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Liu K, Liu X, Wen L, Zhai W, Ye R, Zhang B, Xie W, Zhang X, Zhang W, Li H, Xu J, Huang L, Wang H, Li D, Sun H. Blocking Metallothionein-2 Expression by Copper-Doped Carbon Dots Induces Cellular Antioxidant System Collapse for Antitumor Therapy. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:10699-10709. [PMID: 39141437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The insufficient antioxidant reserves in tumor cells play a critical role in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated therapeutics. Metallothionein-2 (MT-2), an intracellular cysteine-rich protein renowned for its potent antioxidant properties, is intricately involved in tumor development and correlates with a poor prognosis. Consequently, MT-2 emerges as a promising target for tumor therapy. Herein, we present the development of copper-doped carbon dots (Cu-CDs) to target MT-2 to compromise the delicate antioxidant reserves in tumor cells. These Cu-CDs with high tumor accumulation and prolonged body retention can effectively suppress tumor growth by inducing oxidative stress. Transcriptome sequencing unveils a significant decrease in MT-2 expression within the in vivo tumor samples. Further mechanical investigations demonstrate that the antitumor effect of Cu-CDs is intricately linked to apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-mediated downregulation of MT-2 expression and the collapse of the antioxidant system. The robust antitumor efficacy of Cu-CDs provides invaluable insights into developing MT-2-targeted nanomedicine for cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexuan Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinchen Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Linlin Wen
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhao Zhai
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongrong Ye
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Boya Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Wangni Xie
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbing Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiqiu Li
- Department of Hand and Podiatric Surgery, Orthopedics Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130031, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Huang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resources Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Daowei Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongchen Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tooth Development and Bone Remodeling, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, 763 Heguang Road, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
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Barman SK, Nesarajah AN, Zaman MS, Malladi CS, Mahns DA, Wu MJ. Distinctive expression and cellular localisation of zinc homeostasis-related proteins in breast and prostate cancer cells. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2024; 86:127500. [PMID: 39047373 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zinc transport proteins (ZIP and ZnT), metallothioneins (MT) and protein kinase CK2 are involved in dysregulation of zinc homeostasis in breast and prostate cancer cells. Following up our previous research, we targeted ZIP12, ZnT1, MT2A and CK2 in this study by investigating their expression levels and protein localisation. METHODS Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy were employed to quantify the expression of ZIP12, ZnT1, MT2A and CK2 subunits in a panel of breast and prostate cell lines without or with extracellular zinc exposure. The cellular localisations of these target proteins were also examined by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. RESULTS In response to the extracellular zinc exposure, the gene expression was elevated for SLC39A12 (ZIP12), SLC30A1 (ZnT1) and MT2A (MT2A) in normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1) in contrast to their cancerous counterparts (PC3 and DU145), whilst the gene expression was higher for SLC39A12 (ZIP12) and SLC30A1 (ZnT1) in both normal (MCF10A) and basal breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) compared to luminal breast cancer cells (MCF-7). At the protein level, the expression for both ZIP12 and ZnT1 was trending lower in the time course for the breast cancer cells whilst their expression was remained constant in the normal breast epithelial cells. The expression of ZIP12 in prostate cancer cells was higher than the normal prostate cells. The protein expression for CK2 α/αꞌ and CK2β was markedly higher in prostate cancer cells than the normal prostate cells. Upon extracellular zinc exposure, ZIP12 was, for the first time, conspicuously localised in the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells but not in normal breast epithelial cells and prostate cells. ZnT1 is only localised in the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells. MT2A is distinctively seen close to the plasma membrane in breast cancer cells. CK2 is also for the first time shown to be localised in proximity to the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION The findings, particularly the localisation of ZIP12 and CK2, are novel and significant for our understanding of zinc homeostasis in breast and prostate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shital K Barman
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Abinaya N Nesarajah
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Mohammad S Zaman
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Chandra S Malladi
- Proteomics and Lipidomics Lab, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - David A Mahns
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Ming J Wu
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
