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Martins EP, Vieira de Castro J, Fontes R, Monteiro-Reis S, Henrique R, Jerónimo C, Costa BM. Relevance of HOTAIR rs920778 and rs12826786 Genetic Variants in Bladder Cancer Risk and Survival. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:434. [PMID: 38275875 PMCID: PMC10814037 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The long non-coding RNA HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is associated with oncogenic features in bladder cancer and is predictive of poor clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with this disease. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the HOTAIR single nucleotide polymorphisms rs920778 and rs12826786 on bladder cancer risk and survival. This case-control study included 106 bladder cancer patients and 199 cancer-free controls. Polymorphisms were evaluated through PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were tested using univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. The effects on patient survival were evaluated using the log-rank test and Cox regression models. Our data showed that the HOTAIR rs920778 and rs12826786 genetic variants are not associated with the risk of developing bladder cancer. Nevertheless, survival analyses suggested that the HOTAIR rs920778 TT genotype and rs12826786 CC genotype are associated with increased survival in male bladder cancer patients and in patients, both male and female, who have primary tumors with a pathological stage of pT2. Together, these results suggest that, despite not being associated with bladder cancer risk, HOTAIR rs920778 and rs12826786 polymorphisms might represent new prognostic factors in this type of cancer. This is particularly important as these polymorphisms might be easily evaluated in bladder cancer patients in a minimally invasive manner to better predict their clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda P. Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.F.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.F.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rita Fontes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.F.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Monteiro-Reis
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP), CI-IPOP @RISE (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.-R.); (R.H.); (C.J.)
- Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP), CI-IPOP @RISE (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.-R.); (R.H.); (C.J.)
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, ICBAS-School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP), CI-IPOP @RISE (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.-R.); (R.H.); (C.J.)
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, ICBAS-School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.F.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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2
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Mendanha D, Gimondi S, Costa BM, Ferreira H, Neves NM. Microfluidic-derived docosahexaenoic acid liposomes for glioblastoma therapy. Nanomedicine 2023; 53:102704. [PMID: 37582426 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2023.102704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent malignant primary brain tumor and currently lacks an effective treatment. In this study, we utilized a microfluidic system to synthesize docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) liposomes for GBM therapy. DHA is an omega-3 (ω3) polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly found in human dietary consumption that has demonstrated potential in mitigating cancer development. The microfluidic device employed allowed for precise fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of liposomes by adjusting the flow rate ratios, flow rates, and lipid concentrations. Three distinct-sized liposomes, ranging from 80 nm and 130 nm, were successfully internalized by GBM cells, and demonstrated the ability to reduce the viability of these cells. Furthermore, DHA liposomes proved significantly more efficient in triggering apoptotic pathways, through caspase-3-dependent mechanisms, in comparison to free DHA. Thus, the nanomedicine platform established in this study presents new opportunities in the development of liposome formulations incorporating ω3 fatty acids for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Mendanha
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - S Gimondi
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - B M Costa
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - H Ferreira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - N M Neves
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
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3
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Outeiro-Pinho G, Barros-Silva D, Moreira-Silva F, Lobo J, Carneiro I, Morais A, Martins EP, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Correia MP, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Epigenetically-regulated miR-30a/c-5p directly target TWF1 and hamper ccRCC cell aggressiveness. Transl Res 2022; 249:110-127. [PMID: 35697274 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is highly prone to metastasize and displays an extremely low 5-year survival rate. Not only miRNAs (miRs) are key gene expression regulators but can also be epigenetically modified. Abnormal miR expression has been linked with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-driven ccRCC progression. MiR-30a/c-5p were found downregulated in ccRCC and associated with aggressiveness. Herein, we sought to unravel miR-30a/c-5p mechanistic role in ccRCC. RNA sequencing and genome-wide methylome data of ccRCC and normal tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were integrated to identify candidate miRs cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) loci deregulated in ccRCC. TargetScan was searched to identify miR putative targets. MiR-30a/c-5p expression and promoter methylation was evaluated in vitro, by PCR. Western blot, functional and luciferase assays were performed after cell transfection with either pre-miR, antimiR, or siRNA against twinfilin-1 (TWF1). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in ccRCC tissues. We found miR-30c-5p downregulation and aberrant promoter methylation in ccRCC tissues. In vitro studies revealed concomitant miR-30a/c-5p downregulation and increased promoter methylation, as well as a significant re-expression following decitabine treatment. Functional assays demonstrated that both miRs significantly decreased cell aggressiveness and the protein levels of EMT-promoting players, while upregulating epithelial markers, namely Claudin-1 and ZO-1. Importantly, we confirmed TWF1 as a direct target of both miRs, and its potential involvement in epithelial-mesenchymal transition/mesenchymal-epithelial transition regulation. IHC analysis revealed higher TWF1 expression in primary tissues from patients that developed metastases, after surgical treatment. Our results implicate miR-30a/c-5p in ccRCC cells' aggressiveness attenuation by directly targeting TWF1 and hampering EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Outeiro-Pinho
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal; Master in Molecular Medicine and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine-University of Porto (FMUP), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Barros-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipa Moreira-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isa Carneiro
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - António Morais
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Margareta P Correia
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal.
