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Franchi M, Karamanos KA, Cappadone C, Calonghi N, Greco N, Franchi L, Onisto M, Masola V. Substrate Type and Concentration Differently Affect Colon Cancer Cells Ultrastructural Morphology, EMT Markers, and Matrix Degrading Enzymes. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1786. [PMID: 36551219 PMCID: PMC9775446 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim of the study was to understand the behavior of colon cancer LoVo-R cells (doxorubicin-resistant) vs. LoVo-S (doxorubicin sensitive) in the initial steps of extracellular matrix (ECM) invasion. We investigated how the matrix substrates Matrigel and type I collagen-mimicking the basement membrane (BM) and the normal or desmoplastic lamina propria, respectively-could affect the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, matrix-degrading enzymes, and phenotypes. Gene expression with RT-qPCR, E-cadherin protein expression using Western blot, and phenotypes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were analyzed. The type and different concentrations of matrix substrates differently affected colon cancer cells. In LoVo-S cells, the higher concentrated collagen, mimicking the desmoplastic lamina propria, strongly induced EMT, as also confirmed by the expression of Snail, metalloproteases (MMPs)-2, -9, -14 and heparanase (HPSE), as well as mesenchymal phenotypes. Stimulation in E-cadherin expression in LoVo-S groups suggests that these cells develop a hybrid EMT phenotype. Differently, LoVo-R cells did not increase their aggressiveness: no changes in EMT markers, matrix effectors, and phenotypes were evident. The low influence of ECM components in LoVo-R cells might be related to their intrinsic aggressiveness related to chemoresistance. These results improve understanding of the critical role of tumor microenvironment in colon cancer cell invasion, driving the development of new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Franchi
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | | | - Concettina Cappadone
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Natalia Calonghi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicola Greco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Franchi
- Department of Medicine, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maurizio Onisto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Masola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Liu M, Xu X, Peng K, Hou P, Yuan Y, Li S, Sun X, Shi Z, Zhang J, Dong Y, Liu Q, Ai L, Liang L, Gan L, Huang Q, Yu Y, Liu T. Heparanase modulates the prognosis and development of BRAF V600E-mutant colorectal cancer by regulating AKT/p27Kip1/Cyclin E2 pathway. Oncogenesis 2022; 11:58. [PMID: 36130926 PMCID: PMC9492760 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-022-00428-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BRAF V600E-mutant colorectal cancer (CRC) is a rare subtype of colorectal cancer with poor prognosis. Compelling evidence indicates that the heparanase (HPSE) gene has multiple functions in cancer, however, its role in BRAF V600E-mutant CRC remains elusive. Differentially expressed genes between BRAF V600E-mutant and wild-type patients were explored by analyzing public data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus. Clinical samples of 172 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant CRC diagnosed at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University were collected. Overall survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Cell models and xenografts were utilized to investigate the effect of HPSE on tumor proliferation. HPSE was significantly highly expressed in the BRAF V600E-mutant group. High HPSE expression level was independently associated with inferior survival in the BRAF V600E-mutant cohort. HPSE knockdown impeded tumor proliferation of BRAF V600E-mutant CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, HPSE silencing arrested cell cycle in G0/G1 phase by downregulating Cyclin E2 expression via the AKT/p27Kip1 pathway. These findings support a role for HPSE in promoting BRAF V600E-mutant CRC progression, which suggests it holds great promise as a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for the aggressive CRC subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengling Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiaojing Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ke Peng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Pengcong Hou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yitao Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Suyao Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhongyi Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yu Dong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Luoyan Ai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lu Gan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qihong Huang
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yiyi Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Tianshu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Center of Evidence-based Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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