Proteomic analysis indicates the importance of TPM3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis

Identification and validation of protein biomarkers for predicting gastrointestinal stromal tumor recurrence

We conducted a proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry to identify and validate protein biomarkers for accurately predicting recurrence risk in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) patients, focusing on differentially expressed proteins in metastatic versus primary GIST tissues. We selected five biomarkers-GPX4, RBM4, TPM3, PFKFB2, and PGAM5-and validated their expressions in primary tumors of recurrent and non-recurrent GIST patients via immunohistochemistry. Our analysis of the association between these biomarkers with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), along with their interrelationships, revealed that immunohistochemistry confirmed significantly higher expressions of these biomarkers in primary GIST tissues of recurrent patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that high expressions of GPX4, RBM4, TPM3, PFKFB2, and PGAM5 correlated with lower RFS, and GPX4 and RBM4 with lower OS. All biomarker pairs showed positive associations, with high expressions correlating with increased recurrence rates, and GPX4 and RBM4 with higher mortality rates. In conclusion, the biomarkers GPX4, RBM4, TPM3, PFKFB2, and PGAM5 are clinically relevant for predicting GIST recurrence, with their high expressions in primary tumors linked to poorer RFS and OS. They serve as potential prognostic indicators, enabling early treatment and improved outcomes. The observed interrelationships among these biomarkers further validate their accuracy in predicting GIST recurrence.

Revealing the oncogenic role of elevated GNL3L expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights into the STAT3 pathway

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients carries a poor prognosis, with limited effective therapeutic targets. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of guanine nucleotide-binding protein like 3-like (GNL3L) protein expression in ESCC and its role in malignant progression.

Methods

GNL3L expression and associated cancer-promoting pathways in ESCC were interrogated via bioinformatics analysis through use of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequent verification of GNL3L protein expression in ESCC, coupled with clinical data, was conducted through immunohistochemistry and followed by a comprehensive prognostic analysis. We further investigated potential signaling pathways facilitating ESCC progression, employing a combination of bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical (IHC) experiments.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis unveiled a significant elevation in GNL3L expression, particularly in gastrointestinal tumors and ESCC. Immunohistochemistry confirmed elevated GNL3L expression in ESCC tissues. Regression analysis established a correlation between elevated GNL3L expression and advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, with high expression associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. Our integrated approach of bioinformatics and IHC analysis indicated a potential role of the signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in ESCC progression.

Conclusions

High GNL3L expression significantly contributes to the malignant progression of ESCC. This study further elucidates the mechanisms driving ESCC progression and offers possible insights for more effective diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Research Advances in the Role of the Tropomyosin Family in Cancer

Cancer is one of the most difficult diseases for human beings to overcome. Its development is closely related to a variety of factors, and its specific mechanisms have been a hot research topic in the field of scientific research. The tropomyosin family (Tpm) is a group of proteins closely related to the cytoskeleton and actin, and recent studies have shown that they play an important role in various cancers, participating in a variety of biological activities, including cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and have been used as biomarkers for various cancers. The purpose of this review is to explore the research progress of the Tpm family in tumorigenesis development, focusing on the molecular pathways associated with them and their relevant activities involved in tumors. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies on the role of Tpms in tumorigenesis and development and the activities of Tpms involved in tumors. Data from the literature suggest that the Tpm family is involved in tumor cell proliferation and growth, tumor cell invasion and migration, tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell apoptosis, and immune infiltration of the tumor microenvironment, among other correlations. It can be used as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis, follow-up, and therapeutic response of some tumors. The Tpm family is involved in cancer in a close relationship with miRNAs and LncRNAs. Tpms are involved in tumor tissue invasion and migration as a key link. On this basis, TPM is frequently used as a biomarker for various cancers. However, the specific molecular mechanism of its involvement in cancer progression has not been explained clearly, which remains an important direction for future research.

