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Buonvino S, Arciero I, Martinelli E, Seliktar D, Melino S. Modelling the disease: H 2S-sensitivity and drug-resistance of triple negative breast cancer cells can be modulated by embedding in isotropic micro-environment. Mater Today Bio 2023; 23:100862. [PMID: 38046276 PMCID: PMC10689286 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100862] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems provide more physiologically relevant information, representing more accurately the actual microenvironment where cells reside in tissues. However, the differences between the tissue culture plate (TCP) and 3D culture systems in terms of tumour cell growth, proliferation, migration, differentiation and response to the treatment have not been fully elucidated. Tumoroid microspheres containing the MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cell line were prepared using either tunable PEG-fibrinogen (PFs) or tunable PEG-silk fibroin (PSFs) hydrogels, respectively named MDAPFs and MDAPSFs. The cancer cells in the tumoroids showed changes both in globular morphology and at the protein expression level. A decrease of both Histone H3 acetylation and cyclin D1 expression in all 3D systems, compared to the 2D cell culture, was detected in parallel to changes of the matrix stiffness. The effects of a glutathionylated garlic extract (GSGa), a slow H2S-releasing donor, were investigated on both tumoroid systems. A pro-apoptotic effect of GSGa on tumour cell growth in 2D culture was observed as opposed to a pro-proliferative effect apparent in both MDAPFs and MDAPSFs. A dedicated ad hoc 3D cell migration chip was designed and optimized for studying tumour cell invasion in a gel-in-gel configuration. An anti-cell-invasion effect of the GSGa was observed in the 2D cell culture, whereas a pro-migratory effect in both MDAPFs and MDAPSFs was observed in the 3D cell migration chip assay. An increase of cyclin D1 expression after GSGa treatment was observed in agreement with an increase of the cell invasion index. Our results suggest that the "dimensionality" and the stiffness of the 3D cell culture milieu can change the response to both the gasotransmitter H2S and doxorubicin due to differences in both H2S diffusion and changes in protein expression. Moreover, we uncovered a direct relation between the cyclin D1 expression and the stiffness of the 3D cell culture milieu, suggesting the potential causal involvement of the cyclin D1 as a bio-marker for sensitivity of the tumour cells to their matrix stiffness. Therefore, our hydrogel-based tumoroids represent a valid tunable model for studying the physically induced transdifferentiation (PiT) of cancer cells and as a more reliable and predictive in vitro screening platform to investigate the effects of anti-tumour drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Buonvino
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Arciero
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Martinelli
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Studies on Lab-on -Chip and Organ-on-Chip Applications, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Dror Seliktar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sonia Melino
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
- NAST Centre, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy
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Sun Q, Cheng L, Meng A, Ge S, Chen J, Zhang L, Gong P. SADLN: Self-attention based deep learning network of integrating multi-omics data for cancer subtype recognition. Front Genet 2023; 13:1032768. [PMID: 36685873 PMCID: PMC9846505 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1032768] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrating multi-omics data for cancer subtype recognition is an important task in bioinformatics. Recently, deep learning has been applied to recognize the subtype of cancers. However, existing studies almost integrate the multi-omics data simply by concatenation as the single data and then learn a latent low-dimensional representation through a deep learning model, which did not consider the distribution differently of omics data. Moreover, these methods ignore the relationship of samples. To tackle these problems, we proposed SADLN: A self-attention based deep learning network of integrating multi-omics data for cancer subtype recognition. SADLN combined encoder, self-attention, decoder, and discriminator into a unified framework, which can not only integrate multi-omics data but also adaptively model the sample's relationship for learning an accurately latent low-dimensional representation. With the integrated representation learned from the network, SADLN used Gaussian Mixture Model to identify cancer subtypes. Experiments on ten cancer datasets of TCGA demonstrated the advantages of SADLN compared to ten methods. The Self-Attention Based Deep Learning Network (SADLN) is an effective method of integrating multi-omics data for cancer subtype recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuwen Sun
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ao Meng
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Shuguang Ge
- School of Information and Control Engineering, University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Longzhen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ping Gong
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China,*Correspondence: Ping Gong,
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Miao Y, Mu L, Chen Y, Tang X, Wang J, Quan W, Mi D. Construction and Validation of a Protein-associated Prognostic Model for Gastrointestinal Cancer. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2023; 26:191-206. [PMID: 35430986 DOI: 10.2174/1386207325666220414105743] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) is a prevalent and lethal malignant tumor. It is obligatory to investigate innovative biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis. Proteins play a crucial role in regulating the occurrence and progression of GIC. However, the prognostic value of proteins is unclear in GIC. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to identify the hub prognosis-related proteins (PAPs) and construct a prognosis model for GIC patients for clinical application. METHODS Protein expression data of GIC was obtained from The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA) and downloaded the clinicopathological data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). Besides, hub proteins were filtrated via univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Moreover, survival analysis and nomogram were used to predict overall survival (OS). We used the calibration curves to assess the consistency of predictive and actual survival rates. The consistency index (C-index) was used to evaluate the prognostic ability of the predictive model. