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Priyamvada P, Ramaiah S. Potential Signature Therapeutic Biomarkers TOP2A, MAD2L1, and CDK1 in Colorectal Cancer: A Systems Biomedicine-Based Approach. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:2166-2194. [PMID: 37884851 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10544-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the third deadliest and fourth most diagnosed cancer. It is heterogeneously driven by varied mutations and mutagens, and thus, it is challenging for targeted therapy. The rapid advancement of high-throughput technology presents considerable opportunities for discovering new colon cancer biomarkers. In the present study, we have explored and identified the biomarkers based on molecular interactions. We curated cancer datasets that were not micro-dissected and performed gene expression analysis. The protein-protein interactions were curated, and a network was constructed for the up-regulated genes. The hub genes were analyzed using 12 different topological parameters. The correlation analysis selected TOP2A, CDK1, CCNB1, AURKA, and MAD2L1 as hub genes. Further, survival analysis was performed to determine the effectiveness of the hub gene on the patient's survival rate. Our findings explore various transcription factors such as E2F4, FOXM1, E2F6, MAX, and SIN3A, along with kinases CSNK2A1, MAPK14, CDK1, CDK4, and CDK2, as potential molecular signatures and aid researchers in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CRC development and thus providing novel therapeutic and diagnostic recourse. Furthermore, investigating miRNAs, we focused on hsa-miR-215-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, and hsa-miR-193b-3p due to their observed impact on a diverse set of colorectal cancer genes. Thereby, the current approach brings into light CRC- related genes at the RNA and protein levels that can potentially act as novel biomarkers opening doors to diagnostic and treatment purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Priyamvada
- Medical and Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
- Department of Bio Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Sudha Ramaiah
- Medical and Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
- Department of Bio Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
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2
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Yang SJ, Chang ST, Chang KC, Lin BW, Chang KY, Liu YW, Lai MD, Hung LY. Neutralizing IL-16 enhances the efficacy of targeting Aurora-A therapy in colorectal cancer with high lymphocyte infiltration through restoring anti-tumor immunity. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:103. [PMID: 38291041 PMCID: PMC10828506 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06381-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells can evade immune elimination by activating immunosuppressive signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Targeting immunosuppressive signaling pathways to promote antitumor immunity has become an attractive strategy for cancer therapy. Aurora-A is a well-known oncoprotein that plays a critical role in tumor progression, and its inhibition is considered a promising strategy for treating cancers. However, targeting Aurora-A has not yet got a breakthrough in clinical trials. Recent reports have indicated that inhibition of oncoproteins may reduce antitumor immunity, but the role of tumor-intrinsic Aurora-A in regulating antitumor immunity remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that in tumors with high lymphocyte infiltration (hot tumors), higher tumor-intrinsic Aurora-A expression is associated with a better prognosis in CRC patients. Mechanically, tumor-intrinsic Aurora-A promotes the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells in immune hot CRC via negatively regulating interleukin-16 (IL-16), and the upregulation of IL-16 may impair the therapeutic effect of Aurora-A inhibition. Consequently, combination treatment with IL-16 neutralization improves the therapeutic response to Aurora-A inhibitors in immune hot CRC tumors. Our study provides evidence that tumor-intrinsic Aurora-A contributes to anti-tumor immunity depending on the status of lymphocyte infiltration, highlighting the importance of considering this aspect in cancer therapy targeting Aurora-A. Importantly, our results suggest that combining Aurora-A inhibitors with IL-16-neutralizing antibodies may represent a novel and effective approach for cancer therapy, particularly in tumors with high levels of lymphocyte infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiang-Jie Yang
- The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Sheng-Tsung Chang
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, 71004, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kung-Chao Chang
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Bo-Wen Lin
- Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kwang-Yu Chang
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, 70456, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yao-Wen Liu
- Department of Pathology, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, 70054, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Derg Lai
- The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Liang-Yi Hung
- The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
- University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC.