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Zhu Y, Chen X, Tang R, Li G, Yang J, Hong S. Comprehensive analysis of hub genes associated with cisplatin-resistance in ovarian cancer and screening of therapeutic drugs through bioinformatics and experimental validation. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:142. [PMID: 38987777 PMCID: PMC11234624 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01461-w] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To identify key genes associated with cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on three datasets from the GEO database and through experimental validation. METHODS Gene expression profiles were retrieved from the GEO database. DEGs were identified by comparing gene expression profiles between cisplatin-sensitive and resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. The identified genes were further subjected to GO, KEGG, and PPI network analysis. Potential inhibitors of key genes were identified through methods such as LibDock nuclear molecular docking. In vitro assays and RT-qPCR were performed to assess the expression levels of key genes in ovarian cancer cell lines. The sensitivity of cells to chemotherapy and proliferation of key gene knockout cells were evaluated through CCK8 and Clonogenic assays. RESULTS Results showed that 12 genes influenced the chemosensitivity of the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, and 9 genes were associated with the prognosis and survival outcomes of ovarian cancer patients. RT-qPCR results revealed NDRG1, CYBRD1, MT2A, CNIH3, DPYSL3, and CARMIL1 were upregulated, whereas ERBB4, ANK3, B2M, LRRTM4, EYA4, and SLIT2 were downregulated in cisplatin-resistant cell lines. NDRG1, CYBRD1, and DPYSL3 knock-down significantly inhibited the proliferation of cisplatin-resistant cell line SKOV3. Finally, photofrin, a small-molecule compound targeting CYBRD1, was identified. CONCLUSION This study reveals changes in the expression level of some genes associated with cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer. In addition, a new small molecule compound was identified for the treatment of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshan Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Xuehong Chen
- Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linhai Second People's Hospital, TaiZhou, 317016, China
| | - Rongrong Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Guangxiao Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Jianhua Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Shihao Hong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
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Miyako S, Koma YI, Nakanishi T, Tsukamoto S, Yamanaka K, Ishihara N, Azumi Y, Urakami S, Shimizu M, Kodama T, Nishio M, Shigeoka M, Kakeji Y, Yokozaki H. Periostin in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression by Enhancing Cancer and Stromal Cell Migration. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:828-848. [PMID: 38320632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment are involved in the progression of various cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). CAF-like cells were generated through direct co-culture of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, one of CAF origins, with ESCC cells. Periostin (POSTN) was found to be highly expressed in CAF-like cells. After direct co-culture, ESCC cells showed increased malignant phenotypes, such as survival, growth, and migration, as well as increased phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk). Recombinant human POSTN activated Akt and Erk signaling pathways in ESCC cells, enhancing survival and migration. The suppression of POSTN in CAF-like cells by siRNA during direct co-culture also suppressed enhanced survival and migration in ESCC cells. In ESCC cells, knockdown of POSTN receptor integrin β4 inhibited Akt and Erk phosphorylation, and survival and migration increased by POSTN. POSTN also enhanced mesenchymal stem cell and macrophage migration and endowed macrophages with tumor-associated macrophage-like properties. Immunohistochemistry showed that high POSTN expression in the cancer stroma was significantly associated with tumor invasion depth, lymphatic and blood vessel invasion, higher pathologic stage, CAF marker expression, and infiltrating tumor-associated macrophage numbers. Moreover, patients with ESCC with high POSTN expression exhibited poor postoperative outcomes. Thus, CAF-secreted POSTN contributed to tumor microenvironment development. These results indicate that POSTN may be a novel therapeutic target for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoji Miyako
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan; Division of Gastro-intestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yu-Ichiro Koma
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
| | - Takashi Nakanishi
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan; Division of Gastro-intestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shuichi Tsukamoto
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamanaka
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Surgery Related, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Ishihara
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan; Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yuki Azumi
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan; Division of Gastro-intestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Satoshi Urakami
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Masaki Shimizu
- Division of Gastro-intestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kodama
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mari Nishio
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Manabu Shigeoka
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kakeji
- Division of Gastro-intestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yokozaki
