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Hakobyan M, Binder H, Arakelyan A. Pan-cancer analysis of telomere maintenance mechanisms. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107392. [PMID: 38763334 PMCID: PMC11225560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107392] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, protective caps at chromosome ends, maintain genomic stability and control cell lifespan. Dysregulated telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) are cancer hallmarks, enabling unchecked cell proliferation. We conducted a pan-cancer evaluation of TMM using RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas for 33 different cancer types and analyzed the activities of telomerase-dependent (TEL) and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) TMM pathways in detail. To further characterize the TMM profiles, we categorized the tumors based on their ALT and TEL TMM pathway activities into five major phenotypes: ALT high TEL low, ALT low TEL low, ALT middle TEL middle, ALT high TEL high, and ALT low TEL high. These phenotypes refer to variations in telomere maintenance strategies, shedding light on the heterogeneous nature of telomere regulation in cancer. Moreover, we investigated the clinical implications of TMM phenotypes by examining their associations with clinical characteristics and patient outcomes. Specific TMM profiles were linked to specific survival patterns, emphasizing the potential of TMM profiling as a prognostic indicator and aiding in personalized cancer treatment strategies. Gene ontology analysis of the TMM phenotypes unveiled enriched biological processes associated with cell cycle regulation (both TEL and ALT), DNA replication (TEL), and chromosome dynamics (ALT) showing that telomere maintenance is tightly intertwined with cellular processes governing proliferation and genomic stability. Overall, our study provides an overview of the complexity of transcriptional regulation of telomere maintenance mechanisms in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meline Hakobyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
| | - Hans Binder
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Armenian Bioinformatics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Arsen Arakelyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
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2
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Drobyshev A, Modestov A, Suntsova M, Poddubskaya E, Seryakov A, Moisseev A, Sorokin M, Tkachev V, Zakharova G, Simonov A, Zolotovskaia MA, Buzdin A. Pan-cancer experimental characteristic of human transcriptional patterns connected with telomerase reverse transcriptase ( TERT) gene expression status. Front Genet 2024; 15:1401100. [PMID: 38859942 PMCID: PMC11163056 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1401100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The TERT gene encodes the reverse transcriptase subunit of telomerase and is normally transcriptionally suppressed in differentiated human cells but reactivated in cancers where its expression is frequently associated with poor survival prognosis. Here we experimentally assessed the RNA sequencing expression patterns associated with TERT transcription in 1039 human cancer samples of 27 tumor types. We observed a bimodal distribution of TERT expression where ∼27% of cancer samples did not express TERT and the rest showed a bell-shaped distribution. Expression of TERT strongly correlated with 1443 human genes including 103 encoding transcriptional factor proteins. Comparison of TERT- positive and negative cancers showed the differential activation of 496 genes and 1975 molecular pathways. Therein, 32/38 (84%) of DNA repair pathways were hyperactivated in TERT+ cancers which was also connected with accelerated replication, transcription, translation, and cell cycle progression. In contrast, the level of 40 positive cell cycle regulator proteins and a set of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition pathways was specific for the TERT- group suggesting different proliferation strategies for both groups of cancer. Our pilot study showed that the TERT+ group had ∼13% of cancers with C228T or C250T mutated TERT promoter. However, the presence of promoter mutations was not associated with greater TERT expression compared with other TERT+ cancers, suggesting parallel mechanisms of its transcriptional activation in cancers. In addition, we detected a decreased expression of L1 retrotransposons in the TERT+ group, and further decreased L1 expression in promoter mutated TERT+ cancers. TERT expression was correlated with 17 genes encoding molecular targets of cancer therapeutics and may relate to differential survival patterns of TERT- positive and negative cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey Drobyshev
- Endocrinology Research Center, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Modestov
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Suntsova
- Endocrinology Research Center, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Poddubskaya
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Clinical Center Vitamed, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Aleksey Moisseev
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maksim Sorokin
- Endocrinology Research Center, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Galina Zakharova
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksander Simonov
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marianna A. Zolotovskaia
- Endocrinology Research Center, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies 20, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton Buzdin
- Endocrinology Research Center, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies 20, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
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Banjan B, Koshy AJ, Kalath H, John L, Soman S, Raju R, Revikumar A. Potential protein kinase inhibitors that target G-quadruplex DNA structures in the human telomeric regions. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-023-10768-7. [PMID: 38509417 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-023-10768-7] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Telomeric regions contain Guanine-rich sequences arranged in a planar manner and connected by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds that can fold into G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures, and can be stabilized by monovalent metal cations. The presence of G4 DNA holds significance in cancer-related processes, especially due to their regulatory potential at transcriptional and translational levels of oncogene and tumor suppressor genes. The objective of this current research is to explore the evolving realm of FDA-approved protein kinase inhibitors, with a specific emphasis on their capacity to stabilize the G4 DNA structures formed at the human telomeric regions. This involves investigating the possibility of repurposing FDA-approved protein kinase inhibitors as a novel approach for targeting multiple cancer types. In this context, we have selected 16 telomeric G4 DNA structures as targets and 71 FDA-approved small-molecule protein kinase inhibitors as ligands. To investigate their binding affinities, molecular docking of human telomeric G4 DNA with nuclear protein kinase inhibitors and their corresponding co-crystalized ligands were performed. We found that Ponatinib and Lapatinib interact with all the selected G4 targets, the binding free energy calculations, and molecular dynamic simulations confirm their binding efficacy and stability. Thus, it is hypothesized that Ponatinib and Lapatinib may stabilize human telomeric G4 DNA in addition to their ability to inhibit BCR-ABL and the other members of the EGFR family. As a result, we also hypothesize that the stabilization of G4 DNA might represent an additional underlying mechanism contributing to their efficacy in exerting anti-cancer effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Banjan
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Abel John Koshy
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Haritha Kalath
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Levin John
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Sowmya Soman
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Rajesh Raju
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India.
| | - Amjesh Revikumar
- Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India.
- Kerala Genome Data Centre, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India.
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Koca DS, Kolpakov V, Ihlow J, von Laffert M, Erb-Eigner K, Herbst H, Kriese K, Schweizer L, Bertelmann E. Prevalence of TERT Promoter Mutations in Orbital Solitary Fibrous Tumors. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:1467-1484. [PMID: 38392213 PMCID: PMC10887834 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46020095] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The orbital manifestation of a solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is exceptionally rare and poses specific challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Its rather exceptional behavior among all SFTs comprises a high tendency towards local recurrence, but it rarely culminates in metastatic disease. This raises the question of prognostic factors in orbital SFTs (oSFTs). Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-promoter mutations have previously been linked to an unfavorable prognosis in SFTs of other locations. We analyzed the prevalence of TERT promoter mutations of SFTs in the orbital compartment. We performed a retrospective, descriptive clinico-histopathological analysis of nine cases of oSFTs between the years of 2017 and 2021. A TERT promoter mutation was present in one case, which was classified with intermediate metastatic risk. Local recurrence or progress occurred in six cases after primary resection; no distant metastases were reported. Multimodal imaging repeatedly showed particular morphologic patterns, including tubular vascular structures and ADC reduction. The prevalence of the TERT promoter mutation in oSFT was 11%, which is similar to the prevalence of extra-meningeal SFTs of the head and neck and lower than that in other extra-meningeal compartments. In the present study, the TERT promoter mutation in oSFT manifested in a case with an unfavorable prognosis, comprising aggressive local tumor growth, local recurrence, and eye loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sinan Koca
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vladimir Kolpakov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Ihlow
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Charité Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health Biomedical Innovation Academy, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str., 210178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian von Laffert
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Diagnostics, Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Liebigstraße 26, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katharina Erb-Eigner
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hermann Herbst
- Department of Pathology, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH Berlin, Rudower Straße 48, 12351 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karen Kriese
- Department of Pathology, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH Berlin, Rudower Straße 48, 12351 Berlin, Germany
| | - Leonille Schweizer
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Edinger Institute, Institute of Neurology, University of Frankfurt am Main, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt-Mainz, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eckart Bertelmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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Uziel O, Kanner AA, Beery E, Lev S, Lahav M, Horn‐Fichman S, Nof SH, Laviv Y, Yust‐Katz S, Amiel A, Shkara RA, Siddeeq M, Levy‐Barda A, Raanani P, Sela Y, Cohen Z, Siegal T. Is serum-derived exosomal hTERT transcript a marker of oncogenic activity in primary brain tumors? An exploratory study. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6784. [PMID: 38155481 PMCID: PMC10823760 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In order to proliferate indefinitely, all tumors require a telomere maintenance mechanism. The expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) enables telomere maintenance and provides cancer cells with limitless replicative potential. As such, it may serve as an attractive biomarker for oncogenic activity. This study explored whether a liquid biopsy that analyses blood derived exosomal hTERT transcript (e-hTERT-trans) may serve as such a biomarker in gliomas and meningiomas when compared to healthy controls. METHODS Exosomes were isolated from the pre-operative sera of patients' samples stored in the biobank of both Rabin and Sheba Medical Centers. The levels of e-hTERT-trans were measured in 81 healthy controls, 117 meningiomas, 17 low-grade gliomas, and 61 glioblastomas. Clinical parameters of the patients were collected retrospectively and compared to the levels of the e-hTERT-trans. RESULTS The upper normal limit of controls e-hTERT-trans was 1.85 relative quantitation (RQ). The rate of detection increased with rising tumor grade and correlated with tumor recurrence in meningiomas: mean RQ without recurrence (2.17 ± 11.7) versus with recurrence (3.59 ± 4.42; p = 0.002). In glioblastomas, preoperative measurements correlated with tumor volume and with the disease course on serial sampling. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated for the first time that the expression of e-hTERT-trans transcript can be measured in the serum of primary brain tumors. This exosomal marker carries the potential to serve as a biomarker once used in conjunction with other clinical and radiological parameters. Future studies are required to investigate whether the sensitivity could be augmented and whether it can be implemented into routine patients care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orit Uziel
- The Felsenstein Medical Research CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Institute of HematologyDavidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Andrew A. Kanner
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of NeurosurgeryRabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Einat Beery
- The Felsenstein Medical Research CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Sapir Lev
- Department of NeurosurgeryRabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Meir Lahav
- The Felsenstein Medical Research CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Institute of HematologyDavidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Suzana Horn‐Fichman
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Neuropathology, Department of PathologyRabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Sagi Har Nof
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of NeurosurgeryRabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Yuseph Laviv
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of NeurosurgeryRabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - S. Yust‐Katz
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Neurooncology UnitDavidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Alexandra Amiel
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Neurooncology UnitDavidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | | | - Mustafa Siddeeq
