Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 in gastric cancer: Beyond metastasis

Monocyte Transcriptome in Different Phases of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection Uncovers Potential Functional Roles

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection goes through different phases, i.e., immune tolerant (IT), immune clearance (IC), and inactive carrier (IN) resulting from the interplay of viral replication and immune response. Although the adaptive immune response is central to viral control, roles of the innate immune cells are less prominent. We explored monocyte transcriptome in these different phases of HBV infection to understand the nature of its involvement and identify unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each phase. CD14+ peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from patients in the IT, IC, and IN phases and from healthy subjects and their RNA was sequenced. The significant DEGs were studied through gene annotation databases to understand differentially modulated pathways. The DEGs were further validated by qRT-PCR to identify genes that were uniquely expressed in each phase. It was found that TNFRSF12A was upregulated in all the HBV samples. The IN phase had six uniquely upregulated genes, i.e., PI3, EMP1, STX1A, RRAD, SPINK1, and SNORD3B-2. E2F7 was most consistently downregulated in the IT phase, and in the IC phase, IL23A and PI3 were specifically downregulated. Cut-off values were generated by ROC curve analysis to differentiate between the groups based on their expression levels. The monocyte functions are majorly suppressed in the IT and IC phases and are, however, somewhat metabolically active in the IN phase.

Novel insights on the positive correlation between sense and antisense pairs on gene expression

A considerable proportion of the eukaryotic genome undergoes transcription, leading to the generation of noncoding RNA molecules that lack protein-coding information and are not subjected to translation. These noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are well recognized to have essential roles in several biological processes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent the most extensive category of ncRNAs found in the human genome. Much research has focused on investigating the roles of cis-acting lncRNAs in the regulation of specific target gene expression. In the majority of instances, the regulation of sense gene expression by its corresponding antisense pair occurs in a negative (discordant) manner, resulting in the suppression of the target genes. The notion that a negative correlation exists between sense and antisense pairings is, however, not universally valid. In fact, several recent studies have reported a positive relationship between corresponding cis antisense pairs within plants, budding yeast, and mammalian cancer cells. The positive (concordant) correlation between anti-sense and sense transcripts leads to an increase in the level of the sense transcript within the same genomic loci. In addition, mechanisms such as altering chromatin structure, the formation of R loops, and the recruitment of transcription factors can either enhance transcription or stabilize sense transcripts through their antisense pairs. The primary objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive understanding of both aspects of antisense regulation, specifically focusing on the positive correlation between sense and antisense transcripts in the context of eukaryotic gene expression, including its implications towards cancer progression. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > 3' End Processing Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs.

Prognostic risk stratification value of MACC1 expression in patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The prognostic significance of metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) has been explored in a variety of malignancies. However, its clinical relevance in patients with gastric cancer (GC) is limited, also remains controversial.

METHOD

In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the prognostic value of lesion MACC1 expression in 347 GC patients. Lesion MACC1 expression was analyzed with immunohistochemistry and grouped as MACC1low (n = 172) and MACC1high (n = 175) cases.

RESULTS

Data revealed that the degree of MACC1 expression is not related to patient sex, age and disease stage (all p > 0.05). Survival analysis showed that only post-operation advanced pT (p = 0.018), pN (p < 0.001), pM (p = 0.001) and AJCC stages (p < 0.001) are significantly associated with shorter survival, while no obvious difference was observed between MACC1low and MACC1high cases (p = 0.158). However, we found that survival for female (p = 0.032), older (p = 0.028), and early disease stage (pT stage I + II, p = 0.033) patients with MACC1high are remarkably worse than those with MACC1low.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our findings revealed that, though MACC1 expression is not associated with the survival of the whole cohort, the prognostic risk stratification value of lesion MACC1 expression in subgroups of patients with gastric cancer should be noted.