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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Li L, Cheng H, Gong L, Huang Y, Yang J, Yan Q, Dai S, Wang J. Cuproptosis/OXPHOS tendency prediction of prognosis and immune microenvironment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Gene 2024; 902:148156. [PMID: 38211899 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148156] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cuproptosis is a newly discovered cell death mechanism that relies on mitochondrial respiration, for which oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is an essential part. However, the detailed mechanisms of cuproptosis associated with OXPHOS in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and how this correlation affects prognosis still remains unclear. METHODS scRNA-seq data of ESCC were downloaded from SRA (Sequence Read Archive) database. "AUCell" algorithm was used to grouping epithelial cells according to cuproptosis and OXPHOS score. Cell-cell communication, Pseudo-time Trajectory and transcription factor enrichment analysis were repectively conducted by "CellChat", "monocle3" package and "pySCENIC" algorithm. Univariate and LASSO cox regression analysis were used to construct the prognostic cuproptosis-OXPHOS signature. Finally, CCK-8 assay and DCFH-DA staining assay were respectively validated the sensitive and ROS production of elesclomol. RESULTS scRNA-seq data were analyzed to identify 10 core cell types. According to the median scores for cuproptosis and OXPHOS, malignant epithelial cells were divided into double high, double low, and mixed groups. The double high group distributed at the end of the pseudo-time trajectory and harbored HMGA1(+) as specific transcriptional regulons. Knockdown of HMGA1 partly reversed the inhibition of cell viability visualized by CCK-8 assay, while reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by elesclomol was enhanced after HMGA1 silencing. Furthermore, the immunosuppressive signal was significantly increased in the double high group detected by 'CellChat' in single-cell data and 'ssGSEA' in bulk data followed by 'CIBERSORTx' algorithm. Finally, a new cuproptosis-OXPHOS prognostic signature (CNN2, ATP6V0E1, PSMD6, CCDC25, IGFBP2, MT1E, and RPS4Y1) was constructed for the prediction of the prognosis, and a high-risk group corresponding to a more sensitive tendency to erlotinib, dasatinib, and bosutinib treatment was identified. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed the relationship between OXPHOS and tendency of cuproptosis in ESCC, and malignant cells with this characteristic exerted immunosuppressive signals and indicated poor prognosis. Furthermore, we constructed the regulatory network in high cuproptosis-OXPHOS ESCC and identified HMGA1 as a potential regulator molecule of cuproptosis mediated by elesclomol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China
| | - Haiyan Cheng
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, PR China
| | - Li Gong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China
| | - Yongcheng Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China
| | - Qihang Yan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China
| | - Shuqin Dai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China.
| | - Junye Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, PR China.
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Yang Y, Yang C, Yang Q, Lu S, Liu B, Li D, Li D, Zhang P, Xu P, Lang J, Zhou J. Elucidating Hedgehog pathway's role in HNSCC progression: insights from a 6-gene signature. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4686. [PMID: 38409358 PMCID: PMC10897175 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54937-6] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of targeted inhibition strategies for Hedgehog signaling in cancer, multiple Hedgehog signaling pathway-related biomarkers have become the focus of research. SsGSEA algorithm was employed to analyze the Hedgehog pathway scores of samples in TCGA-HNSC dataset and divide them into two groups. Weighted co-expression network analysis was performed to identify modules strongly associated with the Hedgehog pathway. Differentially up-regulated genes in tumor samples in comparison to the normal ones were screened by Limma, in which genes belonging to modules strongly related to Hedgehog pathway were further filtered by LASSO reduction and multivariate Cox regression analysis to develop a model. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT were served to characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME). TIDE assessed immunotherapy response. Hedgehog pathway activity was significantly higher in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues than in normal tissues and was correlated with HNSCC survival, glycan, cofactors and vitamins, drug metabolism, and matrix scores. Six genes (SLC2A3, EFNB2, OAF, COX4I2, MT2A and TXNRD1) were captured to form a Hedgehog associated 6-gene signature, and the resulting risk score was an independent indicator of HNSCC prognosis. It was significantly positively correlated with stromal score, metabolism, angiogenesis and inflammatory response. Patients in low-risk group with a low TIDE score had higher immunotherapy sensitivity relative to those in high-risk group. This study revealed novel findings of the Hedgehog pathway in HNSCC progression and opened up a Hedgehog pathology-related signature to help identify risk factors contributing to HNSCC progression and help predict immunotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610014, China
| | - Chenxi Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Qiying Yang
- Military Casualty Management Department, General Hospital of the Western War Zone of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Chengdu, 610036, China
| | - Shun Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Bisheng Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Dongyun Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Dongliang Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Jinyi Lang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610042, China.