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of NeurosurgerySheba Medical CenterRamat‐GanIsrael
| | - Adva Levy‐Barda
- Biobank, Department of PathologyRabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
| | - Pia Raanani
- The Felsenstein Medical Research CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Institute of HematologyDavidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Yaron Sela
- The Center of Internet Psychology Reichman UniversityHerzliyaIsrael
| | - Zvi Cohen
- Sackler School of MedicineTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of NeurosurgerySheba Medical CenterRamat‐GanIsrael
| | - Tali Siegal
- Neurooncology UnitDavidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical CenterPetah TikvaIsrael
- Hebrew University and Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
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Tornesello ML, Cerasuolo A, Starita N, Amiranda S, Bonelli P, Tuccillo FM, Buonaguro FM, Buonaguro L, Tornesello AL. Reactivation of telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in cancer: the role of TERT promoter mutations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1286683. [PMID: 38033865 PMCID: PMC10684755 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1286683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity and telomere elongation are essential conditions for the unlimited proliferation of neoplastic cells. Point mutations in the core promoter region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene have been found to occur at high frequencies in several tumour types and considered a primary cause of telomerase reactivation in cancer cells. These mutations promote TERT gene expression by multiple mechanisms, including the generation of novel binding sites for nuclear transcription factors, displacement of negative regulators from DNA G-quadruplexes, recruitment of epigenetic activators and disruption of long-range interactions between TERT locus and telomeres. Furthermore, TERT promoter mutations cooperate with TPP1 promoter nucleotide changes to lengthen telomeres and with mutated BRAF and FGFR3 oncoproteins to enhance oncogenic signalling in cancer cells. TERT promoter mutations have been recognized as an early marker of tumour development or a major indicator of poor outcome and reduced patients survival in several cancer types. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of TERT promoter mutations, telomerase expression and telomeres elongation in cancer development, their clinical significance and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Sara Amiranda
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Patrizia Bonelli
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franca Maria Tuccillo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
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Heo J, Lee S, Park J, Yang H, Park H, Ki CS, Oh YL, Kim HI, Kim SW, Chung JH, Kim K, Kim TH. Age-associated mortality is partially mediated by TERT promoter mutation status in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294145. [PMID: 37948420 PMCID: PMC10637683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age at diagnosis (AAD) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), and the prevalence of the mutations increases with AAD. Considering this correlation, we investigated whether an interaction between AAD and the mutations is present and whether the mutation mediates the effect of AAD on the mortality rate in DTC. METHODS The study included 393 patients with DTC who were followed-up after thyroidectomy at a single medical center in Korea from 1994 to 2004. Multivariable Cox regression was used to investigate the interaction of AAD and TERT promoter mutation. Mediation analysis was conducted using a regression-based causal mediation model. RESULTS The age-associated mortality rate increased progressively in all DTC patients and wild-type TERT group (WT-TERT) with a linear trend (p < 0.001) contrary to mutant TERT group (M-TERT) (p = 0.301). Kaplan-Meier curves declined progressively with increasing AAD in the entire group, but the change was without significance in M-TERT. The effect of AAD on mortality was not significant (adjusted HR: 1.07, 95% CI 0.38-3.05) in M-TERT. An interaction between AAD and TERT promoter mutation (p = 0.005) was found in a multivariable Cox regression. TERT promoter mutations mediated the effect of AAD on the mortality rate by 36% in DTC in a mediation analysis. CONCLUSIONS Considering the mediation of TERT promoter mutation on the effect of AAD on mortality, inclusion of TERT promoter mutation in a stage classification to achieve further individualized prediction in DTC is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Heo
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Sungjoo Lee
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun Park
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Sahmyook Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Heera Yang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunju Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | | | - Young Lyun Oh
- Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye In Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea
| | - Sun Wook Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Chung
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyunga Kim
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
- Biomedical Statistics Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Data Convergence and Future Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Hyuk Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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8
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Yan MP, Wee CE, Yen KP, Stevens A, Wai LK. G-quadruplex ligands as therapeutic agents against cancer, neurological disorders and viral infections. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:1987-2009. [PMID: 37933551 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0202] [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] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) within the human genome have undergone extensive molecular investigation, with a strong focus on telomeres, gene promoters and repetitive regulatory sequences. G4s play central roles in regulating essential biological processes, including telomere maintenance, replication, transcription and translation. Targeting these molecular processes with G4-binding ligands holds substantial therapeutic potential in anticancer treatments and has also shown promise in treating neurological, skeletal and muscular disorders. The presence of G4s in bacterial and viral genomes also suggests that G4-binding ligands could be a critical tool in fighting infections. This review provides an overview of the progress and applications of G4-binding ligands, their proposed mechanisms of action, challenges faced and prospects for their utilization in anticancer treatments, neurological disorders and antiviral activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mock Phooi Yan
- Centre for Drug & Herbal Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia
| | - Chua Eng Wee
- Centre for Drug & Herbal Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia
| | - Khor Poh Yen
- Faculty Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak, 3, Jalan Greentown, Ipoh, Perak, 30450, Malaysia
| | - Aaron Stevens
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, 6021, New Zealand
| | - Lam Kok Wai
- Centre for Drug & Herbal Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia
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9
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Yan M, Cheng S, Wang S, Duan X, Mensah AR, Li L, Zhang Y, Li G, Zhao J, Feng F, Zhou X, Wu Y, Yang Y, Wang W. Association of Genetic Polymorphisms of TERT with Telomere Length in Coke Oven Emissions-Exposed Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1059-1069. [PMID: 35469505 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2069687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We explored the association between variations in the telomere maintenance genes and change in telomere length (TL) in workers. The TL of peripheral blood leukocytes from 544 coke oven workers and 238 controls were detected using the Real-time PCR method. Variations in four genes were then detected using the PCR based restriction fragment length polymorphism. The effects of environmental and genetic factors on TL were subsequently analyzed through covariance analysis and a generalized linear model .The TL of subjects with GG genotypes were longer than those with AG genotype in the TERT rs2736098 locus amongst the controls (P = .032). The combined effect of COEs exposure and AG+AA genotypes had a significant effect on TL (P < .001). The interaction between the COEs exposure factor and the rs2736098AG+AA genotypes had a significant effect on the TL (P < .05). The TL in coke oven workers is associated with the interactions between TERT rs2736098 AG+AA and COEs exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqing Yan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Health Inspection of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuai Cheng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Health Inspection of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sihua Wang
- Department of Occupational Health, Henan Institute for Occupational Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoran Duan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Acquaye Reuben Mensah
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Occupational Health, Zhengzhou Institute for Occupational Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuhong Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health, Zhengzhou Institute for Occupational Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guoyu Li
- Department of Occupational Health, Zhengzhou Institute for Occupational Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junfeng Zhao
- Department of Occupational Health, Zhengzhou Institute for Occupational Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Feifei Feng
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongjun Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Health Inspection of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongli Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Health Inspection of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
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10
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Yu W, Mei Y, Lu Z, Zhou L, Jia F, Chen S, Wang Z. The causal relationship between genetically determined telomere length and meningiomas risk. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1178404. [PMID: 37693759 PMCID: PMC10484632 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1178404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have shown that longer leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is significantly associated with increased risk of meningioma. However, there is limited evidence concerning the causal association of LTL with benign and malignant meningiomas or with the location of benign tumors. Methods We used three LTL datasets from different sources, designated by name and sample size as LTL-78592, LTL-9190, and LTL-472174. The linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) was used to explore the association between LTL and meningioma. We utilized two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (TSMR) to evaluate whether LTL is causally related to meningioma risk. We adjusted for confounders by conducting multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR). Results In the LTL-78592, longer LTL was significantly associated with increased risk of malignant [odds ratio (OR) = 5.14, p = 1.04 × 10-5], benign (OR = 4.81, p < 0.05), benign cerebral (OR = 5.36, p < 0.05), and benign unspecified meningioma (OR = 8.26, p < 0.05). The same results were obtained for the LTL-9190. In the LTL-472174, longer LTL was significantly associated with increased risk of malignant (OR = 4.94, p < 0.05), benign (OR = 3.14, p < 0.05), and benign cerebral meningioma (OR = 3.59, p < 0.05). Similar results were obtained in the MVMR. In contrast, only benign cerebral meningioma displayed a possible association with longer LTL (OR = 1.01, p < 0.05). No heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was detected. Conclusion In brief, genetically predicted longer LTL may increase the risk of benign, malignant, and benign cerebral meningiomas, regardless of the LTL measure, in European populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Yu
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, Xiamen, China
| | - Yunyun Mei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (Xiamen Hospital), Xiamen, China
| | - Zhenwei Lu
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, Xiamen, China
| | - Liwei Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, Xiamen, China
| | - Fang Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, Xiamen, China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Sifang Chen
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhanxiang Wang
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, Xiamen, China
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11
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Yang R, Han Y, Guan X, Hong Y, Meng J, Ding S, Long Q, Yi W. Regulation and clinical potential of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT/hTERT) in breast cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:218. [PMID: 37612721 PMCID: PMC10463831 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01244-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT/hTERT) serves as the pivotal catalytic subunit of telomerase, a crucial enzyme responsible for telomere maintenance and human genome stability. The high activation of hTERT, observed in over 90% of tumors, plays a significant role in tumor initiation and progression. An in-depth exploration of hTERT activation mechanisms in cancer holds promise for advancing our understanding of the disease and developing more effective treatment strategies. In breast cancer, the expression of hTERT is regulated by epigenetic, transcriptional, post-translational modification mechanisms and DNA variation. Besides its canonical function in telomere maintenance, hTERT exerts non-canonical roles that contribute to disease progression through telomerase-independent mechanisms. This comprehensive review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms governing hTERT in breast cancer and elucidates the functional implications of its activation. Given the overexpression of hTERT in most breast cancer cells, the detection of hTERT and its associated molecules are potential for enhancing early screening and prognostic evaluation of breast cancer. Although still in its early stages, therapeutic approaches targeting hTERT and its regulatory molecules show promise as viable strategies for breast cancer treatment. These methods are also discussed in this paper. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruozhu Yang
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Yi Han
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Xinyu Guan
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Yue Hong
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Jiahao Meng
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Shirong Ding
- Department of Oncology, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China.