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Outeiro-Pinho G, Barros-Silva D, Aznar E, Sousa AI, Vieira-Coimbra M, Oliveira J, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Junker K, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Correction: MicroRNA-30a-5pme: a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma in tissue and urine samples. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:247. [PMID: 35965325 PMCID: PMC9377117 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02450-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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5
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Lopes M, Vieira de Castro J, Pojo M, Gonçalves CS, Martins EP, Coimbra B, Sotiropoulos I, Sousa N, Rodrigues AJ, Costa BM. Chronic Stress Does Not Influence the Survival of Mouse Models of Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:856210. [PMID: 35402232 PMCID: PMC8990973 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.856210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of a clear association between stress and cancer is still a matter of debate. Recent studies suggest that chronic stress is associated with some cancer types and may influence tumor initiation and patient prognosis, but its role in brain tumors is not known. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain cancer, for which effective treatments do not exist. Understanding how chronic stress, or its effector hormones glucocorticoids (GCs), may modulate GBM aggressiveness is of great importance. To address this, we used both syngeneic and xenograft in vivo orthotopic mouse models of GBM, in immunocompetent C57BL/6J or immunodeficient NSG mice, respectively, to evaluate how different paradigms of stress exposure could influence GBM aggressiveness and animals’ overall survival (OS). Our results demonstrated that a previous exposure to exogenous corticosterone administration, chronic restraint stress, or chronic unpredictable stress do not impact the OS of these mice models of GBM. Concordantly, ex vivo analyses of various GBM-relevant genes showed similar intra-tumor expression levels across all experimental groups. These findings suggest that corticosterone and chronic stress do not significantly affect GBM aggressiveness in murine models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lopes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta Pojo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Clement P, Smits M, van Osch MJP, Costa BM, Warnert EAH. Micro- to macroscale magnetic resonance imaging of glioma. Magn Reson Mater Phy 2022; 35:1-2. [PMID: 35107696 PMCID: PMC8901464 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-021-00999-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Clement
- Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (GIfMI), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marion Smits
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthias J P van Osch
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bruno M Costa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Esther A H Warnert
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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France G, Volianskis R, Ingram R, Bannister N, Rothärmel R, Irvine MW, Fang G, Burnell ES, Sapkota K, Costa BM, Chopra DA, Dravid SM, Michael-Titus AT, Monaghan DT, Georgiou J, Bortolotto ZA, Jane DE, Collingridge GL, Volianskis A. Differential regulation of STP, LTP and LTD by structurally diverse NMDA receptor subunit-specific positive allosteric modulators. Neuropharmacology 2022; 202:108840. [PMID: 34678377 PMCID: PMC8803579 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Different types of memory are thought to rely on different types of synaptic plasticity, many of which depend on the activation of the N-Methyl-D Aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in the possibility of using positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) as cognitive enhancers. Here we firstly review the evidence that NMDA receptor-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity: short-term potentiation (STP), long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) can be pharmacologically differentiated by using NMDAR ligands. These observations suggest that PAMs of NMDAR function, depending on their subtype selectivity, might differentially regulate STP, LTP and LTD. To test this hypothesis, we secondly performed experiments in rodent hippocampal slices with UBP714 (a GluN2A/2B preferring PAM), CIQ (a GluN2C/D selective PAM) and UBP709 (a pan-PAM that potentiates all GluN2 subunits). We report here, for the first time, that: (i) UBP714 potentiates sub-maximal LTP and reduces LTD; (ii) CIQ potentiates STP without affecting LTP; (iii) UBP709 enhances LTD and decreases LTP. We conclude that PAMs can differentially regulate distinct forms of NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity due to their subtype selectivity. This article is part of the Neuropharmacology Special Issue on ‘Glutamate Receptors – NMDA receptors’. NMDAR-dependent STP, LTP and LTD can be dissociated pharmacologically GluN2A/2B PAM UBP714 potentiates LTP and reduces LTD GluN2C/D PAM CIQ potentiates STP without affecting LTP NMDAR pan-PAM UBP709 potentiates LTD and reduces LTP
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Affiliation(s)
- G France
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - R Volianskis
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R Ingram
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - N Bannister
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - R Rothärmel
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - M W Irvine
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - G Fang
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - E S Burnell
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, UK
| | - K Sapkota
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - B M Costa
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA & Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - D A Chopra
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - S M Dravid
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - A T Michael-Titus
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - D T Monaghan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - J Georgiou
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Z A Bortolotto
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - D E Jane
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - G L Collingridge
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada; TANZ Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A Volianskis
- Schools of Clinical Sciences and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK; School of Biosciences, Museum Avenue, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
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8
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Martins EP, Gonçalves CS, Pojo M, Carvalho R, Ribeiro AS, Miranda‐Gonçalves V, Taipa R, Pardal F, Pinto AA, Custódia C, Faria CC, Baltazar F, Sousa N, Paredes J, Costa BM. Cadherin‐3
is a novel oncogenic biomarker with prognostic value in glioblastoma. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:2611-2631. [PMID: 34919784 PMCID: PMC9297769 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. The prognosis of patients is very poor, with a median overall survival of ~ 15 months after diagnosis. Cadherin‐3 (also known as P‐cadherin), a cell–cell adhesion molecule encoded by the CDH3 gene, is deregulated in several cancer types, but its relevance in GBM is unknown. In this study, we investigated the functional roles, the associated molecular signatures, and the prognostic value of CDH3/P‐cadherin in this highly malignant brain tumor. CDH3/P‐cadherin mRNA and protein levels were evaluated in human glioma samples. Knockdown and overexpression models of P‐cadherin in GBM were used to evaluate its functional role in vitro and in vivo. CDH3‐associated gene signatures were identified by enrichment analyses and correlations. The impact of CDH3 in the survival of GBM patients was assessed in independent cohorts using both univariable and multivariable models. We found that P‐cadherin protein is expressed in a subset of gliomas, with an increased percentage of positive samples in grade IV tumors. Concordantly, CDH3 mRNA levels in glioma samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database are increased in high‐grade gliomas. P‐cadherin displays oncogenic functions in multiple knockdown and overexpression GBM cell models by affecting cell viability, cell cycle, cell invasion, migration, and neurosphere formation capacity. Genes that were positively correlated with CDH3 are enriched for oncogenic pathways commonly activated in GBM. In vivo, GBM cells expressing high levels of P‐cadherin generate larger subcutaneous tumors and cause shorter survival of mice in an orthotopic intracranial model. Concomitantly, high CDH3 expression is predictive of shorter overall survival of GBM patients in independent cohorts. Together, our results show that CDH3/P‐cadherin expression is associated with aggressiveness features of GBM and poor patient prognosis, suggesting that it may be a novel therapeutic target for this deadly brain tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda P. Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Céline S. Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Marta Pojo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Rita Carvalho
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200‐135 Porto Portugal
| | - Ana S. Ribeiro
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200‐135 Porto Portugal
| | - Vera Miranda‐Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Ricardo Taipa
- Neuropathology Unit Department of Neurosciences Centro Hospitalar do Porto Porto Portugal
| | - Fernando Pardal
- Department of Pathology, Hospital de Braga 4710‐243 Braga Portugal
| | - Afonso A. Pinto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Braga 4710‐243 Braga Portugal
| | - Carlos Custódia
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Cláudia C. Faria
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
- Neurosurgery Department Hospital de Santa Maria Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte (CHLN) Lisbon Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Joana Paredes
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200‐135 Porto Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine University of Porto Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine University of Minho Campus Gualtar 4710‐057 Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
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9
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Pacheco C, Baltazar F, Costa BM, Sarmento B. Bringing vascularization into glioblastoma in vitro models. Trends Mol Med 2021; 28:84-86. [PMID: 34865985 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Tumor blood vessels create optimal conditions for glioblastoma (GBM) growth and therapy resistance. Therefore, tissue engineering techniques evolved towards allowing its inclusion in preclinical in vitro GBM models. In comparison with conventional ones, less representative of tumor biology, these new tools might significantly improve GBM treatment, contributing to a higher throughput screening in drug research and to the clinical translation of these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Pacheco
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; CESPU - Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; CESPU - Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal.
