1
|
Mucignat G, Montanucci L, Elgendy R, Giantin M, Laganga P, Pauletto M, Mutinelli F, Vascellari M, Leone VF, Dacasto M, Granato A. A Whole-Transcriptomic Analysis of Canine Oral Melanoma: A Chance to Disclose the Radiotherapy Effect and Outcome-Associated Gene Signature. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1065. [PMID: 39202425 PMCID: PMC11353338 DOI: 10.3390/genes15081065] [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: 07/18/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral melanoma (OM) is the most common malignant oral tumour among dogs and shares similarities with human mucosal melanoma (HMM), validating the role of canine species as an immunocompetent model for cancer research. In both humans and dogs, the prognosis is poor and radiotherapy (RT) represents a cornerstone in the management of this tumour, either as an adjuvant or a palliative treatment. In this study, by means of RNA-seq, the effect of RT weekly fractionated in 9 Gray (Gy), up to a total dose of 36 Gy (4 weeks), was evaluated in eight dogs affected by OM. Furthermore, possible transcriptomic differences in blood and biopsies that might be associated with a longer overall survival (OS) were investigated. The immune response, glycosylation, cell adhesion, and cell cycle were the most affected pathways by RT, while tumour microenvironment (TME) composition and canonical and non-canonical WNT pathways appeared to be modulated in association with OS. Taking these results as a whole, this study improved our understanding of the local and systemic effect of RT, reinforcing the pivotal role of anti-tumour immunity in the control of canine oral melanoma (COM).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Mucignat
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Agripolis Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Ludovica Montanucci
- McGovern Medical School and Center for Neurogenomics, UTHealth, University of Texas Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Ramy Elgendy
- Discovery Sciences, Centre for Genomics Research, AstraZeneca, 411 10 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Mery Giantin
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Agripolis Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Paola Laganga
- Anicura—Centro Oncologico Veterinario, Sasso Marconi, 40037 Bologna, Italy; (P.L.); (V.F.L.)
| | - Marianna Pauletto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Agripolis Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Franco Mutinelli
- Veterinary and Public Health Institute, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (F.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Marta Vascellari
- Veterinary and Public Health Institute, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (F.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Vito Ferdinando Leone
- Anicura—Centro Oncologico Veterinario, Sasso Marconi, 40037 Bologna, Italy; (P.L.); (V.F.L.)
| | - Mauro Dacasto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Agripolis Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Anna Granato
- Veterinary and Public Health Institute, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (F.M.); (M.V.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hino Y, Arif M, Rahman MM, Husna AA, Hasan MDN, Miura N. Hypoxia-Mediated Long Non-Coding RNA Fragment Identified in Canine Oral Melanoma through Transcriptome Analysis. Vet Sci 2024; 11:361. [PMID: 39195815 PMCID: PMC11359073 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11080361] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia contributes to tumor progression and metastasis, and hypoxically dysregulated RNA molecules may, thus, be implicated in poor outcomes. Canine oral melanoma (COM) has a particularly poor prognosis, and some hypoxia-mediated miRNAs are known to exist in this cancer; however, equivalent data on other hypoxically dysregulated non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are lacking. Accordingly, we aimed to elucidate non-miRNA ncRNAs that may be mediated by hypoxia, targeting primary-site and metastatic COM cell lines and clinical COM tissue samples in next-generation sequencing (NGS), with subsequent qPCR validation and quantification in COM primary and metastatic cells and plasma and extracellular vesicles (EVs) for any identified ncRNA of interest. The findings suggest that a number of non-miRNA ncRNA species are hypoxically up- or downregulated in COM. We identified one ncRNA, the long ncRNA fragment ENSCAFT00000084705.1, as a molecule of interest due to its consistent downregulation in COM tissues, hypoxically and normoxically cultured primary and metastatic cell lines, when compared to the oral tissues from healthy dogs. However, this molecule was undetectable in plasma and plasma EVs, suggesting that its expression may be tumor tissue-specific, and it has little potential as a biomarker. Here, we provide evidence of hypoxic transcriptional dysregulation for ncRNAs other than miRNA in COM for the first time and suggest that ncRNA ENSCAFT00000084705.1 is a molecule of interest for future research on the role of the transcriptome in the hypoxia-mediated progression of this aggressive cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Hino
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-0841, Japan
| | - Mohammad Arif
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; (M.A.)
| | - Md Mahfuzur Rahman
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Al Asmaul Husna
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - MD Nazmul Hasan
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; (M.A.)
| | - Naoki Miura
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-0841, Japan
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; (M.A.)