| | - Qian Long
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China.
| | - Wenjun Yi
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China.
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12
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Eslami SS, Jafari D, Ghotaslou A, Amoupour M, Asri Kojabad A, Jafari R, Mousazadeh N, Tarighi P, Sadeghizadeh M. Combined Treatment of Dendrosomal-Curcumin and Daunorubicin Synergistically Inhibit Cell Proliferation, Migration and Induce Apoptosis in A549 Lung Cancer Cells. Adv Pharm Bull 2023; 13:539-550. [PMID: 37646049 PMCID: PMC10460814 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2023.050] [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: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Chemotherapy drugs used to treat lung cancer are associated with drug resistance and severe side effects. There have been rising demands for new therapeutic candidates and novel approaches, including combination therapy. Here, we aimed to investigate the combinatorial effect of a dendrosomal formulation of curcumin (DNC) and daunorubicin (DNR) on the A549 lung cancer cell line. Methods We performed cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell migration, colony-formation capacity, and gene expression analysis to interpret the mechanism of action for a combination of DNC and DNR on A549 cells. Results Our results revealed that the combination of DNC and DNR could synergistically inhibit the A549 cells' growth. This synergistic cytotoxicity was further approved by flow cytometry, migration assessment, colony-forming capacity and gene expression analysis. DNR combination with DNC resulted in increased apoptosis to necrosis ratio compared to DNR alone. In addition, the migration and colony-forming capacity were at the minimal range when DNC was combined with DNR. Combined treatment decreased the expression level of MDR-1, hTERT and Bcl-2 genes significantly. In addition, the ratio of Bax/Bcl2 gene expression significantly increased. Our analysis by free curcumin, dendrosomes and DNC also showed that dendrosomes do not have any significant cytotoxic effect on the A549 cells, suggesting that this carrier has a high potential for enhancing the curcumin's biological effects. Conclusion Our observations suggest that the DNC formulation of curcumin synergistically enhances the antineoplastic effect of DNR on the A549 cell line through the modulation of apoptosis/necrosis ratio, as well as Bax/Bcl2 ratio, MDR-1 and hTERT gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Sadegh Eslami
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davod Jafari
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Ghotaslou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Moein Amoupour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Asri Kojabad
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Rasool Jafari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Navid Mousazadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Parastoo Tarighi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Sadeghizadeh
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Parpounas C, Constantinides V. Advances in Molecular Profiling and Their Potential Influence on the Extent of Surgery in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (WDTC). Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1382. [PMID: 37374164 DOI: 10.3390/life13061382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer surgery has evolved dramatically with advances in our understanding of the biological behaviour of WDTC. Molecular profiling is shedding light on the subset that may behave aggressively. In an era when thyroid cancer management is becoming increasingly conservative, decision making regarding the extent of surgery must be objectively guided by molecular markers. The aim of the present article is to summarise the current published literature and provide possible practice recommendations. An online search for relevant published articles was performed using several databases. Title, abstract, and full-text screening, along with data extraction, was performed by two independent reviewers after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. A total of 1241 articles were identified, and 82 relevant articles were extracted and scrutinised. BRAF V600E and TERT promoter mutations were found to be associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence and distant metastases. Several other mutations have been identified that enhance disease aggressiveness (such as RET/PTC, PTEN, and TP53). One of the most important determinants of the outcome in WDTC is the extent of surgical resection. The evolution of molecular testing has reached a stage of personalised incorporation into surgical practice. Guidelines for molecular testing and surgery in WDTC will need to be clearly defined, arguably representing the next chapter in the management of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos Parpounas
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Evangelistria Medical Centre, 1 Michael Giorgalla Street, 1095 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Vasilis Constantinides
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Evangelistria Medical Centre, 1 Michael Giorgalla Street, 1095 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Medical School, University of Nicosia, 93 Ayiou Nikolaou Street, Engomi, 2408 Nicosia, Cyprus
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14
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Ludzik J, Becker AL, Latour E, Lee C, Witkowski A. Dermoscopic features associated with 3-GEP PLA: LINC00518, PRAME, and TERT expression in suspicious pigmented lesions. Skin Res Technol 2023; 29:e13323. [PMID: 37083005 PMCID: PMC10234169 DOI: 10.1111/srt.13323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Utilization of dermoscopy and novel molecular triage technologies augments visual triage of pigmented skin lesions, promoting early detection of melanoma. One emerging in vivo genomic test, 3-GEP pigmented lesion assay (3-GEP PLA) aids in pigmented lesion triage by noninvasively detecting the presence of three genes associated with melanoma: LINC00518, PRAME, and TERT. The purpose of our retrospective case-control study was to identify dermoscopic features uniquely associated with the presence of LINC00518, PRAME, or TERT in the stratum corneum as determined by 3-GEP PLA testing. Images of suspicious pigmented lesions that had undergone 3-GEP PLA testing and received a definitive positive or negative result (n = 393) were evaluated for the presence of specific clinical and dermoscopic features associated with melanoma. We found that asymmetry of color was a significant predictor for PRAME expression (Odds Ratio (OR) 5.5, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.6-34.5, p = 0.004), blue color and negative pigment network were significant predictors for LINC00518 expression (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-5.5, p = 0.014 and adjusted OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.6-16.9, p = 0.010, respectively), and atypical polymorphous vessels present in a pigmented skin lesion were a significant predictor for TERT promoter mutations (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.3-23.4, p = 0.022). The results presented suggest a hierarchy in the significance of these dermoscopic features and may help guide evaluation and management of pigmented skin lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Ludzik
- Department of DermatologyOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Alyssa L. Becker
- Department of DermatologyOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
- John A. Burns School of MedicineUniversity of Hawai'i at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | - Emile Latour
- Biostatistics Shared Resource, Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Claudia Lee
- University of California Riverside School of MedicineRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alexander Witkowski
- Department of DermatologyOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
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15
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Moses EJ, Azlan A, Khor KZ, Mot YY, Mohamed S, Seeni A, Barneh F, Heidenreich O, Yusoff N. A RUNX1/ETO-SKP2-CDKN1B axis regulates expression of telomerase in t (8;21) acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:70. [PMID: 36820913 PMCID: PMC11071865 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04713-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: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The fusion oncoprotein RUNX1/ETO which results from the chromosomal translocation t (8;21) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an essential driver of leukemic maintenance. We have previously shown that RUNX1/ETO knockdown impairs expression of the protein component of telomerase, TERT. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of how RUNX1/ETO controls TERT expression has not been fully elucidated. Here we show that RUNX1/ETO binds to an intergenic region 18 kb upstream of the TERT transcriptional start site and to a site located in intron 6 of TERT. Loss of RUNX1/ETO binding precedes inhibition of TERT expression. Repression of TERT expression is also dependent on the destabilization of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SKP2 and the resultant accumulation of the cell cycle inhibitor CDKN1B, that are both associated with RUNX1/ETO knockdown. Increased CDKN1B protein levels ultimately diminished TERT transcription with E2F1/Rb involvement. Collectively, our results show that RUNX1/ETO controls TERT expression directly by binding to its locus and indirectly via a SKP2-CDKN1B-E2F1/Rb axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel J Moses
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia.
| | - Adam Azlan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Kang Zi Khor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Yee Yik Mot
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Saleem Mohamed
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Azman Seeni
- Department of Toxicology, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Farnaz Barneh
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Olaf Heidenreich
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - Narazah Yusoff
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
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16
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Inandiklioglu N, Tas A, Agbektas T, Tuncbilek Z, Raheem KY, Cinar G, Silig Y. Anticancer activity, hTERT expression and telomere length analysis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines applied to docetaxel. J Mol Struct 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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17
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Vinayagamurthy S, Bagri S, Mergny JL, Chowdhury S. Telomeres expand sphere of influence: emerging molecular impact of telomeres in non-telomeric functions. Trends Genet 2023; 39:59-73. [PMID: 36404192 PMCID: PMC7614491 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.10.002] [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: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Although the impact of telomeres on physiology stands well established, a question remains: how do telomeres impact cellular functions at a molecular level? This is because current understanding limits the influence of telomeres to adjacent subtelomeric regions despite the wide-ranging impact of telomeres. Emerging work in two distinct aspects offers opportunities to bridge this gap. First, telomere-binding factors were found with non-telomeric functions. Second, locally induced DNA secondary structures called G-quadruplexes are notably abundant in telomeres, and gene regulatory regions genome wide. Many telomeric factors bind to G-quadruplexes for non-telomeric functions. Here we discuss a more general model of how telomeres impact the non-telomeric genome - through factors that associate at telomeres and genome wide - and influence cell-intrinsic functions, particularly aging, cancer, and pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soujanya Vinayagamurthy
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sulochana Bagri
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics of the CAS, v.v.i. Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Shantanu Chowdhury
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; GNR Knowledge Centre for Genome and Informatics, CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India.
