1
|
Zhang Y, Sun Q, Meng W, Xie L, Li N, Zhang J, Zhang T, Guan Y, Ma L. Comprehensive analysis of GINS subunit expression, prognostic value, and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Transl Androl Urol 2024; 13:1517-1536. [PMID: 39280654 PMCID: PMC11399050 DOI: 10.21037/tau-24-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In recent decades, there has been increasing evidence that Go-Ichi-Nii-San (GINS) subunits play an important role in the development and progression of various tumors. However, little research has been conducted on the role of GINS subunits in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). This study sought to explore the differential expression, prognosis, and immunological significance of GINS subunits in ccRCC. Methods We used various analysis packages of R (version 3.6.3), the University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer (UALCAN) data analysis portal, the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), the cBio Cancer Genomics Portal (cBioPortal), and the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) to study the gene expression, promoter methylation level, gene mutations, prognostic and diagnostic value, immune infiltration, pathway enrichment, and other aspects of the GINS subunits. Next, the genes related to the GINS subunits were analyzed using the STRING and GeneMANIA platforms, and the correlation between GINS subunits and the functions involved were investigated. Results The expression level of GINS1/2/3/4 was significantly higher in ccRCC tumor tissues than normal tissues, and was significantly related to tumor grade and stage. The expression of GINS1/2/4 may be related to the methylation degree of the promoter region. The prognostic and diagnostic analyses showed that the increased expression of GINS1 was associated with various poor prognoses and had diagnostic value. The GINS subunit mutation also significantly affected the clinical prognosis of ccRCC patients. Finally, the correlation analysis of the immune infiltration level, co-expression, and enrichment of related genes indicated that GINS subunit expression was associated with different levels of ccRCC immune infiltration. Conclusions The analysis results showed that the differential expression of GINS subunits in ccRCC, which had prognostic and diagnostic value, was correlated with clinicopathological stage, immune infiltration, and other related aspects. GINS1 may serve as a new potential prognostic biomarker for ccRCC patients and be used to guide treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng, China
| | - Wei Meng
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Lingling Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ningning Li
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jiayi Zhang
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Xinglin College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yangbo Guan
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Limin Ma
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tai Y, Shang J. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the tumor progression of adrenocortical carcinoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1260701. [PMID: 38269250 PMCID: PMC10806569 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1260701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon, aggressive endocrine malignancy with a high rate of recurrence, a poor prognosis, and a propensity for metastasis. Currently, only mitotane has received certification from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency for the therapy of advanced ACC. However, treatment in the advanced periods of the disorders is ineffective and has serious adverse consequences. Completely surgical excision is the only cure but has failed to effectively improve the survival of advanced patients. The aberrantly activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway is one of the catalysts for adrenocortical carcinogenesis. Research has concentrated on identifying methods that can prevent the stimulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and are safe and advantageous for patients in view of the absence of effective treatments and the frequent alteration of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in ACC. Comprehending the complex connection between the development of ACC and Wnt/β-catenin signaling is essential for accurate pharmacological targets. In this review, we summarize the potential targets between adrenocortical carcinoma and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We analyze the relevant targets of drugs or inhibitors that act on the Wnt pathway. Finally, we provide new insights into how drugs or inhibitors may improve the treatment of ACC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanghao Tai