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis and protein co-expression of PAPs were used to explore their roles in GIC. RESULTS Finally, a prognosis model was conducted based on ten PAPs (CYCLIND1, DVL3, NCADHERIN, SYK, ANNEXIN VII, CD20, CMET, RB, TFRC, and PREX1). The risk score calculated by the model was an independent prognostic predictor. Compared with the high-risk subgroup, the low-risk subgroup had better OS. In the TCGA cohort, the area under the curve value of the receiver operating characteristic curve of the prognostic model was 0.692. The expression of proteins and risk score had a significant association with the clinicopathological characteristics of GIC. Besides, a nomogram based on GIC clinicopathological features and risk scores could properly predict the OS of individual GIC patients. The C-index is 0.71 in the TCGA cohort and 0.73 in the GEO cohort. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the risk score is an independent prognostic biomarker and is related to the malignant clinical features of GIC patients. Besides, several PAPs associated with the survival and clinicopathological characteristics of GIC might be potential biomarkers for GIC diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Miao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, 730000, China
- Gansu Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Linjie Mu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, 730000, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Yonggang Chen
- The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, 730000, China
| | - Jiangtao Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, 730000, China
| | - Wuxia Quan
- Qingyang People's Hospital, Qingyang City, Gansu Province, P.R. China
| | - Denghai Mi
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, 730000, China
- Gansu Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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4
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Cholesterol Synthesis Is Important for Breast Cancer Cell Tumor Sphere Formation and Invasion. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081908. [PMID: 36009455 PMCID: PMC9405659 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has a high risk of recurrence and distant metastasis after remission. Controlling distant metastasis is important for reducing breast cancer mortality, but accomplishing this goal remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the molecular pathways underlying metastasis using cells that mimic the breast cancer distant metastasis process. HCC1143 breast cancer cells were cultured under two-dimensional (2D)-adherent, tumor sphere (TS), and reattached (ReA) culture conditions to mimic primary tumors, circulating tumor cells, and metastasized tumors, respectively. ReA cells demonstrated increased TS formation and enhanced invasion capacity compared to the original 2D-cultured parental cells. In addition, ReA cells had a higher frequency of ESA+CD44+CD24− population, which represents a stem-cell-like cell population. RNA sequencing identified the cholesterol synthesis pathway as one of the most significantly increased pathways in TS and ReA cells compared to parental cells, which was verified by measuring intracellular cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of the cholesterol synthesis pathway decreased the ability of cancer cells to form TSs and invade. Our results suggest that the cholesterol synthesis pathway plays an important role in the distant metastasis of breast cancer cells by augmenting TS formation and invasion capacity.
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Mehmood S, Faheem M, Ismail H, Farhat SM, Ali M, Younis S, Asghar MN. ‘Breast Cancer Resistance Likelihood and Personalized Treatment Through Integrated Multiomics’. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:783494. [PMID: 35495618 PMCID: PMC9048735 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.783494] [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: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent times, enormous progress has been made in improving the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for breast carcinoma, yet it remains the most prevalent cancer and second highest contributor to cancer-related deaths in women. Breast cancer (BC) affects one in eight females globally. In 2018 alone, 1.4 million cases were identified worldwide in postmenopausal women and 645,000 cases in premenopausal females, and this burden is constantly increasing. This shows that still a lot of efforts are required to discover therapeutic remedies for this disease. One of the major clinical complications associated with the treatment of breast carcinoma is the development of therapeutic resistance. Multidrug resistance (MDR) and consequent relapse on therapy are prevalent issues related to breast carcinoma; it is due to our incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms of breast carcinoma disease. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in drug resistance is critical. For management of breast carcinoma, the treatment decision not only depends on the assessment of prognosis factors but also on the evaluation of pathological and clinical factors. Integrated data assessments of these multiple factors of breast carcinoma through multiomics can provide significant insight and hope for making therapeutic decisions. This omics approach is particularly helpful since it identifies the biomarkers of disease progression and treatment progress by collective characterization and quantification of pools of biological molecules within and among the cancerous cells. The scrupulous understanding of cancer and its treatment at the molecular level led to the concept of a personalized approach, which is one of the most significant advancements in modern oncology. Likewise, there are certain genetic and non-genetic tests available for BC which can help in personalized therapy. Genetically inherited risks can be screened for personal predisposition to BC, and genetic changes or variations (mutations) can also be identified to decide on the best treatment. Ultimately, further understanding of BC at the molecular level (multiomics) will define more precise choices in personalized medicine. In this review, we have summarized therapeutic resistance associated with BC and the techniques used for its management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabba Mehmood
