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Cigliano A, Liao W, Deiana GA, Rizzo D, Chen X, Calvisi DF. Preclinical Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Utility, Limitations, and Challenges. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1624. [PMID: 39062197 PMCID: PMC11274649 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071624] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant primary liver tumor, remains one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, despite the advances in therapy in recent years. In addition to the traditional chemically and dietary-induced HCC models, a broad spectrum of novel preclinical tools have been generated following the advent of transgenic, transposon, organoid, and in silico technologies to overcome this gloomy scenario. These models have become rapidly robust preclinical instruments to unravel the molecular pathogenesis of liver cancer and establish new therapeutic approaches against this deadly disease. The present review article aims to summarize and discuss the commonly used preclinical models for HCC, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cigliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Weiting Liao
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Giovanni A. Deiana
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Davide Rizzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
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2
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Ghasemi N, Azizi H. Exploring Myc puzzle: Insights into cancer, stem cell biology, and PPI networks. Gene 2024; 916:148447. [PMID: 38583818 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
"The grand orchestrator," "Universal Amplifier," "double-edged sword," and "Undruggable" are just some of the Myc oncogene so-called names. It has been around 40 years since the discovery of the Myc, and it remains in the mainstream of cancer treatment drugs. Myc is part of basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-LZ) superfamily proteins, and its dysregulation can be seen in many malignant human tumors. It dysregulates critical pathways in cells that are connected to each other, such as proliferation, growth, cell cycle, and cell adhesion, impacts miRNAs action, intercellular metabolism, DNA replication, differentiation, microenvironment regulation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Myc, surprisingly, is used in stem cell research too. Its family includes three members, MYC, MYCN, and MYCL, and each dysfunction was observed in different cancer types. This review aims to introduce Myc and its function in the body. Besides, Myc deregulatory mechanisms in cancer cells, their intricate aspects will be discussed. We will look at promising drugs and Myc-based therapies. Finally, Myc and its role in stemness, Myc pathways based on PPI network analysis, and future insights will be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Ghasemi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Hossein Azizi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.
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Vecchio E, Marino R, Mimmi S, Canale C, Caiazza C, Arcucci A, Ruocco MR, Schiavone M, Santamaria G, Palmieri C, Iaccino E, Mallardo M, Quinto I, Fiume G. Enhanced pro-apoptotic activity of rituximab through IBTK silencing in non-Hodgkin lymphoma B-cells. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1339584. [PMID: 38371626 PMCID: PMC10869532 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1339584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Rituximab is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for patients with aggressive lymphomas, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Currently, the combination of Rituximab and chemotherapy (R-CHOP) stands as the most prevalent first-line therapy for NHL. Nevertheless, the development of new therapeutic approaches remains imperative. An increasing body of evidence highlights a novel role for IBTK in tumorigenesis and cancer growth. In this study, we aim to broaden our understanding of IBTK's function in B-lymphoma, with a particular focus on its impact on the expression of the oncogene MYC. Here, we assessed the effects of combining Rituximab with IBTK silencing on cell viability through cell cycle analysis and Annexin V assays in vitro. Furthermore, we leveraged the transplantability of Eμ-myc lymphomas to investigate whether the inhibition of IBTK could elicit anti-tumor effects in the treatment of lymphomas in vivo. Our data suggests that IBTK silencing may serve as an effective anti-tumor agent for aggressive B-Lymphomas, underscoring its role in promoting apoptosis when used in combination with Rituximab, both in in vitro and in vivo settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vecchio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rossana Marino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Selena Mimmi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Camilla Canale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmen Caiazza
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arcucci
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ruocco
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Schiavone