Targeting the Warburg effect: A revisited perspective from molecular mechanisms to traditional and innovative therapeutic strategies in cancer

Cancer reprogramming is an important facilitator of cancer development and survival, with tumor cells exhibiting a preference for aerobic glycolysis beyond oxidative phosphorylation, even under sufficient oxygen supply condition. This metabolic alteration, known as the Warburg effect, serves as a significant indicator of malignant tumor transformation. The Warburg effect primarily impacts cancer occurrence by influencing the aerobic glycolysis pathway in cancer cells. Key enzymes involved in this process include glucose transporters (GLUTs), HKs, PFKs, LDHs, and PKM2. Moreover, the expression of transcriptional regulatory factors and proteins, such as FOXM1, p53, NF-κB, HIF1α, and c-Myc, can also influence cancer progression. Furthermore, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circular RNAs play a vital role in directly regulating the Warburg effect. Additionally, gene mutations, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and immune system interactions are closely associated with the Warburg effect. Notably, the development of drugs targeting the Warburg effect has exhibited promising potential in tumor treatment. This comprehensive review presents novel directions and approaches for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients by conducting in-depth research and summarizing the bright prospects of targeting the Warburg effect in cancer.

LncRNA MACC1-AS1 associates with DDX5 to modulate MACC1 transcription in breast cancer cells

MACC1 is a master oncogene involved in multiple aspects of cancer metastasis in a broad variety of tumors. However, the molecular mechanism by which MACC1 transcription is regulated remains unclear. Here, we show that in breast cancer cells, lncRNA MACC1-AS1 serves as a cis-factor to up-regulate MACC1 transcription and this regulation increases the cell proliferation potential. Mechanistically, MACC1-AS1 forms a complex with DEAD-Box helicase 5 (DDX5) and simultaneously interacts with the distal region of the MACC1 promoter. The interaction allows its associated DDX5 to spatially contact the MACC1 core promoter and shift from MACC1-AS1 to the core promoter. Moreover, binding of DDX5 to the core promoter results in local recruitment of the transcription factor SP-1, thus enhancing MACC1 transcription. Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism by which MACC1-AS1 cis-regulates MACC1 transcription by interacting with the distal promoter region and delivering DDX5 to the core-promoter of the gene.

MACC1 and Gasdermin-E (GSDME) regulate the resistance of colorectal cancer cells to irinotecan

Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is an oncogene associated with the progression and metastasis of many solid cancer entities. High expression of MACC1 is found in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues. So far, the role of MACC1 in CRC cell pyroptosis and resistance to irinotecan is unclear. The cleavage of Gasdermin-E (GSDME) is the main executors of activated pyroptosis. We found that GSDME enhanced CRC cell pyroptosis and reduced their resistance to irinotecan, while MACC1 inhibited the cleavage of GSDME and CRC cell pyroptosis, promoted CRC cell proliferation, and enhanced the resistance of CRC cells to irinotecan. Therefore, CRC cells with high MACC1 expression and low GSDME expression had higher resistance to irinotecan, while CRC cells with low MACC1 expression and high GSDME expression had lower resistance to irinotecan. Consistently, by analyzing CRC patients who received FOLFIRI (Fluorouracil + Irinotecan + Leucovorin) in combination with chemotherapy in the GEO database, we found that CRC patients with low MACC1 expression and high GSDME expression had higher survival rate. Our study suggests that the expression of MACC1 and GSDME can be used as detection markers to divide CRC patients into irinotecan resistant and sensitive groups, helping to determine the treatment strategy of patients.

