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Taylor SJ, Hollis RL, Gourley C, Herrington CS, Langdon SP, Arends MJ. FANCD2 expression affects platinum response and further characteristics of high grade serous ovarian cancer in cells with different genetic backgrounds. Exp Mol Pathol 2024; 138:104916. [PMID: 38959632 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2024.104916] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most prevalent subtype of ovarian cancer and demonstrates 5-year survival of just 40%. One of the major causes of mortality is the development of tumour resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, which can be modulated by dysregulation of DNA damage repair pathways. We therefore investigated the contribution of the DNA interstrand crosslink repair protein FANCD2 to chemosensitivity in HGSOC. Increased FANCD2 protein expression was observed in some cell line models of platinum resistant HGSOC compared with paired platinum sensitive models. Knockdown of FANCD2 in some cell lines, including the platinum resistant PEO4, led to increased carboplatin sensitivity. Investigation into mechanisms of FANCD2 regulation showed that increased FANCD2 expression in platinum resistant cells coincides with increased expression of mTOR. Treatment with mTOR inhibitors resulted in FANCD2 depletion, suggesting that mTOR can mediate platinum sensitivity via regulation of FANCD2. Tumours from a cohort of HGSOC patients showed varied nuclear and cytoplasmic FANCD2 expression, however this was not significantly associated with clinical characteristics. Knockout of FANCD2 was associated with increased cell migration, which may represent a non-canonical function of cytoplasmic FANCD2. We conclude that upregulation of FANCD2, possibly mediated by mTOR, is a potential mechanism of chemoresistance in HGSOC and modulation of FANCD2 expression can influence platinum sensitivity and other tumour cell characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Taylor
- Edinburgh Pathology, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Robert L Hollis
- Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Charlie Gourley
- Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - C Simon Herrington
- Edinburgh Pathology, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P Langdon
- Edinburgh Pathology, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J Arends
- Edinburgh Pathology, Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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Wang M, Pan B, Hu Y, Gao J, Hou L, Yu Z, Li M, Zhao Z. STIL facilitates the development and malignant progression of triple-negative breast cancer through activation of Fanconi anemia pathway via interacting with KLF16. Transl Oncol 2024; 46:102010. [PMID: 38823260 PMCID: PMC11177054 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102010] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND STIL is an important cell cycle-regulating protein specifically recruited to the mitotic centrosome to promote the replication of centrioles in dividing cells. However, the potential role of STIL in the regulation of the biological functions of triple-negative breast cancer remains still unclear. METHODS We screened for differentially expressed STIL in the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The expression of STIL protein in 10 pairs of breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues was further assessed by western blotting. Functionally, the knockdown and overexpression of STIL have been used to explore the effects of STIL on breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, RNA-seq, dual-luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation assay, and DNA pull-down assay were performed. RESULTS Breast cancer tissues and cells have higher STIL expression than normal tissues and cells. STIL knockdown impairs breast cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion, whereas STIL overexpression accelerates these processes. STIL promotes breast cancer progression by regulating FANCD2 expression, and exploration of its molecular mechanism demonstrated that STIL interacts with KLF16 to regulate the expression of FANCD2. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings identified STIL as a critical promoter of breast cancer progression that interacts with KLF16 to regulate Fanconi anemia pathway protein FANCD2. In summary, STIL is a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China
| | - Bo Pan
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China
| | - Ye Hu
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China
| | - Jiyue Gao
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China
| | - Lu Hou
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China
| | - Zhenlong Yu
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| | - Man Li
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China.
| | - Zuowei Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery & Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023 China.