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18
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Hasanau TN, Pisarev EP, Kisil OV, Zvereva ME. The TERT Promoter: A Key Player in the Fight for Cancer Cell Immortality. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:S21-S38. [PMID: 37069112 DOI: 10.1134/s000629792314002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The review describes the role of telomeres and telomerase in tumor progression, as well as various mechanisms of the activation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in CNS tumors and other cancers. The main mechanism of TERT activation involves acquisition of somatic mutations by the TERT gene promoter (TERTp). The article presents information on the TERTp structure and transcription factors directly interacting with TERTp and regulating its transcription. The prospects of using the mutational status of TERTp as a prognostic marker of CNS malignancies and other tumors with a common profile of TERTp mutations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsimur N Hasanau
- Natural Compounds Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Eduard P Pisarev
- Natural Compounds Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Olga V Kisil
- Gause Institute of New Antibiotics, Moscow, 119021, Russia
| | - Maria E Zvereva
- Natural Compounds Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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19
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Zhang H, Zhang X, Yu J. Integrated Analysis of Altered lncRNA, circRNA, microRNA, and mRNA Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Carrying TERT Promoter Mutations. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:1201-1215. [PMID: 36471741 PMCID: PMC9719279 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s385026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are one of the most common mutations responsible for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a regulatory role in different cancers through the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)/circular RNA (circRNA)-microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA axis. The aim of the study was to explore the influence of TERT promoter mutations on the ncRNA regulatory network in HCC. METHODS Four tumor samples with a wildtype TERT promoter and four tumor samples with TERT promoter mutations (sequencing cohort) were collected from HCC patients for high-throughput next-generation sequencing. Selected ncRNAs and mRNAs were validated by qPCR in 15 HCC tumors with a wildtype TERT promoter and seven HCC tumors with TERT promoter mutations (validation cohort, including the sequencing cohort). RESULTS In the mutant TERT promoter group, 536 lncRNAs, 21 circRNAs, 41 miRNAs, and 266 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated, while 1745 lncRNAs, 23 circRNAs, 32 miRNAs, and 1117 mRNAs were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05) compared with the findings in wildtype group. AL360169.3-201, LINC02672-203, hsa_circ_0021412, hsa-miR-29b-1-5p, hsa-miR-4699-5p, hsa-miR-199a-5p, REG3A, SFRP5, and GSTM1 were verified at the RNA expression level to validate the sequencing results. A differentially expressed lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed to explore the effects of TERT promoter mutations on ncRNA regulation. Two ncRNA regulatory axes associated with TERT promoter mutations (hsa_circ_0003154/hsa_circ_0008952/IGLL5-AS1/LINC576/LINC575-hsa-miR-1260b -CLPTM1L/GSTM1 and hsa_circ_0031584/LINC2101-hsa-miR-214-3p-CD151) had carcinogenic potential. CONCLUSION This study provides novel insights into the role of TERT promoter mutations on ncRNAs regulatory network in HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingya Yu
- Department of Diagnostics, Medical Integration and Practice Center, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China
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20
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Tornesello ML, Tornesello AL, Starita N, Cerasuolo A, Izzo F, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM. Telomerase: a good target in hepatocellular carcinoma? An overview of relevant preclinical data. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:767-780. [PMID: 36369706 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2147062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Izzo
- Hepatobiliary Surgical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale-IRCCS di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Franco Maria Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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21
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Marchese PV, Mollica V, Tassinari E, De Biase D, Giunchi F, Marchetti A, Rosellini M, Fiorentino M, Massari F. Implications of TERT promoter mutations and telomerase activity in solid tumors with a focus on genitourinary cancers. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2022; 22:997-1008. [PMID: 36503370 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2154148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The reactivation of telomerase represents a key moment in the carcinogenesis process. Mutations in the central promoter region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene cause telomerase reactivation in approximately 90% of solid tumors. In some of these, its prognostic and predictive role in response to treatments has already been demonstrated, in others (such as tumors of the genitourinary tract like urothelial carcinoma) data are controversial and the research is still ongoing. In the future, TERT promoter mutations and telomerase activity could have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications in many types of cancer. AREAS COVERED We performed a review the literature with the aim of describing the current evidence on the prognostic and predictive role of TERT promoter mutations. In some tumor types, TERT promoter mutations have been associated with a worse prognosis and could have a potential value as biomarkers to guide therapeutic decisions. Mutations in TERT promoter seems to make the tumor particularly immunogenic and more responsive to immunotherapy, although data is controversial. EXPERT OPINION We described the role of TERT promoter mutations in solid tumors with a particular focus in genitourinary cancers, considering their frequency in this tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Valeria Marchese
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Mollica
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15 40138, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Tassinari
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dario De Biase
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (Fabit), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.,Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Giunchi
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Marchetti
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Rosellini
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Massari
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15 40138, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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22
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Chang GA, Robinson E, Wiggins JM, Zhang Y, Tadepalli JS, Schafer CN, Darvishian F, Berman RS, Shapiro R, Shao Y, Osman I, Polsky D. Associations between TERT Promoter Mutations and Survival in Superficial Spreading and Nodular Melanomas in a Large Prospective Patient Cohort. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:2733-2743.e9. [PMID: 35469904 PMCID: PMC9509439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Survival outcomes in melanoma and their association with mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene TERT promoter remain uncertain. In addition, few studies have examined whether these associations are affected by a nearby common germline polymorphism or vary on the basis of melanoma histopathological subtype. We analyzed 408 primary tumors from a prospective melanoma cohort for somatic TERT-124[C>T] and TERT-146[C>T] mutations, the germline polymorphism rs2853669, and BRAFV600 and NRASQ61 mutations. We tested the associations between these variants and clinicopathologic factors and survival outcomes. TERT-124[C>T] was associated with thicker tumors, ulceration, mitoses (>0/mm2), nodular histotype, and CNS involvement. In a multivariable model controlling for the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, TERT-124[C>T] was an independent predictor of shorter recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.58, P = 0.001) and overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.47, P = 0.029). Patients with the germline variant and TERT-124[C>T]-mutant melanomas had significantly shorter recurrence-free survival than those lacking either or both sequence variants (P < 0.04). The impact of the germline variant appeared to be more pronounced in superficial spreading than in nodular melanoma. No associations were found between survival and TERT-146[C>T], BRAF, or NRAS mutations. These findings strongly suggest that TERT-124[C>T] mutation is a biomarker of aggressive primary melanomas, an effect that may be modulated by rs2853669.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Chang
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eric Robinson
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer M Wiggins
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yilong Zhang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Merck, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jyothirmayee S Tadepalli
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christine N Schafer
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Farbod Darvishian
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Russell S Berman
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Richard Shapiro
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yongzhao Shao
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Iman Osman
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - David Polsky
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA; Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.
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23
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2021 WHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system: a review for the neuroradiologist. Neuroradiology 2022; 64:1919-1950. [DOI: 10.1007/s00234-022-03008-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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24
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Marchese PV, Mollica V, De Biase D, Giunchi F, Tassinari E, Marchetti A, Rosellini M, Nuvola G, Maloberti T, Fiorentino M, Massari F. A hypothesis-generating analysis on the role of TERT promoter mutation in advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with immunotherapy. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 236:153983. [PMID: 35751929 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153983] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic scenario of urothelial carcinoma is constantly expanding with the widening of the knowledge on molecular characteristics, thus claiming for the need of prognostic and predictive factors to guide treatment strategy. TERT promoter mutation is one of the most frequent genomic alterations in urothelial carcinoma and could present several implications, from diagnostic to prognostic or potentially even predictive. METHODS We performed a single-center retrospective analysis on patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor as second line of therapy to assess the status of the TERT promoter and the potential implication of its mutation on survival outcomes. RESULTS We analyzed tissue samples from 11 patients with a next-generation sequencing multi-gene panel. The most frequently altered genes were TP53 (54.5%, n = 6) and TERT promoter (36.3%, n = 4). Other mutations found were BRAF, SMAD4, PIK3CA / PDGRFA. The only type of detected TERT promoter mutation was the c 0.124 C>T (n = 4/4, 100%). Of the 4 TERT mutated patients, 2 presented a co-mutation of TP53. Patients with TERT promoter mutation treated with immunotherapy presented a low median overall survival (16.5 months) and progression-free survival (3.8 months). CONCLUSIONS Our hypothesis-generating analysis suggests that the presence of TERT promoter mutation could have a negative prognostic value and should be further evaluated in wider cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Valeria Marchese
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Veronica Mollica
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Dario De Biase
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Giunchi
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Tassinari
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Andrea Marchetti
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Matteo Rosellini
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Giacomo Nuvola
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Thais Maloberti
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Massari
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna 40138, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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25
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Emerging mechanisms of telomerase reactivation in cancer. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:632-641. [PMID: 35568649 PMCID: PMC7614490 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the promoter of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) result in hyperactivation of hTERT. Notably, all mutations are G>A transitions, frequently found in a wide range of cancer types, and causally associated with cancer progression. Initially, the mutations were understood to reactivate hTERT by generating novel E26 transformation-specific (ETS) binding sites. Recent work reveals the role of DNA secondary structure G-quadruplexes, telomere binding factor(s), and chromatin looping in hTERT regulation. Here, we discuss these emerging findings in relation to the clinically significant promoter mutations to provide a broader understanding of the context-dependent outcomes that result in hTERT activation in normal and pathogenic conditions.