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jiwen Shang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Ambulatory Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Martin-Hernandez R, Espeso-Gil S, Domingo C, Latorre P, Hervas S, Hernandez Mora JR, Kotelnikova E. Machine learning combining multi-omics data and network algorithms identifies adrenocortical carcinoma prognostic biomarkers. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1258902. [PMID: 38028548 PMCID: PMC10658191 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1258902] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Rare endocrine cancers such as Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) present a serious diagnostic and prognostication challenge. The knowledge about ACC pathogenesis is incomplete, and patients have limited therapeutic options. Identification of molecular drivers and effective biomarkers is required for timely diagnosis of the disease and stratify patients to offer the most beneficial treatments. In this study we demonstrate how machine learning methods integrating multi-omics data, in combination with system biology tools, can contribute to the identification of new prognostic biomarkers for ACC. Methods: ACC gene expression and DNA methylation datasets were downloaded from the Xena Browser (GDC TCGA Adrenocortical Carcinoma cohort). A highly correlated multi-omics signature discriminating groups of samples was identified with the data integration analysis for biomarker discovery using latent components (DIABLO) method. Additional regulators of the identified signature were discovered using Clarivate CBDD (Computational Biology for Drug Discovery) network propagation and hidden nodes algorithms on a curated network of molecular interactions (MetaBase™). The discriminative power of the multi-omics signature and their regulators was delineated by training a random forest classifier using 55 samples, by employing a 10-fold cross validation with five iterations. The prognostic value of the identified biomarkers was further assessed on an external ACC dataset obtained from GEO (GSE49280) using the Kaplan-Meier estimator method. An optimal prognostic signature was finally derived using the stepwise Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) that allowed categorization of samples into high and low-risk groups. Results: A multi-omics signature including genes, micro RNA's and methylation sites was generated. Systems biology tools identified additional genes regulating the features included in the multi-omics signature. RNA-seq, miRNA-seq and DNA methylation sets of features revealed a high power to classify patients from stages I-II and stages III-IV, outperforming previously identified prognostic biomarkers. Using an independent dataset, associations of the genes included in the signature with Overall Survival (OS) data demonstrated that patients with differential expression levels of 8 genes and 4 micro RNA's showed a statistically significant decrease in OS. We also found an independent prognostic signature for ACC with potential use in clinical practice, combining 9-gene/micro RNA features, that successfully predicted high-risk ACC cancer patients. Conclusion: Machine learning and integrative analysis of multi-omics data, in combination with Clarivate CBDD systems biology tools, identified a set of biomarkers with high prognostic value for ACC disease. Multi-omics data is a promising resource for the identification of drivers and new prognostic biomarkers in rare diseases that could be used in clinical practice.
Collapse
|
4
|
Reza MS, Hossen MA, Harun-Or-Roshid M, Siddika MA, Kabir MH, Mollah MNH. Metadata analysis to explore hub of the hub-genes highlighting their functions, pathways and regulators for cervical cancer diagnosis and therapies. Discov Oncol 2022; 13:79. [PMID: 35994213 PMCID: PMC9395557 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-022-00546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is considered as the fourth most common women cancer globally.that shows malignant features of local infiltration and invasion into adjacent organs and tissues. There are several individual studies in the literature that explored CC-causing hub-genes (HubGs), however, we observed that their results are not so consistent. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore hub of the HubGs (hHubGs) that might be more representative CC-causing HubGs compare to the single study based HubGs. We reviewed 52 published articles and found 255 HubGs/studied-genes in total. Among them, we selected 10 HubGs (CDK1, CDK2, CHEK1, MKI67, TOP2A, BRCA1, PLK1, CCNA2, CCNB1, TYMS) as the hHubGs by the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Then, we validated their differential expression patterns between CC and control samples through the GPEA database. The enrichment analysis of HubGs revealed some crucial CC-causing biological processes (BPs), molecular functions (MFs) and cellular components (CCs) by involving hHubGs. The gene regulatory network (GRN) analysis identified four TFs proteins and three miRNAs as the key transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators of hHubGs. Then, we identified hHubGs-guided top-ranked FDA-approved 10 candidate drugs and validated them against the state-of-the-arts independent receptors by molecular docking analysis. Finally, we investigated the binding stability of the top-ranked three candidate drugs (Docetaxel, Temsirolimus, Paclitaxel) by using 100 ns MD-based MM-PBSA simulations and observed their stable performance. Therefore the finding of this study might be the useful resources for CC diagnosis and therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md. Selim Reza