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3
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Li X, Li J, Li J, Liu N, Zhuang L. Development and validation of epigenetic modification-related signals for the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:51. [PMID: 38212708 PMCID: PMC10782594 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09815-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the world's most common malignancies. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in characteristics beyond the DNA sequence. Epigenetic information is essential for maintaining specific expression patterns of genes and the normal development of individuals, and disorders of epigenetic modifications may alter the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and affect the development of cancer. This study elucidates the relationship between epigenetics and the prognosis of CRC patients by developing a predictive model to explore the potential value of epigenetics in the treatment of CRC. METHODS Gene expression data of CRC patients' tumor tissue and controls were downloaded from GEO database. Combined with the 720 epigenetic-related genes (ERGs) downloaded from EpiFactors database, prognosis-related epigenetic genes were selected by univariate cox and LASSO analyses. The Kaplan-Meier and ROC curve were used to analyze the accuracy of the model. Data of 238 CRC samples with survival data downloaded from the GSE17538 were used for validation. Finally, the risk model is combined with the clinical characteristics of CRC patients to perform univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis to obtain independent risk factors and draw nomogram. Then we evaluated the accuracy of its prediction by calibration curves. RESULTS A total of 2906 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between CRC and control samples. After overlapping DEGs with 720 ERGs, 56 epigenetic-related DEGs (DEERGs) were identified. Combining univariate and LASSO regression analysis, the 8 epigenetic-related genes-based risk score model of CRC was established. The ROC curves and survival difference of high and low risk groups revealed the good performance of the risk score model based on prognostic biomarkers in both training and validation sets. A nomogram with good performance to predict the survival of CRC patients were established based on age, NM stage and risk score. The calibration curves showed that the prognostic model had good predictive performance. CONCLUSION In this study, an epigenetically relevant 8-gene signature was constructed that can effectively predict the prognosis of CRC patients and provide potential directions for targeted therapies for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Nannan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Liwei Zhuang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
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4
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Ohnmacht AJ, Stahler A, Stintzing S, Modest DP, Holch JW, Westphalen CB, Hölzel L, Schübel MK, Galhoz A, Farnoud A, Ud-Dean M, Vehling-Kaiser U, Decker T, Moehler M, Heinig M, Heinemann V, Menden MP. The Oncology Biomarker Discovery framework reveals cetuximab and bevacizumab response patterns in metastatic colorectal cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5391. [PMID: 37666855 PMCID: PMC10477267 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision medicine has revolutionised cancer treatments; however, actionable biomarkers remain scarce. To address this, we develop the Oncology Biomarker Discovery (OncoBird) framework for analysing the molecular and biomarker landscape of randomised controlled clinical trials. OncoBird identifies biomarkers based on single genes or mutually exclusive genetic alterations in isolation or in the context of tumour subtypes, and finally, assesses predictive components by their treatment interactions. Here, we utilise the open-label, randomised phase III trial (FIRE-3, AIO KRK-0306) in metastatic colorectal carcinoma patients, who received either cetuximab or bevacizumab in combination with 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan (FOLFIRI). We systematically identify five biomarkers with predictive components, e.g., patients with tumours that carry chr20q amplifications or lack mutually exclusive ERK signalling mutations benefited from cetuximab compared to bevacizumab. In summary, OncoBird characterises the molecular landscape and outlines actionable biomarkers, which generalises to any molecularly characterised randomised controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Ohnmacht
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Arndt Stahler
- Charité Universitätsmedizin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Stintzing
- Charité Universitätsmedizin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner sites Berlin and Munich, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik P Modest
- Charité Universitätsmedizin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian W Holch
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner sites Berlin and Munich, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - C Benedikt Westphalen
- Department of Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Linus Hölzel
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marisa K Schübel
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ana Galhoz
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ali Farnoud
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Minhaz Ud-Dean
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Markus Moehler
- Department of Medicine I and Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), Johannes Gutenberg-University Clinic, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Heinig
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Volker Heinemann
- Department of Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Michael P Menden
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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5
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Exploring Core Genes by Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis for Early Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapies of Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051369. [PMID: 36900162 PMCID: PMC10000172 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers with a high mortality rate. Early diagnosis and therapies for CRC may reduce the mortality rate. However, so far, no researchers have yet investigated core genes (CGs) rigorously for early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapies of CRC. Therefore, an attempt was made in this study to explore CRC-related CGs for early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapies. At first, we identified 252 common differentially expressed genes (cDEGs) between CRC and control samples based on three gene-expression datasets. Then, we identified ten cDEGs (AURKA, TOP2A, CDK1, PTTG1, CDKN3, CDC20, MAD2L1, CKS2, MELK, and TPX2) as the CGs, highlighting their mechanisms in CRC progression. The enrichment analysis of CGs with GO terms and KEGG pathways revealed some crucial biological processes, molecular functions, and signaling pathways that are associated with CRC progression. The survival probability curves and box-plot analyses with the expressions of CGs in different stages of CRC indicated their strong prognostic performance from the earlier stage of the disease. Then, we detected CGs-guided seven candidate drugs (Manzamine A, Cardidigin, Staurosporine, Sitosterol, Benzo[a]pyrene, Nocardiopsis sp., and Riccardin D) by molecular docking. Finally, the binding stability of four top-ranked complexes (TPX2 vs. Manzamine A, CDC20 vs. Cardidigin, MELK vs. Staurosporine, and CDK1 vs. Riccardin D) was investigated by using 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation studies, and their stable performance was observed. Therefore, the output of this study may play a vital role in developing a proper treatment plan at the earlier stages of CRC.
