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Xue YJ, Wang Y, Zhang LP, Lu AD, Jia YP, Zuo YX, Zeng HM. Prognostic significance of Wilms' tumor gene 1 expression in children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1297870. [PMID: 38293695 PMCID: PMC10825953 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1297870] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The prognostic role of Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) gene expression at diagnosis in children with B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is still controversial. Methods We detected the WT1 transcript levels of 533 de novo pediatric BCP-ALL patients using TaqMan-based real-time quantitative PCR and analyzed their clinical features. Results The WT1 transcript levels differed among the distinct molecularly defined groups, with the highest levels in the KMT2A rearrangements (KMT2A-r) group. According to the results of the X-tile software, all patients were divided into two groups: WT1/ABL ≥ 0.24% (group A) and <0.24% (group B). The proportions of patients whose age was ≥10 years old, with immunophenotype of Pro-B, belonging in high-risk group, or with minimal residual disease (MRD) ≥ 0.01% at week 12 were significantly higher in group A than in group B. In the B-other group, WT1 overexpression was an independent risk factor of overall survival (OS) rate (P = 0.042), and higher MRD ≥ 0.01% at week 12 was associated with lower OS rate (P<0.001) and event-free survival rate (P<0.001). Moreover, the subgroup analysis revealed that, in patients with initial WBC<50 × 109/L or MRD<0.1% at day 33 or MRD<0.01% at week 12 or in the standard-risk group, WT1 overexpression led to a poorer outcome in comparison with those with WT1 downexpression (P<0.05). Discussion Therefore, pediatric BCP-ALL with WT1 overexpression had unique clinico-pathological characteristics and poor treatment response. In B-other patients, WT1 overexpression at diagnosis predicted an inferior prognosis. The WT1 gene may serve as a biomarker for monitoring residual disease in the B-other population, especially in children in the standard-risk group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hui-min Zeng
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Vanni I, Tanda ET, Dalmasso B, Pastorino L, Andreotti V, Bruno W, Boutros A, Spagnolo F, Ghiorzo P. Non-BRAF Mutant Melanoma: Molecular Features and Therapeutical Implications. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:172. [PMID: 32850962 PMCID: PMC7396525 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive tumors of the skin, and its incidence is growing worldwide. Historically considered a drug resistant disease, since 2011 the therapeutic landscape of melanoma has radically changed. Indeed, the improved knowledge of the immune system and its interactions with the tumor, and the ever more thorough molecular characterization of the disease, has allowed the development of immunotherapy on the one hand, and molecular target therapies on the other. The increased availability of more performing technologies like Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and the availability of increasingly large genetic panels, allows the identification of several potential therapeutic targets. In light of this, numerous clinical and preclinical trials are ongoing, to identify new molecular targets. Here, we review the landscape of mutated non-BRAF skin melanoma, in light of recent data deriving from Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) or Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) studies on melanoma cohorts for which information on the mutation rate of each gene was available, for a total of 10 NGS studies and 992 samples, focusing on available, or in experimentation, targeted therapies beyond those targeting mutated BRAF. Namely, we describe 33 established and candidate driver genes altered with frequency greater than 1.5%, and the current status of targeted therapy for each gene. Only 1.1% of the samples showed no coding mutations, whereas 30% showed at least one mutation in the RAS genes (mostly NRAS) and 70% showed mutations outside of the RAS genes, suggesting potential new roads for targeted therapy. Ongoing clinical trials are available for 33.3% of the most frequently altered genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Vanni
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Bruna Dalmasso
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenza Pastorino
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Virginia Andreotti
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - William Bruno
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Boutros
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Paola Ghiorzo
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
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Small extracellular vesicles convey the stress-induced adaptive responses of melanoma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15329. [PMID: 31653931 PMCID: PMC6814750 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51778-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), playing a crucial role in the intercellular communication in physiological as well as pathological processes. Here, we aimed to study whether the melanoma-derived sEV-mediated communication could adapt to microenvironmental stresses. We compared B16F1 cell-derived sEVs released under normal and stress conditions, including cytostatic, heat and oxidative stress. The miRNome and proteome showed substantial differences across the sEV groups and bioinformatics analysis of the obtained data by the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis also revealed significant functional differences. The in silico predicted functional alterations of sEVs were validated by in vitro assays. For instance, melanoma-derived sEVs elicited by oxidative stress increased Ki-67 expression of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); cytostatic stress-resulted sEVs facilitated melanoma cell migration; all sEV groups supported microtissue generation of MSC-B16F1 co-cultures in a 3D tumour matrix model. Based on this study, we concluded that (i) molecular patterns of tumour-derived sEVs, dictated by the microenvironmental conditions, resulted in specific response patterns in the recipient cells; (ii) in silico analyses could be useful tools to predict different stress responses; (iii) alteration of the sEV-mediated communication of tumour cells might be a therapy-induced host response, with a potential influence on treatment efficacy.