MACC1 as a Potential Target for the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer

Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is an oncogene first identified in colon cancer. MACC1 has been identified in more than 20 different types of solid cancers. It is a key prognostic biomarker in clinical practice and is involved in recurrence, metastasis, and survival in many types of human cancers. MACC1 is significantly associated with the primary tumor, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis classification, and clinical staging in patients with breast cancer (BC), and MACC1 overexpression is associated with reduced recurrence-free survival (RFS) and worse overall survival (OS) in patients. In addition, MACC1 is involved in BC progression in multiple ways. MACC1 promotes the immune escape of BC cells by affecting the infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Since the FGD5AS1/miR-497/MACC1 axis inhibits the apoptotic pathway in radiation-resistant BC tissues and cell lines, the MACC1 gene may play an important role in BC resistance to radiation. Since MACC1 is involved in numerous biological processes inside and outside BC cells, it is a key player in the tumor microenvironment. Focusing on MACC1, this article briefly discusses its biological effects, emphasizes its molecular mechanisms and pathways of action, and describes its use in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

MACC1-Dependent Antitumor Effect of Curcumin in Colorectal Cancer

Metastasis is the main reason for the high mortality rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Despite the whole improvement in the field of cancer medicine, the treatment options for the patient in the late stages are very restricted. Our previous studies have elucidated metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) as a direct link to metastasis formation. Therefore, we have aimed to inhibit its expression by using natural products, which are recently the center of most studies due to their low side effects and good tolerability. In this study, we have investigated the effect of one of the promising natural products, curcumin, on MACC1 expression and MACC1-induced tumor-promoting pathways. Curcumin reduced the MACC1 expression, restricted the MACC1-induced proliferation, and was able to reduce the MACC1-induced cell motility as one of the crucial steps for the distant dissemination of the tumor. We further showed the MACC1-dependent effect of curcumin on clonogenicity and wound healing. This study is, to our knowledge, the first identification of the effect of curcumin on the restriction of cancer motility, proliferation, and colony-forming ability by using MACC1 as a target.

Downregulation of MACC1 facilitates the reversal effect of verapamil on the chemoresistance to active metabolite of irinotecan in human colon cancer cells

The aim of this study is to investigate the reversal effect of verapamil (VER) on chemoresistance to irinotecan (CPT-11) in human colon cancer cells and relevant mechanisms. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) test and colony-forming unit (CFU) experiment results show that VER strengthens the sensitivity of human colon cancer cell line HT29 to CPT-11 but has a small effect on SW480 cells. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing, RT-PCR, and Western blot results show that the inhibition of metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) expression by VER is the key factor for reversal effect on chemoresistance to CPT-11. Transfection experiments further show that VER can reverse the resistance of human colon cancer cells to SN-38, the active metabolite of CPT-11, when MACC1 is overexpressed. The nude mouse transplantation tumor experiment provides an in vivo proof that VER can strengthen sensitivity to CPT-11 in drug-resistant human colon cancer cells, and the effect might be related to the inhibited expression of MACC1. In summary, VER might strengthen the reversal effect of VER on chemoresistance to CPT-11 in human colon cancer cells and facilitate the apoptosis of human colon cancer cells by downregulating MACC1 expression.

MACC1 Promotes the Progression and Is a Novel Biomarker for Predicting Immunotherapy Response in Colorectal Cancer

Aims

As one of the most prevalent malignant diseases in the world, the mechanisms of metastasis in colon cancer are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the HGF/c-MET axis in the proliferation and metastasis in colon cancer.

Methods

The effect of MACC1 on cell proliferation and metastasis was analyzed through a series of in vitro experiments. The role of MACC1 in cancer cells was demonstrated by overexpression and silencing of MACC1 in gain or loss function experiments. To investigate the relationship between MACC1 and c-MET/HGF, we detected c-MET protein expression by disrupting with or overexpressing MACC1. The bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the correlation between MACC1 and c-MET, and the c-MET expression after the interference of HGF with MACC1 was determined. Subsequently, the function of c-MET was verified in colon cancer cells by a series of experiments. The mouse tumor transplantation model experiment is most suitable in vivo.