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gianluca Santamaria
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Camillo Palmieri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Enrico Iaccino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Massimo Mallardo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Ileana Quinto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fiume
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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Lacroix M, Beauchemin H, Khandanpour C, Möröy T. The RNA helicase DDX3 and its role in c-MYC driven germinal center-derived B-cell lymphoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1148936. [PMID: 37035206 PMCID: PMC10081492 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1148936] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DDX3X is an RNA helicase with many functions in RNA metabolism such as mRNA translation, alternative pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA stability, but also plays a role as a regulator of transcription as well as in the Wnt/beta-catenin- and Nf-κB signaling pathways. The gene encoding DDX3X is located on the X-chromosome, but escapes X-inactivation. Hence females have two active copies and males only one. However, the Y chromosome contains the gene for the male DDX3 homologue, called DDX3Y, which has a very high sequence similarity and functional redundancy with DDX3X, but shows a more restricted protein expression pattern than DDX3X. High throughput sequencing of germinal center (GC)-derived B-cell malignancies such as Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) samples showed a high frequency of loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the DDX3X gene revealing several features that distinguish this gene from others. First, DDX3X mutations occur with high frequency particularly in those GC-derived B-cell lymphomas that also show translocations of the c-MYC proto-oncogene, which occurs in almost all BL and a subset of DLBCL. Second, DDX3X LOF mutations occur almost exclusively in males and is very rarely found in females. Third, mutations in the male homologue DDX3Y have never been found in any type of malignancy. Studies with human primary GC B cells from male donors showed that a loss of DDX3X function helps the initial process of B-cell lymphomagenesis by buffering the proteotoxic stress induced by c-MYC activation. However, full lymphomagenesis requires DDX3 activity since an upregulation of DDX3Y expression is invariably found in GC derived B-cell lymphoma with DDX3X LOF mutation. Other studies with male transgenic mice that lack Ddx3x, but constitutively express activated c-Myc transgenes in B cells and are therefore prone to develop B-cell malignancies, also showed upregulation of the DDX3Y protein expression during the process of lymphomagenesis. Since DDX3Y is not expressed in normal human cells, these data suggest that DDX3Y may represent a new cancer cell specific target to develop adjuvant therapies for male patients with BL and DLBCL and LOF mutations in the DDX3X gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Lacroix
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, IRCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Hugues Beauchemin
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, IRCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cyrus Khandanpour
- Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tarik Möröy, ; Cyrus Khandanpour,
| | - Tarik Möröy
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, IRCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Tarik Möröy, ; Cyrus Khandanpour,
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IBtkα Activates the β-Catenin-Dependent Transcription of MYC through Ubiquitylation and Proteasomal Degradation of GSK3β in Cancerous B Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042044. [PMID: 35216159 PMCID: PMC8875111 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The IBTK gene encodes the IBtkα protein that is a substrate receptor of E3 ubiquitin ligase, Cullin 3. We have previously reported the pro-tumorigenic activity of Ibtk in MYC-dependent B-lymphomagenesis observed in Eμ-myc transgenic mice. Here, we provide mechanistic evidence of the functional interplay between IBtkα and MYC. We show that IBtkα, albeit indirectly, activates the β-catenin-dependent transcription of the MYC gene. Of course, IBtkα associates with GSK3β and promotes its ubiquitylation, which is associated with proteasomal degradation. This event increases the protein level of β-catenin, a substrate of GSK3β, and results in the transcriptional activation of the MYC and CCND1 target genes of β-catenin, which are involved in the control of cell division and apoptosis. In particular, we found that in Burkitt’s lymphoma cells, IBtkα silencing triggered the downregulation of both MYC mRNA and protein expression, as well as a strong decrease of cell survival, mainly through the induction of apoptotic events, as assessed by using flow cytometry-based cell cycle and apoptosis analysis. Collectively, our results shed further light on the complex puzzle of IBtkα interactome and highlight IBtkα as a potential novel therapeutic target to be employed in the strategy for personalized therapy of B cell lymphoma.