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Alanazi N, Siyal A, Basit S, Shammas M, Al-Mukhaylid S, Aleem A, Mahmood A, Iqbal Z. Clinical Validation of the Somatic FANCD2 Mutation (c.2022-5C>T) as a Novel Molecular Biomarker for Early Disease Progression in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Case-Control Study. Hematol Rep 2024; 16:465-478. [PMID: 39051418 PMCID: PMC11270283 DOI: 10.3390/hematolrep16030045] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) results from chromosomal translocation t(9;22) leading to the formation of the BCR-ABL fusion oncogene. CML has three stages: the chronic phase (CP), the accelerated phase (AP), and the blast crisis (BC). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of CML. TKIs work well in CP-CML, and these patients have a survival rate similar to the normal population, but TKIs are less effective in advanced-phase CML. Even with current advances in treatment, BC-CML patients have an average overall survival of less than a year. Early recognition of CML patients at risk of disease progression can help in timely interventions with appropriate TKIs or other therapeutic modalities. Although some markers of disease progression like BCR-ABL kinase domain, ASXL1, and GATA2 mutations are available, no universal and exclusively specific molecular biomarkers exist to early diagnose CML patients at risk of CML progression for timely therapeutic interventions to delay or minimize blast crisis transformation in CML. A recent study found that all BC-CML patients harbored the FANCD2 (c.2022-5C>T) mutation. Therefore, the current study was designed to detect this FANCD2 mutant in AP-CML (early progression phase) and to clinically validate its potential as a novel molecular biomarker of early CML progression from CP to AP. Methods: Our study comprised 123 CP-CML (control group) and 60 AP-CML patients (experimental group) from 2 oncology centers, from January 2020 to July 2023. Mean hemoglobin level, WBC count, platelet count, treatment type, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and survival status of AP-CML patients were significantly different from those of CP-CML patients. However, as these clinical parameters cannot help in the early detection of patients at risk of CML progression, there was a need for a clinically validated biomarker of AP-CML. DNA was extracted from the patients' blood samples, and the FANCD2 gene was sequenced using an Illumina NextSeq500 next-generation sequencer (NGS). Results: The NGS analysis revealed a unique splice-site mutation in the FANCD2 gene (c.2022-5C>T). This mutation was detected in the majority (98.3%) of AP-CML patients but in none of the CP-CML patients or healthy control sequences from genomic databases. The mutation was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. FANCD2 is a member of the Fanconi anemia pathway genes involved in DNA repair and genomic stability, and aberrations of this gene are associated with many cancers. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study shows that the somatic FANCD2 (c.2022-5C>T) mutation is a new molecular biomarker for early CML progression. We recommend further clinical validation of this biomarker in prospective clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawaf Alanazi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Hospital, College of Applied Medical Sciences (CoAMS), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al-Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Abdulaziz Siyal
- Stem Cell Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sulman Basit
- Centre for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taiba University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Masood Shammas
- Dana Farbar Cancer Institute, University of Harvard, Boston, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Sarah Al-Mukhaylid
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco HealthCare (JHAH), Alahsa 36423, Saudi Arabia;
- Alumni, GEM, CLSP, CoAMS-A, KSAU-HS, Al-Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aamer Aleem
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Amer Mahmood
- Stem Cell Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Zafar Iqbal
- Alumni, GEM, CLSP, CoAMS-A, KSAU-HS, Al-Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
- Genomic & Experimental Medicine Group (GEM) Molecular Oncology/Hematology Group (MOH) & Quality Assurance and Accreditation Unit (QAAA), & Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program (CLSP), College of Applied Medical Sciences (CoAMS-A), King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Saudi Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (SSBMT), King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Pakistan Society for Molecular and Clinical Hematology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
- Hematology, Oncology & Pharmacogenetic Engineering Sciences Group (HOPES), Division of Next-Generation Medical Biotechnology (NeMB), Department of Biotechnology, Qarshi University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
- Hematology, Oncology & Pharmacogenetic Engineering Sciences Group (HOPES), Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
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Zhao Z, Wang R, Wang R, Song J, Ma F, Pan H, Gao C, Wang D, Chen X, Fan X. Pancancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of FANCD2: a potential target for carcinogenesis and survival. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:69. [PMID: 38443946 PMCID: PMC10916239 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01836-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has shed light on the significant role of FANCD2 in cancer initiation, development, and progression. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of FANCD2 has been lacking. In this study, we have conducted a thorough investigation into the expression profiles and prognostic significance of FANCD2, as well as its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and immune cell infiltration, using advanced bioinformatic techniques. The results demonstrate that FANCD2 is significantly upregulated in various common cancers and is associated with prognosis. Notably, higher expression levels of FANCD2 are linked to poor overall survival, as indicated by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Additionally, we have observed a decrease in the methylation of FANCD2 DNA in some cancers, and this decrease is inversely correlated with FANCD2 expression. Genetic alterations in FANCD2 predominantly manifest as mutations, which are associated with overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival in certain tumor types. Moreover, FANCD2 exhibits a strong correlation with infiltrating cell levels, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Enrichment analysis further highlights the potential impact of FANCD2 on Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway and cell cycle regulation. Through this comprehensive pan-cancer analysis, we have gained a deeper understanding of the functions of FANCD2 in oncogenesis and metastasis across different types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zedan Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, 256603, China
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, China
| | - Ruyu Wang
- School of clinical medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, China
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jialing Song
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, 256603, China
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, China
| | - Fengjun Ma
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Huafeng Pan
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cuiyun Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, 256603, China
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, China
| | - Deqiang Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, 256603, China.
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, 256603, China.
| | - Xiangzhen Fan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, 256603, China.
