Identification of biomarkers with a tumor stage-dependent expression and exploration of the mechanism involved in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

LINC00319 promotes cancer stem cell-like properties in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via E2F1-mediated upregulation of HMGB3

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common subtypes of head and neck malignancies worldwide. Long intervening/intergenic noncoding RNAs (LINCRNAs) have been recently implicated in various biological processes that take place in the setting of laryngeal cancer, but the regulatory role of LINC00319 in LSCC remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to elucidate the regulatory effect of LINC00319 on the development and progression of LSCC via high-mobility group box 3 (HMGB3). Microarray-based analysis was initially conducted to identify differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs, after which the expression of LINC00319 and HMGB3 in LSCC tissues and cells was determined accordingly. CD133+CD144+ TU177 cells were subsequently isolated and transfected with LINC00319 overexpression vector (oe-LINC00319), short hairpin RNA (sh)-LINC00319, sh-HMGB3, sh-E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), and oe-E2F1, as well as their corresponding controls. The proliferative, invasion, self-renewal, and tumorigenic abilities of CD133+CD144+ TU177 cells were then evaluated. Our in vitro findings were further confirmed following subcutaneous injection of cells expressing the corresponding plasmids into nude mice. LINC00319 and HMGB3 expressions were elevated in LSCC cells and tissues. LINC00319 increased HMGB3 expression by recruiting E2F1. Furthermore, the stimulatory role of LINC00319 on the proliferation, invasion, self-renewal ability, and tumorigenicity of CD133+CD144+ TU177 cells was achieved by upregulating HMGB3 via recruitment of E2F1. The in vitro findings were also confirmed by in vivo experiments. Taken together, these data show that downregulating LINC00319 in CD133+CD144+ TU177 cells may serve as a potential anticancer regimen by inhibiting the proliferation and invasion of cancer stem cells in LSCC.

The Influence of Met Receptor Level on HGF-Induced Glycolytic Reprogramming in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is known to overexpress a variety of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the HGF receptor Met. Like other malignancies, HNSCC involves a mutual interaction between the tumor cells and surrounding tissues and cells. We hypothesized that activation of HGF/Met signaling in HNSCC influences glucose metabolism and therefore substantially changes the tumor microenvironment. To determine the effect of HGF, we submitted three established HNSCC cell lines to mRNA sequencing. Dynamic changes in glucose metabolism were measured in real time by an extracellular flux analyzer. As expected, the cell lines exhibited different levels of Met and responded differently to HGF stimulation. As confirmed by mRNA sequencing, the level of Met expression was associated with the number of upregulated HGF-dependent genes. Overall, Met stimulation by HGF leads to increased glycolysis, presumably mediated by higher expression of three key enzymes of glycolysis. These effects appear to be stronger in Met^high-expressing HNSCC cells. Collectively, our data support the hypothesized role of HGF/Met signaling in metabolic reprogramming of HNSCC.

Clinical correlation of opposing molecular signatures in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background

The concept of head and neck cancers (HNSCC) having unique molecular signatures is well accepted but relating this to clinical presentation and disease behaviour is essential for patient benefit. Currently the clinical significance of HNSCC molecular subtypes is uncertain therefore personalisation of HNSCC treatment is not yet possible.

Methods

We performed meta-analysis on 8 microarray studies and identified six significantly up- (PLAU, FN1, CDCA5) and down-regulated (CRNN, CLEC3B and DUOX1) genes which were subsequently quantified by RT-qPCR in 100 HNSCC patient margin and core tumour samples.

Results

Retrospective correlation with sociodemographic and clinicopathological patient details identified two subgroups of opposing molecular signature (+q6 and -q6) that correlated to two recognised high-risk HNSCC populations in the UK. The +q6 group were older, male, and excessive alcohol users whilst the –q6 group were younger, female, paan-chewers and predominantly Bangladeshi. Additionally, all patients with tumour recurrence were in the latter subgroup.

Conclusions

We provide the first evidence linking distinct molecular signatures in HNSCC with clinical presentations. Prospective trials are required to determine the correlation between these distinct genotypes and disease progression or treatment response. This is an important step towards the ultimate goal of improving outcomes by utilising personalised molecular-signature-guided treatments for HNSCC patients.

CEP55 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/p21 signaling pathway in human glioma U251 cells

Human glioma is one of the major malignancies worldwide with an increased mortality rate. Centrosomal protein of 55 kDa (CEP55) is an essential component of the CEP family and has been identified as a prognostic marker for multiple types of cancer. However, the function of CEP55 during glioma tumorigenesis remains unclear. In the present study, the data derived from the Oncomine database indicated that the expression of CEP55 is increased in glioma tissues compared with normal tissues. Furthermore, the expression of CEP55 was also increased at the level of mRNA and protein in glioma cell lines compared with normal human astrocytes. The knockdown of CEP55 expression inhibited the proliferation of glioma U251 cells, whereas overexpression of CEP55 induced the proliferation of U251 cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that the knockdown of CEP55 resulted in an increased number of cells arrested at G₂/M phase, and apoptosis was promoted. Further investigations revealed that the overexpression of CEP55 increased the phosphorylation of Akt and inhibited the activity of p21. By contrast, the knockdown of CEP55 resulted in the opposite effects. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that CEP55 regulated the proliferation of glioma cells, further attributing to the carcinogenesis and progression of glioma via the PI3K/Akt/p21 signaling pathway. Therefore, CEP55 may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of glioma.

E2F1 interactive with BRCA1 pathway induces HCC two different small molecule metabolism or cell cycle regulation via mitochondrion or CD4+T to cytosol

Breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) are related to metabolism and cell cycle regulation. However, the corresponding mechanism is not clear in HCC. High BRCA1 direct pathway was constructed with 11 molecules from E2F1 feedback-interactive network in HCC by GRNInfer based on 39 Pearson mutual positive corelation CC ≥0.25 molecules with E2F1. Integration of GRNInfer with GO, KEGG, BioCarta, GNF_U133A, UNIGENE_EST, Disease, GenMAPP databases by DAVID and MAS 3.0, E2F1 feedback-interactive BRCA1 indirect mitochondrion to cytosol pathway was identified as upstream LAPTM4B activation, feedback UNG, downstream BCAT1-HIST1H2AD-TK1 reflecting protein, and DNA binding with enrichment of small molecule metabolism; The corresponding BRCA1 indirect membrane to cytosol pathway as upstream CCNB2-NUSAP1 activation, feedback TTK-HIST1H2BJ-CENPF, downstream MCM4-TK1 reflecting ATP, and microtubule binding with enrichment of CD4+T-related cell cycle regulation in HCC. Therefore, we propose that E2F1 interactive with BRCA1 pathway induces HCC two different small molecule metabolism or cell cycle regulation via mitochondrion or CD4+T to cytosol. Knowledge analysis demonstrates our E2F1 feedback-interactive BRCA1 pathway wide disease distribution and reflects a novel common one of tumor and cancer.