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
YAMAMOTO M, FUJIWARA N. Protein phosphatase 6 regulates trametinib sensitivity, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, by regulating MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling in canine melanoma cells. J Vet Med Sci 2023; 85:977-984. [PMID: 37495516 PMCID: PMC10539826 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0274] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly aggressive and metastatic cancer occurring in both humans and dogs. Canine melanoma accounts for a significant proportion of neoplastic diseases in dogs, and despite standard treatments, overall survival rates remain low. Protein phosphatase 6 (PP6), an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein phosphatase, regulates various biological processes. Additionally, the loss of PP6 function reportedly leads to the development of melanoma in humans. However, there are no reports regarding the role of PP6 in canine cancer cells. We, therefore, conducted a study investigating the role of PP6 in canine melanoma by using four canine melanoma cell lines: CMec1, CMM, KMeC and LMeC. PP6 knockdown increased phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) but not Akt. Furthermore, PP6 knockdown decreased sensitivity to trametinib, a MEK inhibitor, but did not alter sensitivity to Akt inhibitor. These findings suggest that PP6 may function as a tumor suppressor in canine melanoma and modulate the response to trametinib treatment. Understanding the role of PP6 in canine melanoma could lead to the development of more effective treatment strategies for this aggressive disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miu YAMAMOTO
- Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki FUJIWARA
- Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Blacklock KL, van der Weyden L. Advances in Understanding Spontaneously Occurring Melanoma in Animals. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10030210. [PMID: 36977249 PMCID: PMC10054773 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10030210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a tumour that arises from the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) found in the skin (cutaneous melanoma and digital melanoma), mucosal surfaces (oral melanoma), and the eye (ocular melanoma) [...]
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L. Blacklock
- Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Louise van der Weyden
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-1223-834-244
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stevenson VB, Klahn S, LeRoith T, Huckle WR. Canine melanoma: A review of diagnostics and comparative mechanisms of disease and immunotolerance in the era of the immunotherapies. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1046636. [PMID: 36686160 PMCID: PMC9853198 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1046636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanomas in humans and dogs are highly malignant and resistant to therapy. Since the first development of immunotherapies, interest in how the immune system interacts within the tumor microenvironment and plays a role in tumor development, progression, or remission has increased. Of major importance are tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) where distribution and cell frequencies correlate with survival and therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, efforts have been made to identify subsets of TILs populations that can contribute to a tumor-promoting or tumor-inhibiting environment, such as the case with T regulatory cells versus CD8 T cells. Furthermore, cancerous cells have the capacity to express certain inhibitory checkpoint molecules, including CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-L2, that can suppress the immune system, a property associated with poor prognosis, a high rate of recurrence, and metastasis. Comparative oncology brings insights to comprehend the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and immunotolerance in humans and dogs, contributing to the development of new therapeutic agents that can modulate the immune response against the tumor. Therapies that target signaling pathways such as mTOR and MEK/ERK that are upregulated in cancer, or immunotherapies with different approaches such as CAR-T cells engineered for specific tumor-associated antigens, DNA vaccines using human tyrosinase or CGSP-4 antigen, anti-PD-1 or -PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies that intercept their binding inhibiting the suppression of the T cells, and lymphokine-activated killer cells are already in development for treating canine tumors. This review provides concise and recent information about diagnosis, comparative mechanisms of tumor development and progression, and the current status of immunotherapies directed toward canine melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina B. Stevenson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Shawna Klahn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States,Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - William R. Huckle
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States,*Correspondence: William R. Huckle ✉
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Porcellato I, Sforna M, Lo Giudice A, Bossi I, Musi A, Tognoloni A, Chiaradia E, Mechelli L, Brachelente C. Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Canine Oral and Cutaneous Melanomas and Melanocytomas: Phenotypic and Prognostic Assessment. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:878949. [PMID: 35937296 PMCID: PMC9355725 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.878949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is a complex system, where neoplastic cells interact with immune and stromal cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are considered among the most numerically and biologically noteworthy cellular components in tumors and the attention on this cellular population has been growing during the last decade, both for its prognostic role and as a potential future therapeutic target. Melanoma, particularly the oral form, despite being one of the most immunogenic tumors, bears a poor prognosis in dogs and humans, due to its highly aggressive biological behavior and limited therapeutic options. The aims of this study are to characterize and quantify TAMs (using CD163, CD204, Iba1, and MAC387) in canine melanocytic tumors and to evaluate the association of these markers with diagnosis, histologic prognostic features, presence of metastases, and outcome, and to provide preliminary data for possible future therapies targeting TAMs. Seventy-two melanocytic tumors (27 oral melanomas, 25 cutaneous melanomas, 14 cutaneous melanocytomas, and 6 oral melanocytomas) were retrospectively selected and submitted to immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence. Double immunolabeling revealed that most CD163+ and CD204+cells co-expressed Iba1, which labeled also dendritic cells. Iba1 was instead rarely co-expressed with MAC387. Nevertheless, the expression of macrophagic markers showed a mild to moderate association among the four markers, except for CD204 and MAC387. The number of CD163+, CD204+, and MAC387+ cells was significantly higher in oral melanomas compared to oral melanocytomas (p < 0.001; p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas Iba1 was differentially expressed in cutaneous melanomas and melanocytomas (p < 0.05). Moreover, CD163, IBA1 and MAC387 expression was associated with nuclear atypia and mitotic count. The number of CD163+cells was associated with the presence of metastases and tumor-related death in oral melanocytic tumors (p < 0.05 and p = 0.001, respectively).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Porcellato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Ilaria Porcellato
| | - Monica Sforna
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Adriana Lo Giudice
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bossi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alice Musi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Alessia Tognoloni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Luca Mechelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Brachelente
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|