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Lin HH, Zeng WH, Yang HK, Huang LS, Pan R, Lei NX. Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 promotes sensitivity of endometrial cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents by inhibiting the ferroptosis pathway. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:41. [PMID: 38218826 PMCID: PMC10787983 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02857-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resistance can develop during treatment of advanced endometrial cancer (EC), leading to unsatisfactory results. Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (Fancd2) has been shown to be closely related to drug resistance in cancer cells. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the correlation of Fancd2 with EC resistance and the mechanism of Fancd2. METHODS Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of Fancd2 in EC tissues and cells. EC cells (Ishikawa) and paclitaxel-resistant EC cells (Ishikawa/TAX) were transfected to knock down Fancd2. In addition, the ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 was adopted to treat Ishikawa/TAX cells. The sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents was observed via 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and inhibitory concentration (IC)50 was calculated. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by flow cytometry, the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and Fe2+ in cells were detected by corresponding kits, and protein expression of solute farrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) was obtained through western blot. RESULTS Compared with the normal tissues and endometrial epithelial cells, Fancd2 expression was significantly increased in EC tissues and Ishikawa cells, respectively. After knock-down of Fancd2, Ishikawa cells showed significantly increased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Besides, compared with Ishikawa cells, the levels of ROS, the activity of MDA, and the levels of GSH and Fe2+ were significantly decreased in Ishikawa/TAX cells, while the expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 were significantly increased. Knock-down of Fancd2 significantly increased the ferroptosis levels in Ishikawa/TAX cells, but this effect could be reversed by Ferrostatin-1. CONCLUSION Fancd2 increases drug resistance in EC cells by inhibiting the cellular ferroptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Hong Lin
- Department of Gynaecology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, 514031, China.
| | - Wei-Hong Zeng
- Department of Gynaecology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, 514031, China
| | - Hai-Kun Yang
- Department of Gynaecology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, 514031, China
| | - Li-Shan Huang
- Department of Gynaecology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, 514031, China
| | - Ru Pan
- Department of Gynaecology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, 514031, China
| | - Nan-Xiang Lei
- Department of Gynaecology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, 514031, China
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Xie X, Zhao Y, Du F, Cai B, Fang Z, Liu Y, Sang Y, Ma C, Liu Z, Yu X, Zhang C, Jiang J, Gao Z, Liu Y, Lin X, Jing H, Zhong X, Cong L, Dai H, Sha D, Shao N, Feng H, Li L, Liu J, Shang L. Pan-cancer analysis of the tumorigenic role of Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) in human tumors. Genomics 2024; 116:110762. [PMID: 38104669 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2023.110762] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Monoubiquitination of FANCD2 is a central step in the activation of the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway after DNA damage. Defects in the FA pathway centered around FANCD2 not only lead to genomic instability but also induce tumorigenesis. At present, few studies have investigated FANCD2 in tumors, and no pan-cancer research on FANCD2 has been conducted. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the role of FANCD2 in cancer using public databases and other published studies. Moreover, we evaluated the role of FANCD2 in the proliferation, migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells through in vitro and in vivo experiments, and explored the role of FANCD2 in cisplatin chemoresistance. We investigated the regulatory effect of FANCD2 on the cell cycle of lung adenocarcinoma cells by flow cytometry, and verified this effect by western blotting. FANCD2 expression is elevated in most TCGA tumors and shows a strong positive correlation with poor prognosis in tumor patients. In addition, FANCD2 expression shows strong correlations with immune infiltration, immune checkpoints, the tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI), which are immune-related features, suggesting that it may be a potential target of tumor immunotherapy. We further found that FANCD2 significantly promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of lung adenocarcinoma cells and that its ability to promote cancer cell proliferation may be achieved by modulating the cell cycle. The findings indicate that FANCD2 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer treatment by analyzing the oncogenic role of FANCD2 in different tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhou Xie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China
| | - Yulong Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China
| | - Fengying Du
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China
| | - Baoshan Cai
- Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China
| | - Zhen Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Yaodong Sang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China
| | - Chenghao Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Zhaodong Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Xinshuai Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Jiayu Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Zi Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lin
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Haiyan Jing
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Xiuming Zhong
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Lei Cong
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Honghai Dai
- Tumor Research and Therapy Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Dan Sha
- Department of Minimally Invasive Treatment of Cancer, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Na Shao
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Hong Feng
- Cancer Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Leping Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China.
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China.
| | - Liang Shang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan 250000, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250000 Jinan, China.