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6
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Urh K, Zidar N, Boštjančič E. Bioinformatics Analysis of RNA-seq Data Reveals Genes Related to Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancerogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113252. [PMID: 36362041 PMCID: PMC9654446 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) play one of the crucial roles in the pathogenesis of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Although great efforts have been made regarding our understanding of the cancerogenesis of CRC, CSC involvement in CRC development is still poorly understood. Using bioinformatics and RNA-seq data of normal mucosa, colorectal adenoma, and carcinoma (n = 106) from GEO and TCGA, we identified candidate CSC genes and analyzed pathway enrichment analysis (PEI) and protein–protein interaction analysis (PPI). Identified CSC-related genes were validated using qPCR and tissue samples from 47 patients with adenoma, adenoma with early carcinoma, and carcinoma without and with lymph node metastasis and were compared to normal mucosa. Six CSC-related genes were identified: ANLN, CDK1, ECT2, PDGFD, TNC, and TNXB. ANLN, CDK1, ECT2, and TNC were differentially expressed between adenoma and adenoma with early carcinoma. TNC was differentially expressed in CRC without lymph node metastases whereas ANLN, CDK1, and PDGFD were differentially expressed in CRC with lymph node metastases compared to normal mucosa. ANLN and PDGFD were differentially expressed between carcinoma without and with lymph node metastasis. Our study identified and validated CSC-related genes that might be involved in early stages of CRC development (ANLN, CDK1, ECT2, TNC) and in development of metastasis (ANLN, PDGFD).
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7
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Stefani A, Piro G, Schietroma F, Strusi A, Vita E, Fiorani S, Barone D, Monaca F, Sparagna I, Valente G, Ferrara MG, D’Argento E, Di Salvatore M, Carbone C, Tortora G, Bria E. Unweaving the mitotic spindle: A focus on Aurora kinase inhibitors in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1026020. [PMID: 36387232 PMCID: PMC9647054 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1026020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies, classified into two major histological subtypes: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), that accounts for about 85% of new diagnosis, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the other 15%. In the case of NSCLC, comprehensive genome sequencing has allowed the identification of an increasing number of actionable targets, which have become the cornerstone of treatment in the advanced setting. On the other hand, the concept of oncogene-addiction is lacking in SCLC, and the only innovation of the last 30 years has been the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors in extensive stage disease. Dysregulation of cell cycle is a fundamental step in carcinogenesis, and Aurora kinases (AURKs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play a crucial role in the correct advance through the steps of the cycle. Hyperexpression of Aurora kinases is a common protumorigenic pathway in many cancer types, including NSCLC and SCLC; in addition, different mechanisms of resistance to anticancer drugs rely on AURK expression. Hence, small molecule inhibitors of AURKs have been developed in recent years and tested in several malignancies, with different results. The aim of this review is to analyze the current evidences of AURK inhibition in lung cancer, starting from preclinical rationale to finish with clinical trials available up to now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Stefani
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Geny Piro
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Schietroma
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Strusi
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Vita
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Fiorani
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Diletta Barone
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Monaca
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ileana Sparagna
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giustina Valente
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Grazia Ferrara
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore D’Argento
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariantonietta Di Salvatore
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Carbone
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Bria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Section of Medical Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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8
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AURKA is a prognostic biomarker for good overall survival in stage II colorectal cancer patients. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 235:153936. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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9
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Kim CH, Kim DE, Kim DH, Min GH, Park JW, Kim YB, Sung CK, Yim H. Mitotic protein kinase-driven crosstalk of machineries for mitosis and metastasis. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:414-425. [PMID: 35379935 PMCID: PMC9076678 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00750-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that mitotic protein kinases are involved in metastatic migration as well as tumorigenesis. Protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins play a role in the efficient release of metastatic cells from a tumor mass in the tumor microenvironment, in addition to playing roles in mitosis. Mitotic protein kinases, including Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Aurora kinases, have been shown to be involved in metastasis in addition to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, depending on the phosphorylation status and cellular context. Although the genetic programs underlying mitosis and metastasis are different, the same protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins can participate in both mitosis and cell migration/invasion, resulting in migratory tumors. Cytoskeletal remodeling supports several cellular events, including cell division, movement, and migration. Thus, understanding the contributions of cytoskeletal proteins to the processes of cell division and metastatic motility is crucial for developing efficient therapeutic tools to treat cancer metastases. Here, we identify mitotic kinases that function in cancer metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. Several mitotic kinases, namely, PLK1, Aurora kinases, Rho-associated protein kinase 1, and integrin-linked kinase, are considered in this review, as an understanding of the shared machineries between mitosis and metastasis could be helpful for developing new strategies to treat cancer. Improving understanding of the mechanisms linking cell division and cancer spread (metastasis) could provide novel strategies for treatment. A group of enzymes involved in cell division (mitosis) are also thought to play critical roles in the spread of cancers. Hyungshin Yim at Hanyang University in Ansan, South Korea, and co-workers in Korea and the USA reviewed the roles of several mitotic enzymes that are connected with metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. They discussed how these enzymes modify cytoskeletal proteins and other substrates during cancer progression. Some regulatory control of cell cytoskeletal structures is required for cancer cells to metastasize. Recent research has uncovered crosstalk between mitotic enzymes and metastatic cytoskeletal molecules in various cancers. Targeting mitotic enzymes and the ways they influence cytoskeletal mechanisms could provide valuable therapeutic strategies for suppressing metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hyeon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Da-Eun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Dae-Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Ga-Hong Min
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Jung-Won Park
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Yeo-Bin Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Chang K Sung
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Hyungshin Yim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea.