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Bahrami A, Ferns GA. Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Value of miR-148b in Human Cancers. Curr Mol Med 2022; 22:860-869. [PMID: 34961461 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666211213123315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) is a class of conserved, small, noncoding RNA molecules that modulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. miR-148b is a member of miR- 148/152 family generally known to be a tumor suppressor via its effect on different signaling pathways and regulatory genes. Aberrant expression of miR-148b has recently been shown to be responsible for tumorigenesis of several different cancer types. This review discusses the current evidence regarding the involvement of miR-148b expression in human cancers and its potential clinical importance for tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsane Bahrami
- Clinical Research Development Unit, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Division of Medical Education, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Brighton, Sussex, UK
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Ramburan A, Kriel R, Govender D. Plasmablastic lymphomas show restricted EBV latency profile and MYC gene aberrations. Leuk Lymphoma 2021; 63:370-376. [PMID: 34612761 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1986218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) involves the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and MYC gene aberrations. We aimed to determine the EBV latent infection pattern and frequency of MYC gene aberrations in PBLs. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies for EBNA1, EBNA2, and LMP1 while fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed using a MYC probe. The patient cohort comprised 49 adult cases (44 were HIV-positive and three were HIV-negative). Forty-one cases were EBV-positive with 11 EBNA1-positive cases, all cases EBNA2-negative, and four LMP1-positive cases. Latency 0 was determined in 29 cases, latency I in eight cases, and latency II in four cases. The MYC gene was rearranged in eight cases, showed copy number alterations in 11 cases and, no rearrangement in 11 cases. This is the largest cohort of PBLs from South Africa to show a predominantly restricted EBV latency pattern with MYC gene aberrations as a common finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amsha Ramburan
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Raymond Kriel
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dhirendra Govender
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,PathCare, Cape Town, South Africa
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8
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Bouroumeau A, Bussot L, Bonnefoix T, Fournier C, Chapusot C, Casasnovas O, Martin L, McLeer A, Col E, David-Boudet L, Lefebvre C, Algrin C, Raskovalova T, Jacob MC, Vettier C, Chevalier S, Callanan MB, Gressin R, Emadali A, Sartelet H. c-MYC and p53 expression highlight starry-sky pattern as a favourable prognostic feature in R-CHOP-treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH 2021; 7:604-615. [PMID: 34374220 PMCID: PMC8503894 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically heterogeneous entity, in which the first-line treatment currently consists of an immuno-chemotherapy regimen (R-CHOP). However, around 30% of patients will not respond or will relapse. Overexpression of c-MYC or p53 is frequently found in DLBCL, but an association with prognosis remains controversial, as for other biomarkers previously linked with DLBCL aggressivity (CD5, CD23, or BCL2). The aim of this study was to explore the expression of these biomarkers and their correlation with outcome, clinical, or pathological features in a DLBCL cohort. Immunohistochemical (c-MYC, p53, BCL2, CD5, and CD23), morphological ('starry-sky' pattern [SSP]), targeted gene panel sequencing by next-generation sequencing (NGS), and fluorescence in situ hybridisation analyses were performed on tissue microarray blocks for a retrospective cohort of 94 R-CHOP-treated de novo DLBCL. In univariate analyses, p53 overexpression (p53high ) was associated with unfavourable outcome (p = 0.04) and with c-MYC overexpression (p = 0.01), whereas c-MYC overexpression was linked with an SSP (p = 0.004), but only tended towards an inferior prognosis (p = 0.06). Presence of a starry-sky morphology was found to be correlated with better survival in p53high DLBCL (p = 0.03) and/or c-MYC-positive DLBCL (p = 0.002). Furthermore, NGS data revealed that these three variables were associated with somatic mutations (PIM1, TNFRSF14, FOXO1, and B2M) involved in B-cell proliferation, survival, metabolism, and immune signalling. Taken together, these results show that the SSP pattern seems to be a protective factor in high-risk DLBCL subgroups and highlight cell death as a built-in failsafe mechanism to control tumour growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonin Bouroumeau
- Department of Pathology, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.,Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR 5309/Grenoble-Alpes University, Grenoble, France.,Division of Clinical Pathology, Diagnostic Department, Hôpitaux Universitaires Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lucile Bussot
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Thierry Bonnefoix
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR 5309/Grenoble-Alpes University, Grenoble, France.,Pole Recherche, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Cyril Fournier
- University of Bourgogne, INSERM 1231, Dijon, France.,Unit for Innovation in Genetics and Epigenetics in Oncology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | | | - Olivier Casasnovas
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - Laurent Martin
- Department of Pathology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - Anne McLeer