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Alim Hossen
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Harun-Or-Roshid
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Mst. Ayesha Siddika
- Microbiology Lab, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Hadiul Kabir
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Nurul Haque Mollah
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Usman M, Okla MK, Asif HM, AbdElgayed G, Muccee F, Ghazanfar S, Ahmad M, Iqbal MJ, Sahar AM, Khaliq G, Shoaib R, Zaheer H, Hameed Y. A pan-cancer analysis of GINS complex subunit 4 to identify its potential role as a biomarker in multiple human cancers. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:986-1008. [PMID: 35411239 PMCID: PMC8984884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was initiated to explore the expression variation, clinical significance, and biological importance of the GINS complex subunit 4 (GINS4) in different human cancers as a shared biomarker via pan-cancer analysis through different platforms including UALCAN, Kaplan Meier (KM) plotter, TNMplot, GENT2, GEPIA, DriverDBv3, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), MEXPRESS, cBioportal, STRING, DAVID, MuTarge, Enrichr, TIMER, and CTD. Our findings have verified the up-regulation of GINS4 in 24 major subtypes of human cancers, and its overexpression was found to be substantially associated with poor overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFs), and metastasis in ESCA, KIRC, LIHC, LUAD, and UCEC. This suggested that GINS4 plays a significant role in the development and progression of these five cancers. Furthermore, we noticed that GINS4 is also overexpressed in ESCA, KIRC, LIHC, LUAD, and UCEC patients with different clinicopathological characteristics. Enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of GINS4 associated genes in a variety of diverse GO and KEGG terms. We also explored few significant correlations between GINS4 expression and promoter methylation, genetic alterations, CNVs, other mutant genes, tumor purity, and immune cells infiltration. In conclusion, our results elucidated that GINS4 can serve as a shared diagnostic, prognostic biomarker, and a potential therapeutic target in ESCA, KIRC, LIHC, LUAD, and UCEC patients with different clinicopathological characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of BahawalpurBahawalpur 63100, Pakistan, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad K Okla
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityRiyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Asif
- University College of Conventional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine, The Islamia University of BahawalpurBahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Gehad AbdElgayed
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Fatima Muccee
- Department of Biotechnology, Virtual University of PakistanLahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Shakira Ghazanfar
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Agricultural Research CentreIslamabad 45500, Pakistan
| | - Mukhtiar Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of BahawalpurBahawalpur 63100, Pakistan, Pakistan
| | | | - Aamina Murad Sahar
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University IslamabadIslamabad 4400, Pakistan
| | - Ghania Khaliq
- Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences BahawalpurBahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Rabbia Shoaib
- Department of Chemistry, Government College University FaisalabadFaisalabad 3800, Pakistan
| | - Hira Zaheer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of BahawalpurBahawalpur 63100, Pakistan, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Hameed
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The Islamia University of BahawalpurBahawalpur 63100, Pakistan, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Oliveira RC, Martins MJ, Moreno C, Almeida R, Carvalho J, Teixeira P, Teixeira M, Silva ET, Paiva I, Figueiredo A, Cipriano MA. Histological scores and tumor size on stage II in adrenocortical carcinomas. Rare Tumors 2021; 13:20363613211026494. [PMID: 34262677 PMCID: PMC8243092 DOI: 10.1177/20363613211026494] [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: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis.
Histological scores are advised for the diagnosis, however, there are borderline
cases that may be misjudged as adrenocortical adenomas (ACA). The three main
scores used are: Weiss Modified System (WMS), Reticulin Algorithm (RA), and
Helsinki Score (HS). We intend to compare the accuracy of the three scores in
ACC diagnosis and to identify predictive factors of overall survival (OS).