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26
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Telomerase gene therapy: a remission toward cancer. Med Oncol 2022; 39:105. [DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01702-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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27
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Muresanu C, Khalchitsky S. Updated Understanding of the Causes of Cancer, and a New Theoretical Perspective of Combinational Cancer Therapies, a Hypothesis. DNA Cell Biol 2022; 41:342-355. [PMID: 35262416 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2021.1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We present an integrative understanding of cancer as a metabolic multifactorial, multistage disease. We focus on underlying genetics-environmental interactions, evidenced by telomere changes. A range of genetic and epigenetic factors, including physical agents and predisposing factors such as diet and lifestyle are included. We present a structured model of the causes of cancer, methods of investigations, approaches to cancer prevention, and polypharmaceutical multidisciplinary complex treatment within a framework of personalized medicine. We searched PubMed, National Cancer Institute online, and other databases for publications regarding causes of cancer, reports of novel mitochondrial reprogramming, epigenetic, and telomerase therapies and state-of-the-art investigations. We focused on multistep treatment protocols to enhance early detection of cancer, and elimination or neutralization of the causes and factors associated with cancer formation and progression.Our aim is to suggest a model therapeutic protocol that incorporates the patient's genome, metabolism, and immune system status; stage of tumor development; and comorbidity(ies), if any. Investigation and treatment of cancer is a challenge that requires further holistic studies that improve the quality of life and survival rates, but are most likely to aid prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Muresanu
- Research Center for Applied Biotechnology in Diagnosis and Molecular Therapies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Ecology, Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biology, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sergei Khalchitsky
- H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Children's Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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28
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Wang H, Liu N, Yang F, Hu N, Wang M, Cui M, Bruns N, Guan X. Bioengineered Protein Nanocage by Small Heat Shock Proteins Delivering mTERT siRNA for Enhanced Colorectal Cancer Suppression. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:1330-1340. [PMID: 35234441 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c01221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The efficient delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) for target gene silencing holds great promise for cancer therapy. Protein nanocages have attracted considerable attention as ideal drug delivery systems because of their material-derived advantages and unique structural properties. However, most studies about siRNA delivery have not indicated the real role of protein nanocages in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Herein, we fabricated an efficient siRNA delivery system using a small heat shock protein (Hsp) nanocage decorated with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and the transactivator of transcription (Tat) peptide. Hsp-Tat-RGD NC showed good cellular uptake and lysosomal escape in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, the nanocage could efficiently transfect siRNA into the cytoplasmic area of CT26 cells. Hsp-Tat-RGD NC delivering telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-targeting siRNA could significantly downregulate TERT protein expression and trigger tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. More importantly, Hsp-Tat-RGD/siTERT complexes nearly completely inhibited the tumor growth after five times of treatment in mice bearing CT26 xenograft. Our results demonstrate the great potential of the Tat/RGD-decorated Hsp nanocage as a promising siRNA delivery platform for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Ning Liu
- College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Fuxu Yang
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Nannan Hu
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Mingyue Wang
- College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Meiying Cui
- College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Nico Bruns
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K
| | - Xingang Guan
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
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29
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Yarmishyn AA, Ishola AA, Chen CY, Verusingam ND, Rengganaten V, Mustapha HA, Chuang HK, Teng YC, Phung VL, Hsu PK, Lin WC, Ma HI, Chiou SH, Wang ML. Circular RNAs Modulate Cancer Hallmark and Molecular Pathways to Support Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040862. [PMID: 35205610 PMCID: PMC8869994 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040862] [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: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Circular RNAs (circRNA) are a type of RNA molecule of circular shape that are now being extensively studied due to the important roles they play in different biological processes. In addition, they were also shown to be implicated in disease such as cancer. Cancer is a complex process which is often defined by a combination of specific processes called cancer hallmarks. In this review, we summarize the literature on circRNAs in cancer and classify them as being implicated in specific cancer hallmarks. Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are noncoding products of backsplicing of pre-mRNAs which have been established to possess potent biological functions. Dysregulated circRNA expression has been linked to diseases including different types of cancer. Cancer progression is known to result from the dysregulation of several molecular mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of cellular and tissue homeostasis. The dysregulation of these processes is defined as cancer hallmarks, and the molecular pathways implicated in them are regarded as the targets of therapeutic interference. In this review, we summarize the literature on the investigation of circRNAs implicated in cancer hallmark molecular signaling. First, we present general information on the properties of circRNAs, such as their biogenesis and degradation mechanisms, as well as their basic molecular functions. Subsequently, we summarize the roles of circRNAs in the framework of each cancer hallmark and finally discuss the potential as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliaksandr A. Yarmishyn
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Afeez Adekunle Ishola
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Yu Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Nalini Devi Verusingam
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Centre for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
| | - Vimalan Rengganaten
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Postgraduate Programme, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
| | - Habeebat Aderonke Mustapha
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Kai Chuang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Yuan-Chi Teng
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Van Long Phung
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Po-Kuei Hsu
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan;
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chang Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan;
| | - Hsin-I Ma
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Hwa Chiou
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Genomic Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Mong-Lien Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (A.A.I.); (C.-Y.C.); (N.D.V.); (V.R.); (H.A.M.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-C.T.); (V.L.P.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-5568-1156; Fax: +886-2-2875-7435
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Zhang J, Miao X, Wu T, Jia J, Cheng X. Development and Validation of Ten-RNA Binding Protein Signature Predicts Overall Survival in Osteosarcoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:751842. [PMID: 34926575 PMCID: PMC8671810 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.751842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates in the bones with the characteristics of high malignancy, predisposition to metastasis, and poor prognosis. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are closely related to various tumors, but their relationship with osteosarcoma remains unclear. Based on GTEx and TARGET RNA sequencing data, we applied differential analysis to obtain RBP genes that are differentially expressed in osteosarcoma, and analyzed the functions of these RBPs. After applying univariate and LASSO Cox regression analysis, 10 key prognostic RBPs (TDRD6, TLR8, NXT2, EIF4E3, RPS27L, CPEB3, RBM34, TERT, RPS29, and ZC3HAV1) were screened, and an RBP prognostic risk assessment model for patients with osteosarcoma was established. The independent cohort GSE21257 was used for external verification, and the results showed that the signature has an excellent ability to predict prognosis. In addition, a nomogram that can be used for clinical evaluation was constructed. Finally, the expression levels of 10 prognostic RBPs in osteosarcoma cells and tissues were confirmed through experiments. Our study identified a ten-gene prognostic marker related to RBP, which is of great significance for adjusting the treatment strategy of patients with osteosarcoma and exploring prognostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Orthopedics of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Xinxin Miao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Orthopedics of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
| | - Tianlong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Minimally Invasive Orthopedics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jingyu Jia
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xigao Cheng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Orthopedics of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Minimally Invasive Orthopedics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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31
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Telomeres and Cancer. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121405. [PMID: 34947936 PMCID: PMC8704776 DOI: 10.3390/life11121405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are indispensable chromatin structures for genome protection and replication. Telomere length maintenance has been attributed to several functional modulators, including telomerase, the shelterin complex, and the CST complex, synergizing with DNA replication, repair, and the RNA metabolism pathway components. As dysfunctional telomere maintenance and telomerase activation are associated with several human diseases, including cancer, the molecular mechanisms behind telomere length regulation and protection need particular emphasis. Cancer cells exhibit telomerase activation, enabling replicative immortality. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activation is involved in cancer development through diverse activities other than mediating telomere elongation. This review describes the telomere functions, the role of functional modulators, the implications in cancer development, and the future therapeutic opportunities.
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Xu Y, Luo C, Wang J, Chen L, Chen J, Chen T, Zeng Q. Application of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:393. [PMID: 34838048 PMCID: PMC8626998 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01104-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy in the genitourinary system and the current theranostic approaches are unsatisfactory. Sensitivity and specificity of current diagnosis methods are not ideal and high recurrence and progression rates after initial treatment indicate the urgent need for management improvements in clinic. Nanotechnology has been proposed as an effective method to improve theranosis efficiency for both non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). For example, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been developed for simple, fast and sensitive urinary sample test for bladder cancer diagnosis. Nanoparticles targeting bladder cancers can facilitate to distinguish the normal and abnormal bladder tissues during cystoscopy and thus help with the complete removal of malignant lesions. Both intravenous and intravesical agents can be modified by nanotechnology for targeted delivery, high anti-tumor efficiency and excellent tolerability, exhibiting encouraging potential in bladder cancer treatment. Photosensitizers and biological agents can also be delivered by nanotechnology, intermediating phototherapy and targeted therapy. The management of bladder cancer remained almost unchanged for decades with unsatisfactory effect. However, it is likely to change with the fast-developed nanotechnology. Herein we summarized the current utility of nanotechnology in bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment, providing insights for the future designing and discovering novel nanoparticles for bladder cancer management. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jieqiong Wang
- Department of Urology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingwu Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Junxing Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Tianfeng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Qinsong Zeng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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33
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TERT Promoter Mutations Increase Sense and Antisense Transcription from the TERT Promoter. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121773. [PMID: 34944589 PMCID: PMC8698883 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chief among mechanisms of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) reactivation is the appearance of mutations in the TERT promoter. The two main TERT promoter mutations are C>T transitions located −146C>T and −124C>T upstream from the translational start site. They generate a novel Ets/TCF binding site. Both mutations are mutually exclusive and −124C>T is strikingly overrepresented in most cancers. We investigated whether this mutational bias and mutual exclusion could be due to transcriptional constraints. Methods: We compared sense and antisense transcription of a panel of TERT promoter-luciferase vectors harboring the −124C>T and -146C>T mutations alone or together. lncRNA TAPAS levels were measured by RT-PCR. Results: Both mutations generally increased TERT transcription by 2–4-fold regardless of upstream and downstream regulatory elements. The double mutant increased transcription in an additive fashion, arguing against a direct transcriptional constraint. The −146C>T mutation, alone or in combination with −124C>T, also unleashed antisense transcription. In line with this finding, lncRNA TAPAS was higher in cells with mutated TERT promoter (T98G and U87) than in cells with wild-type promoter, suggesting that lncRNA TAPAS may balance the effect of TERT promoter mutations. Conclusions: −146C>T and −124C>T TERT promoter mutations increase TERT sense and antisense transcription, and the double mutant features higher transcription levels. Increased antisense transcription may contain TERT expression within sustainable levels.