Results

The results indicated that the overexpression of MACC1 could accelerate proliferation and facilitate metastasis in colon cancer cell lines. Furthermore, c-MET was determined to be the downstream regulator of MACC1. The addition of HGF could stimulate the expression of MACC1. With further exploration, we proved that c-MET is downstream of MACC1 in colon cancer and that overexpression of c-MET in colon cancer enhances cell proliferation and migration capability. At last, MACC1 expression level negatively correlates with the infiltration levels and several immune checkpoint biomarkers. High MACC1 expression has a lower response rate with ICIs in COAD.

Conclusions

We found that, under the regulation of the MACC1/HGF/c-MET axis, the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer are increased by MACC1, which can be a novel biomarker for predicting ICIs response in colorectal cancer. Our findings provide a new idea for the targeted treatment of colorectal cancer.

lncRNAs as Hallmarks for Individualized Treatment of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is global cancer with a high mortality rate. A growing number of studies have found the abnormal expression of lncRNA (long noncoding RNA) in many tumors, which plays a role in promoting or inhibiting cancer. Similarly, lncRNA abnormal expression plays an essential biological function in gastric cancer. This article focuses on lncRNA involvement in the development of gastric cancer in terms of cell cycle disorder, apoptosis inhibition, metabolic remodeling, promotion of tumor inflammation, immune escape, induction of angiogenesis, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The involvement of lncRNA in the development of gastric cancer is related to drug resistance, such as cisplatin and multi-drug resistance. It can also be used as a potential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer and a target for the treatment. With an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of lncRNA in gastric cancer, new ideas for personalized treatment of gastric cancer are expected.

Vasculogenic mimicry in head and neck tumors: a narrative review

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the role and mechanism of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and to provide reference for the further research of VM in head and neck tumors.

BACKGROUND

Head and neck tumors are common in the clinic, and tumor metastasis is clinically difficult to treat. VM is another tumor blood supply mode that is different from angiogenesis and plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis, and invasion. At present, studies on VM have mainly focused on breast cancer, melanoma, glioblastoma, and other cancers. With time, VM has become a hotspot in head and neck tumor research.

METHODS

We searched published English literatures from 2015 to 2020 on PubMed. In this paper, we review the progress of VM in head and neck tumors from 7 different perspectives. VM has two distinct types, namely tubular type and patterned matrix type. VM is associated with high tumor grade, tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis in patients with head and neck tumors. We discuss the recent studies on the effects of immune cells and Epstein-Barr virus on VM in head and neck tumors. Furthermore, we also summarize the molecular mechanism of VM formation in head and neck tumors. Finally, we discussed the possibility of VM-targeted therapy in the clinical treatment of head and neck tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

VM plays a critical role in tumor invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis in patients with head and neck tumors. There is potential for VM as a potential new antitumor target. VM has become a hotspot in head and neck tumor research.

Medication for Acromegaly Reduces Expression of MUC16, MACC1 and GRHL2 in Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumour Tissue

Acromegaly is a disease mainly caused by pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) overproducing growth hormone. First-line medication for this condition is the use of somatostatin analogs (SSAs), that decrease tumor mass and induce antiproliferative effects on PitNET cells. Dopamine agonists (DAs) can also be used if SSA treatment is not effective. This study aimed to determine differences in transcriptome signatures induced by SSA/DA therapy in PitNET tissue. We selected tumor tissue from twelve patients with somatotropinomas, with half of the patients receiving SSA/DA treatment before surgery and the other half treatment naive. Transcriptome sequencing was then carried out to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their protein–protein interactions, using pathway analyses. We found 34 upregulated and six downregulated DEGs in patients with SSA/DA treatment. Three tumor development promoting factors MUC16, MACC1, and GRHL2, were significantly downregulated in therapy administered PitNET tissue; this finding was supported by functional studies in GH3 cells. Protein–protein interactions and pathway analyses revealed extracellular matrix involvement in the antiproliferative effects of this type of the drug treatment, with pronounced alterations in collagen regulation. Here, we have demonstrated that somatotropinomas can be distinguished based on their transcriptional profiles following SSA/DA therapy, and SSA/DA treatment does indeed cause changes in gene expression. Treatment with SSA/DA significantly downregulated several factors involved in tumorigenesis, including MUC16, MACC1, and GRHL2. Genes that were upregulated, however, did not have a direct influence on antiproliferative function in the PitNET cells. These findings suggested that SSA/DA treatment acted in a tumor suppressive manner and furthermore, collagen related interactions and pathways were enriched, implicating extracellular matrix involvement in this anti-tumor effect of drug treatment.

