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Prodan M, Costescu S, Elagez A, Laitin SMD, Bloanca V, Crainiceanu Z, Seclaman E, Toma AO, Fericean RM, Puenea G, Cozma GV. Molecular Markers in Melanoma Progression: A Study on the Expression of miRNA Gene Subtypes in Tumoral vs. Benign Nevi. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:2881-2894. [PMID: 38785501 PMCID: PMC11120387 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31050220] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the differential expression of miRNA gene subtypes in tumoral versus benign nevi in individuals with melanoma, aiming to identify clinically significant correlations that could serve as reliable markers for assessing tumor stage and progression. Conducted between 2019 and 2022, this descriptive, quantitative observational research analyzed 90 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from the Pius Brinzeu County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Timisoara, including 45 samples of advanced-stage melanoma and 45 samples of pigmented nevi. miRNA purification and analysis were performed using the miRNeasy Kit and the Human Cancer PathwayFinder miScript miRNA PCR Array, with statistical analysis (including logistic regression) to determine associations with cancer staging, such as high Breslow index risk, number of mitoses, and vascular invasion. After the analysis and comparison of 180 miRNA gene subtypes, we selected 10 of the most upregulated and 10 most downregulated genes. The results revealed that hsa-miR-133b, hsa-miR-335-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, and hsa-miR-885-5p were significantly upregulated in melanoma samples, with fold changes ranging from 1.09 to 1.12. Conversely, hsa-miR-451a and hsa-miR-29b-3p showed notable downregulation in melanoma, with fold changes of 0.90 and 0.92, respectively. Additionally, logistic regression analysis identified hsa-miR-29b-3p (OR = 2.51) and hsa-miR-200a-3p (OR = 2.10) as significantly associated with an increased risk of a high Breslow index, while hsa-miR-127-3p and hsa-miR-451a were associated with a reduced risk. Conclusively, this study underscores the significant alterations in miRNA expression in melanoma compared to benign nevi and highlights the potential of specific miRNAs as biomarkers for melanoma progression. The identification of miRNAs with significant associations to melanoma characteristics suggests their utility in developing non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic tools and in guiding therapeutic decisions, potentially improving patient outcomes in melanoma management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Prodan
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Plastic Surgery, “Pius Brinzeu” Timis County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Sergiu Costescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oravita City Hospital, 325600 Oravita, Romania
| | - Ahmed Elagez
- Department of General Medicine, Misr University for Science & Technology, Giza 3236101, Egypt;
| | - Sorina Maria Denisa Laitin
- Discipline of Epidemiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Vlad Bloanca
- Department of Plastic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zorin Crainiceanu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (Z.C.)
| | - Edward Seclaman
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Center for Complex Networks Science, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ana-Olivia Toma
- Discipline of Dermatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-O.T.); (R.M.F.)
- Department of Dermatology, Timisoara Municipal Emergency Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Manuela Fericean
- Discipline of Dermatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.-O.T.); (R.M.F.)
- Department of Dermatology, Timisoara Municipal Emergency Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania
| | - George Puenea
- Department XVI, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Gabriel Veniamin Cozma
- Department of Surgical Semiology I and Thoracic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Maloberti T, De Leo A, Coluccelli S, Sanza V, Gruppioni E, Altimari A, Comito F, Melotti B, Marchese PV, Dika E, Venturi F, Corti B, Ciccimarra G, Ciceu CA, Tallini G, de Biase D. Molecular Characterization of Advanced-Stage Melanomas in Clinical Practice Using a Laboratory-Developed Next-Generation Sequencing Panel. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:800. [PMID: 38667446 PMCID: PMC11048853 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14080800] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most lethal tumors among skin cancers, characterized by complex genetic and molecular alterations that result in uncontrolled cell proliferation and metastatic spread. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables the simultaneous examination of numerous genes, making this molecular technique essential for melanoma diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and therapy planning. Herein, we present the experience with our laboratory-designed NGS panel for the routine assessment of advanced-stage melanoma. A total of 260 specimens of advanced-stage melanomas were evaluated utilizing a laboratory-developed multi-gene NGS panel, which allowed the investigation of 229 amplicons in 25 oncogene/oncosuppressor genes. The NGS panel proved to be a reliable tool, failing to produce results in only 1.2% of the samples tested. BRAF and TERT were the two more commonly altered genes in 44.0% and 59.9% of samples, respectively. In 59.3% of the mutated cases, at least two concomitant variants were detected. In eight cases, both primary lesion and metastatic disease were analyzed by NGS. In all specimens (8/8, 100%), a perfect concordance in variants harbored by the primary and recurrence lesions was observed. Finally, this study described the validity of a laboratory-developed multi-gene NGS panel built specifically for advanced-stage melanomas in ordinary clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Maloberti
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Antonio De Leo
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
| | - Sara Coluccelli
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Viviana Sanza
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Elisa Gruppioni
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Annalisa Altimari
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Francesca Comito
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy (B.M.); (P.V.M.)
| | - Barbara Melotti
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy (B.M.); (P.V.M.)
| | - Paola Valeria Marchese
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy (B.M.); (P.V.M.)
| | - Emi Dika
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Venturi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Corti
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Giulia Ciccimarra
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (C.A.C.)
| | - Crina Adriana Ciceu
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (C.A.C.)
| | - Giovanni Tallini
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
| | - Dario de Biase
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (C.A.C.)