- Department of Pathology, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.,Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR 5309/Grenoble-Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Edwige Col
- Department of Pathology, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Christine Lefebvre
- Hematology, Oncogenetics and Immunology Unit, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Tatiana Raskovalova
- Hematology, Oncogenetics and Immunology Unit, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie-Christine Jacob
- Hematology, Oncogenetics and Immunology Unit, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Claire Vettier
- Hematology, Oncogenetics and Immunology Unit, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Simon Chevalier
- Hematology, Oncogenetics and Immunology Unit, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Mary B Callanan
- University of Bourgogne, INSERM 1231, Dijon, France.,Unit for Innovation in Genetics and Epigenetics in Oncology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - Rémy Gressin
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Anouk Emadali
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR 5309/Grenoble-Alpes University, Grenoble, France.,Pole Recherche, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Hervé Sartelet
- Department of Pathology, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.,Department of Pathology, Nancy Regional University Hospital, Nancy, France
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Policing Cancer: Vitamin D Arrests the Cell Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239296. [PMID: 33291213 PMCID: PMC7731034 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone crucial for bone mineral metabolism. In addition, vitamin D has pleiotropic actions in the body, including anti-cancer actions. These anti-cancer properties observed within in vitro studies frequently report the reduction of cell proliferation by interruption of the cell cycle by the direct alteration of cell cycle regulators which induce cell cycle arrest. The most recurrent reported mode of cell cycle arrest by vitamin D is at the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle. This arrest is mediated by p21 and p27 upregulation, which results in suppression of cyclin D and E activity which leads to G1/G0 arrest. In addition, vitamin D treatments within in vitro cell lines have observed a reduced C-MYC expression and increased retinoblastoma protein levels that also result in G1/G0 arrest. In contrast, G2/M arrest is reported rarely within in vitro studies, and the mechanisms of this arrest are poorly described. Although the relationship of epigenetics on vitamin D metabolism is acknowledged, studies exploring a direct relationship to cell cycle perturbation is limited. In this review, we examine in vitro evidence of vitamin D and vitamin D metabolites directly influencing cell cycle regulators and inducing cell cycle arrest in cancer cell lines.
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Jia J, Che L, Cigliano A, Wang X, Peitta G, Tao J, Zhong S, Ribback S, Evert M, Chen X, Calvisi DF. Pivotal Role of Fatty Acid Synthase in c-MYC Driven Hepatocarcinogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228467. [PMID: 33187130 PMCID: PMC7696085 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly form of liver malignancy with limited treatment options. Amplification and/or overexpression of c-MYC is one of the most frequent genetic events in human HCC. The mammalian target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) is a major functional axis regulating various aspects of cellular growth and metabolism. Recently, we demonstrated that mTORC1 is necessary for c-Myc driven hepatocarcinogenesis as well as for HCC cell growth in vitro. Among the pivotal downstream effectors of mTORC1, upregulation of Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) and its mediated de novo lipogenesis is a hallmark of human HCC. Here, we investigated the importance of FASN on c-Myc-dependent hepatocarcinogenesis using in vitro and in vivo approaches. In mouse and human HCC cells, we found that FASN suppression by either gene silencing or soluble inhibitors more effectively suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in the presence of high c-MYC expression. In c-Myc/Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) mouse liver tumor lesions, FASN expression was markedly upregulated. Most importantly, genetic ablation of Fasn profoundly delayed (without abolishing) c-Myc/MCL1 induced HCC formation. Liver tumors developing in c-Myc/MCL1 mice depleted of Fasn showed a reduction in proliferation and an increase in apoptosis when compared with corresponding lesions from c-Myc/MCL1 mice with an intact Fasn gene. In human HCC samples, a significant correlation between the levels of c-MYC transcriptional activity and the expression of FASN mRNA was detected. Altogether, our study indicates that FASN is an important effector downstream of mTORC1 in c-MYC induced HCC. Targeting FASN may be helpful for the treatment of human HCC, at least in the tumor subset displaying c-MYC amplification or activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyuan Jia
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (J.J.); (L.C.); (J.T.); (S.Z.)
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, the Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Li Che
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (J.J.); (L.C.); (J.T.); (S.Z.)
- Legend Biotech USA R&D Center, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Antonio Cigliano
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (A.C.); (G.P.); (M.E.)
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
| | - Graziella Peitta
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (A.C.); (G.P.); (M.E.)
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (J.J.); (L.C.); (J.T.); (S.Z.)
| | - Sheng Zhong
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (J.J.); (L.C.); (J.T.); (S.Z.)
| | - Silvia Ribback
- Institute of Pathology, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (A.C.); (G.P.); (M.E.)