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10
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Chen YP, Yuan L, Lin HR, Huang XK, Ruan JC, Zhuo ZJ. AURKA gene polymorphisms and central nervous system tumor susceptibility in Chinese children. Discov Oncol 2021; 12:62. [PMID: 35201446 PMCID: PMC8777528 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-021-00459-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Central nervous system (CNS) tumors comprise 15-20% of all malignancies occurring in childhood and adolescence. Previous researches have shown that overexpression and amplification of the AURKA gene could induce multiple human malignancies, with which the connection of CNS tumor susceptibility has not been extensively studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, we assessed whether and to what extent AURKA gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1047972 C > T, rs2273535 T > A, rs8173 G > C) were associated with CNS tumor susceptibility, based on a case-control analysis in 191 CNS tumor patients and 248 controls. We determined this correlation using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS AURKA gene rs8173 G > C exhibited a crucial function to CNS tumor susceptibility fall-off (GC/CC vs. GG: adjusted OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.46-0.998, P = 0.049). In addition, the combined effect of lowering the risk of developing CNS tumors was more pronounced in carriers with 3 protective genotypes than others (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.31-0.98, P = 0.044). Further stratification analysis illustrated that the existence of rs8173 GC/CC and three protective genotypes lowered CNS tumor risk in some subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Our research suggested that the AURKA gene rs8173 G > C could significantly reduce CNS tumor susceptibility in Chinese children. More functional experiments are needed to explore the role of the AURKA gene rs8173 G > C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Ping Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research in Structural Birth Defect Disease, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui-Ran Lin
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, 999078, China
| | - Xiao-Kai Huang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 West Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ji-Chen Ruan
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 West Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zhen-Jian Zhuo
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research in Structural Birth Defect Disease, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China.
- Laboratory Animal Center, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
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SALL Proteins; Common and Antagonistic Roles in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246292. [PMID: 34944911 PMCID: PMC8699250 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Transcription factors play essential roles in regulating gene expression, impacting the cell phenotype and function, and in the response of cells to environmental conditions. Alterations in transcription factors, including gene amplification or deletion, point mutations, and expression changes, are implicated in carcinogenesis, cancer progression, metastases, and resistance to cancer treatments. Not surprisingly, transcription factor activity is altered in numerous cancers, representing a unique class of cancer drug targets. This review updates and integrates information on the SALL family of transcription factors, highlighting the synergistic and/or antagonistic functions they perform in various cancer types. Abstract SALL proteins are a family of four conserved C2H2 zinc finger transcription factors that play critical roles in organogenesis during embryonic development. They regulate cell proliferation, survival, migration, and stemness; consequently, they are involved in various human genetic disorders and cancer. SALL4 is a well-recognized oncogene; however, SALL1–3 play dual roles depending on the cancer context and stage of the disease. Current reviews of SALLs have focused only on SALL2 or SALL4, lacking an integrated view of the SALL family members in cancer. Here, we update the recent advances of the SALL members in tumor development, cancer progression, and therapy, highlighting the synergistic and/or antagonistic functions they perform in similar cancer contexts. We identified common regulatory mechanisms, targets, and signaling pathways in breast, brain, liver, colon, blood, and HPV-related cancers. In addition, we discuss the potential of the SALL family members as cancer biomarkers and in the cancer cells’ response to therapies. Understanding SALL proteins’ function and relationship will open new cancer biology, clinical research, and therapy perspectives.