IL-1RA inhibits esophageal carcinogenesis and lymphangiogenesis via downregulating VEGF-C and MMP9

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) has been shown to play an important role in cancer progression. However, its pathogenic effects and molecular mechanism in the malignant progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain largely unknown. This study was designed to explore the function of IL-1RA in ESCC and determine the relationship between IL-1RA and lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients. The clinical relevance of IL-1RA in relation to the clinicopathological features and prognosis of 100 ESCC patients was analyzed. The function and underlying mechanisms of IL-1RA in the growth, invasion, and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC were explored both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic effect of anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, on ESCC was also evaluated in animal experiments. Downregulation of IL-1RA was observed in ESCC tissues and cells and was found to be strongly correlated with pathological stage (P = 0.034) and lymphatic metastasis (P = 0.038). Functional assays demonstrated that upregulation of IL-1RA reduced cell proliferation, migration, and lymphangiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that overexpression of IL-1RA activated the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the ESCC cells through activation of MMP9 and regulation of the expression and secretion of VEGF-C through the PI3K/NF-κB pathway. Anakinra treatment resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth, lymphangiogenesis, and metastasis. IL-1RA inhibits lymph node metastasis of ESCC by regulating the EMT through activation of matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9) and lymphangiogenesis, driven by VEGF-C and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Anakinra may be an effective drug for the inhibition of ESCC tumor formation and lymph node metastasis.

PolyC-RNA-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) enhances tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) mRNA stability to promote the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The molecular etiology of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been fully elucidated. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and finding new therapeutic targets for ESCC are of crucial importance. PolyC-RNA-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) is an RNA-binding protein. Here, we found overexpressed PCBP1 in esophageal cancer tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting analysis. PCBP1 knockdown significantly attenuated migratory and invasion abilities of ESCC cells. Mechanistically, PCBP1 bound directly to tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) mRNA, which was verified by RNA–protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. PCBP1 knockdown markedly reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of TPM3. After inhibiting intracellular mRNA synthesis with actinomycin D (ActD), it was found that PCBP1 knockdown contributed to a significant decrease in TPM3 mRNA degradation. Furthermore, PCBP1 promoted migration and invasion of EC cells by directly binding to the 3’UTR of TPM3 mRNA, increasing TPM3 mRNA stability. Taken together, PCBP1 acting as a pro-oncogenic factor enhances TPM3 mRNA stability by directly binding to the 3’UTR of TPM3 mRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of esophageal carcinogenesis, and PCBP1 is a promising therapeutic target.

Proteomic Signatures of Diffuse and Intestinal Subtypes of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of death from cancer globally. Gastric cancer is classified into intestinal, diffuse and indeterminate subtypes based on histology according to the Laurén classification. The intestinal and diffuse subtypes, although different in histology, demographics and outcomes, are still treated in the same fashion. This study was designed to discover proteomic signatures of diffuse and intestinal subtypes. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics using tandem mass tags (TMT)-based multiplexed analysis was used to identify proteins in tumor tissues from patients with diffuse or intestinal gastric cancer with adjacent normal tissue control. A total of 7448 or 4846 proteins were identified from intestinal or diffuse subtype, respectively. This quantitative mass spectrometric analysis defined a proteomic signature of differential expression across the two subtypes, which included gremlin1 (GREM1), bcl-2-associated athanogene 2 (BAG2), olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4), thyroid hormone receptor interacting protein 6 (TRIP6) and melanoma-associated antigen 9 (MAGE-A9) proteins. Although GREM1, BAG2, OLFM4, TRIP6 and MAGE-A9 have all been previously implicated in tumor progression and metastasis, they have not been linked to intestinal or diffuse subtypes of gastric cancer. Using immunohistochemical labelling of a tissue microarray comprising of 124 cases of gastric cancer, we validated the proteomic signature obtained by mass spectrometry in the discovery cohort. Our findings should help investigate the pathogenesis of these gastric cancer subtypes and potentially lead to strategies for early diagnosis and treatment.

TPM3 mediates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in esophageal cancer via MMP2/MMP9

Background

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality. Correlations have been found between the expression level of tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) and the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the 5-year survival rate. However, the specific mechanisms underlying EC remain unclear.