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Tan Z, Ko JMY, Yu VZ, Lam KO, Kwong DLW, Wong IYH, Chan FSY, Wong CLY, Chan KK, Law TT, Choy FSF, Ng HY, Law SYK, Lung ML. Multigene Profiling of Circulating Tumor Cells in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Identifies Prognostic Cancer Driver Genes Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition Progression and Chemoresistance. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5329. [PMID: 38001588 PMCID: PMC10670643 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225329] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the clinical significance of CTCs in cancer progression by detecting multiple cancer driver genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) at the transcript level. The 10-gene panel, comprising CCND1, ECT2, EpCAM, FSCN1, KRT5, KRT18, MET, TFRC, TWIST1, and VEGFC, was established for characterizing CTCs from mouse ESCC xenograft models and clinical ESCC peripheral blood (PB) samples. Correlations between gene expression in CTCs from PB samples (n = 77) and clinicopathological features in ESCC patients (n = 55) were examined. The presence of CTCs at baseline was significantly correlated with tumor size (p = 0.031). The CTC-high patients were significantly correlated with advanced cancer stages (p = 0.013) and distant metastasis (p = 0.029). High mRNA levels of TWIST1 (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 5.44, p = 0.007), VEGFC (HR = 6.67, p < 0.001), TFRC (HR = 2.63, p = 0.034), and EpCAM (HR = 2.53, p = 0.041) at baseline were significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (OS) in ESCC patients. This study also revealed that TWIST1 facilitates EMT and enhances malignant potential by promoting tumor migration, invasion, and cisplatin chemoresistance through the TWIST1-TGFBI-ZEB1 axis in ESCC, highlighting the prognostic and therapeutic potential of TWIST1 in clinical ESCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Tan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Josephine Mun-Yee Ko
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Valen Zhuoyou Yu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-On Lam
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dora Lai-Wan Kwong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ian Yu-Hong Wong
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Fion Siu-Yin Chan
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Claudia Lai-Yin Wong
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwan-Kit Chan
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-Ting Law
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Faith Sin-Fai Choy
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hoi-Yan Ng
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Simon Ying-Kit Law
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Maria Li Lung
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Tang X, Luo B, Huang S, Jiang J, Chen Y, Ren W, Shi X, Zhang W, Shi L, Zhong X, Lü M. FANCD2 as a novel prognostic biomarker correlated with immune and drug therapy in Hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:419. [PMID: 37821996 PMCID: PMC10566141 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01411-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ferroptosis is related to the immunosuppression of tumors and plays a critical role in cancer progression. Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) is a vital gene that regulates ferroptosis. However, the mechanism of action of FANCD2 in Hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the prognostic significance and mechanism of action of FANCD2 in Hepatitis B-related HCC. METHODS The expression of FANCD2 in Hepatitis B-related HCC was explored using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the relationship between FANCD2 expression and the overall survival of patients with Hepatitis B-related HCC. Protein-protein interaction networks for FANCD2 were built using the STRING website. In addition, correlations between FANCD2 expression and the dryness index, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability (MSI), immune pathways, genes involved in iron metabolism, and sorafenib chemotherapeutic response were analyzed. RESULTS Our results indicated that FANCD2 was significantly overexpressed in Hepatitis B-related HCC and demonstrated a strong predictive ability for diagnosis (Area Under Curve, 0.903) and prognosis of the disease. High FANCD2 expression was associated with poor prognosis, high-grade tumors, high expression of PDL-1, high MSI scores, and low sorafenib IC50 in Hepatitis B-related HCC. BRCA1, BRCA2, FAN1, and FANCC were vital proteins interacting with FANCD2. The expression level of FANCD2 significantly correlated with the infiltration levels of Treg cells, B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, myeloid dendritic cells, and NK cells in Hepatitis B-related HCC. FANCD2 was positively correlated with the tumor proliferation signature pathway, DNA repair, and cellular response to hypoxia. CONCLUSION Our study indicated that FANCD2 was a potential novel biomarker and immunotherapeutic target against Hepatitis B-related HCC, which might be related to the chemotherapeutic response to sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Bei Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Shu Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the People's Hospital of Lianshui, Huaian, China
| | - Jiao Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wensen Ren
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Muhan Lü
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
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Zheng C, Ren Z, Chen H, Yuan X, Suye S, Yin H, Fu C. Reduced FANCE Confers Genomic Instability and Malignant Behavior by Regulating Cell Cycle Progression in Endometrial Cancer. J Cancer 2023; 14:2670-2685. [PMID: 37779877 PMCID: PMC10539389 DOI: 10.7150/jca.86348] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Fanconi anemia complementation group E (FANCE) is a subunit of fanconi anemia (FA) pathway and plays a key role in repairing DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) damage. We investigate detailed functions and mechanisms of FANCE in endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: FANCE protein and RNA expression in EC and non-cancerous tissues were detected by Western blotting (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Using lentiviral transfection and siRNA interference techniques, we constructed overexpressing FANCE (OE-FANCE) and FANCE-knockdown (FANCE-KD) EC cells. We then investigated DNA damage repair capacity of FANCE in EC cells including comet assay and γH2AX immunofluorescence assay. In vitro assays including CCK8, EDU and colony formation for chemoresistance and proliferation, transwell assay for metastasis were performed. Flow cytometer assay, cell cycle synchronization for cell cycle progression and EC cells RNA sequencing were determined. Finally, in vivo mouse models were used to detect tumor growth. Results: We found FANCE RNA and protein expression was significantly decreased in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC) compared with normal and atypical hyperplasia endometrium. FANCE promoted the repair of ICL damage and double-strand break (DSB) in OE-FANCE EC cells. Furthermore, FANCE increased drug resistance in OE-FANCE EC cells by upregulating FA pathway and homologous recombination (HR) associated proteins. FANCE inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis through G2/M cell cycle arrest in vitro and vivo. FANCE participated in regulating several pathways. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the reduction of FANCE expression leads to genomic instability, thereby promoting the development of EC by regulating cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Chun Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