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10
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Celus W, Oliveira AI, Rivis S, Van Acker HH, Landeloos E, Serneels J, Cafarello ST, Van Herck Y, Mastrantonio R, Köhler A, Garg AD, Flamand V, Tamagnone L, Marine JC, Matteo MD, Costa BM, Bechter O, Mazzone M. Plexin-A4 Mediates Cytotoxic T-cell Trafficking and Exclusion in Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 10:126-141. [PMID: 34815265 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T cell (CTL) infiltration of the tumor carries the potential to limit cancer progression, but their exclusion by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment hampers the efficiency of immunotherapy. Here, we show that expression of the axon guidance molecule Plexin-A4 (Plxna4) in CTLs, especially in effector/memory CD8+ T cells, is induced upon T-cell activation, sustained in the circulation, but reduced when entering the tumor bed. Therefore, we deleted Plxna4 and observed that Plxna4-deficient CTLs acquired improved homing capacity to the lymph nodes and to the tumor, as well as increased proliferation, both achieved through enhanced Rac1 activation. Mice with stromal or hematopoietic Plxna4 deletion exhibited enhanced CTL infiltration and impaired tumor growth. In a melanoma model, adoptive transfer of CTLs lacking Plxna4 prolonged survival and improved therapeutic outcome, which was even stronger when combined with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment. PLXNA4 abundance in circulating CTLs was augmented in melanoma patients versus healthy volunteers but decreased after the first cycle of anti-PD-1, alone or in combination with anti-cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4), in those patients showing complete or partial response to the treatment. Altogether, our data suggest that Plxna4 acts as a "checkpoint," negatively regulating CTL migration and proliferation through cell-autonomous mechanisms independent of the interaction with host-derived Plxna4 ligands, semaphorins. These findings pave the way toward Plxna4-centric immunotherapies and propose Plxna4 detection in circulating CTLs as a potential way to monitor the response to immune checkpoint blockade in patients with metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ward Celus
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana I Oliveira
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Silvia Rivis
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ewout Landeloos
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jens Serneels
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Trusso Cafarello
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yannick Van Herck
- Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roberta Mastrantonio
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaud Köhler
- Institute for Medical Immunology, ULB-Center for Research in Immunology, Gosselies, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Abhishek D Garg
- Laboratory of Cell Stress & Immunity, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Véronique Flamand
- Institute for Medical Immunology, ULB-Center for Research in Immunology, Gosselies, Belgium.,Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Luca Tamagnone
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Di Matteo
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Oliver Bechter
- Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Miranda-Gonçalves V, Gonçalves CS, Granja S, Vieira de Castro J, Reis RM, Costa BM, Baltazar F. MCT1 Is a New Prognostic Biomarker and Its Therapeutic Inhibition Boosts Response to Temozolomide in Human Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143468. [PMID: 34298681 PMCID: PMC8306807 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma, the brain tumour with highest prevalence and lethality, exhibits a characteristic glycolytic phenotype with increased lactate production. Recently, we reported a MCT1 overexpression in GBMs tumours, being associated to tumour growth and aggressiveness. Thus, we aimed to disclose the role of MCT1 in GBM prognosis and in vivo therapy response. Importantly, MCT1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis of GBM. Moreover, MCT1 inhibition retards GBM tumour growth and boosts response to temozolomide treatment. Abstract Background: Glioblastomas (GBMs) present remarkable metabolism reprograming, in which many cells display the “Warburg effect”, with the production of high levels of lactate that are extruded to the tumour microenvironment by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). We described previously that MCT1 is up-regulated in human GBM samples, and MCT1 inhibition decreases glioma cell viability and aggressiveness. In the present study, we aimed to unveil the role of MCT1 in GBM prognosis and to explore it as a target for GBM therapy in vivo. Methods: MCT1 activity and protein expression were inhibited by AR-C155858 and CHC compounds or stable knockdown with shRNA, respectively, to assess in vitro and in vivo the effects of MCT1 inhibition and on response of GBM to temozolomide. Survival analyses on GBM patient cohorts were performed using Cox regression and Log-rank tests. Results: High levels of MCT1 expression were revealed to be a predictor of poor prognosis in multiple cohorts of GBM patients. Functionally, in U251 GBM cells, MCT1 stable knockdown decreased glucose consumption and lactate efflux, compromising the response to the MCT1 inhibitors CHC and AR-C155858. MCT1 knockdown significantly increased the survival of orthotopic GBM intracranial mice models when compared to their control counterparts. Furthermore, MCT1 downregulation increased the sensitivity to temozolomide in vitro and in vivo, resulting in significantly longer mice survival. Conclusions: This work provides first evidence for MCT1 as a new prognostic biomarker of GBM survival and further supports MCT1 targeting, alone or in combination with classical chemotherapy, for the treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Céline S. Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Granja
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- Research Centre in Health and Environment (CISA), School of Health (ESS), Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathological, Cytological and Thanatological Anatomy, School of Health (ESS), Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui M. Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos 14784-400, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (V.M.-G.); (C.S.G.); (S.G.); (J.V.d.C.); (R.M.R.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-253-604828
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12