Methods

Stably transfected TPM3-overexpresing and TPM3-knockdown esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines (ECa109 and EC9706) were constructed, and the association between TPM3 and the proliferation, invasion, and migration of ESCC was investigated using molecular biology methods. The associations between TPM3 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2/9 or epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were verified, and the potential tumor-promoting mechanism was explored by Gelatin Zymography Experiment.

Results

TPM3 was found to promote the proliferation, migration, and metastatic potential of ESCC in vivo and in vitro, and stimulate the expression of MMP2/9 and certain EMT markers other than E-cadherin. The replenishment of MMP2/9 restored the malignant behavior of ESCC caused by TPM3. A gelatinase assay showed that the expression of TPM3 was related to the activity of MMP9.

Conclusions

TPM3 promoted proliferation, migration, and metastatic potential in EC cells. Additionally, TPM3 promoted the EMT process. This function may be achieved via the regulation the expression of MMP2/9.

Nicotine promotes the development of oral leukoplakia via regulating peroxiredoxin 1 and its binding proteins

Tobacco can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production extensively in cells, which is a major risk factor for oral leukoplakia (OLK) development. Peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) is a key antioxidant protein, upregulated in a variety of malignant tumors. We previously found that nicotine, the main ingredient of tobacco, promotes oral carcinogenesis via regulating Prx1. The aim of the present study was to screen and identify the Prx1 interacting proteins and investigate the mechanisms of nicotine on the development of OLK. Through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with bioinformatics analysis, the candidate Prx1 interacting proteins of cofilin-1 (CFL1), tropomyosin alpha-3 chain (TPM3), and serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 2A 65 kDa regulatory subunit A alpha isoform (PPP2R1A) were screened in human dysplastic oral keratinocyte cells treated with nicotine. CFL1, TPM3, and PPP2R1A were highly expressed in human OLK tissues. The expression of CFL1 increased and the expression of PPP2R1A decreased in OLK of smokers compared to that in OLK of non-smokers. Nicotine upregulated CFL1 and downregulated PPP2R1A in 4-nitro-quinoline-1-oxide (4NQO)-induced OLK tissues in mice in part dependent on Prx1. Furthermore, the in-situ interaction of CFL1, TPM3, and PPP2R1A with Prx1 were validated in human OLK tissues. Our results suggested that tobacco might promote the development of OLK via regulating Prx1 and its interacting proteins CFL1 and PPP2R1A.

Identification of novel autoantibodies in ascites of relapsed paclitaxel-resistant gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis using immunome protein microarrays and proteomics

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) patients with peritoneal metastasis usually have extremely poor prognosis. Intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel (PTX) provides an effective treatment, but relapse and PTX-resistance are unavoidable disadvantages, and it is difficult to monitor the occurrence of PTX-resistance.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore novel autoantibodies in the ascites of individuals with relapsed PTX-resistant GC with peritoneal metastasis.

METHODS

Ascites samples were collected before PTX infusion and after the relapse in 3 GC patients. To determine the expression of significantly changed proteins, we performed autoantibody profiling with immunome protein microarrays and tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics, and then, the overlapping proteins were selected.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight autoantibodies that were differentially expressed between the ascites in the untreated group and relapsed PTX-resistant group were identified. For confirmation of the results, TMT quantitative proteomics was performed, and 842 dysregulated proteins were identified. Four proteins, TPM3, EFHD2, KRT19 and vimentin, overlapped between these two assays.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results first revealed that TPM3, EFHD2, KRT19 and vimentin were novel autoantibodies in the ascites of relapsed PTX-resistant GC patients. These autoantibodies may be used as potential biomarkers to monitor the occurrence of PTX-resistance.

