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Hersey P, Tseng HY, Alavi S, Tiffen J. X and Y Differences in Melanoma Survival Between the Sexes. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2024. [PMID: 39180225 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Marked differences in survival from melanoma are noted between men and women that cannot be accounted for by behavioral differences. We and others have provided evidence that this difference may be due to increased expression of immune-related genes from the second X chromosome because of failure of X inactivation. In the present review, we have examined evidence for the contrary view that survival differences are due to weaker immune responses in males. One reason for this may be the loss of Y chromosomes (LOY), particularly in older males. The genes involved may have direct roles in immune responses or be noncoding RNAs that regulate both sex and autosomal genes involved in immune responses or tumor growth. Loss of the KDM6C and KDM5D demethylases appeared to common genes involved. The second factor appears to be the activation of androgen receptors (AR) on melanoma cells that increase their invasiveness and growth. Induction of T-cell exhaustion by AR that limits immune responses against melanoma appeared a common finding. The development of treatments to overcome effects related to gene loss on Y poses challenges, but several avenues related to AR signaling appear worthy of further study in the treatment of metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hersey
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Program, the Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hsin-Yi Tseng
- Melanoma Epigenetics Lab, the Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sara Alavi
- Melanoma Epigenetics Lab, the Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jessamy Tiffen
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Melanoma Epigenetics Lab, the Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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Dakal TC, Dhabhai B, Pant A, Moar K, Chaudhary K, Yadav V, Ranga V, Sharma NK, Kumar A, Maurya PK, Maciaczyk J, Schmidt‐Wolf IGH, Sharma A. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes: functions and roles in cancers. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e582. [PMID: 38827026 PMCID: PMC11141506 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.582] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer, being the most formidable ailment, has had a profound impact on the human health. The disease is primarily associated with genetic mutations that impact oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Recently, growing evidence have shown that X-linked TSGs have specific role in cancer progression and metastasis as well. Interestingly, our genome harbors around substantial portion of genes that function as tumor suppressors, and the X chromosome alone harbors a considerable number of TSGs. The scenario becomes even more compelling as X-linked TSGs are adaptive to key epigenetic processes such as X chromosome inactivation. Therefore, delineating the new paradigm related to X-linked TSGs, for instance, their crosstalk with autosome and involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis becomes utmost importance. Considering this, herein, we present a comprehensive discussion of X-linked TSG dysregulation in various cancers as a consequence of genetic variations and epigenetic alterations. In addition, the dynamic role of X-linked TSGs in sex chromosome-autosome crosstalk in cancer genome remodeling is being explored thoroughly. Besides, the functional roles of ncRNAs, role of X-linked TSG in immunomodulation and in gender-based cancer disparities has also been highlighted. Overall, the focal idea of the present article is to recapitulate the findings on X-linked TSG regulation in the cancer landscape and to redefine their role toward improving cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tikam Chand Dakal
- Department of BiotechnologyGenome and Computational Biology LabMohanlal Sukhadia UniversityUdaipurRajasthanIndia
| | - Bhanupriya Dhabhai
- Department of BiotechnologyGenome and Computational Biology LabMohanlal Sukhadia UniversityUdaipurRajasthanIndia
| | - Anuja Pant
- Department of BiochemistryCentral University of HaryanaMahendergarhHaryanaIndia
| | - Kareena Moar
- Department of BiochemistryCentral University of HaryanaMahendergarhHaryanaIndia
| | - Kanika Chaudhary
- School of Life Sciences. Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew DelhiIndia
| | - Vikas Yadav
- School of Life Sciences. Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew DelhiIndia
| | - Vipin Ranga
- Dearptment of Agricultural BiotechnologyDBT‐NECAB, Assam Agricultural UniversityJorhatAssamIndia
| | | | - Abhishek Kumar
- Manipal Academy of Higher EducationManipalKarnatakaIndia
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology ParkBangaloreIndia
| | - Pawan Kumar Maurya
- Department of BiochemistryCentral University of HaryanaMahendergarhHaryanaIndia
| | - Jarek Maciaczyk
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional NeurosurgeryUniversity Hospital of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Ingo G. H. Schmidt‐Wolf
- Department of Integrated OncologyCenter for Integrated Oncology (CIO)University Hospital BonnBonnGermany
| | - Amit Sharma
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional NeurosurgeryUniversity Hospital of BonnBonnGermany
- Department of Integrated OncologyCenter for Integrated Oncology (CIO)University Hospital BonnBonnGermany
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3
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Țăpoi DA, Gheorghișan-Gălățeanu AA, Dumitru AV, Ciongariu AM, Furtunescu AR, Marin A, Costache M. Primary Undifferentiated/Dedifferentiated Cutaneous Melanomas-A Review on Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features with Emphasis on Prognosis and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9985. [PMID: 37373134 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129985] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnosing cutaneous melanoma is usually straightforward based on these malignancies' histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Nevertheless, melanomas can imitate various other neoplasms, sometimes lacking the expression of conventional melanocytic markers and expressing non-melanocytic ones. Furthermore, divergent differentiation is more often encountered in metastatic melanomas and is still poorly described in primary cutaneous melanomas, and little is known about these patients' prognosis and therapeutic approach. Therefore, we reviewed the literature on undifferentiated/dedifferentiated cutaneous melanomas, and we discuss the histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular profiles of undifferentiated/dedifferentiated cutaneous melanomas to understand these peculiar lesions better and improve their diagnostic algorithm. In addition to this, we also discuss how different genetic mutations may influence prognosis and become potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Antonia Țăpoi