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Mendanha D, Vieira de Castro J, Moreira J, Costa BM, Cidade H, Pinto M, Ferreira H, Neves NM. A New Chalcone Derivative with Promising Antiproliferative and Anti-Invasion Activities in Glioblastoma Cells. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113383. [PMID: 34205043 PMCID: PMC8199914 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most deadly primary malignant brain tumor. Current therapies are not effective, the average survival of GBM patients after diagnosis being limited to few months. Therefore, the discovery of new treatments for this highly aggressive brain cancer is urgently needed. Chalcones are synthetic and naturally occurring compounds that have been widely investigated as anticancer agents. In this work, three chalcone derivatives were tested regarding their inhibitory activity and selectivity towards GBM cell lines (human and mouse) and a non-cancerous mouse brain cell line. The chalcone 1 showed the most potent and selective cytotoxic effects in the GBM cell lines, being further investigated regarding its ability to reduce critical hallmark features of GBM and to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This derivative showed to successfully reduce the invasion and proliferation capacity of tumor cells, both key targets for cancer treatment. Moreover, to overcome potential systemic side effects and its poor water solubility, this compound was encapsulated into liposomes. Therapeutic concentrations were incorporated retaining the potent in vitro growth inhibitory effect of the selected compound. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that this new formulation can be a promising starting point for the discovery of new and more effective drug treatments for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mendanha
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (D.M.); (J.V.d.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
| | - Joana Vieira de Castro
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (D.M.); (J.V.d.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
| | - Joana Moreira
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.M.); (H.C.); (M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Honorina Cidade
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.M.); (H.C.); (M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Madalena Pinto
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.M.); (H.C.); (M.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Helena Ferreira
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (D.M.); (J.V.d.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (H.F.); (N.M.N.)
| | - Nuno M. Neves
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (D.M.); (J.V.d.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (H.F.); (N.M.N.)
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13
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Marcelino H, Carvalho TMA, Tomás J, Teles FI, Honório AC, Rosa CB, Costa AR, Costa BM, Santos CRA, Sebastião AM, Cascalheira JF. Adenosine Inhibits Cell Proliferation Differently in Human Astrocytes and in Glioblastoma Cell Lines. Neuroscience 2021; 467:122-133. [PMID: 34033870 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common brain primary tumour. Hypoxic regions in GBM are associated to tumour growth. Adenosine accumulates in hypoxic regions and can affect cell proliferation and survival. However, how proliferating GBM cells respond/adapt to increased adenosine levels compared to human astrocytes (HA) is not clarified and was addressed in the present work. GBM cell lines and HA were treated for 3 days with test drugs. Thirty Adenosine (30 µM) caused a 43% ± 5% (P < 0.05) reduction of cell proliferation/viability in HA, through an adenosine receptor-independent mechanism, but had no effect in GBM cell lines U87MG, U373MG and SNB19. Contrastingly, inhibition of adenosine phosphorylation (using the adenosine kinase (ADK) inhibitor 5-iodotubercidin (ITU) (25 µM)), produced a strong and similar decrease on cell proliferation in both HA and GBM cells. The effect of adenosine on HA proliferation/viability was potentiated by 100 µM-homocysteine. Combined application of 30 µM-adenosine and 100 µM-homocysteine reduced the cell proliferation/viability in all three GBM cell lines, but this reduction was much lower than that observed in HA. Adenosine alone did not induce cell death, assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, both in HA and GBM cells, but potentiated the cytotoxic effect of homocysteine in HA and in U87MG and U373MG cells. Results show a strong attenuation of adenosine anti-proliferative effect in GBM cells compared to HA, probably resulting from increased adenosine elimination by ADK, suggesting a proliferative-prone adaptation of tumour cells to increased adenosine levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Marcelino
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Tiago M A Carvalho
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Tomás
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Francisca I Teles
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana C Honório
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Carolina B Rosa
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana R Costa
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cecília R A Santos
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Institute of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José F Cascalheira
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
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14
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Le Boiteux E, Court F, Guichet PO, Vaurs-Barrière C, Vaillant I, Chautard E, Verrelle P, Costa BM, Karayan-Tapon L, Fogli A, Arnaud P. Widespread overexpression from the four DNA hypermethylated HOX clusters in aggressive (IDHwt) glioma is associated with H3K27me3 depletion and alternative promoter usage. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:1995-2010. [PMID: 33720519 PMCID: PMC8334257 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In human, the 39 coding HOX genes and 18 referenced noncoding antisense transcripts are arranged in four genomic clusters named HOXA, B, C, and D. This highly conserved family belongs to the homeobox class of genes that encode transcription factors required for normal development. Therefore, HOX gene deregulation might contribute to the development of many cancer types. Here, we study HOX gene deregulation in adult glioma, a common type of primary brain tumor. We performed extensive molecular analysis of tumor samples, classified according to their isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) gene mutation status, and of glioma stem cells. We found widespread expression of sense and antisense HOX transcripts only in aggressive (IDHwt) glioma samples, although the four HOX clusters displayed DNA hypermethylation. Integrative analysis of expression, DNA methylation, and histone modification signatures along the clusters revealed that HOX gene upregulation relies on canonical and alternative bivalent CpG island promoters that escape hypermethylation. H3K27me3 loss at these promoters emerges as the main cause of widespread HOX gene upregulation in IDHwt glioma cell lines and tumors. Our study provides the first comprehensive description of the epigenetic changes at HOX clusters and their contribution to the transcriptional changes observed in adult glioma. It also identified putative 'master' HOX proteins that might contribute to the tumorigenic potential of glioma stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Le Boiteux
- CNRS, Inserm, GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Franck Court
- CNRS, Inserm, GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre-Olivier Guichet
- INSERM-U1084, Poitiers, France.,Poitiers University, France.,Department of Cancer Biology, Poitiers Hospital, France
| | | | - Isabelle Vaillant
- CNRS, Inserm, GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Emmanuel Chautard
- Pathology Department, Jean Perrin Center, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,INSERM, U1240 IMoST, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Verrelle