Charactering tumor microenvironment reveals stromal-related transcription factors promote tumor carcinogenesis in gastric cancer

Transcription factors represent the crucial role of controlling gene transcription in cancer development and progression. However, their functions in gastric cancer have not been thoroughly characterized. For this study, we comprehensively evaluated the correlation between infiltration patterns of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells and TFs expression in the cohort of stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) from TCGA database. We integrally explored differential expression panel and prognostic value of candidate TFs in TCGA‐STAD cohort. Notably, we found a key transcription factor named HEYL, which its expression level was correlated with stromal component transformation of TME. HEYL was regularly high expressed in gastric cancer and correlated with patients’ poor prognosis. Knockdown of HEYL prominently abrogated the tendency of cell proliferation, migration, and progression in gastric cancer. Consistently, overexpression of HEYL strikingly accelerated the gastric carcinoma development through activating oncogenic signaling pathways and transcriptional activation of cadherin 11 (CDH11). Our findings not only identified the close relationship between TFs and TME phenotype, but also emphasized the crucial importance of TFs, especially HEYL, which could be identified as a candidate biomarker to evaluate prognostic risk and therapeutic effect in gastric cancer.

Effects of MACC1 polymorphisms on hepatocellular carcinoma development and clinical characteristics

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major malignancy of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) was suggested as a marker for vascular invasive HCC. This study investigated the MACC1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to evaluate HCC susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied to analyze five SNPs of MACC1 rs1990172, rs975263, rs3095007, rs4721888, and rs3735615 in 378 patients with HCC and 1199 cancer-free controls. The results showed that in 151 HCC patients among smokers who carried MACC1 rs1990172 "CA + AA" variants had a lower risk of developing a large tumor (odds ratio [OR] = 0.375, p = 0.026), more advanced clinical stage ([OR] = 0.390, p=0.032), and vascular invasion ([OR] = 0.198, p = 0.034). In 137 HCC patients among drinkers who carried MACC1 rs4721888 "GC + CC" variants had a higher risk to develop vascular invasion ([OR] = 3.780, p = 0.009). Further analyses revealed a statistical significance of aberrant AST/ALT ratio in HCC patients with MACC1 rs975263 "AG+GG" variants before adjustment of age and alcohol drinking. In conclusion, our results suggested that the MACC1 SNPs rs1990172, rs4721888, and rs975263 are involved in HCC progression and clinical characteristics. MACC1 polymorphisms may serve as a marker or a predictor to evaluate HCC progression and prognosis.

miR-205-5p suppresses pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by targeting MICAL2-mediated Erk1/2 signaling

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating and fatal vascular disease for which currently there is no satisfying therapy available. Excessive cell proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) contributes significantly to PAH pathogenesis. In this study, we found that miR-205-5p was lowly expressed in hypoxia-induced PAH mouse model and hypoxia-treated PASMCs. Restoration of miR-205-5p suppressed PASMCs proliferation. In contrast, molecule interacting with CasL 2 (MICAL2) was highly expressed in hypoxia-induced PAH mouse model and hypoxia-treated PASMCs. Overexpression of MICAL2 promoted cell proliferation. Furthermore, miR-205-5p inhibited MICAL2 expression levels by targeting the MICAL2 3' untranslated region. In addition, MICAL2 activated ERK1/2 signaling in PASMCs and ERK1/2 inhibitor blocked MICAL2-mediated-promotion effect on PASMCs proliferation. These results demonstrated that miR-205-5p suppressed PASMCs proliferation by targeting MICAL2, which activated ERK1/2 signaling. Therefore, miR-205-5p/MICAL2/Erk1/2 may serve as an ideal therapeutic target to PAH treatment.