Integrated omics and bioinformatics analyses for the toxic mechanism and material basis of Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome-induced hepatotoxicity

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome (ST) has the effects of treating tonsillitis, sore throats, and heat-evil-induced diseases. However, the utilization of ST is relatively restricted owing to its toxicity. The previous studies have made some progress on the mechanism and material basis of ST-induced hepatotoxicity, but there is still no significant breakthrough. In this study, integrated omics and bioinformatics analyses were used to investigate the mechanism and material basis of ST-induced hepatotoxicity. Integrated omics were used to analyze the differentially expressed proteins and metabolites, based on which the significantly dysregulated pathways were analyzed by using MetaboAnalyst. Bioinformatics was applied to screen the toxic targets and material basis. Integrated omics revealed that 254 proteins and 42 metabolites were differentially expressed after the treatment with ST, out of which 7 proteins were significantly enriched in 3 pathways. Bioinformatics showed that 20 compounds may interfere with the expression of 7 toxic targets of ST. Multiple toxic targets of ST-induced hepatotoxicity were found in the study, whose dysregulation may trigger hepatocyte necrosis/apoptosis, liver metastasis, and liver cirrhosis. Multiple compounds may be the toxic material basis in response to these effects.

Proteogenomic examination of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): new lines of inquiry

Introduction: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a histopathologic subtype of esophageal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. This is primarily because patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage by the time symptoms appear. The genomics and mass spectrometry-based proteomics continue to provide important leads toward biomarker discovery for ESCC. However, such leads are yet to be translated into clinical utilities. Areas covered: We gathered information pertaining to proteomics and proteogenomics efforts in ESCC from the literature search until 2020. An overview of omics approaches to discover the candidate biomarkers for ESCC were highlighted. We present a summary of recent investigations of alterations in the level of gene and protein expression observed in biological samples including body fluids, tissue/biopsy and in vitro-based models. Expert opinion: A large number of protein-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets are being used in cancer therapy. Several candidates are being developed as diagnostics and prognostics for the management of cancers. High-resolution proteomic and proteogenomic approaches offer an efficient way to identify additional candidate biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression, prediction of response to chemo and radiotherapy. Some of these biomarkers can also be developed as therapeutic targets.

Platelets Extracellular Vesicles as Regulators of Cancer Progression-An Updated Perspective

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a diverse group of membrane-bound structures secreted in physiological and pathological conditions by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Their role in cell-to-cell communications has been discussed for more than two decades. More attention is paid to assess the impact of EVs in cancer. Numerous papers showed EVs as tumorigenesis regulators, by transferring their cargo molecules (miRNA, DNA, protein, cytokines, receptors, etc.) among cancer cells and cells in the tumor microenvironment. During platelet activation or apoptosis, platelet extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are formed. PEVs present a highly heterogeneous EVs population and are the most abundant EVs group in the circulatory system. The reason for the PEVs heterogeneity are their maternal activators, which is reflected on PEVs size and cargo. As PLTs role in cancer development is well-known, and PEVs are the most numerous EVs in blood, their feasible impact on cancer growth is strongly discussed. PEVs crosstalk could promote proliferation, change tumor microenvironment, favor metastasis formation. In many cases these functions were linked to the transfer into recipient cells specific cargo molecules from PEVs. The article reviews the PEVs biogenesis, cargo molecules, and their impact on the cancer progression.

Lentiviral-Mediated Beclin-1 Overexpression Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Autophagy of Human Esophageal Carcinoma Eca109 Cell Xenograft in Nude Mice

BACKGROUND

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the common malignant tumors in digestive tract. BECLIN-1 is a key gene that regulates autophagy, and its abnormal expression may be related with many human tumors. However, the mechanism of BECLIN-1 in esophageal carcinoma remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we explored the effect of BECLIN-1 overexpression on tumor growth in mice with esophageal carcinoma and its mechanism.

METHODS

Recombined lentiviral vector containing BECLIN-1 was used to transfect human esophageal carcinoma Eca109 cells and establish stable cell line. qRT-PCR was used to detect BECLIN-1 mRNA level in the transfected Eca109 cells, CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Beclin-1, P62 and LC3-II protein expression levels in Eca109 cells were detected using Western blot analysis. Subcutaneous xenograft nude mice model of human esophageal carcinoma was established, and the tumor growths in Beclin-1 group, control group and empty vector group were monitored. Beclin-1 protein expression in vivo was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Beclin-1 mRNA and protein were overexpressed in Eca109 cells. Compared with empty vector group, the growth rate of cells transfected with BECLIN-1 decreased significantly. Compared with the control group and empty vector group, the expression level of P62 protein in beclin-1 group was significantly decreased, while the expression level of LC3-II protein was significantly increased. The tumor growth rate in nude mice of Beclin-1 group was significantly lower than that of the control group and empty vector group, and Beclin-1 protein was mainly expressed in Beclin-1 group in vivo.