- CIMB, INSERM U1196 CNRS UMR9187, Curie Institute, Orsay, France.,Radiotherapy Department, Curie Institute, Paris, France.,Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Lucie Karayan-Tapon
- INSERM-U1084, Poitiers, France.,Poitiers University, France.,Department of Cancer Biology, Poitiers Hospital, France
| | - Anne Fogli
- CNRS, Inserm, GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Clermont-Ferrand Hospital, France
| | - Philippe Arnaud
- CNRS, Inserm, GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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15
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Oliveira C, Gonçalves CS, Martins EP, Neves NM, Reis RL, Costa BM, Silva TH, Martins A. Fucoidan/chitosan nanoparticles functionalized with anti-ErbB-2 target breast cancer cells and impair tumor growth in vivo. Int J Pharm 2021; 600:120548. [PMID: 33794324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The work herein presented reports the development of fucoidan/chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with gemcitabine and functionalized with ErbB-2 antibody at their surface (NPs + Gem + Ab). The maximum immobilization of ErbB-2 on NPs' surface was set at 10 μg mL-1 and resulted in NPs with a size around 160 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.18, and a zeta potential of 21 mV. ErbB-2 is overexpressed in some subtypes of breast cancers, and the targeting capability of the NPs + Gem + Ab system was confirmed by an increased cellular uptake of SKBR3 cells (ErbB-2 positive) when compared to MDA-MB-231 (ErbB-2 negative). To validate the targeting efficacy of NPs + Gem + Ab, a co-culture system with human endothelial and SKBR3 cells was established. Cytotoxic effects over endothelial cells were similar for all the tested conditions (between 25 and 30%). However, the NPs + Gem + Ab system presented increased toxicity over breast cancer cells, above 80% after 24 h, when compared to free Gem and NPs + Gem (around 15% and 20%, respectively). In vivo studies demonstrated that the developed targeting system significantly reduced tumor growth and the appearance of lung metastasis compared to untreated controls. In summary, the efficacy of the NPs + Gem + Ab system to target cancer cells was established and validated both in vitro and in vivo, being a compelling alternative strategy to current chemotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Oliveira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P Martins
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno M Neves
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Tiago H Silva
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Albino Martins
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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16
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Abstract
Network science has long been recognized as a well-established discipline across many biological domains. In the particular case of cancer genomics, network discovery is challenged by the multitude of available high-dimensional heterogeneous views of data. Glioblastoma (GBM) is an example of such a complex and heterogeneous disease that can be tackled by network science. Identifying the architecture of molecular GBM networks is essential to understanding the information flow and better informing drug development and pre-clinical studies. Here, we review network-based strategies that have been used in the study of GBM, along with the available software implementations for reproducibility and further testing on newly coming datasets. Promising results have been obtained from both bulk and single-cell GBM data, placing network discovery at the forefront of developing a molecularly-informed-based personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta B. Lopes
- Center for Mathematics and Applications (CMA), FCT, UNL, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics (NOVA LINCS), FCT, UNL, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P. Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Susana Vinga
- INESC-ID, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1000-029 Lisbon, Portugal;
- IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (E.P.M.); (B.M.C.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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17
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Vieira de Castro J, S. Gonçalves C, P. Martins E, Miranda-Lorenzo I, T. Cerqueira M, Longatto-Filho A, A. Pinto A, L. Reis R, Sousa N, Heeschen C, M. Costa B. Intracellular Autofluorescence as a New Biomarker for Cancer Stem Cells in Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:828. [PMID: 33669350 PMCID: PMC7920313 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are implicated in tumor initiation, progression, therapy resistance, and relapse, is of great biological and clinical relevance. In glioblastoma (GBM), this is still a challenge, as no single marker is able to universally identify populations of GBM cancer stem cells (GSCs). Indeed, there is still controversy on whether biomarker-expressing cells fulfill the functional criteria of bona fide GSCs, despite being widely used. Here, we describe a novel subpopulation of autofluorescent (Fluo+) cells in GBM that bear all the functional characteristics of GSCs, including higher capacity to grow as neurospheres, long-term self-renewal ability, increased expression of stem cell markers, and enhanced in vivo tumorigenicity. Mechanistically, the autofluorescent phenotype is largely due to the intracellular accumulation of riboflavin, mediated by the ABC transporter ABCG2. In summary, our work identifies an intrinsic cellular autofluorescent phenotype enriched in GBM cells with functional stem cells features that can be used as a novel, simple and reliable biomarker to target these highly malignant tumors, with implications for GBM biological and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.); (E.P.M.); (A.L.-F.); (N.S.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
| | - Céline S. Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.); (E.P.M.); (A.L.-F.); (N.S.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
| | - Eduarda P. Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.); (E.P.M.); (A.L.-F.); (N.S.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
| | - Irene Miranda-Lorenzo
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (I.M.-L.); (C.H.)
| | - Mariana T. Cerqueira
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Portugal
| | - Adhemar Longatto-Filho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.); (E.P.M.); (A.L.-F.); (N.S.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos 14784-400, Brazil
- Medical Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM) 14, Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Afonso A. Pinto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Braga, 4710-243 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Rui L. Reis
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.); (E.P.M.); (A.L.-F.); (N.S.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Stem Cells and Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (I.M.-L.); (C.H.)
- Center for Single-Cell Omics & State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.); (E.P.M.); (A.L.-F.); (N.S.)
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; (M.T.C.); (R.L.R.)