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (J.J.); (L.C.); (J.T.); (S.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (D.F.C.); Tel.: +1-415-502-6526 (X.C.); +39-079-228306 (D.F.C.)
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (D.F.C.); Tel.: +1-415-502-6526 (X.C.); +39-079-228306 (D.F.C.)
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11
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de Jonge AV, Mutis T, Roemer MGM, Scheijen B, Chamuleau MED. Impact of MYC on Anti-Tumor Immune Responses in Aggressive B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: Consequences for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12103052. [PMID: 33092116 PMCID: PMC7589056 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The human immune system has several mechanisms to attack and eliminate lymphomas. However, the MYC oncogene is thought to facilitate escape from this anti-tumor immune response. Since patients with MYC overexpressing lymphomas face a significant dismal prognosis after treatment with standard immunochemotherapy, understanding the role of MYC in regulating the anti-tumor immune response is highly relevant. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which MYC attenuates the anti-tumor immune responses in B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We aim to implement this knowledge in the deployment of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. Therefore, we also provide a comprehensive overview of current immunotherapeutic options and we discuss potential future treatment strategies for MYC overexpressing lymphomas. Abstract Patients with MYC overexpressing high grade B cell lymphoma (HGBL) face significant dismal prognosis after treatment with standard immunochemotherapy regimens. Recent preclinical studies indicate that MYC not only contributes to tumorigenesis by its effects on cell proliferation and differentiation, but also plays an important role in promoting escape from anti-tumor immune responses. This is of specific interest, since reversing tumor immune inhibition with immunotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. In this review, we outline the current understanding of impaired immune responses in B cell lymphoid malignancies with MYC overexpression, with a particular emphasis on diffuse large B cell lymphoma. We also discuss clinical consequences of MYC overexpression in the treatment of HGBL with novel immunotherapeutic agents and potential future treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Vera de Jonge
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.); (M.E.D.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tuna Mutis
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.); (M.E.D.C.)
| | - Margaretha G. M. Roemer
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Blanca Scheijen
- Department of Pathology, Radboud UMC, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Martine E. D. Chamuleau
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.); (M.E.D.C.)
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Dichotomous Impact of Myc on rRNA Gene Activation and Silencing in B Cell Lymphomagenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12103009. [PMID: 33081395 PMCID: PMC7656300 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103009] [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: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary B cell lymphomas mostly arise from malignant transformation of mature B cells and are typically driven by elevated levels of the oncoprotein Myc. Myc is a transcription factor regulating many protein-coding genes as well as the multicopy genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The aim of this study was to understand, how Myc impacts rRNA genes in the course of B cell lymphomagenesis. Using a transgenic mouse model, we found that Myc and rRNA gene expression strongly increase upon tumor formation. Surprisingly, Myc also facilitates epigenetic silencing of a fraction of rRNA genes, thereby safeguarding genomic integrity in lymphoma cells. Together, the results show that Myc balances high activity and stability of rRNA genes. Perturbation of this equilibrium may be used as a therapeutic strategy. Abstract A major transcriptional output of cells is ribosomal RNA (rRNA), synthesized by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) from multicopy rRNA genes (rDNA). Constitutive silencing of an rDNA fraction by promoter CpG methylation contributes to the stabilization of these otherwise highly active loci. In cancers driven by the oncoprotein Myc, excessive Myc directly stimulates rDNA transcription. However, it is not clear when during carcinogenesis this mechanism emerges, and how Myc-driven rDNA activation affects epigenetic silencing. Here, we have used the Eµ-Myc mouse model to investigate rDNA transcription and epigenetic regulation in Myc-driven B cell lymphomagenesis. We have developed a refined cytometric strategy to isolate B cells from the tumor initiation, promotion, and progression phases, and found a substantial increase of both Myc and rRNA gene expression only in established lymphoma. Surprisingly, promoter CpG methylation and the machinery for rDNA silencing were also strongly up-regulated in the tumor progression state. The data indicate a dichotomous role of oncogenic Myc in rDNA regulation, boosting transcription as well as reinforcing repression of silent repeats, which may provide a novel angle on perturbing Myc function in cancer cells.
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