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Sabba Mehmood, ; Muhammad Nadeem Asghar,
| | - Muhammad Faheem
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Hammad Ismail
- Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Syeda Mehpara Farhat
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Mahwish Ali
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Sidra Younis
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Asghar
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Québec at Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivieres, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sabba Mehmood, ; Muhammad Nadeem Asghar,
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6
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Gwili N, Jones SJ, Amri WA, Carr IM, Harris S, Hogan BV, Hughes WE, Kim B, Langlands FE, Millican-Slater RA, Pramanik A, Thorne JL, Verghese ET, Wells G, Hamza M, Younis L, El Deeb NMF, Hughes TA. Transcriptome profiles of stem-like cells from primary breast cancers allow identification of ITGA7 as a predictive marker of chemotherapy response. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:983-993. [PMID: 34253873 PMCID: PMC8476506 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01484-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are drivers of therapy-resistance, therefore are responsible for poor survival. Molecular signatures of BCSCs from primary cancers remain undefined. Here, we identify the consistent transcriptome of primary BCSCs shared across breast cancer subtypes, and we examine the clinical relevance of ITGA7, one of the genes differentially expressed in BCSCs. METHODS Primary BCSCs were assessed using immunohistochemistry and fluorescently labelled using Aldefluor (n = 17). Transcriptomes of fluorescently sorted BCSCs and matched non-stem cancer cells were determined using RNA-seq (n = 6). ITGA7 expression was examined in breast cancers using immunohistochemistry (n = 305), and its functional role was tested using siRNA in breast cancer cells. RESULTS Proportions of BCSCs varied from 0 to 9.4%. 38 genes were significantly differentially expressed in BCSCs; genes were enriched for functions in vessel morphogenesis, motility, and metabolism. ITGA7 was found to be significantly downregulated in BCSCs, and low expression significantly correlated with reduced survival in patients treated with chemotherapy, and with chemoresistance in breast cancer cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to define the molecular profile of BCSCs from a range of primary breast cancers. ITGA7 acts as a predictive marker for chemotherapy response, in accordance with its downregulation in BCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha Gwili
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK ,grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Stacey J. Jones
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK ,grid.415967.80000 0000 9965 1030Department of Breast Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Waleed Al Amri
- grid.416132.30000 0004 1772 5665Department of Histopathology and Cytopathology, The Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Ian M. Carr
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sarah Harris
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Brian V. Hogan
- grid.415967.80000 0000 9965 1030Department of Breast Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - William E. Hughes
- grid.414235.50000 0004 0619 2154Children’s Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432St. Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Baek Kim
- grid.415967.80000 0000 9965 1030Department of Breast Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Fiona E. Langlands
- Department of Breast Surgery, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford, UK
| | | | - Arindam Pramanik
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - James L. Thorne
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Eldo T. Verghese
- grid.443984.6Department of Histopathology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Geoff Wells
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mervat Hamza
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Layla Younis
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Nevine M. F. El Deeb
- grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Thomas A. Hughes
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Han YS, Yi EY, Jegal ME, Kim YJ. Cancer Stem-Like Phenotype of Mitochondria Dysfunctional Hep3B Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line. Cells 2021; 10:1608. [PMID: 34198967 PMCID: PMC8307994 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are major organelles that play various roles in cells, and mitochondrial dysfunction is the main cause of numerous diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction also occurs in many cancer cells, and these changes are known to affect malignancy. The mitochondria of normal embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exist in an undifferentiated state and do not function properly. We hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cells caused by the depletion of mitochondrial DNA might be similar to the mitochondrial state of ESCs. We generated mitochondria dysfunctional (ρ0) cells from the Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and tested whether these ρ0 cells show cancer stem-like properties, such as self-renewal, chemotherapy resistance, and angiogenesis. Compared with Hep3B cells, the characteristics of each cancer stem-like cell were increased in Hep3B/ρ0 cells. The Hep3B/ρ0 cells formed a continuous and large sphere from a single cell. Additionally, the Hep3B/ρ0 cells showed resistance to the anticancer drug doxorubicin because of the increased expression of ATP-binding cassette Subfamily B Member 1. The Hep3B/ρ0 conditioned medium induced more and thicker blood vessels and increased the mobility and invasiveness of the blood vessel cells. Therefore, our data suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction can transform cancer cells into cancer stem-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Seon Han
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (Y.-S.H.); (E.-Y.Y.); (M.-E.J.)