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12
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Boos SL, Loevenich LP, Vosberg S, Engleitner T, Öllinger R, Kumbrink J, Rokavec M, Michl M, Greif PA, Jung A, Hermeking H, Neumann J, Kirchner T, Rad R, Jung P. Disease Modeling on Tumor Organoids Implicates AURKA as a Therapeutic Target in Liver Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:517-540. [PMID: 34700030 PMCID: PMC8688726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Patient-derived tumor organoids recapitulate the characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) and provide an ideal platform for preclinical evaluation of personalized treatment options. We aimed to model the acquisition of chemotolerance during first-line combination chemotherapy in metastatic CRC organoids. METHODS We performed next-generation sequencing to study the evolution of KRAS wild-type CRC organoids during adaptation to irinotecan-based chemotherapy combined with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 protein (Cas9)-editing showed the specific effect of KRASG12D acquisition in drug-tolerant organoids. Compound treatment strategies involving Aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibition were assessed for their capability to induce apoptosis in a drug-persister background. Immunohistochemical detection of AURKA was performed on a patient-matched cohort of primary tumors and derived liver metastases. RESULTS Adaptation to combination chemotherapy was accompanied by transcriptomic rather than gene mutational alterations in CRC organoids. Drug-tolerant cells evaded apoptosis and up-regulated MYC (c-myelocytomatosis oncogene product)/E2F1 (E2 family transcription factor 1) and/or interferon-α-related gene expression. Introduction of KRASG12D further increased the resilience of drug-persister CRC organoids against combination therapy. AURKA inhibition restored an apoptotic response in drug-tolerant KRAS-wild-type organoids. In dual epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)- pathway blockade-primed CRC organoids expressing KRASG12D, AURKA inhibition augmented apoptosis in cases that had acquired increased c-MYC protein levels during chemotolerance development. In patient-matched CRC cohorts, AURKA expression was increased in primary tumors and derived liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS Our study emphasizes the potential of patient-derived CRC organoids in modeling chemotherapy tolerance ex vivo. The applied therapeutic strategy of dual EGFR pathway blockade in combination with AURKA inhibition may prove effective for second-line treatment of chemotolerant CRC liver metastases with acquired KRAS mutation and increased AURKA/c-MYC expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L. Boos
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung) Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Leon P. Loevenich
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung) Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Vosberg
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Engleitner
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rupert Öllinger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Kumbrink
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Matjaz Rokavec
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Marlies Michl
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp A. Greif
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Jung
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Hermeking
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Neumann
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Kirchner
- German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Jung
- German Cancer Research Center, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung) Research Group, Oncogenic Signaling Pathways of Colorectal Cancer, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Peter Jung, Dr.rer.nat., Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Institut of Pathology, Thalkirchner Straße 36, D-80337, Munich, Germany. Fax: +49 89 21 80 736 04
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Jung J, Jeong H, Choi JW, Kim HS, Oh HE, Lee ES, Kim YS, Lee JH. Increased expression levels of AURKA and KIFC1 are promising predictors of progression and poor survival associated with gastric cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 224:153524. [PMID: 34148003 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Increased cell proliferation is a critical hallmark of cancer development and progression. The proliferation of tumor cells depends on mitotic deregulation. Here, we identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in gastric cancer (GC) through RNA sequencing data and bioinformatics analysis. Subsequent functional and pathway enrichment analyses showed that the screened DEGs were enriched in the mitosis-associated pathway. Based on the analysis results, we selected two signatures (aurora kinase A [AURKA] and kinesin family member C1 [KIFC1]) to determine their clinicopathological significance. The results showed a significant positive correlation between AURKA and KIFC1 expression both at the mRNA and protein levels. AURKA expression was positively correlated with distant metastases (p = 0.032) and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (p = 0.001). Elevated KIFC1 expression was significantly associated with tumor size (p = 0.029), depth of invasion (p < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), distant metastasis (p = 0.023), and TNM stage (p < 0.001). Higher AURKA (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.3, p < 0.001) and KIFC1 (HR = 1.41, p < 0.001) mRNA levels were also significantly correlated with poor overall survival. Thus, AURKA and KIFC1 could serve as potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon Jung
- Department of Pathology, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital, Simgok-Ro, 100 Gil, Seo-Gu, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hoiseon Jeong
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Woo Choi
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Sun Kim
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa Eun Oh
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Eung Seok Lee
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Sik Kim
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Han Lee
- Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-Ro, Danwon-Gu, Ansan-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 15355, Republic of Korea.