MACC1-the first decade of a key metastasis molecule from gene discovery to clinical translation

Deciphering the paths to metastasis and identifying key molecules driving this process is one important issue for understanding and treatment of cancer. Such a key driver molecule is Metastasis Associated in Colon Cancer 1 (MACC1). A decade long research on this evolutionarily conserved molecule with features of a transcription factor as well as an adapter protein for versatile protein-protein interactions has shown that it has manifold properties driving tumors to their metastatic stage. MACC1 transcriptionally regulates genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including those which are able to directly induce metastasis like c-MET, impacts tumor cell migration and invasion, and induces metastasis in solid cancers. MACC1 has proven as a valuable biomarker for prognosis of metastasis formation linked to patient survival and gives promise to also act as a predictive marker for individualized therapies in a broad variety of cancers. This review discusses the many features of MACC1 in the context of the hallmarks of cancer and the potential of this molecule as biomarker and novel therapeutic target for restriction and prevention of metastasis.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 in gastric cancer: A meta-analysis

Background:

The gene metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) has been reported to be overexpressed in diverse human malignancies, and an increasing amount of evidence suggests that its overexpression is associated with the development and progression of many human tumors. However, the prognostic and clinicopathological value of MACC1 in gastric cancer remains inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the effect of positive MACC1 expression on clinicopathological features and survival outcomes in gastric cancer.

Methods:

Medline, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant articles published up to 10 April 2018. The correlation of MACC1 expression levels with overall survival and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

Results:

In this meta-analysis, nine studies with a total of 2103 gastric cancer patients were included. Our results showed that high expression of MACC1 was significantly related to a poor overall survival. Moreover, our meta-analysis showed that MACC1 overexpression was significantly linked to distant metastasis and vascular invasion. There were no significant correlations between positive MACC1 expression and gender, localization, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor extent (T stage) and lymph node involvement (N stage)

Conclusions:

MACC1 expression levels can serve as a novel prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients.

MACC1 promotes angiogenesis in cholangiocarcinoma by upregulating VEGFA

Purpose

Angiogenesis actively contributes to tumor growth and metastasis. MACC1 was reported to be associated with tumor progression. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression and role of MACC1 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and its correlation with angiogenesis.

Patients and methods

We investigated the expression and correlation of MACC1 and VEGFA in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and in 7 paired frozen CCA and matched paracarcinoma tissues. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine MACC1 and VEGFA expression as well as microvessel density (MVD) in 122 paraffin-embedded CCA samples. Western blotting, real-time qPCR and ELISA were performed to investigate the effect of MACC1 knockdown on VEGFA expression and secretion in CCA cells. Subsequently, we collected conditioned medium from cells with MACC1 knockdown and used it in angiogenesis assays.

Results

The expression levels of both MACC1 and VEGFA were significantly upregulated in the TCGA and GEO datasets and in the 7 paired frozen CCA tissues compared to the matched paracarcinoma tissues, and MACC1 was significantly correlated with VEGFA. IHC showed that high expression of MACC1 and VEGFA was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05 and P<0.01) and worse survival (P<0.01, P<0.05) in patients with CCA. We further verified that MACC1 was significantly correlated with VEGFA (P<0.01) and MVD (P<0.01) in clinical samples. Western blotting, real-time qPCR and ELISA results showed that MACC1 knockdown in CCA cells significantly decreased the protein and mRNA expression of VEGFA and reduced the VEGFA concentration in conditioned medium. Moreover, angiogenesis assays showed that conditioned medium from CCA cells with MACC1 knockdown decreased the number of tubes formed.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that MACC1 and VEGFA expression are upregulated in CCA. Moreover, MACC1 is an independent predictor of overall survival and facilitates angiogenesis in CCA by upregulating of VEGFA.