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Chen B, Yu P, Chan WN, Xie F, Zhang Y, Liang L, Leung KT, Lo KW, Yu J, Tse GMK, Kang W, To KF. Cellular zinc metabolism and zinc signaling: from biological functions to diseases and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:6. [PMID: 38169461 PMCID: PMC10761908 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01679-y] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Zinc metabolism at the cellular level is critical for many biological processes in the body. A key observation is the disruption of cellular homeostasis, often coinciding with disease progression. As an essential factor in maintaining cellular equilibrium, cellular zinc has been increasingly spotlighted in the context of disease development. Extensive research suggests zinc's involvement in promoting malignancy and invasion in cancer cells, despite its low tissue concentration. This has led to a growing body of literature investigating zinc's cellular metabolism, particularly the functions of zinc transporters and storage mechanisms during cancer progression. Zinc transportation is under the control of two major transporter families: SLC30 (ZnT) for the excretion of zinc and SLC39 (ZIP) for the zinc intake. Additionally, the storage of this essential element is predominantly mediated by metallothioneins (MTs). This review consolidates knowledge on the critical functions of cellular zinc signaling and underscores potential molecular pathways linking zinc metabolism to disease progression, with a special focus on cancer. We also compile a summary of clinical trials involving zinc ions. Given the main localization of zinc transporters at the cell membrane, the potential for targeted therapies, including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, offers promising avenues for future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonan Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peiyao Yu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital and Basic Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wai Nok Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuda Xie
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yigan Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital and Basic Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kam Tong Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok Wai Lo
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gary M K Tse
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Ka Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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8
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Li W, Xu T, Jin H, Li M, Jia Q. Emerging role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 253:155002. [PMID: 38056131 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal carcinoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer death globally and the majority of global cases are esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Difficulty in diagnosis exists as more than 70% of ESCC patients are diagnosed at the intermediate or advanced stage. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been considered one of the crucial components in the process of tumor growth, promoting communications between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). CAFs grow alongside malignancies dynamically and interact with ESCC cells to promote their progression, proliferation, invasion, tumor escape, chemo- and radio-resistance, etc. It is believed that CAFs qualify as a promising direction for treatment. Analyzing CAFs' subtypes and functions will elucidate the involvement of CAFs in ESCC and aid in therapeutics. This review summarizes current information on CAFs in ESCC and focuses on the latest interaction between CAFs and ESCC cancer cell discoveries. The origin of CAFs and their communication with ESCC cells and TME are also demonstrated. On the foundation of a thorough analysis, we highlight the clinical prospects and CAFs-related therapies in ESCC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianqi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hai Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.
| | - Mingyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Qingge Jia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
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9
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Tariq M, Richard V, Kerin MJ. MicroRNAs as Molecular Biomarkers for the Characterization of Basal-like Breast Tumor Subtype. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3007. [PMID: 38002007 PMCID: PMC10669494 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11113007] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease highlighted by the presence of multiple tumor variants and the basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is considered to be the most aggressive variant with limited therapeutics and a poor prognosis. Though the absence of detectable protein and hormonal receptors as biomarkers hinders early detection, the integration of genomic and transcriptomic profiling led to the identification of additional variants in BLBC. The high-throughput analysis of tissue-specific micro-ribonucleic acids (microRNAs/miRNAs) that are deemed to have a significant role in the development of breast cancer also displayed distinct expression profiles in each subtype of breast cancer and thus emerged to be a robust approach for the precise characterization of the BLBC subtypes. The classification schematic of breast cancer is still a fluid entity that continues to evolve alongside technological advancement, and the transcriptomic profiling of tissue-specific microRNAs is projected to aid in the substratification and diagnosis of the BLBC tumor subtype. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on breast tumor classification, aim to collect comprehensive evidence based on the microRNA expression profiles, and explore their potential as prospective biomarkers of BLBC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vinitha Richard
- Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Michael J. Kerin
- Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
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10