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Zhang Y, Zhai W, Fan M, Wu J, Wang C. Salvianolic Acid B Significantly Suppresses the Migration of Melanoma Cells via Direct Interaction with β-Actin. Molecules 2024; 29:906. [PMID: 38398656 PMCID: PMC10892080 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29040906] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive and difficult to treat of all skin cancers. Despite advances in the treatment of melanoma, the prognosis for melanoma patients remains poor, and the recurrence rate remains high. There is substantial evidence that Chinese herbals effectively prevent and treat melanoma. The bioactive ingredient Salvianolic acid B (SAB) found in Salvia miltiorrhiza, a well-known Chinese herbal with various biological functions, exhibits inhibitory activity against various cancers. A375 and mouse B16 cell lines were used to evaluate the main targets and mechanisms of SAB in inhibiting melanoma migration. Online bioinformatics analysis, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, molecular fishing, dot blot, and molecular docking assays were carried out to clarify the potential molecular mechanism. We found that SAB prevents the migration and invasion of melanoma cells by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of melanoma cells. As well as interacting directly with the N-terminal domain of β-actin, SAB enhanced its compactness and stability, thereby inhibiting the migration of cells. Taken together, SAB could significantly suppress the migration of melanoma cells via direct binding with β-actin, suggesting that SAB could be a helpful supplement that may enhance chemotherapeutic outcomes and benefit melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jinjun Wu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.Z.); (W.Z.); (M.F.)
| | - Caiyan Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.Z.); (W.Z.); (M.F.)
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Fontana F, Sommariva M, Anselmi M, Bianchi F, Limonta P, Gagliano N. Differentiation States of Phenotypic Transition of Melanoma Cells Are Revealed by 3D Cell Cultures. Cells 2024; 13:181. [PMID: 38247872 PMCID: PMC10814891 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020181] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is characterized by high metastatic potential favored by the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), leading melanoma cells to exhibit a spectrum of typical EMT markers. This study aimed to analyze the expression of EMT markers in A375 and BLM melanoma cell lines cultured in 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids using morphological and molecular methods. The expression of EMT markers was strongly affected by 3D arrangement and revealed a hybrid phenotype for the two cell lines. Indeed, although E-cadherin was almost undetectable in both A375 and BLM cells, cortical actin was detected in A375 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids and was strongly expressed in BLM 3D spheroids. The mesenchymal marker N-cadherin was significantly up-regulated in A375 3D spheroids while undetectable in BLM cells, but vimentin was similarly expressed in both cell lines at the gene and protein levels. This pattern suggests that A375 cells exhibit a more undifferentiated/mesenchymal phenotype, while BLM cells have more melanocytic/differentiated characteristics. Accordingly, the Zeb1 and 2, Slug, Snail and Twist gene expression analyses showed that they were differentially expressed in 2D monolayers compared to 3D spheroids, supporting this view. Furthermore, A375 cells are characterized by a greater invasive potential, strongly influenced by 3D arrangement, compared to the BLM cell line, as evaluated by SDS-zymography and TIMPs gene expression analysis. Finally, TGF-β1, a master controller of EMT, and lysyl oxidase (LOX), involved in melanoma progression, were strongly up-regulated by 3D arrangement in the metastatic BLM cells alone, likely playing a role in the metastatic phases of melanoma progression. Overall, these findings suggest that A375 and BLM cells possess a hybrid/intermediate phenotype in relation to the expression of EMT markers. The former is characterized by a more mesenchymal/undifferentiated phenotype, while the latter shows a more melanocytic/differentiated phenotype. Our results contribute to the characterization of the role of EMT in melanoma cells and confirm that a 3D cell culture model could provide deeper insight into our understanding of the biology of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.F.); (M.A.); (P.L.)
| | - Michele Sommariva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Martina Anselmi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.F.); (M.A.); (P.L.)
| | - Francesca Bianchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (F.B.)
- U. O. Laboratorio Morfologia Umana Applicata, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, 20097 Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.F.); (M.A.); (P.L.)
| | - Nicoletta Gagliano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (F.B.)
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