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10
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Li X, Liu J. FANCD2 inhibits ferroptosis by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in osteosarcoma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:179. [PMID: 36814203 PMCID: PMC9945409 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10626-7] [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: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This research aimed to investigate the roles of fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) on the regulation of ferroptosis in osteosarcoma progression. METHODS The function of FANCD2 on cell viability, invasion, migration, and tumor growth were explored. FANCD2 and pathway-related genes were determined by western blot. Ferroptosis-associated markers were determined, including lipid peroxidation, labile iron pool (LIP), ferrous iron (Fe2+), and ferroptosis-related genes. RESULTS FANCD2 expression was increased in osteosarcoma cells. FANCD2 knockdown reduced cell viability, invasion, and migration of osteosarcoma cells. FANCD2 knockdown regulated ferroptosis-related gene expression, and distinctly increased the levels of LIP, Fe2+, and lipid peroxidation, and these effects were reversed by a ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1. In addition, JAK2 and STAT3 expression were reduced by silencing of FANCD2, and STAT3 activator (colivelin) distinctly reversed tumor suppressor effects of FANCD2 silencing on osteosarcoma development. CONCLUSION These findings suggested that FANCD2 silencing could suppress osteosarcoma cell viability, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, and induced ferroptosis by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 axis. These findings may provide novel therapeutic ideas for clinical treatment of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xujun Li
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Orthopaedic, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, No.170, Xinsong Road, Xinzhuang Town, Minhang District, Shanghai City, 201199 China
| | - Jiangyi Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, No.170, Xinsong Road, Xinzhuang Town, Minhang District, Shanghai City, 201199, China.
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11
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Shen C, Wang Y. Ferroptosis Biomarkers for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy Efficacy in Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Arch Med Res 2023; 54:45-55. [PMID: 36528469 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2022.12.003] [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: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies have suggested that ferroptosis plays an important regulatory role in cancer cell death. Nonetheless, the potential effects of ferroptosis regulators on the prognosis, the expression of immunomodulatory factors in the tumor microenvironment and on the efficacy of immunotherapy in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remain largely unknown. METHODS Public ACC datasets were used to investigate the relationship between ferroptosis regulators and prognosis and clinical features. A ferroptosis scoring system was established for individual cases of ACC using principal component analysis algorithms. Hub ferroptosis-related genes involved in immunoregulation and immunotherapy efficacy in ACC were further identified. RESULTS Twenty ferroptosis regulators were differentially expressed in ACC and 17 ferroptosis regulators were closely related to prognosis in ACC. A ferroptosis scoring system was developed based on ACSL4, FANCD2, and SLC7A1 expression, and the ferroptosis regulators could serve as an independent prognostic factor for ACC. Further analyses indicated that the ferroptosis score integrated with the tumor mutation burden (TMB), and immune-checkpoint gene expression could predict prognosis in ACC. RNA isolation and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) demonstrated significant differences in the expression levels of ACSL4, FANCD2, and SLC7A1 between ACC and normal tissues. Furthermore, FANCD2 was significantly related to immunotherapy efficacy and prognosis in ACC. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that ferroptosis was significantly associated with prognosis, clinical characteristics, immune-checkpoint gene expression, and tumor microenvironment immune cell infiltration in ACC. The current study provides comprehensive evidence for further research on ferroptosis regulators in ACC and provides new insight into the epigenetic regulation of the antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengquan Shen
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China; Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yonghua Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China; Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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12
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Hosseini SA, Salehifard Jouneghani A, Ghatrehsamani M, Yaghoobi H, Elahian F, Mirzaei SA. CRISPR/Cas9 as precision and high-throughput genetic engineering tools in gastrointestinal cancer research and therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 223:732-754. [PMID: 36372102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer (GI) is one of the most serious and health-threatening diseases worldwide. Many countries have encountered an escalating prevalence of shock. Therefore, there is a pressing need to clarify the molecular pathogenesis of these cancers. The use of high-throughput technologies that allow the precise and simultaneous investigation of thousands of genes, proteins, and metabolites is a critical step in disease diagnosis and cure. Recent innovations have provided easy and reliable methods for genome investigation, including TALENs, ZFNs, and the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats system). Among these, CRISPR/Cas9 has been revolutionary tool in genetic research. Recent years were prosperous years for CRISPR by the discovery of novel Cas enzymes, the Nobel Prize, and the development of critical clinical trials. This technology utilizes comprehensive information on genes associated with tumor development, provides high-throughput libraries for tumor therapy by developing screening platforms, and generates rapid tools for cancer therapy. This review discusses the various applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in genome editing, with a particular focus on genome manipulation, including infection-related genes, RNAi targets, pooled library screening for identification of unknown driver mutations, and molecular targets for gastrointestinal cancer modeling. Finally, it provides an overview of CRISPR/Cas9 clinical trials, as well as the challenges associated with its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayedeh Azimeh Hosseini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | | | - Mahdi Ghatrehsamani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hajar Yaghoobi