CONCLUSION

BECLIN-1 can induce autophagy in esophageal carcinoma Eca109 cells, and it can significantly inhibit the growth of esophageal carcinoma.

Delivery of platelet TPM3 mRNA into breast cancer cells via microvesicles enhances metastasis

Platelets are implicated in the pathophysiology of breast and other cancers through their role in exchanging biomolecules with tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. Such exchange results in tumor‐educated platelets with altered RNA expression profiles. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that platelet RNA profiles may be suitable as diagnostic biomarkers for cancer‐related biological processes. In this study, we characterized the gene expression signatures of platelets in breast cancer (BC) by high‐throughput sequencing and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR. Our results indicate that the expression of TPM3 (tropomyosin 3) mRNA is significantly elevated in platelets from patients with BC compared with age‐matched healthy control subjects. Furthermore, up‐regulation of TPM3 mRNA in platelets was found to be significantly correlated with metastasis in patients with BC. Finally, we report that platelet TPM3 mRNA is delivered into BC cells through microvesicles and leads to enhanced migrative phenotype of BC cells. In summary, our findings suggest that the transfer of platelet TPM3 mRNA into cancer cells via microvesicles promotes cancer cell migration, and thus platelet‐derived TPM3 mRNA may be a suitable biomarker for early diagnosis of metastatic BC.

Platelets are implicated in the pathophysiology of breast and other cancers through their role in exchanging biomolecules with tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we found that platelet TPM3 (tropomyosin 3) mRNA can be delivered into cancer cells via microvesicles to promote cancer cell migration. Platelet‐derived TPM3 mRNA may be a suitable biomarker for early diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.

Considering the downregulation of Tpm1.6 and Tpm1.7 in squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus as a potent biomarker

AIM

Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus (SCCE) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Tropomyosins attach to actin microfilaments, providing its stability. Nonmuscle cells express Tpm isoforms such as Tpm1.6 and Tpm1.7 which are involved in cytoskeleton functional properties regulation.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The expression of Tpm1.6 and Tpm1.7 was analyzed in SCCE tissues and its association with clinicopathological parameters and survival of patients was assessed.

RESULTS

Tpm1.6 and Tpm1.7, besides TPM1 mRNA decreased considerably in SCCE tissues relative to normal esophageal tissues (p < 0.001). TPM1 downregulation level was significantly associated with the degree of tumor differentiation (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Tpm1.6 and Tpm1.7 suppression play a crucial role in esophagus tumorigenesis and could be associated with SCCE poor prognosis.

Pristimerin targeting NF-κB pathway inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death with poor prognosis in China. Identifying novel targeted therapies in ESCC is urgently needed. The aberrant activation of NF-κB signalling pathway is critical for prognosis and recurrence of ESCC, which make it a potential target in the treatment of ESCC. Here, we found that pristimerin inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, induced cell apoptosis, and eliminated cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). It also showed a synergistic effect on ESCC when combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Moreover, pristimerin potently inhibited the growth of ESCC xenograft in nude mice. The anti-ESCC effects of pristimerin were demonstrated to be associated with the inhibition of NF-κB pathway by suppressing tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced IκBα phosphorylation, p65 translocation, and NF-κB-dependent gene expression. This study provides an evidence for the development of pristimerin to be a new therapeutic agent for ESCC.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Although several approaches including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy had been applied in the treatment of ESCC, more effective targeted chemotherapies are required to increase the survival rates of patients. This study suggested that inhibiting NF-κB signalling pathway could be an effective approach for the treatment of ESCC. Pristimerin, a potent NF-κB inhibitor, exerted potent anti-ESCC effects both in vitro and in vivo, which may be a promising therapeutic agent for ESCC.