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Bąk A, Skonieczka K, Jaśkowiec A, Junkiert-Czarnecka A, Heise M, Pilarska-Deltow M, Potoczek S, Czyżewska M, Haus O. Germline mutations among Polish patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Hered Cancer Clin Pract 2021; 19:42. [PMID: 34641967 PMCID: PMC8507332 DOI: 10.1186/s13053-021-00200-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A small but important proportion of patients (4-10 %) with AML have germline mutations. They can cause the development of AML at an earlier age, confer a higher risk of relapse or predispose to secondary leukemias, including therapy-related leukemias. The analysis of germline mutations in a patient and his/her family is also critical for the selection of suitable family donors if the patient is a candidate for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS 103 unrelated consecutive patients with de novo AML were enrolled in the study. Control group consisted of 103 persons from the general population. We performed NGS sequencing of bone marrow cells and buccal swabs DNA of six genes: CEBPA, DDX41, ETV6, TERT, GATA2, and IDH2 to detect germline pathogenic mutations. RESULTS In the investigated group, 49 variants were detected in six genes. 26 of them were somatic and 23 germline. Germline variants were detected in all six tested genes. Eight pathogenic germline mutations were detected in 7 AML patients, in three genes: CEBPA, ETV6, and IDH2. One patient had two pathogenic germinal mutations, one in ETV6 and one in CEBPA gene. We identified one novel pathogenic germline mutation in CEBPA gene. The difference in frequency of all pathogenic germline mutations between the tested (7.77 %) and control groups (0.97 %) was statistically significant (p = 0.046). In the tested group, the median age at AML diagnosis was 11 years lower in patients with pathogenic germline mutations than in patients without them (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS We showed higher frequency of CEBPA, ETV6, and IDH2 germline mutations in AML patients than in control group, which confirms the role of these mutations in the development of AML. We also showed that the median age at the onset of AML in patients with pathogenic germline mutations is significantly lower than in patients without them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Bąk
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Skonieczka
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poland
| | - Anna Jaśkowiec
- Department of Hematology, Blood Neoplasms and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Anna Junkiert-Czarnecka
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poland
| | - Marta Heise
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poland
| | - Maria Pilarska-Deltow
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poland
| | - Stanisław Potoczek
- Department of Hematology, Blood Neoplasms and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Olga Haus
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poland
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35
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TRIM28 is a transcriptional activator of the mutant TERT promoter in human bladder cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2102423118. [PMID: 34518220 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102423118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) has a 70% telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT or hTERT in humans) promoter mutation prevalence, commonly at -124 base pairs, and this is associated with increased hTERT expression and poor patient prognosis. We inserted a green fluorescent protein (GFP) tag in the mutant hTERT promoter allele to create BC cells expressing an hTERT-GFP fusion protein. These cells were used in a fluorescence-activated cell sorting-based pooled CRISPR-Cas9 Kinome knockout genetic screen to identify tripartite motif containing 28 (TRIM28) and TRIM24 as regulators of hTERT expression. TRIM28 activates, while TRIM24 suppresses, hTERT transcription from the mutated promoter allele. TRIM28 is recruited to the mutant promoter where it interacts with TRIM24, which inhibits its activity. Phosphorylation of TRIM28 through the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) releases it from TRIM24 and induces hTERT transcription. TRIM28 expression promotes in vitro and in vivo BC cell growth and stratifies BC patient outcome. mTORC1 inhibition with rapamycin analog Ridaforolimus suppresses TRIM28 phosphorylation, hTERT expression, and cell viability. This study may lead to hTERT-directed cancer therapies with reduced effects on normal progenitor cells.
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36
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Abolhassani H, Wang Y, Hammarström L, Pan-Hammarström Q. Hallmarks of Cancers: Primary Antibody Deficiency Versus Other Inborn Errors of Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:720025. [PMID: 34484227 PMCID: PMC8416062 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.720025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) comprise more than 450 inherited diseases, from which selected patients manifest a frequent and early incidence of malignancies, mainly lymphoma and leukemia. Primary antibody deficiency (PAD) is the most common form of IEI with the highest proportion of malignant cases. In this review, we aimed to compare the oncologic hallmarks and the molecular defects underlying PAD with other IEI entities to dissect the impact of avoiding immune destruction, genome instability, and mutation, enabling replicative immortality, tumor-promoting inflammation, resisting cell death, sustaining proliferative signaling, evading growth suppressors, deregulating cellular energetics, inducing angiogenesis, and activating invasion and metastasis in these groups of patients. Moreover, some of the most promising approaches that could be clinically tested in both PAD and IEI patients were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Abolhassani
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yating Wang
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lennart Hammarström
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Qiang Pan-Hammarström
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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37
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Arakawa F, Miyoshi H, Yoshida N, Nakashima K, Watatani Y, Furuta T, Yamada K, Moritsubo M, Takeuchi M, Yanagida E, Shimasaki Y, Kohno K, Kataoka K, Ohshima K. Expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase in peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Cancer Med 2021; 10:6786-6794. [PMID: 34477310 PMCID: PMC8495278 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is maintained by the activation of telomerase, which causes continuous cell division and proliferation in many carcinomas. A catalytic reverse transcriptase protein (TERT) encoded by the TERT gene plays a critical role in the activation of telomerase. We performed a molecular and pathological analysis of the TERT against three different peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) subtypes: PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL‐NOS), angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (AITL), and adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated TERT expression in 31% of AITL, 11% of PTCL‐NOS, and 5% of ATLL. Among them, AITL frequently showed high TERT expression with statistical significance. TERT promoter mutation analysis and genomic copy number evaluation were performed. TERT promoter mutation was observed in two cases of PTCL‐NOS (2/40) and not in other PTCLs. Genome copy number amplification was detected in 33% of PTCL‐NOS, 33% of AITL, and 50% of ATLL cases. We evaluated the relationship between the analyzed TERT genomic abnormalities and protein expression; however, no apparent relationship was observed. Furthermore, immunostaining showed TERT expression in the PTCL cytoplasm, suggesting the existence of mechanisms other than the maintenance of telomere length. Statistical analysis of the effect of TERT expression on the prognosis in PTCL cases revealed that TERT expression tended to have a poor prognosis in PTCL‐NOS. Since TERT expression was not an independent factor in multivariate analysis, further research will be needed to clarify the poor prognosis of PTCL‐NOS in TERT expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiko Arakawa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Miyoshi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Noriaki Yoshida
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan.,Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation Hiroshima Laboratory, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Nakashima
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Yosaku Watatani
- Departments of Hematology and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takuya Furuta
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Kyohei Yamada
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Mayuko Moritsubo
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Mai Takeuchi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Eriko Yanagida
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Shimasaki
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Kei Kohno
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kataoka
- Division of Hematology Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Ohshima
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
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Kotiyal S, Evason KJ. Exploring the Interplay of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase and β-Catenin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13164202. [PMID: 34439356 PMCID: PMC8393605 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Liver cancer is one of the deadliest human cancers. Two of the most common molecular aberrations in liver cancer are: (1) activating mutations in the gene encoding β-catenin (CTNNB1); and (2) promoter mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). Here, we review recent findings regarding the interplay between TERT and β-catenin in order to better understand their role in liver cancer. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest human cancers. Activating mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter (TERTp) and CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin are widespread in HCC (~50% and ~30%, respectively). TERTp mutations are predicted to increase TERT transcription and telomerase activity. This review focuses on exploring the role of TERT and β-catenin in HCC and the current findings regarding their interplay. TERT can have contradictory effects on tumorigenesis via both its canonical and non-canonical functions. As a critical regulator of proliferation and differentiation in progenitor and stem cells, activated β-catenin drives HCC; however, inhibiting endogenous β-catenin can also have pro-tumor effects. Clinical studies revealed a significant concordance between TERTp and CTNNB1 mutations in HCC. In stem cells, TERT acts as a co-factor in β-catenin transcriptional complexes driving the expression of WNT/β-catenin target genes, and β-catenin can bind to the TERTp to drive its transcription. A few studies have examined potential interactions between TERT and β-catenin in HCC in vivo, and their results suggest that the coexpression of these two genes promotes hepatocarcinogenesis. Further studies are required with vertebrate models to better understand how TERT and β-catenin influence hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Akter J, Kamijo T. How Do Telomere Abnormalities Regulate the Biology of Neuroblastoma? Biomolecules 2021; 11:1112. [PMID: 34439779 PMCID: PMC8392161 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere maintenance plays important roles in genome stability and cell proliferation. Tumor cells acquire replicative immortality by activating a telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM), either telomerase, a reverse transcriptase, or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. Recent advances in the genetic and molecular characterization of TMM revealed that telomerase activation and ALT define distinct neuroblastoma (NB) subgroups with adverse outcomes, and represent promising therapeutic targets in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), an aggressive childhood solid tumor that accounts for 15% of all pediatric-cancer deaths. Patients with HRNB frequently present with widely metastatic disease, with tumors harboring recurrent genetic aberrations (MYCN amplification, TERT rearrangements, and ATRX mutations), which are mutually exclusive and capable of promoting TMM. This review provides recent insights into our understanding of TMM in NB tumors, and highlights emerging therapeutic strategies as potential treatments for telomerase- and ALT-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Saitama Cancer Center, Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Saitama Cancer Center, Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
- Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
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40
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Radanova M, Mihaylova G, Nazifova-Tasinova N, Levkova M, Tasinov O, Ivanova D, Mihaylova Z, Donev I. Oncogenic Functions and Clinical Significance of Circular RNAs in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3395. [PMID: 34298612 PMCID: PMC8303601 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the second most commonly diagnosed disease in females and the third in males worldwide. Therefore, the finding of new more reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis, for prediction of metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies is an important challenge in overcoming the disease. The current review presents circular RNAs (circRNAs) with their unique features as potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in CRC. The review highlights the mechanism of action and the role of circRNAs with oncogenic functions in the CRC as well as the association between their expression and clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients. The comprehension of the role of oncogenic circRNAs in CRC pathogenesis is growing rapidly and the next step is using them as suitable new drug targets in the personalized treatment of CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Radanova
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; (M.R.); (G.M.); (N.N.-T.); (O.T.); (D.I.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, University Hospital “St. Marina”, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Galya Mihaylova
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; (M.R.); (G.M.); (N.N.-T.); (O.T.); (D.I.)