JQ1 effectively inhibits vasculogenic mimicry of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells via the ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an alternative type of blood and nutrition supply that is associated with more aggressive tumor biology and increased cancer-related mortality. However, the clinical implications of VM remain unclear in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of VM in PDAC patients and to seek a novel and more efficient treatment strategy by targeting this unique process. Here, cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34)/periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) double-staining of 76 PDAC clinical specimens revealed that VM expression was related to clinical stage (P=0.049) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.023). Notably, VM expression was correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with PDAC. Additionally, we discovered that there was a positive correlation between the expressions of VM and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) in 76 clinical samples (P<0.001). Moreover, our results further indicated that treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor SCH772984 effectively blocked VM formation by repressing the production of p-ERK1/2-MMP-2/9, which have been established as classical markers of VM. Further, JQ1, a bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor, also exerted significant inhibitory efficiency against VM formation by decreasing the activation of ERK1/2-MMP-2/9. In conclusion, our work suggests that VM is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with PDAC and that JQ1 can inhibit VM formation via the ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway.

Significance of plasma MACC1 levels on the prognostic stratification in patients with colorectal cancer

The clinical significance of metastasis‐associated in colon cancer‐1 (MACC1) has been investigated but the relevance of peripheral MACC1 levels was rather limited. Herein, our data revealed that plasma MACC1 levels in 117 colorectal cancer patients (CRC) were dramatically higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.001), and with a strong discrimination power between the two groups (AUC = 0.960, P < 0.001). Moreover, MACC1 is an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients. When clinical parameters stratified by MACC1_low and MACC1_high, MACC1 levels exhibited further significant predictive value. Summary, plasma MACC1 levels could be a useful prognostic and diagnostic biomarker, and could improve the prognostic value of traditional prognosticators for colorectal cancer patients.

The clinical significance of CD133, MACC1, and KAI1 expression in sebaceous gland carcinoma of the eyelid

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

CD133, which is considered a useful biomarker for the prediction of metastasis and prognosis for various cancers, is a biomarker of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) has been considered an oncogene that promotes invasion and metastasis in many solid tumors. KAI1 is a suppressor gene of metastasis and is also considered a valuable biomarker for the prediction of tumor invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of CD133, MACC1, and KAI1 in sebaceous gland carcinoma of the eyelid (SGCE) and to analyze their respective associations with clinicopathologic characteristics and survival in SGCE.

METHODS

Positive expression of CD133, MACC1, and KAI1 in 77 whole SGCE tissues and the corresponding normal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Patient demographics, clinical data, and follow-up data were collected.

RESULTS

The positive expression of CD133 and MACC1 was significantly higher and KAI1 significantly lower in SGCE tissues compared to the control tissues. The Positive expression of CD133 and MACC1 was positively associated with local invasion, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and TNM stages. KAI1 expression was inversely associated with tumor grade, local invasion, LNM, and TNM stages. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that CD133+ or MACC1+ patients had a significantly lower overall survival (OS) time when compared with CD133- or MACC1- patients. And KAI1+ patients had a significantly longer OS time compared with KAI1- patients. Multivariate analysis showed that positive expression of CD133, MACC1, and KAI1, as well as the TNM stages were independent prognostic factors in SGCE patients.

CONCLUSION

The expression of CD133, MACC1, and KAI1 should be considered promising biomarkers for invasion, metastasis, and prognosis, as well as potential therapeutic targets for SGCE.