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Elahian
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Seyed Abbas Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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Zheng C, Ren Z, Chen H, Yuan X, Suye S, Yin H, Zhou Z, Fu C. FANCD2 promotes the malignant behavior of endometrial cancer cells and its prognostic value. Exp Cell Res 2022; 421:113388. [PMID: 36257352 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Defective DNA damage repair is a key mechanism affecting tumor susceptibility, treatment response, and survival outcome of endometrial cancer (EC). Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) is the core component of the Fanconi anemia repair pathway. To explore the function of FANCD2 in EC, we examined the expression of FANCD2 in human specimens and databases, and discussed the possible mechanism of carcinogenesis by in vitro assays. Immunohistochemistry results showed overexpression of FANCD2 was detected in EC tissues compared to normal and atypical hyperplasia endometrium. Higher FANCD2 expression was correlated with deeper myometrial invasion (MI) and proficient mismatch repair status. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database analysis showed FANCD2 was upregulated in EC compared with normal tissue. The high expression of FANCD2 was associated with poor overall survival in EC. Knockdown of FANCD2 expression in EC cell lines inhibited malignant proliferation and migration ability. We demonstrated that decreased FANCD2 expression results in increased DNA damage and decreased S-phase cells, leading to a decrease in proliferative capacity in EC cells. Down-regulated FANCD2 confers sensitivity of EC cells to interstrand crosslinking agents. This study provides evidence for the malignant progression and prognostic value of FANCD2 in EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Zhen Ren
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Hongliang Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Xiaorui Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Suye Suye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Huan Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Zhixian Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Chun Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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14
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Zhao X, Cui L, Zhang Y, Guo C, Deng L, Wen Z, Lu Z, Shi X, Xing H, Liu Y, Zhang Y. Screening for Potential Therapeutic Agents for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeting Ferroptosis. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:917602. [PMID: 36203872 PMCID: PMC9532010 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.917602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a form of non-apoptotic and iron-dependent cell death originally identified in cancer cells. Recently, emerging evidence showed that ferroptosis-targeting therapy could be a novel promising anti-tumour treatment. However, systematic analyses of ferroptosis-related genes for the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the development of antitumor drugs exploiting the ferroptosis process remain rare. This study aimed to identify genes related to ferroptosis and NSCLC and to initially screen lead compounds that induce ferroptosis in tumor cells. We downloaded mRNA expression profiles and NSCLC clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to explore the prognostic role of ferroptosis-related genes. Four prognosis-associated ferroptosis-related genes were screened using univariate Cox regression analysis and the lasso Cox regression analysis, which could divide patients with NSCLC into high- and low-risk groups. Then, based on differentially expressed risk- and ferroptosis-related genes, the negatively correlated lead compound flufenamic acid (FFA) was screened through the Connective Map database. This project confirmed that FFA induced ferroptosis in A549 cells and inhibited growth and migration in a dose-dependent manner through CCK-8, scratch, and immunofluorescence assays. In conclusion, targeting ferroptosis might be a therapeutic alternative for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Lijuan Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yushan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chao Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Lijiao Deng
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhitong Wen
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhihong Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Haojie Xing
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yunfeng Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yunfeng Liu, ; Yi Zhang, , orcid.org/0000-0003-0305-3127
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yunfeng Liu, ; Yi Zhang, , orcid.org/0000-0003-0305-3127
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15
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Song L, Wu J, Fu H, Wu C, Tong X, Zhang M. Abnormally Expressed Ferroptosis-Associated FANCD2 in Mediating the Temozolomide Resistance and Immune Response in Glioblastoma. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:921963. [PMID: 35754466 PMCID: PMC9213730 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.921963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) have been identified as potential targets involved in oncogenesis and cancer therapeutic response. Nevertheless, the specific roles and underlying mechanisms of FRGs in GBM and temozolomide (TMZ) resistance remain unclear. Through comprehensive bioinformatics, we found that ferroptosis-related Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) was significantly up-regulated in GBM tissues, and the high expression level of FANCD2 was related to the poor prognosis in primary and recurrent GBM patients. Furthermore, FANCD2 could promote TMZ resistance by attenuating ferroptosis in GBM cells. Knockdown of FANCD2 could increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and inhibit cell survival. The two characteristics were associated with ferroptosis in TMZ-resistant GBM cells T98G-R and U118-R. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that aberrantly expressed FANCD2 was potentially linked with several cancer-associated signaling pathways, including chromosome segregation, DNA replication, and cell cycle transition. In addition, we demonstrated that FANCD2 expression was positively correlated with several tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and multiple immune-associated signatures in GBM. Therefore, up-regulated FANCD2 could protect GBM cells from ferroptosis and promote TMZ resistance. FANCD2 may be a novel therapeutic target in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Song