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18
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Linhares P, Carvalho B, Vaz R, Costa BM. Glioblastoma: Is There Any Blood Biomarker with True Clinical Relevance? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5809. [PMID: 32823572 PMCID: PMC7461098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent malignant primary brain tumor in adults, characterized by a highly aggressive, inflammatory and angiogenic phenotype. It is a remarkably heterogeneous tumor at several levels, including histopathologically, radiographically and genetically. The 2016 update of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System highlighted molecular parameters as paramount features for the diagnosis, namely IDH1/2 mutations that distinguish primary and secondary GBM. An ideal biomarker is a molecule that can be detected/quantified through simple non- or minimally invasive methods with the potential to assess cancer risk; promote early diagnosis; increase grading accuracy; and monitor disease evolution and treatment response, as well as fundamentally being restricted to one aspect. Blood-based biomarkers are particularly attractive due to their easy access and have been widely used for various cancer types. A number of serum biomarkers with multiple utilities for glioma have been reported that could classify glioma grades more precisely and provide prognostic value among these patients. At present, screening for gliomas has no clinical relevance. This is because of the low incidence, the lack of sensitive biomarkers in plasma, and the observation that gliomas may develop apparently de novo within few weeks or months. To the best of our knowledge, there is no routine use of a serum biomarker for clinical follow-up. The purpose of this paper is to review the serum biomarkers described in the literature related to glioblastoma and their possible relationship with clinical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Linhares
- Neurosurgery Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Alameda Prof Hernani Monteiro, 4200–319 Porto, Portugal; (P.L.); (R.V.)
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oporto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Carvalho
- Neurosurgery Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Alameda Prof Hernani Monteiro, 4200–319 Porto, Portugal; (P.L.); (R.V.)
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oporto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Vaz
- Neurosurgery Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Alameda Prof Hernani Monteiro, 4200–319 Porto, Portugal; (P.L.); (R.V.)
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oporto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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19
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Vieira de Castro J, Gonçalves CS, Hormigo A, Costa BM. Exploiting the Complexities of Glioblastoma Stem Cells: Insights for Cancer Initiation and Therapeutic Targeting. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155278. [PMID: 32722427 PMCID: PMC7432229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) in the 2000s revolutionized the cancer research field, raising new questions regarding the putative cell(s) of origin of this tumor type, and partly explaining the highly heterogeneous nature of glioblastoma (GBM). Increasing evidence has suggested that GSCs play critical roles in tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to conventional therapies. The remarkable oncogenic features of GSCs have generated significant interest in better defining and characterizing these cells and determining novel pathways driving GBM that could constitute attractive key therapeutic targets. While exciting breakthroughs have been achieved in the field, the characterization of GSCs is a challenge and the cell of origin of GBM remains controversial. For example, the use of several cell-surface molecular markers to identify and isolate GSCs has been a challenge. It is now widely accepted that none of these markers is, per se, sufficiently robust to distinguish GSCs from normal stem cells. Finding new strategies that are able to more efficiently and specifically target these niches could also prove invaluable against this devastating and therapy-insensitive tumor. In this review paper, we summarize the most relevant findings and discuss emerging concepts and open questions in the field of GSCs, some of which are, to some extent, pertinent to other cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Céline S. Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Adília Hormigo
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Medicine, The Tisch Cancer Institute and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029-6574, USA;
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (J.V.d.C.); (C.S.G.)
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +35-1-253-604-872
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20
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Outeiro-Pinho G, Barros-Silva D, Aznar E, Sousa AI, Vieira-Coimbra M, Oliveira J, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Junker K, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. MicroRNA-30a-5p me: a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma in tissue and urine samples. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:98. [PMID: 32487203 PMCID: PMC7323611 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01600-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background The rising incidence of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) constitutes a significant challenge owing to risk of overtreatment. Because aberrant microRNA (miR) promoter methylation contributes to cancer development, we investigated whether altered miR-30a-5p expression associates with DNA promoter methylation and evaluated the usefulness as clear cell RCC (ccRCC) diagnostic and prognostic markers. Methods Genome-wide methylome and RNA sequencing data from a set of ccRCC and normal tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were integrated to identify candidate CpG loci involved in cancer onset. MiR-30a-5p expression and promoter methylation were quantitatively assessed by PCR in a tissue set (Cohort #1) and urine sets (Cohorts #2 and 3) from IPOPorto and Homburg University Hospital. Non-parametric tests were used for comparing continuous variables. MiR-30a-5p promoter methylation (miR-30a-5pme) performance as diagnostic (receiver operator characteristics [ROC] - validity estimates) and prognostic [metastasis-free (MFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS)] biomarker was further validated in urine samples from ccRCC patients by Kaplan Meier curves (with log rank) and both univariable and multivariable analysis. Results Two significant hypermethylated CpG loci in TCGA ccRCC samples, correlating with miR-30a-5p transcriptional downregulation, were disclosed. MiR-30a-5pme in ccRCC tissues was confirmed in an independent patient’s cohort of IPOPorto and associated with shorter time to relapse. In urine samples, miR-30a-5pme levels identified cancer both in testing and validation cohorts, with 83% sensitivity/53% specificity and 63% sensitivity/67% specificity, respectively. Moreover, higher miR-30a-5pme levels independently predicted metastatic dissemination and survival. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study validating the diagnostic and prognostic potential of miR-30a-5pme for ccRCC in urine samples, providing new insights for its clinical usefulness as non-invasive cancer biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Outeiro-Pinho
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Master in Molecular Medicine and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine-University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Barros-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Elena Aznar
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigación de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico (IDM), Universitat de València, CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana-Isabel Sousa
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia Vieira-Coimbra
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Oliveira
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Kerstin Junker