| | - Neshe Nazifova-Tasinova
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; (M.R.); (G.M.); (N.N.-T.); (O.T.); (D.I.)
| | - Mariya Levkova
- Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria;
| | - Oskan Tasinov
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; (M.R.); (G.M.); (N.N.-T.); (O.T.); (D.I.)
| | - Desislava Ivanova
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; (M.R.); (G.M.); (N.N.-T.); (O.T.); (D.I.)
| | - Zhasmina Mihaylova
- Clinic of Medical Oncology, Military Medical Academy, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Ivan Donev
- Clinic of Medical Oncology, Hospital Nadezhda, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
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41
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Sherman J, Verstandig G, Brumer Y. Application of machine learning to large in-vitro databases to identify cancer cell characteristics: telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression. Oncogene 2021; 40:5038-5041. [PMID: 34135463 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01894-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in biotechnology and machine learning have created an enhanced environment for unearthing and exploiting previously unrecognized relationships between genomic and epigenetic data with potential therapeutic implications. We applied advanced algorithms to data from the Cancer Dependency Map to uncover increasingly complex relationships. Specifically, we investigate characteristics of tumor cell lines with varying levels of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in liver cancer. The findings indicate that the effect of CRISPR knockout of Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and numerous individual respiratory complex I genes is strongly related to the level of TERT expression, with knockout being particularly efficacious at killing or inhibiting growth of tumor cells with low levels of TERT expression for HDAC1 and high levels for Complex I genes. These findings suggest key biomarkers for therapeutic efficacy and yield novel potential pathways for drug development and provide further proof of principle for the potential of artificial intelligence in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Sherman
- Zephyr AI, Washington, DC, USA. .,Red Cell Partners, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Grant Verstandig
- Zephyr AI, Washington, DC, USA.,Red Cell Partners, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yisroel Brumer
- Zephyr AI, Washington, DC, USA.,Red Cell Partners, Washington, DC, USA
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42
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Sharma S, Mukherjee AK, Roy SS, Bagri S, Lier S, Verma M, Sengupta A, Kumar M, Nesse G, Pandey DP, Chowdhury S. Human telomerase is directly regulated by non-telomeric TRF2-G-quadruplex interaction. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109154. [PMID: 34010660 PMCID: PMC7611063 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) remains suppressed in most normal somatic cells. Resulting erosion of telomeres leads eventually to replicative senescence. Reactivation of hTERT maintains telomeres and triggers progression of >90% of cancers. However, any direct causal link between telomeres and telomerase regulation remains unclear. Here, we show that the telomere-repeat-binding-factor 2 (TRF2) binds hTERT promoter G-quadruplexes and recruits the polycomb-repressor EZH2/PRC2 complex. This is causal for H3K27 trimethylation at the hTERT promoter and represses hTERT in cancer as well as normal cells. Two highly recurrent hTERT promoter mutations found in many cancers, including ∼83% glioblastoma multiforme, that are known to destabilize hTERT promoter G-quadruplexes, showed loss of TRF2 binding in patient-derived primary glioblastoma multiforme cells. Ligand-induced G-quadruplex stabilization restored TRF2 binding, H3K27-trimethylation, and hTERT re-suppression. These results uncover a mechanism of hTERT regulation through a telomeric factor, implicating telomere-telomerase molecular links important in neoplastic transformation, aging, and regenerative therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalu Sharma
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Ananda Kishore Mukherjee
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Shuvra Shekhar Roy
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Sulochana Bagri
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Silje Lier
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Meenakshi Verma
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Antara Sengupta
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Imaging Facility, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Gaute Nesse
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Shantanu Chowdhury
- Integrative and Functional Biology Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; GNR Knowledge Centre for Genome and Informatics, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India.
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Subasri M, Shooshtari P, Watson AJ, Betts DH. Analysis of TERT Isoforms across TCGA, GTEx and CCLE Datasets. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081853. [PMID: 33924498 PMCID: PMC8070023 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of the multi-subunit ribonucleoprotein telomerase is the primary telomere maintenance mechanism in cancer, but it is rate-limited by the enzymatic component, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). While regulatory in nature, TERT alternative splice variant/isoform regulation and functions are not fully elucidated and are further complicated by their highly diverse expression and nature. Our primary objective was to characterize TERT isoform expression across 7887 neoplastic and 2099 normal tissue samples using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), respectively. We confirmed the global overexpression and splicing shift towards full-length TERT in neoplastic tissue. Stratifying by tissue type we found uncharacteristic TERT expression in normal brain tissue subtypes. Stratifying by tumor-specific subtypes, we detailed TERT expression differences potentially regulated by subtype-specific molecular characteristics. Focusing on β-deletion splicing regulation, we found the NOVA1 trans-acting factor to mediate alternative splicing in a cancer-dependent manner. Of relevance to future tissue-specific studies, we clustered cancer cell lines with tumors from related origin based on TERT isoform expression patterns. Taken together, our work has reinforced the need for tissue and tumour-specific TERT investigations, provided avenues to do so, and brought to light the current technical limitations of bioinformatic analyses of TERT isoform expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathushan Subasri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
| | - Parisa Shooshtari
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada;
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Watson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Dean H. Betts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-519-661-2111 (ext. 83786)
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44
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Dogan F, Forsyth NR. Telomerase Regulation: A Role for Epigenetics. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061213. [PMID: 33802026 PMCID: PMC8000866 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Maintenance of telomeres is a fundamental step in human carcinogenesis and is primarily regulated by telomerase and the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT). Improved understanding of the transcriptional control of this gene may provide potential therapeutic targets. Epigenetic modifications are a prominent mechanism to control telomerase activity and regulation of the TERT gene. TERT-targeting miRNAs have been widely studied and their function explained through pre-clinical in vivo model-based validation studies. Further, histone deacetylase inhibitors are now in pre and early clinical trials with significant clinical success. Importantly, TERT downregulation through epigenetic modifications including TERT promoter methylation, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and miRNA activity might contribute to clinical study design. This review provides an overview of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the regulation of TERT expression and telomerase activity. Abstract Telomerase was first described by Greider and Blackburn in 1984, a discovery ultimately recognized by the Nobel Prize committee in 2009. The three decades following on from its discovery have been accompanied by an increased understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of telomerase activity, and its role in telomere biology. Telomerase has a clearly defined role in telomere length maintenance and an established influence on DNA replication, differentiation, survival, development, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and a further role in therapeutic resistance in human stem and cancer cells including those of breast and cervical origin. TERT encodes the catalytic subunit and rate-limiting factor for telomerase enzyme activity. The mechanisms of activation or silencing of TERT remain open to debate across somatic, cancer, and stem cells. Promoter mutations upstream of TERT may promote dysregulated telomerase activation in tumour cells but additional factors including epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional modifications also have a role to play. Previous systematic analysis indicated methylation and mutation of the TERT promoter in 53% and 31%, respectively, of TERT expressing cancer cell lines supporting the concept of a key role for epigenetic alteration associated with TERT dysregulation and cellular transformation. Epigenetic regulators including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs are now emerging as drivers in the regulation of telomeres and telomerase activity. Epigenetic regulation may be responsible for reversible silencing of TERT in several biological processes including development and differentiation, and increased TERT expression in cancers. Understanding the epigenetic mechanisms behind telomerase regulation holds important prospects for cancer treatment, diagnosis and prognosis. This review will focus on the role of epigenetics in telomerase regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Dogan
- The Guy Hilton Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Stoke on Trent ST4 7QB, UK;
| | - Nicholas R. Forsyth
- The Guy Hilton Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Stoke on Trent ST4 7QB, UK;
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Correspondence:
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45
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Thyroid Carcinoma: Phenotypic Features, Underlying Biology and Potential Relevance for Targeting Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041950. [PMID: 33669363 PMCID: PMC7920269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid carcinoma consists a group of phenotypically heterogeneous cancers. Recent advances in biological technologies have been advancing the delineation of genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic factors that contribute to the heterogeneities of these cancers. In this review article, we discuss new findings that are greatly improving the understanding of thyroid cancer biology and facilitating the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention. We review the phenotypic features of different subtypes of thyroid cancers and their underlying biology. We discuss recent discoveries in thyroid cancer heterogeneities and the critical mechanisms contributing to the heterogeneity with emphases on genetic and epigenetic factors, cancer stemness traits, and tumor microenvironments. We also discuss the potential relevance of the intratumor heterogeneity in understanding therapeutic resistance and how new findings in tumor biology can facilitate designing novel targeting therapies for thyroid cancer.