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiali Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hunan Want Want Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Hua Fu
- Department of Pathology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Cuifang Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaopei Tong
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Zhang J, Wang D, Chen X, Ji L, Yu M, Guo M, Zhang D, Chen W, Xu F. Upregulation of Ferroptosis-Related Fanconi Anemia Group D2 is a Poor Prognostic Factor and an Indicator of Tumor Immune Cell Infiltration in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:825685. [PMID: 35646059 PMCID: PMC9130730 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.825685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fanconi anemia (FA) group D2 (FANCD2) is a ferroptosis-related gene crucial for DNA damage repair and negative ferroptosis regulation. Our study aimed to evaluate its prognostic value as well as its association with ferroptosis and immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Transcriptome sequencing data, clinical information, and immunohistochemistry data were collected from the TCGA, GEO, and HPA databases, respectively, for three independent cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the correlations between FANCD2 expression and overall survival or clinicopathological parameters. cBioPortal was utilized to investigate the FANCD2 alteration status. Gene and protein networks based on FANCD2 interactions were generated using GeneMANIA and STRING, respectively. Based on the CancerSEA database, the function of FANCD2 was explored at the single-cell level. The relationships between FANCD2 expression levels and tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their equivalent gene signatures were analyzed using TIMER, GEPIA, TISIDB, and ssGSEA databases. CIBERSORT was used to analyze the relevance of the infiltration of 24 types of immune cells. The results revealed that FANCD2 expression was significantly upregulated in LUAD and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) tissues than that in normal tissues. Further, the overexpression of FANCD2 was closely associated with poor survival for Patients with LUAD but not for patients with LUSC. FANCD2 expression levels were related to tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their matching gene signatures, including CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DC), and Th2 cells in cases of LUAD. Therefore, FANCD2 was identified as a crucial molecule underlying the synergistic effects of ferroptosis and immunotherapy for Patients with LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dongli Wang
- Digestive Department, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiubao Chen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lingyun Ji
- First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Minmin Yu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Minghao Guo
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dexin Zhang
- First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Weida Chen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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ML323, a USP1 inhibitor triggers cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells. Apoptosis 2022; 27:545-560. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-022-01736-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Bregni G, Beck B. Toward Targeted Therapies in Oesophageal Cancers: An Overview. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1522. [PMID: 35326673 PMCID: PMC8946490 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Oesophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Oesophageal cancer occurs as squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) or adenocarcinoma (EAC). Prognosis for patients with either ESCC or EAC is poor, with less than 20% of patients surviving more than 5 years after diagnosis. A major progress has been made in the development of biomarker-driven targeted therapies against breast and lung cancers, as well as melanoma. However, precision oncology for patients with oesophageal cancer is still virtually non-existent. In this review, we outline the recent advances in oesophageal cancer profiling and clinical trials based on targeted therapies in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Bregni
- Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Benjamin Beck
- Welbio and FNRS Investigator at IRIBHM, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Akter J, Katai Y, Sultana P, Takenobu H, Haruta M, Sugino RP, Mukae K, Satoh S, Wada T, Ohira M, Ando K, Kamijo T. Loss of p53 suppresses replication stress-induced DNA damage in ATRX-deficient neuroblastoma. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:73. [PMID: 34743173 PMCID: PMC8572175 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic aberrations are present in the ATRX gene in older high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients with very poor clinical outcomes. Its loss-of-function (LoF) facilitates the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway in tumor cells and is strongly linked to replication stress (RS) and DNA damage through G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures. However, limited information is available on ATRX alteration-related NB tumorigenesis. We herein knocked out (KO) ATRX in MYCN-amplified (NGP) and MYCN single copy (SK-N-AS) NB cells with wild-type (wt) and truncated TP53 at the C terminus, respectively, using CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. The loss of ATRX increased DNA damage and G4 formation related to RS in TP53 wt isogenic ATRX KO NGP cells, but not in SK-N-AS clones. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the gene sets related to DNA double-strand break repair, negative cell cycle regulation, the G2M checkpoint, and p53 pathway activation were enriched in NGP clones. The accumulation of DNA damage activated the ATM/CHK2/p53 pathway, leading to cell cycle arrest in NGP clones. Interestingly, ATRX loss did not induce RS related to DNA damage response (DDR) in TP53-truncated SK-N-AS cells. p53 inactivation abrogated cell cycle arrest and reduced G4 accumulation in NGP clones. The loss of p53 also induced G4 DNA helicases or Fanconi anemia group D2 protein (FANCD2) with ATRX deficiency, suggesting that ATRX maintained genome integrity and p53 deficiency attenuated RS-induced DNA damage in NB cells featuring inactivated ATRX by regulating DNA repair mechanisms and replication fork stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yutaka Katai
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Parvin Sultana
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hisanori Takenobu
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masayuki Haruta
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryuichi P Sugino
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Mukae
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shunpei Satoh
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Wada
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Miki Ohira
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kiyohiro Ando
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan. .,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan.