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Xue M, Tong Y, Xiong Y, Yu C. Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the progression, therapeutic resistance and targeted therapy of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1257266. [PMID: 37927475 PMCID: PMC10623436 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1257266] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumours with high morbidity and mortality. Although surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are common treatment options available for oesophageal cancer, the 5-year survival rate remains low after treatment. On the one hand, many oesophageal cancers are are discovered at an advanced stage and, on the other hand, treatment resistance is a major obstacle to treating locally advanced ESCC. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the main type of stromal cell in the tumour microenvironment, enhance tumour progression and treatment resistance and have emerged as a major focus of study on targeted therapy of oesophageal cancer.With the aim of providing potential, prospective targets for improving therapeutic efficacy, this review summarises the origin and activation of CAFs and their specific role in regulating tumour progression and treatment resistance in ESCC. We also emphasize the clinical potential and emerging trends of ESCC CAFs-targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Changhua Yu
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, China
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11
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Liu C, Tang H, Hu N, Li T. Methylomics and cancer: the current state of methylation profiling and marker development for clinical care. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:242. [PMID: 37840147 PMCID: PMC10577916 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03074-7] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications have long been recognized as an essential level in transcriptional regulation linking behavior and environmental conditions or stimuli with biological processes and disease development. Among them, methylation is the most abundant of these reversible epigenetic marks, predominantly occurring on DNA, RNA, and histones. Methylation modification is intimately involved in regulating gene transcription and cell differentiation, while aberrant methylation status has been linked with cancer development in several malignancies. Early detection and precise restoration of dysregulated methylation form the basis for several epigenetics-based therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the current basic understanding of the regulation and mechanisms responsible for methylation modification and cover several cutting-edge research techniques for detecting methylation across the genome and transcriptome. We then explore recent advances in clinical diagnostic applications of methylation markers of various cancers and address the current state and future prospects of methylation modifications in therapies for different diseases, especially comparing pharmacological methylase/demethylase inhibitors with the CRISPRoff/on methylation editing systems. This review thus provides a resource for understanding the emerging role of epigenetic methylation in cancer, the use of methylation-based biomarkers in cancer detection, and novel methylation-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Han Tang
- BioChain (Beijing) Science & Technology Inc., Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nana Hu
- BioChain (Beijing) Science & Technology Inc., Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianbao Li
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health, San Antonio, USA.
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12
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Arora R, Cao C, Kumar M, Sinha S, Chanda A, McNeil R, Samuel D, Arora RK, Matthews TW, Chandarana S, Hart R, Dort JC, Biernaskie J, Neri P, Hyrcza MD, Bose P. Spatial transcriptomics reveals distinct and conserved tumor core and edge architectures that predict survival and targeted therapy response. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5029. [PMID: 37596273 PMCID: PMC10439131 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40271-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment has a profound impact on biology and therapy response. Here, we perform an integrative single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis on HPV-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to comprehensively characterize malignant cells in tumor core (TC) and leading edge (LE) transcriptional architectures. We show that the TC and LE are characterized by unique transcriptional profiles, neighboring cellular compositions, and ligand-receptor interactions. We demonstrate that the gene expression profile associated with the LE is conserved across different cancers while the TC is tissue specific, highlighting common mechanisms underlying tumor progression and invasion. Additionally, we find our LE gene signature is associated with worse clinical outcomes while TC gene signature is associated with improved prognosis across multiple cancer types. Finally, using an in silico modeling approach, we describe spatially-regulated patterns of cell development in OSCC that are predictably associated with drug response. Our work provides pan-cancer insights into TC and LE biology and interactive spatial atlases ( http://www.pboselab.ca/spatial_OSCC/ ; http://www.pboselab.ca/dynamo_OSCC/ ) that can be foundational for developing novel targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Christian Cao
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mehul Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sarthak Sinha
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ayan Chanda
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Reid McNeil
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Divya Samuel
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Rahul K Arora
- Center for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - T Wayne Matthews
- Ohlson Research Initiative, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Section of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Shamir Chandarana
- Ohlson Research Initiative, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Section of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Robert Hart
- Ohlson Research Initiative, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Section of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Joseph C Dort
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Ohlson Research Initiative, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Section of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jeff Biernaskie
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Paola Neri
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Martin D Hyrcza
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Pinaki Bose
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
- Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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13