Retrospective study (2004–2016) at Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
of the adrenal tumors, classified as ACC or ACA, with a history of posterior
tumor relapse/metastases, without lesions in the contralateral adrenal gland:
13F and 6M, with a median age of 51 ± 12.41 years. Nodules’ median size was
9.20 ± 6.2 cm. Patients had a median OS of 52 ± 18.6 months, with 57.9% and
46.3%, at 3 and 5 years. Seven patients had local recurrence and nine had
metastases. Thirteen cases were in stage II. The WMS and the HS allowed a
diagnosis of ACC in 15 cases and the RA defined ACC in 17 cases. All cases had,
at least, focal disruption of the reticulin framework. More than
5 mitosis/50 HPF was associated with worse OS: 49.67 ± 21.43 versus
108.86 ± 14.02 months (p = 0.026). In patients with stage II,
tumor size ⩾10 cm was associated with worse OS: 19.25 ± 7.15 versus
96.11 ± 16.7 months (p = 0.007), confirmed by multivariate
analysis (p = 0.031). The correct diagnosis of ACC is a
pathologist responsibility. The RA seems the most accurate. Any loss of the
reticulin framework should raise awareness for malignancy. In patients on stage
II, a size ⩾10 cm is a predictor of worse prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Caetano Oliveira
- Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Biophysics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria João Martins
- Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carolina Moreno
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Almeida
- Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Carvalho
- Urology and Renal Transplantation, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paulo Teixeira
- Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Teixeira
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Edgar Tavares Silva
- Biophysics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Urology and Renal Transplantation, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Paiva
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Arnaldo Figueiredo
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Urology and Renal Transplantation, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mizdrak M, Tičinović Kurir T, Božić J. The Role of Biomarkers in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Review of Current Evidence and Future Perspectives. Biomedicines 2021; 9:174. [PMID: 33578890 PMCID: PMC7916711 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy arising from the adrenal cortex often with unexpected biological behavior. It can occur at any age, with two peaks of incidence: in the first and between fifth and seventh decades of life. Although ACC are mostly hormonally active, precursors and metabolites, rather than end products of steroidogenesis are produced by dedifferentiated and immature malignant cells. Distinguishing the etiology of adrenal mass, between benign adenomas, which are quite frequent in general population, and malignant carcinomas with dismal prognosis is often unfeasible. Even after pathohistological analysis, diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinomas is not always straightforward and represents a great challenge for experienced and multidisciplinary expert teams. No single imaging method, hormonal work-up or immunohistochemical labelling can definitively prove the diagnosis of ACC. Over several decades' great efforts have been made in finding novel reliable and available diagnostic and prognostic factors including steroid metabolome profiling or target gene identification. Despite these achievements, the 5-year mortality rate still accounts for approximately 75% to 90%, ACC is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages and therapeutic options are unfortunately limited. Therefore, imperative is to identify new biological markers that can predict patient prognosis and provide new therapeutic options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maja Mizdrak
- Department of Nephrology and Hemodialysis, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia;
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Tina Tičinović Kurir
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Joško Božić
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ge X, Liu Z, Jiao X, Yin X, Wang X, Li G. Establishment and Validation of a Gene Signature-Based Prognostic Model to Improve Survival Prediction in Adrenocortical Carcinoma Patients. Int J Endocrinol 2021; 2021:2077633. [PMID: 34858497 PMCID: PMC8632466 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2077633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current guideline for the management of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is insufficient for accurate risk prediction to guide adjuvant therapy. Given frequent and severe therapeutic side effects, a better estimate of survival is warranted for risk-specific assignment to adjuvant treatment. We attempted to construct an integrated model based on a prognostic gene signature and clinicopathological features to improve risk stratification and survival prediction in ACC. METHODS Using a series of bioinformatic and statistical approaches, a gene-expression signature was established and validated in two independent cohorts. By combining the signature with clinicopathological features, a decision tree was generated to improve risk stratification, and a nomogram was constructed to personalize risk prediction. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (tROC) and calibration analysis were performed to evaluate the predictive power and accuracy. RESULTS A three-gene signature could discriminate high-risk patients well in both training and validation cohorts. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated the signature to be an independent predictor of overall survival. The decision tree could identify risk subgroups powerfully, and the nomogram showed high accuracy of survival prediction. Particularly, expression of a gene hitherto unknown to be dysregulated in ACC, TIGD1, was shown to be prognostically relevant. CONCLUSION We propose a novel gene signature to guide decision-making about adjuvant therapy in ACC. The score shows unprecedented survival prediction and hence constitutes a huge step towards personalized management. As a secondary important finding, we report the discovery and validation of a new oncogene, TIGD1, which was consistently overexpressed in ACC. TIGD1 might shed further light on the biology of ACC and might give rise to targeted therapies that not only apply to ACC but potentially also to other malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Ge
- Department of Endocrinology, Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People's Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xuehua Jiao
- Department of Endocrinology, Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xueyan Yin
- Department of Endocrinology, Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiujie Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Gengxu Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cheng Y, Kou W, Zhu D, Yu X, Zhu Y. Future Directions in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Disease Monitoring of Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Novel Non-Invasive Biomarkers. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:811293. [PMID: 35178030 PMCID: PMC8844185 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.811293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with frequent metastatic spread and poor prognosis. The disease can occur at any age with unexpected biological behavior. Recent genome-wide studies of ACC have contributed to our understanding of the disease, but diagnosis of ACC remains a challenge, even for multidisciplinary expert teams. Patients with ACC are frequently diagnosed in advanced stages and have limited therapeutic options. Therefore, for earlier diagnosis and better clinical management of adrenocortical carcinoma, specific, sensitive, and minimal invasive markers are urgently needed. Over several decades, great efforts have been made in discovering novel and reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers including microRNAs, steroid profilings, circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNAs and radiomics. In this review, we will summarize these novel noninvasive biomarkers and analyze their values for diagnosis, predicting prognosis, and disease monitoring. Current problems and possible future application of these non-invasive biomarkers will also be discussed.