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Fan XZ, Chen YF, Zhang SB, He DH, Wei SF, Wang Q, Pan HF, Liu YQ. Centipeda minima extract sensitizes lung cancer cells to DNA-crosslinking agents via targeting Fanconi anemia pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 91:153689. [PMID: 34446320 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance remains a critical challenge in lung cancer chemotherapy. Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway plays an important role in antagonizing the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutics by repairing DNA damage. We recently demonstrated that the traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Centipeda minima (C. minima), possessed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the potential anticancer application of C. minima and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. PURPOSE We aimed to investigate the combined anticancer effects of the ethanol extract of C. minima (ECM) and DNA-crosslinking agents on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Cell viability and flow cytometry assay were performed to determine the synergistic cytotoxicity of ECM and DNA-crosslinking agents, cisplatin (CDDP) or mitomycin C (MMC), in NSCLC cells. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were conducted to examine the effects of ECM on protein expression in DNA damage repair pathway. Comet assay was applied to evaluate DNA damage levels. Subcutaneous xenografts of NSCLC were established to evaluate the combined anticancer effects of ECM and CDDP. RESULTS Combined treatments with ECM and DNA-crosslinking agents exhibited synergistic cytotoxic effects against A549 and H1299 cells. FANCD2 was highly expressed in NSCLC that correlates with poor prognosis of NSCLC patients, based on the online database analysis. ECM significantly inhibited DNA damage-induced monoubiquitination and nuclear foci formation of FANCD2, thereby sensitizing NSCLC to CDDP- or MMC-induced DNA damage and apoptosis, as evidenced by increased expression of γ-H2AX, increased cleavage of caspases-3 and PARP, and enhanced Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Further, ECM can also decrease the protein level of FANCD2 that contributes to the chemosensitizing effects. Moreover, ECM significantly attenuated CDDP-mediated S-phase arrest by antagonizing the activation of ATR/Chk1 pathway in NSCLC cells. Animal experiments further demonstrated that ECM and CDDP combination treatment synergistically inhibited tumor growth by decreasing FANCD2 protein level in tumor tissues. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that ECM can inhibit DNA-crosslinking agents-induced activation of FA pathway by attenuating both the expression and monoubiquitination of FANCD2. ECM and CDDP combination therapy exhibited synergistic anticancer effects both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that ECM and its active components might serve as novel anticancer drugs in the combination chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Zhen Fan
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Yu-Fei Chen
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resources Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shi-Bing Zhang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Dan-Hua He
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resources Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Su-Fen Wei
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Hua-Feng Pan
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China.
| | - Yong-Qiang Liu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resources Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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21
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Depletion of DNA Polymerase Theta Inhibits Tumor Growth and Promotes Genome Instability through the cGAS-STING-ISG Pathway in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133204. [PMID: 34206946 PMCID: PMC8268317 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary DNA polymerase theta, encoded by the human POLQ gene, is upregulated in several cancers and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. The importance of POLQ, however, has yet to be elucidated in esophageal cancer. In this study, we explored the functional impacts of POLQ and looked into its underlying mechanisms. POLQ was overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tumors associated with unfavorable prognosis and contributed to malignant phenotypes by promoting genome stability, suggesting that targeting polymerase theta may provide a potential therapeutic approach for improving ESCC management. Abstract Overexpression of the specialized DNA polymerase theta (POLQ) is frequent in breast, colon and lung cancers and has been correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Here, we aimed to determine the importance and functional role of POLQ in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Integrated analysis of four RNA-seq datasets showed POLQ was predominantly upregulated in ESCC tumors. High expression of POLQ was also observed in a cohort of 25 Hong Kong ESCC patients and negatively correlated with ESCC patient survival. POLQ knockout (KO) ESCC cells were sensitized to multiple genotoxic agents. Both rH2AX foci staining and the comet assay indicated a higher level of genomic instability in POLQ-depleted cells. Double KO of POLQ and FANCD2, known to promote POLQ recruitment at sites of damage, significantly impaired cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, as compared to either single POLQ or FANCD2 KOs. A significantly increased number of micronuclei was observed in POLQ and/or FANCD2 KO ESCC cells. Loss of POLQ and/or FANCD2 also resulted in the activation of cGAS and upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Our results suggest that high abundance of POLQ in ESCC contributes to the malignant phenotype through genome instability and activation of the cGAS pathway.
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