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Wieder R. Fibroblasts as Turned Agents in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2014. [PMID: 37046676 PMCID: PMC10093070 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiated epithelial cells reside in the homeostatic microenvironment of the native organ stroma. The stroma supports their normal function, their G0 differentiated state, and their expansion/contraction through the various stages of the life cycle and physiologic functions of the host. When malignant transformation begins, the microenvironment tries to suppress and eliminate the transformed cells, while cancer cells, in turn, try to resist these suppressive efforts. The tumor microenvironment encompasses a large variety of cell types recruited by the tumor to perform different functions, among which fibroblasts are the most abundant. The dynamics of the mutual relationship change as the sides undertake an epic battle for control of the other. In the process, the cancer "wounds" the microenvironment through a variety of mechanisms and attracts distant mesenchymal stem cells to change their function from one attempting to suppress the cancer, to one that supports its growth, survival, and metastasis. Analogous reciprocal interactions occur as well between disseminated cancer cells and the metastatic microenvironment, where the microenvironment attempts to eliminate cancer cells or suppress their proliferation. However, the altered microenvironmental cells acquire novel characteristics that support malignant progression. Investigations have attempted to use these traits as targets of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wieder
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
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14
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Wang XL, Schnoor M, Yin LM. Metallothionein-2: An emerging target in inflammatory diseases and cancers. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108374. [PMID: 36889441 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Metallothionein-2 (MT-2) was originally discovered as a mediator of zinc homeostasis and cadmium detoxification. However, MT-2 has recently received increased attention because altered expression of MT-2 is closely related to various diseases such as asthma and cancers. Several pharmacological strategies have been developed to inhibit or modify MT-2, revealing its potential as drug target in diseases. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of MT-2 action is warranted to improve drug development for potential clinical applications. In this review, we highlight recent advances in determining the protein structure, regulation, binding partners, and new functions of MT-2 in inflammatory diseases and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ling Wang
- Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Michael Schnoor
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Center for Investigation and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-IPN), Avenida IPN 2508, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lei-Miao Yin
- Yueyang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
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15
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Jin AL, Ding L, Yang WJ, Liu T, Chen W, Li T, Zhang CY, Pan BS, Qiu SJ, Zhou J, Fan J, Guo W, Yang XR, Wang BL. Exosomal microRNAs in the DLK1-DIO3 imprinted region derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts promote progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting hedgehog interacting protein. BMC Gastroenterol 2022; 22:505. [PMID: 36482325 PMCID: PMC9730585 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-022-02594-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020. Exosomes derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs-exo) can promote tumor progression in various human cancers. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism controlling how CAFs-exo can promote HCC progression remains poorly understood. METHODS CAFs and para-cancer fibroblasts (PAFs) were isolated from HCC tissues and corresponding para-cancer tissues, then were cultured in vitro. CAFs and PAFs were characterized by immunofluorescence and western blot (WB) assays. Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, nanoflow cytometry, and WB assay. The internalization of exosomes by HCC cells was observed under a fluorescence microscope. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation. Wound healing and transwell assays were used for migration and invasion experiments. RT-PCR assay was used to examine differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes and HCC cells. The TargetScan database was used to predict miRNA target genes. Hedgehog interacting protein (HHIP) expression analysis, prognostic analysis, and enrichment analysis of HHIP-related co-expressed genes were performed using the TIMER, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, and LinkedOmics databases. RESULTS CAFs-exo were internalized by HCC cells. CAFs-exo contributed to the aggressive phenotype of HCC cells, while inhibiting exosome secretion reversed these effects. Mechanistically, miRNAs in the DLK1-DIO3 imprinted region (miR-329-3p, miR-380-3p, miR-410-5p, miR-431-5p) were increased in HCC cells co-cultured with CAFs-exo compared with PAFs-exo. Expression of HHIP, a possible miR-431-5p target gene, was significantly downregulated in HCC cells. Low HHIP expression level in tumor tissues could predict poor prognosis in HCC patients. HHIP-related co-expressed genes were mainly associated with cell adhesion molecules. CONCLUSIONS CAFs-exo can promote HCC progression by delivering miRNAs in the DLK1-DIO3 imprinted region to HCC cells, subsequently inhibiting HHIP expression. HHIP is a potential prognostic biomarker in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Li Jin
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Ding
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Jing Yang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Te Liu
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.412540.60000 0001 2372 7462Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200031 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Tong Li
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-Yan Zhang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, 361015 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bai-Shen Pan
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200940 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuang-Jian Qiu
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhou
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Fan
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Guo
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, 361015 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200940 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai, 200031 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Rong Yang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bei-Li Wang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, 361015 People’s Republic of China ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200940 People’s Republic of China
