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Ziranu P, Pretta A, Aimola V, Cau F, Mariani S, D’Agata AP, Codipietro C, Rizzo D, Dell’Utri V, Sanna G, Moledda G, Cadoni A, Lai E, Puzzoni M, Pusceddu V, Castagnola M, Scartozzi M, Faa G. CD44: A New Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer? Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1569. [PMID: 38672650 PMCID: PMC11048923 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a non-kinase cell surface glycoprotein. It is overexpressed in several cell types, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cells overexpressing CD44 exhibit several CSC traits, such as self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) capability, and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. The role of CD44 in maintaining stemness and the CSC function in tumor progression is accomplished by binding to its main ligand, hyaluronan (HA). The HA-CD44 complex activates several signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. The CD44 gene regularly undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in the standard (CD44s) and variant (CD44v) isoforms. The different functional roles of CD44s and specific CD44v isoforms still need to be fully understood. The clinicopathological impact of CD44 and its isoforms in promoting tumorigenesis suggests that CD44 could be a molecular target for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the recent association observed between CD44 and KRAS-dependent carcinomas and the potential correlations between CD44 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) open new research scenarios for developing new strategies in cancer treatment. This review summarises current research regarding the different CD44 isoform structures, their roles, and functions in supporting tumorigenesis and discusses its therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pina Ziranu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Valentina Aimola
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (V.A.); (F.C.)
| | - Flaviana Cau
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (V.A.); (F.C.)
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Alessandra Pia D’Agata
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Claudia Codipietro
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Daiana Rizzo
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Veronica Dell’Utri
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Giorgia Sanna
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Giusy Moledda
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Andrea Cadoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Eleonora Lai
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Valeria Pusceddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00013 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Gavino Faa
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy;
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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Boman BM, Viswanathan V, Facey COB, Fields JZ, Stave JW. The v8-10 variant isoform of CD44 is selectively expressed in the normal human colonic stem cell niche and frequently is overexpressed in colon carcinomas during tumor development. Cancer Biol Ther 2023; 24:2195363. [PMID: 37005380 PMCID: PMC10072056 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2023.2195363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
CD44 protein and its variant isoforms are expressed in cancer stem cells (CSCs), and various CD44 isoforms can have different functional roles in cells. Our goal was to investigate how different CD44 isoforms contribute to the emergence of stem cell (SC) overpopulation that drives colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Specific CD44 variant isoforms are selectively expressed in normal colonic SCs and become overexpressed in CRCs during tumor development. We created a unique panel of anti-CD44 rabbit genomic antibodies to 16 specific epitopes that span the entire length of the CD44 molecule. Our panel was used to comprehensively investigate the expression of different CD44 isoforms in matched pairs (n = 10) of malignant colonic tissue and adjacent normal mucosa, using two (IHC & IF) immunostaining approaches. We found that: i) CD44v8-10 is selectively expressed in the normal human colonic SC niche; ii) CD44v8-10 is co-expressed with the SC markers ALDH1 and LGR5 in normal and malignant colon tissues; iii) colon carcinoma tissues frequently (80%) stain for CD44v8-10 while staining for CD44v6 was less frequent (40%). Given that CD44v8-10 expression is restricted to cells in the normal human colonic SC niche and CD44v8-10 expression progressively increases during CRC development, CD44v8-10 expression likely contributes to the SC overpopulation that drives the development and growth of colon cancers. Since the CD44 variant v8-10 epitope is located on CD44's extracellular region, it offers great promise for targeted anti-CSC treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce M. Boman
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, Newark, DE, USA
- Department of Biologic Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
- Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vignesh Viswanathan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, Newark, DE, USA
- Department of Biologic Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Caroline O. B. Facey
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Jeremy Z. Fields
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, Newark, DE, USA
- Department of Cancer Research and Innovation, CA*TX Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - James W. Stave
- Department of Cancer Research and Innovation, Strategic Diagnostics Inc, Newark, DE, USA
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Abbas ZN, Al-Saffar AZ, Jasim SM, Sulaiman GM. Comparative analysis between 2D and 3D colorectal cancer culture models for insights into cellular morphological and transcriptomic variations. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18380. [PMID: 37884554 PMCID: PMC10603139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45144-w] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug development is a time-consuming and expensive process, given the low success rate of clinical trials. Now, anticancer drug developments have shifted to three-dimensional (3D) models which are more likely to mimic tumor behavior compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures. A comparative study among different aspects was conducted between 2D and 3D cultures using colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, in addition, Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) block samples of patients with CRC were used for evaluation. Compared to the 2D culture, cells grown in 3D displayed significant (p < 0.01) differences in the pattern of cell proliferation over time, cell death phase profile, expression of tumorgenicity-related genes, and responsiveness to 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and doxorubicin. Epigenetically, 3D cultures and FFPE shared the same methylation pattern and microRNA expression, while 2D cells showed elevation in methylation rate and altered microRNA expression. Lastly, transcriptomic study depending on RNA sequencing and thorough bioinformatic analyses showed significant (p-adj < 0.05) dissimilarity in gene expression profile between 2D and 3D cultures involving thousands of genes (up/down-regulated) of multiple pathways for each cell line. Taken together, the study provides insights into variations in cellular morphologies between cells cultured in 2D and 3D models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid Nsaif Abbas
- Department of Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Nahrain University, Jadriya, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali Z Al-Saffar
- Department of Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Nahrain University, Jadriya, Baghdad, Iraq.
| | - Saba Mahdi Jasim
- Oncology Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ghassan M Sulaiman
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Applied Sciences, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
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