The lncRNA MACC1-AS1 promotes gastric cancer cell metabolic plasticity via AMPK/Lin28 mediated mRNA stability of MACC1

Background

Metabolic plasticity has been increasingly thought to be a determinant of tumor growth and metastasis. MACC1, a transcriptional regulator of MET, was recognized as an oncogene in gastric cancer (GC); however, its transcriptional or post-translational regulation was not clear. We previously reported the metabolic role of MACC1 in glycolysis to promote GC progression. MACC1-AS1 is the antisense lncRNA of MACC1, yet its function was previously unknown.

Methods

We profiled and analyzed the expression of MACC1-AS1 utilizing the TCGA database as well as in situ hybridization using 123 pairs of GC tissues and matched adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues (ANTs). The biological role of MACC1-AS1 in cell growth and metastasis was determined by performing in vitro and in vivo functional experiments. Glycolysis and antioxidant capabilities were assayed to examine its metabolic function. Further, the specific regulatory effect of MACC1-AS1 on MACC1 was explored transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally.

Results

MACC1-AS1 was shown to be expressed significantly higher in GC tissues than in ANTs, which predicted poor prognosis in GC patients. MACC1-AS1 promoted GC cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis under metabolic stress. Mechanistically, MACC1-AS1 stabilized MACC1 mRNA and post-transcriptionally augmented MACC1 expression. Further, MACC1-AS1 was shown to mediate metabolic plasticity through MACC1 upregulation and subsequent enhanced glycolysis and anti-oxidative capabilities, and this was suggested to be coordinated by the AMPK/Lin28 pathway.

Conclusions

Elevated expression of MACC1-AS1 in gastric cancer tissues is linked to poor prognosis and promotes malignant phenotype upon cancer cells. MACC1-AS1 is elevated under metabolic stress and facilitates metabolic plasticity by promoting MACC1 expression through mRNA stabilization. Our study implicates lncRNA MACC1-AS1 as a valuable biomarker for GC diagnosis and prognosis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12943-018-0820-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Id-1 promotes migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells through activating NF-κB signaling pathway

Background

Numerous studies have shown that Id-1 (Inhibitor of differentiation 1) is upregulated in several cancers and associated with tumor malignant characters. However, the clinical significance and biological role of Id-1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

Methods

We used RT-PCR, Western blot and Immunohistochemistry to measure Id-1 expression in NSCLC tissues and matched adjacent noncancerous tissues. The expression pattern of Id-1 in NSCLC tissues was determined by scoring system of immunohistochemical analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival curve, and log-rank test to determine statistical significance. The Id-1 gene was overexpressed or downreuglated with Lentiviral vectors in NSCLC cells. And, the migration ability of NSCLC cells was tested in a Transwell Boyden Chamber.

Results

We found that Id-1 is generally expressed higher in NSCLC tissues compared with matched adjacent noncancerous tissues. We also found that high Id-1 expression in tumor tissues is significantly correlated with tumor progression and poor survival in NSCLC patients. Furthermore, our experimental data revealed that knockdown of Id-1 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, whereas ectopic expression of Id-1 promoted the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells. Mechanistic study showed that NF-κB signaling pathway contributed to the effects of Id-1 in NSCLC cells. Moreover, blocking the NF-κB pathway significantly inhibited the tumor-promoting actions of Id-1 in NSCLC cells.

Conclusions

We identified a tumorigenic role of Id-1 in NSCLC and provided a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.

MACC1 regulatory network in tumor metastasis

The MACC1 gene was firstly identified in colorectal cancer. Recently, abnormal upregulation of MACC1 has been detected in multiple tumors. The expression of MACC1 is shown to be positively associated with tumor metastasis, but negatively with prognosis of patients, and it represents a potential therapeutic target for anti-tumor strategies. MACC1 has increasingly emerged as a key regulator in metastatic processes, and it has been identified to be able to maintain multiple tumor-associated signaling pathways, transactivate oncogenic genes, and regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor vascularization. On the other hand, MACC1 is regulated and influenced by non-coding RNAs and SNPs. The present review will summarize the recent progress in understanding the role of the MACC1 regulatory network in tumor metastasis.