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Meng J, Liu HL, Ma D, Wang HY, Peng Y, Wang HL. Upregulation of aurora kinase A promotes vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration by activating the GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway in aortic-dissecting aneurysms. Life Sci 2020; 262:118491. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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15
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Grimaldi AM, Conte F, Pane K, Fiscon G, Mirabelli P, Baselice S, Giannatiempo R, Messina F, Franzese M, Salvatore M, Paci P, Incoronato M. The New Paradigm of Network Medicine to Analyze Breast Cancer Phenotypes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6690. [PMID: 32932728 PMCID: PMC7555916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous and complex disease as witnessed by the existence of different subtypes and clinical characteristics that poses significant challenges in disease management. The complexity of this tumor may rely on the highly interconnected nature of the various biological processes as stated by the new paradigm of Network Medicine. We explored The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-BRCA data set, by applying the network-based algorithm named SWItch Miner, and mapping the findings on the human interactome to capture the molecular interconnections associated with the disease modules. To characterize BC phenotypes, we constructed protein-protein interaction modules based on "hub genes", called switch genes, both common and specific to the four tumor subtypes. Transcriptomic profiles of patients were stratified according to both clinical (immunohistochemistry) and genetic (PAM50) classifications. 266 and 372 switch genes were identified from immunohistochemistry and PAM50 classifications, respectively. Moreover, the identified switch genes were functionally characterized to select an interconnected pathway of disease genes. By intersecting the common switch genes of the two classifications, we selected a unique signature of 28 disease genes that were BC subtype-independent and classification subtype-independent. Data were validated both in vitro (10 BC cell lines) and ex vivo (66 BC tissues) experiments. Results showed that four of these hub proteins (AURKA, CDC45, ESPL1, and RAD54L) were over-expressed in all tumor subtypes. Moreover, the inhibition of one of the identified switch genes (AURKA) similarly affected all BC subtypes. In conclusion, using a network-based approach, we identified a common BC disease module which might reflect its pathological signature, suggesting a new vision to face with the disease heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Grimaldi
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Katia Pane
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Giulia Fiscon
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Peppino Mirabelli
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Simona Baselice
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Rosa Giannatiempo
- Ospedale Evangelico Betania, Via Argine 604, 80147 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesco Messina
- Ospedale Evangelico Betania, Via Argine 604, 80147 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Monica Franzese
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Marco Salvatore
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Paola Paci
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Incoronato
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
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The GTEx Consortium atlas of genetic regulatory effects across human tissues. Science 2020; 369:1318-1330. [PMID: 32913098 PMCID: PMC7737656 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz1776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1901] [Impact Index Per Article: 475.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project was established to characterize genetic effects on the transcriptome across human tissues and to link these regulatory mechanisms to trait and disease associations. Here, we present analyses of the version 8 data, examining 15,201 RNA-sequencing samples from 49 tissues of 838 postmortem donors. We comprehensively characterize genetic associations for gene expression and splicing in cis and trans, showing that regulatory associations are found for almost all genes, and describe the underlying molecular mechanisms and their contribution to allelic heterogeneity and pleiotropy of complex traits. Leveraging the large diversity of tissues, we provide insights into the tissue specificity of genetic effects and show that cell type composition is a key factor in understanding gene regulatory mechanisms in human tissues.
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Liu X, Zhang Y, Wu S, Xu M, Shen Y, Yu M, Fan J, Wei S, Xu C, Huang L, Zhao H, Li X, Ye X. Palmatine induces G2/M phase arrest and mitochondrial-associated pathway apoptosis in colon cancer cells by targeting AURKA. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 175:113933. [PMID: 32224138 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.113933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Studies have shown that palmatine (PAL) has anti-cancer effects. However, the activity and potential mechanisms of PAL against colorectal cancer remain elusive. The results showed that PAL significantly inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo without significant effect on non-tumorigenic colon cells. Target prediction and clinical sample database analysis suggested that PAL may contribute to colon cancer cells phase arrest and apoptosis by targeting aurora kinase A (AURKA). Inhibition and overexpression of AURKA proved that PAL induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in colon cancer cells by targeting AURKA. Moreover, PAL promoted intracellular Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). PAL reduced the levels of AURKA, Bcl-xl and Bcl2 proteins, and promoted the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins P53, P73, Caspase3 and Caspase9, as well as the increase of cytochrome c (cyt. c) in cell lysates in vitro and in vivo. Together, our study confirmed that PAL induced G2/M phase arrest and mitochondrial-associated pathway apoptosis in colon cancer cells by targeting AURKA. PAL may provide a novel solution for the treatment of colon cancer by serving as a new AURKA inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yaru Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Siqi Wu
- Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Modernization, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Minmin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Youfeng Shen
- Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Modernization, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Min Yu
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jinhua Fan
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Sijia Wei
- Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Modernization, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Chaohang Xu
- Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Modernization, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xuegang Li
- Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Modernization, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
| | - Xiaoli Ye
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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Cervello M, Emma MR, Augello G, Cusimano A, Giannitrapani L, Soresi M, Akula SM, Abrams SL, Steelman LS, Gulino A, Belmonte B, Montalto G, McCubrey JA. New landscapes and horizons in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:3053-3094. [PMID: 32018226 PMCID: PMC7041742 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the sixth most frequent form of cancer and leads to the fourth highest number of deaths each year. HCC results from a combination of environmental factors and aging as there are driver mutations at oncogenes which occur during aging. Most of HCCs are diagnosed at advanced stage preventing curative therapies. Treatment in advanced stage is a challenging and pressing problem, and novel and well-tolerated therapies are urgently needed. We will discuss further advances beyond sorafenib that target additional signaling pathways and immune checkpoint proteins. The scenario of possible systemic therapies for patients with advanced HCC has changed dramatically in recent years. Personalized genomics and various other omics approaches may identify actionable biochemical targets, which are activated in individual patients, which may enhance therapeutic outcomes. Further studies are needed to identify predictive biomarkers and aberrantly activated signaling pathways capable of guiding the clinician in choosing the most appropriate therapy for the individual patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melchiorre Cervello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria R. Emma
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Augello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella Cusimano
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Lydia Giannitrapani
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences Maternal and Infantile Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maurizio Soresi
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences Maternal and Infantile Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Shaw M. Akula
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Stephen L. Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Linda S. Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Alessandro Gulino
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Human Pathology Section, Department of Health Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Beatrice Belmonte
- Tumour Immunology Unit, Human Pathology Section, Department of Health Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences Maternal and Infantile Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - James A. McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Gomaa A, Peng D, Chen Z, Soutto M, Abouelezz K, Corvalan A, El-Rifai W. Epigenetic regulation of AURKA by miR-4715-3p in upper gastrointestinal cancers. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16970. [PMID: 31740746 PMCID: PMC6861278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53174-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is frequently overexpressed in several cancers. miRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis indicated significant downregulation of miR-4715-3p. We found that miR-4715-3p has putative binding sites on the 3UTR region of AURKA. Upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma (UGC) tissue samples and cell models demonstrated significant overexpression of AURKA with downregulation of miR-4715-3p. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed binding of miR-4715-3p on the 3UTR region of AURKA. miR-4715-3p mediated a reduction in AURKA levels leading to G2/M delay, chromosomal polyploidy, and cell death. We also detected a remarkable decrease in GPX4, an inhibitor of ferroptosis, with an increase in cleaved PARP and caspase-3. Inhibition of AURKA using siRNA produced similar results, suggesting a possible link between AURKA and GPX4. Analysis of UGC samples and cell models demonstrated increased methylation levels of several CpG nucleotides upstream of miR-4715-3p. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced demethylation of several CpG nucleotides, restoring miR-4715-3p expression, leading to downregulation of AURKA. In conclusion, our data identified a novel epigenetic mechanism mediating silencing of miR-4715-3p and induction of AURKA in UGCs. Inhibition of AURKA or reconstitution of miR-4715-3p inhibited GPX4 and induced cell death, suggesting a link between AURKA and ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Gomaa
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Khaled Abouelezz
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alejandro Corvalan
- Advanced Center for Chronic Disease, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA.
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Discovery and Validation of Novel Biomarkers for Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Cells 2019; 8:cells8070713. [PMID: 31336942 PMCID: PMC6678810 DOI: 10.3390/cells8070713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) poses a critical medical challenge. However, novel biomarkers for diagnosis remain to be discovered. Therefore, innovative approaches are of the utmost importance for patient outcome. Here, we present a concept for blood-based biomarker discovery, investigating both epithelial and specifically stromal compartments, which have been neglected in search for novel candidates. We queried gene expression profiles of EOC including microdissected epithelium and adjacent stroma from benign and malignant tumours. Genes significantly differentially expressed within either the epithelial or the stromal compartments were retrieved. The expression of genes whose products are secreted yet absent in the blood of healthy donors were validated in tissue and blood from patients with pelvic mass by NanoString analysis. Results were confirmed by the comprehensive gene expression database, CSIOVDB (Ovarian cancer database of Cancer Science Institute Singapore). The top 25% of candidate genes were explored for their biomarker potential, and twelve were able to discriminate between benign and malignant tumours on transcript levels (p < 0.05). Among them T-cell differentiation protein myelin and lymphocyte (MAL), aurora kinase A (AURKA), stroma-derived candidates versican (VCAN), and syndecan-3 (SDC), which performed significantly better than the recently reported biomarker fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) to discern malignant from benign conditions. Furthermore, elevated MAL and AURKA expression levels correlated significantly with a poor prognosis. We identified promising novel candidates and found the stroma of EOC to be a suitable compartment for biomarker discovery.