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16
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Deng T, Wang H, Yang C, Zuo M, Ji Z, Bai M, Ning T, Liu R, Wang J, Ge S, Zhang L, Ba Y, Zhang H. Single cell sequencing revealed the mechanism of PD-1 resistance affected by the expression profile of peripheral blood immune cells in ESCC. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1004345. [PMID: 36466860 PMCID: PMC9712746 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1004345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly lethal malignancy with poor prognosis. The effect of transcriptome characteristics of patient immune microenvironment (TME) on the efficacy of immunosuppressive agents is still poorly understood. METHODS Here we extracted and isolated immune cells from peripheral blood of patients with PD-1 monoclonal antibody sensitivity and resistance, and conducted deep single-cell RNA sequencing to describe the baseline landscape of the composition, lineage, and functional status of infiltrating immune cells in peripheral blood of patients with esophageal cancer. RESULTS The transcriptome characteristics of immune cells were comprehensively analyzed, and the dynamic changes of cell percentage, heterogeneity of cell subtypes and interactions between cells were explained. Co-expression and pedigree tracking based on T-cell antigen receptors revealed a significant proportion of highly migratory intertissue-effector T cells. GO and KEGG enrichment pathway Analysis of CD8+ effect-T cells ESCC_S group and ESCC_D1,2 group, found that in the up-regulated enrichment pathway, ESCC_S group enriched more PD-L1 and PD-1 checkpoint pathways expressed in tumors (JUN/NFKBIA/FOS/KRAS/IFNG), which also exist in T cell receptor signaling pathways. MT2A, MT1X and MT1E were differentially expressed in ESCC patients with PD-1 monoclonal antibody resistance, which may be related to the resistance of PD-1 mMAB. CONCLUSIONS This study has an in-depth understanding of the influence of peripheral immune cell infiltration on the sensitivity of monoclonal antibody PD-1 in patients with esophageal cancer, which is helpful to promote the immunotherapy of patients with esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Haiyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
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17
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Qiu L, Yue J, Ding L, Yin Z, Zhang K, Zhang H. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: An emerging target against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2022; 546:215860. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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18
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Zheng S, Liu B, Guan X. The Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Invasion and Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:911285. [PMID: 35814365 PMCID: PMC9257257 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.911285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, with a high rate of morbidity. The invasion and metastasis of ESCC is the main reason for high mortality. More and more evidence suggests that metastasized cancer cells require cellular elements that contribute to ESCC tumor microenvironment (TME) formation. TME contains many immune cells and stromal components, which are critical to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, immune escape, angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis, metastasis niche formation, and invasion/metastasis. In this review, we will focus on the mechanism of different microenvironment cellular elements in ESCC invasion and metastasis and discuss recent therapeutic attempts to restore the tumor-suppressing function of cells within the TME. It will represent the whole picture of TME in the metastasis and invasion process of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyue Zheng
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Beilei Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xinyuan Guan,
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Liu X, Quan J, Shen Z, Zhang Z, Chen Z, Li L, Li X, Hu G, Deng X. Metallothionein 2A (MT2A) controls cell proliferation and liver metastasis by controlling the MST1/LATS2/YAP1 signaling pathway in colorectal cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:205. [PMID: 35642057 PMCID: PMC9158144 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02623-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the three major cancers in the world and is the cancer with the most liver metastasis. The present study aimed to investigate the role of metallothionein 2A (MT2A) in the modulation of CRC cell proliferation and liver metastasis, as well as its molecular mechanisms. METHODS The expression profile of metallothionein 2A (MT2A) in colorectal cancer retrieved from TCGA, GEO and Oncomine database. The biological effect of MT2A overexpression was investigated mainly involving cell proliferation and migration in CRC cells as well as growth and metastasis in CRC animal models. To explore the specific mechanism of MT2A metastasis in CRC, transcriptome sequencing was used to compare the overall expression difference between the control group and the MT2A overexpression group. RESULTS Metallothionein 2A (MT2A) was downregulated in the tumor tissues of patients with CRC compared to adjacent normal tissues and was related to the tumor M stage of patients. MT2A overexpression inhibited CRC cell proliferation and migration in cells, as well as growth and metastasis in CRC animal models. While knockdown of MT2A had the opposite effect in cells. Western blotting confirmed that MT2A overexpression promoted the phosphorylation of MST1, LAST2 and YAP1, thereby inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway. Additionally, specific inhibitors of MST1/2 inhibited MT2A overexpression-mediated phosphorylation and relieved the inhibition of the Hippo signaling pathway, thus promoting cell proliferation. Immunohistochemistry in subcutaneous grafts and liver metastases further confirmed this result. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that MT2A is involved in CRC growth and liver metastasis. Therefore, MT2A and MST1 may be potential therapeutic targets for patients with CRC, especially those with liver metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Quan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaolong Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zequn Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijian Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Gui Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Deng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Renmin Road, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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