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Zapata-Benavides P, Thompson-Armendariz FG, Arellano-Rodríguez M, Franco-Molina MA, Mendoza-Gamboa E, Saavedra-Alonso S, Zacarias-Hernández JL, Trejo-Avila LM, Rodríguez-Padilla C. shRNA-WT1 Potentiates Anticancer Effects of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Against B16F10 Lung Metastases In Vitro and In Vivo. In Vivo 2019; 33:777-785. [PMID: 31028197 PMCID: PMC6559916 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM High expression level of Wilm's tumor gene (WT1) in several types of tumors appears to confer disruption of apoptosis and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, and correlate with poor outcome. The aim of this work was to determine if down-regulation of WT1 expression results in decreased cell proliferation and the increased action of different types of drugs, both in vitro in B16F10 cells, and in vivo in C57BL/6 mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Inhibition of cell proliferation by short hairpin RNA against WT1 (shRNA-WT1), cisplatin, and gemcitabine in B16F10 cells in vitro was determined by the MTT assay and analysis of clonogenic survival. The apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry for annexin-V- fluorescein isothiocyante and propidium iodide. RESULTS Compared to treatment with shRNA-WT1 alone, treatment with shRNA-WT1 in combination with drugs had a synergistic inhibitory effect on B16F10 cell proliferation, particularly for the combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine at their 25% cytotoxic concentrations in vitro. Furthermore, mice treated with shRNA-WT1 in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine were protected in the same way as those treated with the drugs alone, but were in better physical condition. CONCLUSION Decreased WT1 expression induces cell death and potentiates the action of anticancer drugs by inducing synergistic effects both in vitro and in vivo, which may be an attractive strategy in lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Zapata-Benavides
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | | | - Mariela Arellano-Rodríguez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Moisés Armides Franco-Molina
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Edgar Mendoza-Gamboa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Santiago Saavedra-Alonso
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | - José Luis Zacarias-Hernández
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Laura María Trejo-Avila
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Cristina Rodríguez-Padilla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
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Plönes T, Fischer M, Höhne K, Sato H, Müller-Quernheim J, Zissel G. Turning back the Wheel: Inducing Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition via Wilms Tumor 1 Knockdown in Human Mesothelioma Cell Lines to Influence Proliferation, Invasiveness, and Chemotaxis. Pathol Oncol Res 2017; 23:723-730. [PMID: 28054314 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-016-0181-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive tumor that arises from the surface of the pleura and is associated with a history of asbestos exposure. The tumor is characterized by a strong local invasiveness and a poor response to any single modality therapy. Therefore clinical outcome of patients with MPM is poor and median survival time of untreated patients with MPM is 7 months from initial diagnosis. The Wilms Tumor Protein 1 (WT1) is a transcription factor which is highly expressed by MPM and is involved in cellular development and survival. We evaluated the role of WT1 in two human MPM cell lines (MSTO and H2052) expressing high levels of WT1. We performed a knockdown of WT1 using siRNA. Knockdown of WT1 was confirmed by Westernblotting. After knockdown of WT1 we investigated the effect on proliferation, chemoresistance, chemotaxis and migration. We could demonstrate that knockdown of WT1 suppresses chemoresistance in both cell lines compared with control (scrambled siRNA). Additionally, WT1 knockdown reduces proliferation, chemotaxis and invasiveness of mesothelioma cell lines. WT1 reduces malignancy of malignant mesothelioma cell lines and might be a new molecular target in mesothelioma therapy. Further investigations are needed to discover the mechanisms of chemoresistance depending on WT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Plönes
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Endoscopy, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Department of Pneumology, Center for Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Mitja Fischer
- Department of Pneumology, Center for Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Höhne
- Department of Pneumology, Center for Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hiromi Sato
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba, 260-8675, Japan
| | - Joachim Müller-Quernheim
- Department of Pneumology, Center for Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gernot Zissel