Collapse
|
10
|
Knott EL, Leidenheimer NJ. A Targeted Bioinformatics Assessment of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Reveals Prognostic Implications of GABA System Gene Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228485. [PMID: 33187258 PMCID: PMC7697095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but deadly cancer for which few treatments exist. Here, we have undertaken a targeted bioinformatics study of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) ACC dataset focusing on the 30 genes encoding the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system—an under-studied, evolutionarily-conserved system that is an emerging potential player in cancer progression. Our analysis identified a subset of ACC patients whose tumors expressed a distinct GABA system transcriptome. Transcript levels of ABAT (encoding a key GABA shunt enzyme), were upregulated in over 40% of tumors, and this correlated with several favorable clinical outcomes including patient survival; while enrichment and ontology analysis implicated two cancer-related biological pathways involved in metastasis and immune response. The phenotype associated with ABAT upregulation revealed a potential metabolic heterogeneity among ACC tumors associated with enhanced mitochondrial metabolism. Furthermore, many GABAA receptor subunit-encoding transcripts were expressed, including two (GABRB2 and GABRD) prognostic for patient survival. Transcripts encoding GABAB receptor subunits and GABA transporters were also ubiquitously expressed. The GABA system transcriptome of ACC tumors is largely mirrored in the ACC NCI-H295R cell line, suggesting that this cell line may be appropriate for future functional studies investigating the role of the GABA system in ACC cell growth phenotypes and metabolism.
Collapse
|
11
|
Bu F, Zhu X, Yi X, Luo C, Lin K, Zhu J, Hu C, Liu Z, Zhao J, Huang C, Zhang W, Huang J. Expression Profile of GINS Complex Predicts the Prognosis of Pancreatic Cancer Patients. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:11433-11444. [PMID: 33192076 PMCID: PMC7654543 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s275649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The GINS complex has been implicated in the prognosis of various cancers. It comprises four subunits, encoded by GINS1, GINS2, GINS3, and GINS4 genes. Based on the current understanding, no report exists on the role of the GINS complex in pancreatic cancer. Methods We employed various bioinformatics databases including GEPIA, UALCAN, GEPIA2, and Kaplan Meier Plotter to identify the expression profile of the four genes (GINS1, GINS2, GINS3, and GINS4), their correlation with pancreatic cancer grade as well as their prognostic value of in pancreatic cancer. Western blotting and qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to verify the expression profiles of the four genes in pancreatic cancer. CCK8 and EdU cell experiments were conducted to reveal the role played by the four genes in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Results Based on GEPIA, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR analyses, all the four genes in the GINS complex were overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. Notably, the expression of each member was significantly associated with pancreatic cancer grade. The prognostic analysis revealed that not only the whole GINS complex but also each individual were prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. CCK8 and EdU experiments demonstrated that inhibition of the expression of each GINS member lowered pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion This work implicated GINS1, GINS2, GINS3, and GINS4 genes as critical prognostic markers for pancreatic cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanqin Bu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojian Zhu
- The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Yi
- Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.,Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Luo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Lin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinfeng Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Cegui Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zitao Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiefeng Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China.,Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|