| | - Eui-Yeun Yi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (Y.-S.H.); (E.-Y.Y.); (M.-E.J.)
| | - Myeong-Eun Jegal
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (Y.-S.H.); (E.-Y.Y.); (M.-E.J.)
| | - Yung-Jin Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (Y.-S.H.); (E.-Y.Y.); (M.-E.J.)
- Korea Nanobiotechnology Center, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
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Yoshida GJ, Saya H. Molecular pathology underlying the robustness of cancer stem cells. Regen Ther 2021; 17:38-50. [PMID: 33869685 PMCID: PMC8024885 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral heterogeneity is tightly associated with the failure of anticancer treatment modalities including conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and molecularly targeted therapy. Such heterogeneity is generated in an evolutionary manner not only as a result of genetic alterations but also by the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are proposed to exist at the top of a tumor cell hierarchy and are undifferentiated tumor cells that manifest enhanced tumorigenic and metastatic potential, self-renewal capacity, and therapeutic resistance. Properties that contribute to the robustness of CSCs include the abilities to withstand redox stress, to rapidly repair damaged DNA, to adapt to a hyperinflammatory or hyponutritious tumor microenvironment, and to expel anticancer drugs by the action of ATP-binding cassette transporters as well as plasticity with regard to the transition between dormant CSC and transit-amplifying progenitor cell phenotypes. In addition, CSCs manifest the phenomenon of metabolic reprogramming, which is essential for maintenance of their self-renewal potential and their ability to adapt to changes in the tumor microenvironment. Elucidation of the molecular underpinnings of these biological features of CSCs is key to the development of novel anticancer therapies. In this review, we highlight the pathological relevance of CSCs in terms of their hallmarks and identification, the properties of their niche—both in primary tumors and at potential sites of metastasis—and their resistance to oxidative stress dependent on system xc (−). Intratumoral heterogeneity driven by CSCs is responsible for therapeutic resistance. CTCs survive in the distant organs and achieve colonization, causing metastasis. E/M hybrid cancer cells due to partial EMT exhibit the highest metastatic potential. The CSC niche regulates stemness in metastatic disease as well as in primary tumor. Activation of system xc(-) by CD44 variant in CSCs is a promising therapeutic target.
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Key Words
- ABC, ATP-binding cassette
- ALDH, Aldehyde dehydrogenase
- BMP, Bone morphogenetic protein
- CAF, Cancer-associated fibroblast
- CD44 variant
- CD44v, CD44 variant
- CSC, Cancer stem cell
- CTC, Circulating tumor cell
- CagA, Cytotoxin-associated gene A
- Cancer stem cell
- DTC, Disseminated tumor cell
- E/M, Epithelial/mesenchymal
- ECM, Extracellular matrix
- EGF, Epidermal growth factor
- EMT, Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
- EpCAM, Epithelial cell adhesion moleculeE
- Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
- GSC, Glioma stem cell
- GSH, reduced glutathione
- HGF, Hepatocyte growth factor
- HNSCC, Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- IL, Interleukin
- Intratumoral heterogeneity
- MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MET, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition
- NSCLC, non–small cell lung cancer
- Niche
- Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2
- OXPHOS, Oxidative phosphorylation
- Plasticity
- Prrx1, Paired-related homeodomain transcription factor 1
- ROS, Reactive oxygen species
- SRP1, Epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1
- TGF-β, Transforming growth factor–β
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Affiliation(s)
- Go J Yoshida
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research (IAMR), Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Saya
- Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research (IAMR), Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Aramini B, Masciale V, Grisendi G, Banchelli F, D'Amico R, Maiorana A, Morandi U, Dominici M, Haider KH. Cancer stem cells and macrophages: molecular connections and future perspectives against cancer. Oncotarget 2021; 12:230-250. [PMID: 33613850 PMCID: PMC7869576 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been considered the key drivers of cancer initiation and progression due to their unlimited self-renewal capacity and their ability to induce tumor formation. Macrophages, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), establish a tumor microenvironment to protect and induce CSCs development and dissemination. Many studies in the past decade have been performed to understand the molecular mediators of CSCs and TAMs, and several studies have elucidated the complex crosstalk that occurs between these two cell types. The aim of this review is to define the complex crosstalk between these two cell types and to highlight potential future anti-cancer strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Aramini
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valentina Masciale
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Grisendi
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Banchelli
- Center of Statistic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Roberto D'Amico
- Center of Statistic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonino Maiorana