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ancuța-Augustina Gheorghișan-Gălățeanu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011863 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Vasile Dumitru
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Ciongariu
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea Roxana Furtunescu
- Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Dermatology, Victor Babes Clinical Hospital, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei Marin
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Costache
- Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
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4
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Escape from X-inactivation in twins exhibits intra- and inter-individual variability across tissues and is heritable. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010556. [PMID: 36802379 PMCID: PMC9942974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) silences one X in female cells to balance sex-differences in X-dosage. A subset of X-linked genes escape XCI, but the extent to which this phenomenon occurs and how it varies across tissues and in a population is as yet unclear. To characterize incidence and variability of escape across individuals and tissues, we conducted a transcriptomic study of escape in adipose, skin, lymphoblastoid cell lines and immune cells in 248 healthy individuals exhibiting skewed XCI. We quantify XCI escape from a linear model of genes' allelic fold-change and XIST-based degree of XCI skewing. We identify 62 genes, including 19 lncRNAs, with previously unknown patterns of escape. We find a range of tissue-specificity, with 11% of genes escaping XCI constitutively across tissues and 23% demonstrating tissue-restricted escape, including cell type-specific escape across immune cells of the same individual. We also detect substantial inter-individual variability in escape. Monozygotic twins share more similar escape than dizygotic twins, indicating that genetic factors may underlie inter-individual differences in escape. However, discordant escape also occurs within monozygotic co-twins, suggesting environmental factors also influence escape. Altogether, these data indicate that XCI escape is an under-appreciated source of transcriptional differences, and an intricate phenotype impacting variable trait expressivity in females.
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5
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Emran AA, Fisher DE. Dual Targeting with EZH2 Inhibitor and STING Agonist to Treat Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:1004-1006. [PMID: 35131084 PMCID: PMC8957612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The immunotherapy era has ushered in enormous promise for cancer, largely led by progress in melanoma management. However a significant fraction of melanoma patients suffers early progression or relapse due to treatment resistance. Immunologically cold tumors are often refractory to immunotherapies and are associated with a lack of interferon signalling and antigen presentation. In their new article, Xu et al. (2022) demonstrate that the epigenetic modifier enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) regulates expression of the innate immune signalling factor STING and that dual targeting of EZH2 and STING induces interferon signalling, major histocompatibility complex expression and synergistically reduces tumor growth in a preclinical model. Strategies such as this stand to improve therapeutic opportunities for otherwise refractory tumor contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al Emran
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David E Fisher
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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6
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Chrysanthou E, Sehovic E, Ostano P, Chiorino G. Comprehensive Gene Expression Analysis to Identify Differences and Similarities between Sex- and Stage-Stratified Melanoma Samples. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071099. [PMID: 35406661 PMCID: PMC8997401 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Overall lower incidence and better prognosis are observed in female melanoma patients compared to males. As sex and stage differences in the context of melanoma gene expression are understudied, we aim to highlight them through statistical analysis of melanoma gene expression datasets. Data from seven online datasets, including normal skin, commonly acquired nevi, and melanomas, were collected and analyzed. Sex/stage-related differences were assessed using statistical analyses on survival, gene expression, and its variability. Significantly better overall survival in females was observed in stage I, II but not in stage III. Gene expression variability was significantly different between stages and sexes. Specifically, we observed a significantly lower variability in genes expressed in normal skin and nevi in females compared to males, as well as in female stage I, II melanomas. However, in stage III, variability was lower in males. Similarly, class comparison showed that the gene expression differences between sexes are most notable in non-melanoma followed by early-stage-melanoma samples. Sexual dimorphism is an important aspect to consider for a holistic understanding of early-stage melanomas, not only from the tumor characteristics but also from the gene expression points of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Chrysanthou
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy; (E.C.); (E.S.)
- Cancer Genomics Lab, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, 13900 Biella, Italy;
| | - Emir Sehovic
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy; (E.C.); (E.S.)