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar-University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar-University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
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21
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Gonçalves CS, Xavier-Magalhães A, Martins EP, Pinto AA, Pires MM, Pinheiro C, Reis RM, Sousa N, Costa BM. A novel molecular link between HOXA9 and WNT6 in glioblastoma identifies a subgroup of patients with particular poor prognosis. Mol Oncol 2020; 14:1224-1241. [PMID: 31923345 PMCID: PMC7266278 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite much effort to improve treatments, patients with malignant glioma still present a very poor prognosis that has not changed significantly in the last decades. In this context, it is crucial to better understand glioma pathogenesis to identify new molecular prognostic subgroups and therapeutic targets. WNT6 was recently identified as a new oncogenic molecule in glioblastoma (GBM), with prognostic value in patients, but the mechanisms underlying WNT6 aberrant expression in glioma are still unknown. WNT6 was overexpressed in a subset of gliomas independently of IDH mutations, 1p/19q codeletion status, and WNT6 gene copy number. Interestingly, WNT6 expression is associated with the DNA methylation levels of particular CpG regions at both the WNT6 promoter and the gene body in glioma patient samples. HOXA9, a transcription factor previously associated with poorer clinical outcome in GBM, was identified as a novel transcriptional regulator of WNT6, activating the WNT/β‐catenin pathway in vitro and in vivo. In various cohorts of glioma patients, mRNA levels of WNT6 and HOXA9 were significantly correlated, extending our in vitro and in vivo findings into the clinical setting. Interestingly, this novel molecular link between WNT6 and HOXA9 was not limited to glioma, as they were co‐expressed also in patients with other tumor types. Clinically, WNT6 was a prognostic biomarker of shorter survival in GBM, independently of HOXA9 expression. Concomitant high expression of both WNT6 and HOXA9 identified a subgroup of patients with particularly dismal survival. These findings describe novel WNT6 regulatory mechanisms in GBM, establishing particular DNA methylation patterns and HOXA9 as critical regulators of WNT6 expression in glioma. This HOXA9‐WNT6 molecular link supports WNT signaling in GBM cells and is a powerful prognostic biomarker, highlighting the clinical relevance of this axis in patients. Novel therapies targeting WNT6‐HOXA9 signaling may thus be useful for this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P Martins
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Afonso A Pinto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Escala Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Célia Pinheiro
- Neurosurgery Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui M Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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22
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Gonçalves CS, Le Boiteux E, Arnaud P, Costa BM. HOX gene cluster (de)regulation in brain: from neurodevelopment to malignant glial tumours. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:3797-3821. [PMID: 32239260 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03508-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
HOX genes encode a family of evolutionarily conserved homeodomain transcription factors that are crucial both during development and adult life. In humans, 39 HOX genes are arranged in four clusters (HOXA, B, C, and D) in chromosomes 7, 17, 12, and 2, respectively. During embryonic development, particular epigenetic states accompany their expression along the anterior-posterior body axis. This tightly regulated temporal-spatial expression pattern reflects their relative chromosomal localization, and is critical for normal embryonic brain development when HOX genes are mainly expressed in the hindbrain and mostly absent in the forebrain region. Epigenetic marks, mostly polycomb-associated, are dynamically regulated at HOX loci and regulatory regions to ensure the finely tuned HOX activation and repression, highlighting a crucial epigenetic plasticity necessary for homeostatic development. HOX genes are essentially absent in healthy adult brain, whereas they are detected in malignant brain tumours, namely gliomas, where HOX genes display critical roles by regulating several hallmarks of cancer. Here, we review the major mechanisms involved in HOX genes (de)regulation in the brain, from embryonic to adult stages, in physiological and oncologic conditions. We focus particularly on the emerging causes of HOX gene deregulation in glioma, as well as on their functional and clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Elisa Le Boiteux
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM-iGReD, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Philippe Arnaud
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM-iGReD, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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23
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Estevão-Pereira H, Lobo J, Salta S, Amorim M, Lopes P, Cantante M, Reis B, Antunes L, Castro F, Palma de Sousa S, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Overexpression of circulating MiR-30b-5p identifies advanced breast cancer. J Transl Med 2019; 17:435. [PMID: 31888645 PMCID: PMC6936051 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-02193-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BrC) remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in women, mainly due to recurrent and/or metastatic events, entailing the need for biomarkers predictive of progression to advanced disease. MicroRNAs hold promise as noninvasive cancer biomarkers due to their inherent stability and resilience in tissues and bodily fluids. There is increasing evidence that specific microRNAs play a functional role at different steps of the metastatic cascade, behaving as signaling mediators to enable the colonization of a specific organ. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the biomarker performance of microRNAs previously reported as associated with prognosis for predicting BrC progression in liquid biopsies. METHODS Selected microRNAs were assessed using a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in a testing cohort of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary (n = 16) and metastatic BrC tissues (n = 22). Then, miR-30b-5p and miR-200b-3p were assessed in a validation cohort #1 of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary (n = 82) and metastatic BrC tissues (n = 93), whereas only miR-30b-5p was validated on a validation cohort #2 of liquid biopsies from BrC patients with localized (n = 20) and advanced (n = 25) disease. ROC curve was constructed to evaluate prognostic performance. RESULTS MiR-30b-5p was differentially expressed in primary tumors and paired metastatic lesions, with bone metastases displaying significantly higher miR-30b-5p expression levels, paralleling the corresponding primary tumors. Interestingly, patients with advanced disease disclosed increased circulating miR-30b-5p expression compared to patients with localized BrC. CONCLUSIONS MiR-30b-5p might identify BrC patients at higher risk of disease progression, thus, providing a useful clinical tool for patients' monitoring, entailing earlier and more effective treatment. Nonetheless, validation in larger multicentric cohorts is mandatory to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Estevão-Pereira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Master in Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Salta
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Amorim
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Lopes
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Berta Reis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Department of Epidemiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Castro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana Palma de Sousa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Research Center-LAB 3, F Bdg, 1st floor, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar - University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal.