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Wang-Bishop L, Chen Z, Gomaa A, Lockhart AC, Salaria S, Wang J, Lewis KB, Ecsedy J, Washington K, Beauchamp RD, El-Rifai W. Inhibition of AURKA Reduces Proliferation and Survival of Gastrointestinal Cancer Cells With Activated KRAS by Preventing Activation of RPS6KB1. Gastroenterology 2019; 156:662-675.e7. [PMID: 30342037 PMCID: PMC6368861 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Activation of KRAS signaling and overexpression of the aurora kinase A (AURKA) are often detected in luminal gastrointestinal cancers. We investigated regulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1 (RPS6KB1) by AURKA and the effects of alisertib, an AURKA inhibitor, in mice xenograft tumors grown from human gastrointestinal cancer cells with mutant, activated forms of KRAS. METHODS We tested the effects of alisertib or AURKA overexpression or knockdown in 10 upper gastrointestinal or colon cancer cell lines with KRAS mutations or amplifications using the CellTiter-Glo luminescence and clonogenic cell survival assays. We used the proximity ligation in situ assay to evaluate protein co-localization and immunoprecipitation to study protein interactions. Nude mice with xenograft tumors grown from HCT116, SNU-601, SW480, or SNU-1 cells were given oral alisertib (40 mg/kg, 5 times/wk) for 4 weeks. Tumor samples were collected and analyzed by immunoblots and immunohistochemistry. Tissue microarrays from 151 paraffin-embedded human colon tumors, with adjacent normal and adenoma tissues, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for levels of AURKA. RESULTS Alisertib reduced proliferation and survival of the cell lines tested. AURKA knockdown or inhibition with alisertib reduced levels of phosphorylated RPS6KB1 (at T389) and increased levels of proteins that induce apoptosis, including BIM, cleaved PARP, and cleaved caspase 3. AURKA co-localized and interacted with RPS6KB1, mediating RPS6KB1 phosphorylation at T389. We detected AURKA-dependent phosphorylation of RPS6KB1 in cell lines with mutations in KRAS but not in cells with wild-type KRAS. Administration of alisertib to mice with xenograft tumors significantly reduced tumor volumes (P < .001). Alisertib reduced phosphorylation of RPS6KB1 and Ki-67 and increased levels of cleaved caspase 3 in tumor tissues. In analyses of tissue microarrays, we found significant overexpression of AURKA in gastrointestinal tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues (P = .0003). CONCLUSION In studies of gastrointestinal cancer cell lines with activated KRAS, we found AURKA to phosphorylate RPS6KB1, promoting cell proliferation and survival and growth of xenograft tumors in mice. Agents that inhibit AURKA might slow the growth of gastrointestinal tumors with activation of KRAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Wang-Bishop
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Ahmed Gomaa
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Albert Craig Lockhart
- Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Safia Salaria
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jialiang Wang
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Keeli B. Lewis
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jeffrey Ecsedy
- Translational Medicine, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
| | - Kay Washington
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Robert Daniel Beauchamp
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee,Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare system, Miami, Florida.
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Willems E, Dedobbeleer M, Digregorio M, Lombard A, Lumapat PN, Rogister B. The functional diversity of Aurora kinases: a comprehensive review. Cell Div 2018; 13:7. [PMID: 30250494 PMCID: PMC6146527 DOI: 10.1186/s13008-018-0040-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aurora kinases are serine/threonine kinases essential for the onset and progression of mitosis. Aurora members share a similar protein structure and kinase activity, but exhibit distinct cellular and subcellular localization. AurA favors the G2/M transition by promoting centrosome maturation and mitotic spindle assembly. AurB and AurC are chromosome-passenger complex proteins, crucial for chromosome binding to kinetochores and segregation of chromosomes. Cellular distribution of AurB is ubiquitous, while AurC expression is mainly restricted to meiotically-active germ cells. In human tumors, all Aurora kinase members play oncogenic roles related to their mitotic activity and promote cancer cell survival and proliferation. Furthermore, AurA plays tumor-promoting roles unrelated to mitosis, including tumor stemness, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion. In this review, we aim to understand the functional interplay of Aurora kinases in various types of human cells, including tumor cells. The understanding of the functional diversity of Aurora kinases could help to evaluate their relevance as potential therapeutic targets in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Willems
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Matthias Dedobbeleer
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Marina Digregorio
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Lombard
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium.,2Department of Neurosurgery, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Paul Noel Lumapat
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium.,3Department of Neurology, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Bernard Rogister
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium.,3Department of Neurology, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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