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46
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Guilhamon P, Chesnelong C, Kushida MM, Nikolic A, Singhal D, MacLeod G, Madani Tonekaboni SA, Cavalli FM, Arlidge C, Rajakulendran N, Rastegar N, Hao X, Hassam R, Smith LJ, Whetstone H, Coutinho FJ, Nadorp B, Ellestad KI, Luchman HA, Chan JAW, Shoichet MS, Taylor MD, Haibe-Kains B, Weiss S, Angers S, Gallo M, Dirks PB, Lupien M. Single-cell chromatin accessibility profiling of glioblastoma identifies an invasive cancer stem cell population associated with lower survival. eLife 2021; 10:64090. [PMID: 33427645 PMCID: PMC7847307 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin accessibility discriminates stem from mature cell populations, enabling the identification of primitive stem-like cells in primary tumors, such as glioblastoma (GBM) where self-renewing cells driving cancer progression and recurrence are prime targets for therapeutic intervention. We show, using single-cell chromatin accessibility, that primary human GBMs harbor a heterogeneous self-renewing population whose diversity is captured in patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). In-depth characterization of chromatin accessibility in GSCs identifies three GSC states: Reactive, Constructive, and Invasive, each governed by uniquely essential transcription factors and present within GBMs in varying proportions. Orthotopic xenografts reveal that GSC states associate with survival, and identify an invasive GSC signature predictive of low patient survival, in line with the higher invasive properties of Invasive state GSCs compared to Reactive and Constructive GSCs as shown by in vitro and in vivo assays. Our chromatin-driven characterization of GSC states improves prognostic precision and identifies dependencies to guide combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Guilhamon
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Charles Chesnelong
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michelle M Kushida
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ana Nikolic
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Divya Singhal
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Graham MacLeod
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Seyed Ali Madani Tonekaboni
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Florence Mg Cavalli
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | - Naghmeh Rastegar
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xiaoguang Hao
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rozina Hassam
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Laura J Smith
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Heather Whetstone
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Fiona J Coutinho
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Bettina Nadorp
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Katrina I Ellestad
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - H Artee Luchman
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jennifer Ai-Wen Chan
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Departments of Molecular Genetics and Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Benjamin Haibe-Kains
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada.,Vector Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Samuel Weiss
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marco Gallo
- Clark Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Peter B Dirks
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program and Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mathieu Lupien
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Genomic and transcriptomic landscape of conjunctival melanoma. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009201. [PMID: 33383577 PMCID: PMC7775126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Conjunctival melanoma (CJM) is a rare but potentially lethal and highly-recurrent cancer of the eye. Similar to cutaneous melanoma (CM), it originates from melanocytes. Unlike CM, however, CJM is relatively poorly characterized from a genomic point of view. To fill this knowledge gap and gain insight into the genomic nature of CJM, we performed whole-exome (WES) or whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of tumor-normal tissue pairs in 14 affected individuals, as well as RNA sequencing in a subset of 11 tumor tissues. Our results show that, similarly to CM, CJM is also characterized by a very high mutation load, composed of approximately 500 somatic mutations in exonic regions. This, as well as the presence of a UV light-induced mutational signature, are clear signs of the role of sunlight in CJM tumorigenesis. In addition, the genomic classification of CM proposed by TCGA seems to be well-applicable to CJM, with the presence of four typical subclasses defined on the basis of the most frequently mutated genes: BRAF, NF1, RAS, and triple wild-type. In line with these results, transcriptomic analyses revealed similarities with CM as well, namely the presence of a transcriptomic subtype enriched for immune genes and a subtype enriched for genes associated with keratins and epithelial functions. Finally, in seven tumors we detected somatic mutations in ACSS3, a possible new candidate oncogene. Transfected conjunctival melanoma cells overexpressing mutant ACSS3 showed higher proliferative activity, supporting the direct involvement of this gene in the tumorigenesis of CJM. Altogether, our results provide the first unbiased and complete genomic and transcriptomic classification of CJM. Conjunctival melanoma is an extremely rare form of cancer of the eye that arises from melanocytes–the cells producing the protective pigment melanin–in the outmost layer of the eye: the conjunctiva. This tissue, similarly to the skin, can also be exposed to UV light radiation from the sun. We investigated the genetic background of this rare form of cancer in samples from fourteen patients, by global DNA and RNA sequencing. Our results showed that conjunctival melanoma is genetically very similar to cutaneous melanoma. More precisely, in tumor DNA we detected signs of damage caused by UV light, as well as mutations in the genes BRAF, NF1 and NRAS/HRAS, previously described to be involved in cutaneous melanoma. Analysis of tumor gene expression also revealed similarities between these two types of cancer, some of which could be used as prognostic factors or as indicators of a patients’ response to therapy. In addition, we identified frequent somatic mutations in ACSS3, a gene not yet associated with either conjunctival or cutaneous melanoma, which represents a potential key player in oncogenesis of conjunctival melanoma.
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48
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Yuan X, Dai M, Xu D. Telomere-related Markers for Cancer. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:410-432. [PMID: 31903880 PMCID: PMC7475940 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200106145340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are structurally nucleoprotein complexes at termini of linear chromosomes and essential to chromosome stability/integrity. In normal human cells, telomere length erodes progressively with each round of cell divisions, which serves as an important barrier to uncontrolled proliferation and malignant transformation. In sharp contrast, telomere maintenance is a key feature of human malignant cells and required for their infinite proliferation and maintenance of other cancer hallmarks as well. Thus, a telomere-based anti-cancer strategy has long been suggested. However, clinically efficient and specific drugs targeting cancer telomere-maintenance have still been in their infancy thus far. To achieve this goal, it is highly necessary to elucidate how exactly cancer cells maintain functional telomeres. In the last two decades, numerous studies have provided profound mechanistic insights, and the identified mechanisms include the aberrant activation of telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomere pathway responsible for telomere elongation, dysregulation and mutation of telomere-associated factors, and other telomere homeostasis-related signaling nodes. In the present review, these various strategies employed by malignant cells to regulate their telomere length, structure and function have been summarized, and potential implications of these findings in the rational development of telomere-based cancer therapy and other clinical applications for precision oncology have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Yuan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Mingkai Dai
- Central Research Laboratory, Shandong University Second Hospital, Jinan, 250033, China.,Karolinska Institute Collaborative Laboratory for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Shandong University Second Hospital, Jinan, 250033, China
| | - Dawei Xu
- Karolinska Institute Collaborative Laboratory for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Shandong University Second Hospital, Jinan, 250033, China.,Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) and Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Solna 171 64, Sweden
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49
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Co-Occurrence of Hotspot Point Mutation and Novel Deletion Mutation of TERT Promoter in Solid Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Patient with Synchronous Esophageal Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 11:diagnostics11010004. [PMID: 33375021 PMCID: PMC7822032 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Introduction: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Two substitution mutations, C228T (c.1-124C>T) and C250T (c.1-146C>T), make up most of the mutations and occur in a mutually exclusive manner. (2) Case presentation: A 72-year-old man was initially referred to a tertiary hospital for treatment of esophageal cancer. Preoperative imaging revealed a 3.2 cm thyroid nodule pathologically diagnosed as PTC on needle biopsy. The patient underwent thyroid lobectomy with esophagectomy and was finally diagnosed with synchronous solid variant PTC (SVPTC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Sanger sequencing using DNA from the thyroid tumor showed an indel mutation, c.1-132_1-124delinsT, composed of a deletion (c.1-132_1-125del) as well as a hotspot mutation (c.1-124C>T(C228T)) in the TERT promoter. (3) Conclusions: This is the first report of PTC harboring a novel deletion along with a hotspot mutation in the TERT promoter in a patient with synchronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
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50
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Vedelek B, Maddali AK, Davenova N, Vedelek V, Boros IM. TERT promoter alterations could provide a solution for Peto's paradox in rodents. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20815. [PMID: 33257697 PMCID: PMC7704627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77648-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a genetic disease caused by changes in gene expression resulting from somatic mutations and epigenetic changes. Although the probability of mutations is proportional with cell number and replication cycles, large bodied species do not develop cancer more frequently than smaller ones. This notion is known as Peto's paradox, and assumes stronger tumor suppression in larger animals. One of the possible tumor suppressor mechanisms involved could be replicative senescence caused by telomere shortening in the absence of telomerase activity. We analysed telomerase promoter activity and transcription factor binding in mammals to identify the key element of telomerase gene inactivation. We found that the GABPA transcription factor plays a key role in TERT regulation in somatic cells of small rodents, but its binding site is absent in larger beavers. Protein binding and reporter gene assays verify different use of this site in different species. The presence or absence of the GABPA TF site in TERT promoters of rodents correlates with TERT promoter activity; thus it could determine whether replicative senescence plays a tumor suppressor role in these species, which could be in direct relation with body mass. The GABPA TF binding sites that contribute to TERT activity in somatic cells of rodents are analogous to those mutated in human tumors, which activate telomerase by a non-ALT mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Vedelek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Asha Kiran Maddali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nurgul Davenova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Viktor Vedelek
- Department of Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Imre M Boros
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.
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