- Department of Pneumology, Center for Medicine, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Saavedra-Alonso S, Zapata-Benavides P, Chavez-Escamilla AK, Manilla-Muñoz E, Zamora-Avila DE, Franco-Molina MA, Rodriguez-Padilla C. WT1 shRNA delivery using transferrin-conjugated PEG liposomes in an in vivo model of melanoma. Exp Ther Med 2016; 12:3778-3784. [PMID: 28105110 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The global incidence of melanoma is increasing. Mortality from melanoma is influenced primarily by metastasis in advanced stages of the disease. Current treatments are largely ineffective; thus, novel gene delivery approaches that target tumor-specific markers may be useful for the treatment of melanoma. Systemic administration of encapsulated RNA-interference plasmids targeted against tumor cells is a potential alternative therapy for cancer. Formulations of transferrin (Tf)-conjugated polyethylene glycol (PEG) liposomes loaded with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against WT1 (Lip + RNAi + Tf), PEG liposomes loaded with shRNA against WT1 (Lip + RNAi), Tf-conjugated PEG liposomes loaded with pEGFP-N3 (Lip + GFP + Tf) and saline solution as negative control (untreated) were administered systemically to C57BL/6 mice implanted subcutaneously with a melanoma cell line. Tumor volume, body weight, tumor weight, survival and relative expression of WT1 were evaluated. No significant differences in net body weight were identified between groups. The tumor volume decreased from 7,871 mm3 (SD±2,087) in the untreated group to 5,981 mm3 (SD±2,099) in the Lip + RNAi + Tf group. The tumor weight was reduced, from 8.8 g (SD±0.30) in the untreated group to 5.5 g (SD±0.87) in the Lip + RNAi + Tf group. An increase of 37% in survival was also observed in the group treated with Lip + RNAi + Tf in comparison to the untreated group. Tumors treated with Lip + RNAi + Tf also showed a decrease in the mean relative expression of WT1 of 0.21 (SD±0.28) folds compared with 1.8 (SD±2.49) folds in untreated group, 1.34 (SD±0.43) folds in Lip + RNAi group and of 1.89 (SD±0.69) folds in Lip + GFP + Tf group. Systemic administration of transferrin-conjugated PEG liposomes loaded with shRNA against WT1 reduced WT1 expression and tumor size and increased survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Saavedra-Alonso
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Pablo Zapata-Benavides
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Ana Karina Chavez-Escamilla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Edgar Manilla-Muñoz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Diana Elisa Zamora-Avila
- Department of Genetics, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), Escobedo, Nuevo León, México
| | - Moisés Armides Franco-Molina
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
| | - Cristina Rodriguez-Padilla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México
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Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) silencing inhibits proliferation of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor sNF96.2 cell line. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114333. [PMID: 25474318 PMCID: PMC4256418 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) plays complex roles in tumorigenesis, acting as tumor suppressor gene or an oncogene depending on the cellular context. WT1 expression has been variably reported in both benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) by means of immunohistochemistry. The aim of the present study was to characterize its potential pathogenetic role in these relatively uncommon malignant tumors. Firstly, immunohistochemical analyses in MPNST sNF96.2 cell line showed strong WT1 staining in nuclear and perinuclear areas of neoplastic cells. Thus, we investigated the effects of silencing WT1 by RNA interference. Through Western Blot analysis and proliferation assay we found that WT1 knockdown leads to the reduction of cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. siWT1 inhibited proliferation of sNF96.2 cell lines likely by influencing cell cycle progression through a decrease in the protein levels of cyclin D1 and inhibition of Akt phosphorylation compared to the control cells. These results indicate that WT1 knockdown attenuates the biological behavior of MPNST cells by decreasing Akt activity, demonstrating that WT1 is involved in the development and progression of MPNSTs. Thus, WT1 is suggested to serve as a potential therapeutic target for MPNSTs.
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Massaoka MH, Matsuo AL, Figueiredo CR, Girola N, Faria CF, Azevedo RA, Travassos LR. A novel cell-penetrating peptide derived from WT1 enhances p53 activity, induces cell senescence and displays antimelanoma activity in xeno- and syngeneic systems. FEBS Open Bio 2014; 4:153-61. [PMID: 24490140 PMCID: PMC3907745 DOI: 10.1016/j.fob.2014.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) transcription factor has been associated in malignant melanoma with cell survival and metastasis, thus emerging as a candidate for targeted therapy. A lysine-arginine rich peptide, WT1-pTj, derived from the ZF domain of WT1 was evaluated as an antitumor agent against A2058 human melanoma cells and B16F10-Nex2 syngeneic murine melanoma. Peptide WT1-pTj quickly penetrated human melanoma cells and induced senescence, recognized by increased SA-β-galactosidase activity, enhanced transcriptional activity of p53, and induction of the cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p27. Moreover, the peptide bound to p53 and competed with WT1 protein for binding to p53. WT1-pTj treatment led to sustained cell growth suppression, abrogation of clonogenicity and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Notably, in vivo studies showed that WT1-pTj inhibited both the metastases and subcutaneous growth of murine melanoma in syngeneic mice, and prolonged the survival of nude mice challenged with human melanoma cells. The 27-amino acid cell-penetrating WT1-derived peptide, depends on C(3) and H(16) for effective antimelanoma activity, inhibits proliferation of WT1-expressing human tumor cell lines, and may have an effective role in the treatment of WT1-expressing malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Luiz R. Travassos
- Experimental Oncology Unit (UNONEX), Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil
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