- Cancer Genomics Lab, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, 13900 Biella, Italy;
| | - Paola Ostano
- Cancer Genomics Lab, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, 13900 Biella, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Chiorino
- Cancer Genomics Lab, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, 13900 Biella, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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7
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Zhao LF, Zhang JG, Qi FY, Hou WY, Li YR, Shen DD, Zhao LJ, Qi L, Liu HM, Zheng YC. SDC: An Integrated Database for Sex Differences in Cancer. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1068-1076. [PMID: 35284049 PMCID: PMC8897669 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.02.023] [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: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are evident in the incidence and mortality of diverse cancers. With the development of personalized approaches in cancer treatment, the impact of sex differences has not been systematically incorporated into preclinical and clinical cancer research. The molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in cancer have not been elucidated. Here, we developed the first database of Sex Differences in Cancer (SDC), a web-based public database that integrates resources from multiple databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), UCSC Xena, Broad Institute Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC). SDC contains 27 types of cancers, 6 types of molecular data, more than 10,000 donors, 977 cancer cell lines were used to analyze sex differences among cancers. It provides five main modules: Survival and phenotype, Molecular differences, Signatures and pathways, Therapy response, Download. Users can download the all the visualized results and raw data after analysis. Collectively, SDC is the first integrated database to analyze sex differences in cancer on the web server, which will strengthen our understanding of the role of sex in cancers. It is implemented in Shiny-server and freely available for public use at http://sdc.anticancer.xyz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Fei Zhao
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Jin-Ge Zhang
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Feng-Yu Qi
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Wei-Yan Hou
- School of Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yin-Rui Li
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Dan-Dan Shen
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhao
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Lin Qi
- School of Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Corresponding authors at: Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China (H.M. Liu and Y.C. Zheng).
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Corresponding authors at: Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China (H.M. Liu and Y.C. Zheng).
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
- Corresponding authors at: Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China (H.M. Liu and Y.C. Zheng).
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8
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Korfiati A, Grafanaki K, Kyriakopoulos GC, Skeparnias I, Georgiou S, Sakellaropoulos G, Stathopoulos C. Revisiting miRNA Association with Melanoma Recurrence and Metastasis from a Machine Learning Point of View. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1299. [PMID: 35163222 PMCID: PMC8836065 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The diagnostic and prognostic value of miRNAs in cutaneous melanoma (CM) has been broadly studied and supported by advanced bioinformatics tools. From early studies using miRNA arrays with several limitations, to the recent NGS-derived miRNA expression profiles, an accurate diagnostic panel of a comprehensive pre-specified set of miRNAs that could aid timely identification of specific cancer stages is still elusive, mainly because of the heterogeneity of the approaches and the samples. Herein, we summarize the existing studies that report several miRNAs as important diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in CM. Using publicly available NGS data, we analyzed the correlation of specific miRNA expression profiles with the expression signatures of known gene targets. Combining network analytics with machine learning, we developed specific non-linear classification models that could successfully predict CM recurrence and metastasis, based on two newly identified miRNA signatures. Subsequent unbiased analyses and independent test sets (i.e., a dataset not used for training, as a validation cohort) using our prediction models resulted in 73.85% and 82.09% accuracy in predicting CM recurrence and metastasis, respectively. Overall, our approach combines detailed analysis of miRNA profiles with heuristic optimization and machine learning, which facilitates dimensionality reduction and optimization of the prediction models. Our approach provides an improved prediction strategy that could serve as an auxiliary tool towards precision treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aigli Korfiati
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (A.K.); (G.S.)
| | - Katerina Grafanaki
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | | | - Ilias Skeparnias
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Sophia Georgiou
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - George Sakellaropoulos
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (A.K.); (G.S.)
