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Biskup E, Lopacinska-Jørgensen J, Vestergaard LK, Høgdall E. Validating reference-based algorithms to determine cell-type heterogeneity in ovarian cancer DNA methylation studies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11048. [PMID: 38745057 PMCID: PMC11094148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61857-y] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Information about cell composition in tissue samples is crucial for biomarker discovery and prognosis. Specifically, cancer tissue samples present challenges in deconvolution studies due to mutations and genetic rearrangements. Here, we optimized a robust, DNA methylation-based protocol, to be used for deconvolution of ovarian cancer samples. We compared several state-of-the-art methods (HEpiDISH, MethylCIBERSORT and ARIC) and validated the proposed protocol in an in-silico mixture and in an external dataset containing samples from ovarian cancer patients and controls. The deconvolution protocol we eventually implemented is based on MethylCIBERSORT. Comparing deconvolution methods, we paid close attention to the role of a reference panel. We postulate that a possibly high number of samples (in our case: 247) should be used when building a reference panel to ensure robustness and to compensate for biological and technical variation between samples. Subsequently, we tested the performance of the validated protocol in our own study cohort, consisting of 72 patients with malignant and benign ovarian disease as well as in five external cohorts. In conclusion, we refined and validated a reference-based algorithm to determine cell type composition of ovarian cancer tissue samples to be used in cancer biology studies in larger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Biskup
- Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
| | | | | | - Estrid Høgdall
- Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
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Malgundkar SH, Tamimi Y. The pivotal role of long non-coding RNAs as potential biomarkers and modulators of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer (OC). Hum Genet 2024; 143:107-124. [PMID: 38276976 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02635-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a fatal gynecological disease that is often diagnosed at later stages due to its asymptomatic nature and the absence of efficient early-stage biomarkers. Previous studies have identified genes with abnormal expression in OC that couldn't be explained by methylation or mutation, indicating alternative mechanisms of gene regulation. Recent advances in human transcriptome studies have led to research on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as regulators of cancer gene expression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of ncRNAs with a length greater than 200 nucleotides, have been identified as crucial regulators of physiological processes and human diseases, including cancer. Dysregulated lncRNA expression has also been found to play a crucial role in ovarian carcinogenesis, indicating their potential as novel and non-invasive biomarkers for improving OC management. However, despite the discovery of several thousand lncRNAs, only one has been approved for clinical use as a biomarker in cancer, highlighting the importance of further research in this field. In addition to their potential as biomarkers, lncRNAs have been implicated in modulating chemoresistance, a major problem in OC. Several studies have identified altered lncRNA expression upon drug treatment, further emphasizing their potential to modulate chemoresistance. In this review, we highlight the characteristics of lncRNAs, their function, and their potential to serve as tumor markers in OC. We also discuss a few databases providing detailed information on lncRNAs in various cancer types. Despite the promising potential of lncRNAs, further research is necessary to fully understand their role in cancer and develop effective strategies to combat this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shika Hanif Malgundkar
- Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PC 123, PO Box 35, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Yahya Tamimi
- Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PC 123, PO Box 35, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
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Salamini-Montemurri M, Lamas-Maceiras M, Lorenzo-Catoira L, Vizoso-Vázquez Á, Barreiro-Alonso A, Rodríguez-Belmonte E, Quindós-Varela M, Cerdán ME. Identification of lncRNAs Deregulated in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Based on a Gene Expression Profiling Meta-Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10798. [PMID: 37445988 PMCID: PMC10341812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310798] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the deadliest gynecological cancers worldwide, mainly because of its initially asymptomatic nature and consequently late diagnosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are non-coding transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides, whose deregulation is involved in pathologies such as EOC, and are therefore envisaged as future biomarkers. We present a meta-analysis of available gene expression profiling (microarray and RNA sequencing) studies from EOC patients to identify lncRNA genes with diagnostic and prognostic value. In this meta-analysis, we include 46 independent cohorts, along with available expression profiling data from EOC cell lines. Differential expression analyses were conducted to identify those lncRNAs that are deregulated in (i) EOC versus healthy ovary tissue, (ii) unfavorable versus more favorable prognosis, (iii) metastatic versus primary tumors, (iv) chemoresistant versus chemosensitive EOC, and (v) correlation to specific histological subtypes of EOC. From the results of this meta-analysis, we established a panel of lncRNAs that are highly correlated with EOC. The panel includes several lncRNAs that are already known and even functionally characterized in EOC, but also lncRNAs that have not been previously correlated with this cancer, and which are discussed in relation to their putative role in EOC and their potential use as clinically relevant tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Salamini-Montemurri
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Mónica Lamas-Maceiras
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Lidia Lorenzo-Catoira
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ángel Vizoso-Vázquez
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Aida Barreiro-Alonso
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Esther Rodríguez-Belmonte
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - María Quindós-Varela
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - M Esperanza Cerdán
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
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Gao K, Lian W, Zhao R, Huang W, Xiong J. The joint role of methylation and immune-related lncRNAs in ovarian cancer: Defining molecular subtypes and developing prognostic signature. Transl Oncol 2023; 34:101704. [PMID: 37257331 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101704] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Complex outcome of ovarian cancer (OC) stems from the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors. This study aimed to comprehensively explored the subclasses of OC through lncRNAs related to both N6-methyladenosine (m6A)/N1-methyladenosine (m1A)/N7-methylguanosine (m7G)/5-methylcytosine (m5C) in terms of epigenetic variability and immune molecules and develop a new set of risk predictive systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS The lncRNA data of OC were collected from TCGA. Spearman correlation analysis on lncRNA data of OC with immune-related gene expression and with m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G were respectively conducted. The m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G-related m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G related immune lncRNA subtypes were identified on the basis of the prognostic lncRNAs. Heterogeneity among subtypes was evaluated by tumor mutation analysis, tumor microenvironment (TME) component analysis, response to immune checkpoint blocked (ICB) and chemotherapeutic drugs. A risk predictive system was developed based on the results of Cox regression analysis and random survival forest analysis of the differences between each specific cluster and other clusters. RESULTS Three m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G-related immune lncRNA subtypes of OC showing distinct differences in prognosis, mutation pattern, TIME components, immunotherapy and chemotherapy response were identified. A set of risk predictive system consisting of 10 lncRNA for OC was developed, according to which the risk score of samples in each OC dataset was calculated and risk type was defined. CONCLUSIONS This study classified three m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G-related immune lncRNA subtypes with distinct heterogeneous mutation patterns, TME components, ICB therapy and immune response, and provided a set of risk predictive system consisted of 10 lncRNA for OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kefei Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Wenqin Lian
- Department of Burns and Plastic & Wound Repair Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361100, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Weiming Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China.
| | - Jian Xiong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China.
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Chen L, Wang J, Liu Q. Long noncoding RNAs as therapeutic targets to overcome chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:999174. [PMID: 36105363 PMCID: PMC9464811 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.999174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been characterized to play an essential role in ovarian tumorigenesis via controlling a variety of cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, invasion, apoptotic death, metastasis, cell cycle, migration, metabolism, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. The one obstacle for the therapeutic efficacy is due to the development of drug resistance in ovarian cancer patients. Therefore, in this review article, we describe the role of lncRNAs in chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Moreover, we discuss the molecular mechanism of lncRNAs-involved drug resistance in ovarian cancer. We conclude that lncRNAs could be useful targets to overcome chemoresistance and improve therapeutic outcome in ovarian cancer patients.
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