The role of aberrant promoter hypermethylation of DACT1 in bladder urothelial carcinoma

The Role of DACT Family Members in Tumorigenesis and Tumor Progression

Disheveled-associated antagonist of β-catenin (DACT), which ubiquitously expressed in human tissue, is critical for regulating cell proliferation and several developmental processes in different cellular contexts. In addition, DACT is essential for some other cellular processes, such as cell apoptosis, migration and differentiation. Given the importance of DACT in these cellular processes, many scientists are gradually interested in studying the role of DACT in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. This review article focuses on the latest research regarding the essential functions and potential DACT mechanisms in the occurrence and progression of tumors. Our study indicates that DACT may act as a tumor biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as a promising therapeutic target in cancers.

DACT1 Overexpression in type I ovarian cancer inhibits malignant expansion and cis-platinum resistance by modulating canonical Wnt signalling and autophagy

Type I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is primarily resistant to platinum-based chemotherapies and needs novel therapeutics. Given the aberrant Wnt activation in type I EOC and the involvement of Dapper1 Antagonist of Catenin-1 (DACT1) in Wnt signalling, the role of DACT1 in tumourigenesis of type I EOC was evaluated. Firstly, all tested EOC cell lines and primary EOC tissues, especially type I EOC, were observed to have significantly lower DACT1 expression than normal controls. Next, 3AO cells, which arise from a patient with primary mucinous EOC and express low endogenous levels of DACT1, were transfected with a lentivirus carrying full-length DACT1 (3AO-DACT1), grew slower and formed smaller tumours in nude mice compared to 3AO-NC. Furthermore, 3AO-DACT1 had lower levels of key mediators of canonical Wnt signalling, Dvl2 and β-catenin, GSK-3β with phosphorylated Ser9, and the Wnt/β-catenin target genes, with significantly lower nuclear β-catenin levels. Additionally, 3AO-DACT which contained higher levels of lipidated LC3 (LC3-II) and Beclin1, but lower levels of p62/SQSTM1, were more sensitive to cis-platinum. And chloroquine partially rescued its cis-platinum resistance. We identified DACT1 as a negative regulator in type I EOC, protecting against malignant expansion by inhibiting canonical Wnt signalling and cis-platinum resistance by regulating autophagy.

Methylated CpG site count of dapper homolog 1 (DACT1) promoter prediction the poor survival of gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the clinical significance of the methylated status of CpG sites of dapper homolog 1 (DACT1) promoter in the survival prediction in gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

The large scale GC patients (n=459) were analyzed for the quantitatively methylated status of CpG sites of DACT1 DNA promoter with the bisulphite sequencing PCR (BSP). With gene sequencing analysis, the methylated statuses of 12 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in DACT1 promoter were detected to supply detailed information for the precisely prognostic prediction. Associations between molecular, clinicopathologic, and survival data were analyzed.

RESULTS

With the MSP detection, different methylated levels of DACT1 promoter were identified in the 25 GC tissues, while none of 25 normal gastric mucosal tissues were found to be methylated. DACT1 promoter methylation was found in 28.32% in 459 patients. GC patients with 4 or more methylated CpG sites of DACT1 promoter was significantly associated with the poorer survival (P=0.19). The methylated statuses of CpG -515, CpG -435, and CpG -430 sites were also identified to provide the elaborate survival discrimination for 459 GC patients, respectively (P=0.049, =0.006, and =0.037). In addition, we demonstrated that the methylated CpG site count had smallest AIC and BIC values than other three methylated status of CpG sites for prediction the survival of 459 GC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The methylated CpG site count of DACT1 promoter had the significant applicability for clinical evaluation the prognosis of GC.