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9
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Hua C, Chen J, Li S, Zhou J, Fu J, Sun W, Wang W. KDM6 Demethylases and Their Roles in Human Cancers. Front Oncol 2021; 11:779918. [PMID: 34950587 PMCID: PMC8688854 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.779918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapy is moving beyond traditional chemotherapy to include epigenetic approaches. KDM6 demethylases are dynamic regulation of gene expression by histone demethylation in response to diverse stimuli, and thus their dysregulation has been observed in various cancers. In this review, we first briefly introduce structural features of KDM6 subfamily, and then discuss the regulation of KDM6, which involves the coordinated control between cellular metabolism (intrinsic regulators) and tumor microenvironment (extrinsic stimuli). We further describe the aberrant functions of KDM6 in human cancers, acting as either a tumor suppressor or an oncoprotein in a context-dependent manner. Finally, we propose potential therapy of KDM6 enzymes based on their structural features, epigenetics, and immunomodulatory mechanisms, providing novel insights for prevention and treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Hua
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | | | - Shuting Li
- Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | | | - Jiahong Fu
- Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Weijian Sun
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenqian Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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10
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Emran AA, Tseng HY, Gunatilake D, Cook SJ, Ahmed F, Wang S, Hersey P, Gallagher SJ, Tiffen JC. A Combination of Epigenetic BET and CDK9 Inhibitors for Treatment of Human Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 141:2238-2249.e12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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11
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Punnia-Moorthy G, Hersey P, Emran AA, Tiffen J. Lysine Demethylases: Promising Drug Targets in Melanoma and Other Cancers. Front Genet 2021; 12:680633. [PMID: 34220955 PMCID: PMC8242339 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.680633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation has been implicated in a variety of pathological processes including carcinogenesis. A major group of enzymes that influence epigenetic modifications are lysine demethylases (KDMs) also known as "erasers" which remove methyl groups on lysine (K) amino acids of histones. Numerous studies have implicated aberrant lysine demethylase activity in a variety of cancers, including melanoma. This review will focus on the structure, classification and functions of KDMs in normal biology and the current knowledge of how KDMs are deregulated in cancer pathogenesis, emphasizing our interest in melanoma. We highlight the current knowledge gaps of KDMs in melanoma pathobiology and describe opportunities to increases our understanding of their importance in this disease. We summarize the progress of several pre-clinical compounds that inhibit KDMs and represent promising candidates for further investigation in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaya Punnia-Moorthy
- Melanoma Oncology and Immunology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Epigenetics Laboratory, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Hersey
- Melanoma Oncology and Immunology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Abdullah Al Emran
- Melanoma Oncology and Immunology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jessamy Tiffen
- Melanoma Oncology and Immunology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Epigenetics Laboratory, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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12
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Haupt S, Caramia F, Klein SL, Rubin JB, Haupt Y. Sex disparities matter in cancer development and therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:393-407. [PMID: 33879867 PMCID: PMC8284191 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00348-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Curing cancer through precision medicine is the paramount aim of the new wave of molecular and genomic therapies. Currently, whether patients with non-reproductive cancers are male or female according to their sex chromosomes is not adequately considered in patient standard of care. This is a matter of consequence because there is growing evidence that these cancer types generally initiate earlier and are associated with higher overall incidence and rates of death in males compared with females. Gender, in contrast to sex, refers to a chosen sexual identity. Hazardous lifestyle choices (notably tobacco smoking) differ in prevalence between genders, aligned with disproportionate cancer risk. These add to underlying genetic predisposition and influences of sex steroid hormones. Together, these factors affect metabolism, immunity and inflammation, and ultimately the fidelity of the genetic code. To accurately understand how human defences against cancer erode, it is crucial to establish the influence of sex. Our Perspective highlights evidence from basic and translational research indicating that including genetic sex considerations in treatments for patients with cancer will improve outcomes. It is now time to adopt the challenge of overhauling cancer medicine based on optimized treatment strategies for females and males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Haupt
- Tumor Suppression and Cancer Sex Disparity Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Franco Caramia
- Tumor Suppression and Cancer Sex Disparity Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sabra L Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua B Rubin
- Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ygal Haupt
- Tumor Suppression and Cancer Sex Disparity Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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13
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Sex bias of females in survival from cancer and infections. Is X the answer? Br J Cancer 2021; 124:1184-1186. [PMID: 33469152 PMCID: PMC7813969 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01245-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Major differences in survival of men and women from infectious diseases and cancers have been highlighted by death rates from COVID-19 infections. In cancer, attention has been focussed on differences in gene expression from X chromosomes in men and women with a preponderance of genes involved in immune responses being expressed in women. Important findings have been that some of the genes are important epigenetic regulators that play fundamental roles in immune responses.
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14
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Xue YN, Xue YN, Wang ZC, Mo YZ, Wang PY, Tan WQ. A Novel Signature of 23 Immunity-Related Gene Pairs Is Prognostic of Cutaneous Melanoma. Front Immunol 2020; 11:576914. [PMID: 33193373 PMCID: PMC7604355 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.576914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to identify an immune-related signature for predicting prognosis in cutaneous melanoma (CM). Sample data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n = 460) were used to develop a prognostic signature with 23 immune-related gene pairs (23 IRGPs) for CM. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups using the TCGA and validation datasets GSE65904 (n = 214), GSE59455 (n = 141), and GSE22153 (n = 79). The ability of the 23-IRGP signature to predict CM was precise, with the stratified high-risk groups showing a poor prognosis, and it had a significant predictive power when used for immune microenvironment and biological analyses. We subsequently established a novel promising prognostic model in CM to determine the association between the immune microenvironment and CM patient results. This approach may be used to discover signatures in other diseases while avoiding the technical biases associated with other platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Xue
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Nan Xue
- Department of Biological Science, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Zheng-Cai Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong-Zhen Mo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pin-Yan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Tan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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