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Uliano Morandi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Kharkar PS. Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Inhibitors in Oncology-A Promise for a Better Therapeutic Outcome: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15279-15307. [PMID: 33325699 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of cancer cells endowed with self-renewal, tumorigenicity, pluripotency, chemoresistance, differentiation, invasive ability, and plasticity, reside in specialized tumor niches and are responsible for tumor maintenance, metastasis, therapy resistance, and tumor relapse. The new-age "hierarchical or CSC" model of tumor heterogeneity is based on the concept of eradicating CSCs to prevent tumor relapse and therapy resistance. Small-molecular entities and biologics acting on various stemness signaling pathways, surface markers, efflux transporters, or components of complex tumor microenvironment are under intense investigation as potential anti-CSC agents. In addition, smart nanotherapeutic tools have proved their utility in achieving CSC targeting. Several CSC inhibitors in clinical development have shown promise, either as mono- or combination therapy, in refractory and difficult-to-treat cancers. Clinical investigations with CSC marker follow-up as a measure of clinical efficacy are needed to turn the "hype" into the "hope" these new-age oncology therapeutics have to offer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant S Kharkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019, India
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Hussein D, Dallol A, Quintas R, Schulten HJ, Alomari M, Baeesa S, Bangash M, Alghamdi F, Khan I, ElAssouli MZM, Saka M, Carracedo A, Chaudhary A, Abuzenadah A. Overlapping variants in the blood, tissues and cell lines for patients with intracranial meningiomas are predominant in stem cell-related genes. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05632. [PMID: 33305042 PMCID: PMC7710648 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05632] [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: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Bulk tissue genomic analysis of meningiomas identified common somatic mutations, however, it often excluded blood-related variants. In contrast, genomic characterisation of primary cell lines that can provide critical information regarding growth and proliferation, have been rare. In our work, we identified the variants that are present in the blood, tissues and corresponding cell lines that are likely to be predictive, tumorigenic and progressive. METHOD Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify variants and distinguish related pathways that exist in 42 blood, tissues and corresponding cell lines (BTCs) samples for patients with intracranial meningiomas. Conventional sequencing was used for the confirmation of variants. Integrative analysis of the gene expression for the corresponding samples was utilised for further interpretations. RESULTS In total, 926 BTC variants were detected, implicating 845 genes. A pathway analysis of all BTC genes with damaging variants indicated the 'cell morphogenesis involved in differentiation' stem cell-related pathway to be the most frequently affected pathway. Concordantly, five stem cell-related genes, GPRIN2, ALDH3B2, ASPN, THSD7A and SIGLEC6, showed BTC variants in at least five of the patients. Variants that were heterozygous in the blood and homozygous in the tissues or the corresponding cell lines were rare (average: 1.3 ± 0.3%), and included variants in the RUNX2 and CCDC114 genes. An analysis comparing the variants detected only in tumours with aggressive features indicated a total of 240 BTC genes, implicating the 'homophilic cell adhesion via plasma membrane adhesion molecules' pathway, and identifying the stem cell-related transcription coactivator NCOA3/AIB1/SRC3 as the most frequent BTC gene. Further analysis of the possible impact of the poly-Q mutation present in the NCOA3 gene indicated associated deregulation of 15 genes, including the up-regulation of the stem cell related SEMA3D gene and the angiogenesis related VEGFA gene. CONCLUSION Stem cell-related pathways and genes showed high prevalence in the BTC variants, and novel variants in stem cell-related genes were identified for meningioma. These variants can potentially be used as predictive, tumorigenic and progressive biomarkers for meningioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deema Hussein
- Neurooncology Translational Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Dallol
- Centre of Innovation for Personalized Medicine, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rita Quintas
- Galician Foundation of Genomic Medicine-SERGAS, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Hans-Juergen Schulten
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona Alomari
- Neurooncology Translational Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Baeesa
- Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Bangash
- Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Alghamdi
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ishaq Khan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar 25100, Pakistan
| | - M-Zaki Mustafa ElAssouli
- Neurooncology Translational Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamad Saka
- Neurooncology Translational Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Angel Carracedo
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Galician Foundation of Genomic Medicine-SERGAS, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Adeel Chaudhary
- Neurooncology Translational Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Innovation for Personalized Medicine, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel Abuzenadah
- Neurooncology Translational Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Innovation for Personalized Medicine, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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