitamin D concentrations in GCT patients. Low plasma vitamin D was associated with an unfavorable response to therapy and disease recurrence. However, it remains to be determined whether the biology of the disease confirms a causative role for low vitamin D and whether its supplementation affects the outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lesko
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
- *Correspondence: Peter Lesko,
| | - Barbora Vlkova
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Kalavska
- Translation Research Unit, Comenius University, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Valentina De Angelis
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vera Novotna
- 1st Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Comenius University (FMCU) and St. Elizabeth Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Obertova
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Orszaghova
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Patrik Palacka
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Rejlekova
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Sycova-Mila
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Boris Kollarik
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ramadan Aziri
- Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute for Oncology, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniel Pindak
- Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute for Oncology, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Mardiak
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Chovanec
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- Translation Research Unit, Comenius University, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Endothelium-Dependent Induction of Vasculogenic Mimicry in Human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Is Inhibited by Calcitriol and Curcumin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147659. [PMID: 35887002 PMCID: PMC9318499 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In highly aggressive tumors, cancer cells may form channel-like structures through a process known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM). VM is generally associated with metastasis, mesenchymal phenotype, and treatment resistance. VM can be driven by antiangiogenic treatments and/or tumor microenvironment-derived factors, including those from the endothelium. Curcumin, a turmeric product, inhibits VM in some tumors, while calcitriol, the most active vitamin D metabolite, exerts potent antineoplastic effects. However, the effect of these natural products on VM in breast cancer remains unknown. Herein, we studied the effect of both compounds on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) VM-capacity in a co-culture model. The process of endothelial cell-induced VM in two human TNBC cell lines was robustly inhibited by calcitriol and partially by curcumin. Calcitriol promoted TNBC cells’ morphological change from spindle-like to cobblestone-shape, while curcumin diminished VM 3D-structure. Notably, the treatments dephosphorylated several active kinases, especially those involved in the PI3K/Akt pathway. In summary, calcitriol and curcumin disrupted endothelium-induced VM in TNBC cells partially by PI3K/Akt inactivation and mesenchymal phenotype inhibition. Our results support the possible use of these natural compounds as adjuvants for VM inactivation in patients with malignant tumors inherently capable of forming VM, or those with antiangiogenic therapy, warranting further in vivo studies.
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