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24
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Branco M, Linhares P, Carvalho B, Santos P, Costa BM, Vaz R. Serum lactate levels are associated with glioma malignancy grade. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2019; 186:105546. [PMID: 31605893 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2019.105546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent studies have suggested that high grade gliomas are associated with elevated serum lactate concentrations. The aim of the present study is to assess these findings in a sample of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the anesthetic charts of patients with low-grade and high-grade glioma who underwent resection surgery and collected serum lactate concentration before tumor resection, as well as other demographic and tumor-related data (age, gender, WHO grade, and size of the tumor). A statistical comparison between patients with normal (<2 mmol/L) and elevated (≥ 2 mmol/L) serum lactate was performed. RESULTS We included a total of 152 patients (mean age 49.07 years). 62.5% of patients (n = 95) had a high-grade glioma and 37.5% (n = 67) a low-grade glioma. The multivariate regression showed that high grade gliomas had significantly higher lactate concentration (p < 0.01). The OR for elevated pre-resection serum lactate increased from 4.94 to 14.33 after adjusting for age and pre-surgical corticosteroid use, and the AUC for the final regression model was 0.98. CONCLUSION This study reinforces the role of serum lactate as a potential biomarker of brain tumors malignancy, and its results encourage further research on this subject, in order to improve the understanding of this phenomenon and to assess its potential as prognostic and therapeutic monitoring tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Branco
- Serviço de Neurologia, Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Linhares
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Serviço de Neurocirurgia, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Portugal
| | - Bruno Carvalho
- Serviço de Neurocirurgia, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Santos
- Serviço de Anestesiologia, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal
| | - Rui Vaz
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Serviço de Neurocirurgia, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Portugal
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25
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26
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Mancini A, Xavier-Magalhães A, Woods WS, Nguyen KT, Amen AM, Hayes JL, Fellmann C, Gapinske M, McKinney AM, Hong C, Jones LE, Walsh KM, Bell RJA, Doudna JA, Costa BM, Song JS, Perez-Pinera P, Costello JF. Disruption of the β1L Isoform of GABP Reverses Glioblastoma Replicative Immortality in a TERT Promoter Mutation-Dependent Manner. Cancer Cell 2018; 34:513-528.e8. [PMID: 30205050 PMCID: PMC6135086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
TERT promoter mutations reactivate telomerase, allowing for indefinite telomere maintenance and enabling cellular immortalization. These mutations specifically recruit the multimeric ETS factor GABP, which can form two functionally independent transcription factor species: a dimer or a tetramer. We show that genetic disruption of GABPβ1L (β1L), a tetramer-forming isoform of GABP that is dispensable for normal development, results in TERT silencing in a TERT promoter mutation-dependent manner. Reducing TERT expression by disrupting β1L culminates in telomere loss and cell death exclusively in TERT promoter mutant cells. Orthotopic xenografting of β1L-reduced, TERT promoter mutant glioblastoma cells rendered lower tumor burden and longer overall survival in mice. These results highlight the critical role of GABPβ1L in enabling immortality in TERT promoter mutant glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mancini
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Wendy S Woods
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Kien-Thiet Nguyen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alexandra M Amen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Josie L Hayes
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Christof Fellmann
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael Gapinske
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Andrew M McKinney
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Chibo Hong
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lindsey E Jones
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kyle M Walsh
- Division of Neuroepidemiology, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Robert J A Bell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Jun S Song
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Pablo Perez-Pinera
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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27
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Gonçalves CS, de Castro JV, Pojo M, Martins EP, Queirós S, Chautard E, Taipa R, Pires MM, Pinto AA, Pardal F, Custódia C, Faria CC, Clara C, Reis RM, Sousa N, Costa BM. WNT6 is a novel oncogenic prognostic biomarker in human glioblastoma. Theranostics 2018; 8:4805-4823. [PMID: 30279739 PMCID: PMC6160775 DOI: 10.7150/thno.25025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a universally fatal brain cancer, for which novel therapies targeting specific underlying oncogenic events are urgently needed. While the WNT pathway has been shown to be frequently activated in GBM, constituting a potential therapeutic target, the relevance of WNT6, an activator of this pathway, remains unknown. Methods: WNT6 protein and mRNA levels were evaluated in GBM. WNT6 levels were silenced or overexpressed in GBM cells to assess functional effects in vitro and in vivo. Phospho-kinase arrays and TCF/LEF reporter assays were used to identify WNT6-signaling pathways, and significant associations with stem cell features and cancer-related pathways were validated in patients. Survival analyses were performed with Cox regression and Log-rank tests. Meta-analyses were used to calculate the estimated pooled effect. Results: We show that WNT6 is significantly overexpressed in GBMs, as compared to lower-grade gliomas and normal brain, at mRNA and protein levels. Functionally, WNT6 increases typical oncogenic activities in GBM cells, including viability, proliferation, glioma stem cell capacity, invasion, migration, and resistance to temozolomide chemotherapy. Concordantly, in in vivo orthotopic GBM mice models, using both overexpressing and silencing models, WNT6 expression was associated with shorter overall survival, and increased features of tumor aggressiveness. Mechanistically, WNT6 contributes to activate typical oncogenic pathways, including Src and STAT, which intertwined with the WNT pathway may be critical effectors of WNT6-associated aggressiveness in GBM. Clinically, we establish WNT6 as an independent prognostic biomarker of shorter survival in GBM patients from several independent cohorts. Conclusion: Our findings establish WNT6 as a novel oncogene in GBM, opening opportunities to develop more rational therapies to treat this highly aggressive tumor.
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28
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Celus W, Di Conza G, Oliveira AI, Ehling M, Costa BM, Wenes M, Mazzone M. Loss of Caveolin-1 in Metastasis-Associated Macrophages Drives Lung Metastatic Growth through Increased Angiogenesis. Cell Rep 2018; 21:2842-2854. [PMID: 29212030 PMCID: PMC5732321 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it is well established that tumor-associated macrophages take part in each step of cancer progression, less is known about the distinct role of the so-called metastasis-associated macrophages (MAMs) at the metastatic site. Previous studies reported that Caveolin-1 (Cav1) has both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive functions. However, the role of Cav1 in bone-marrow-derived cells is unknown. Here, we describe Cav1 as an anti-metastatic regulator in mouse models of lung and breast cancer pulmonary metastasis. Among all the recruited inflammatory cell populations, we show that MAMs uniquely express abundant levels of Cav1. Using clodronate depletion of macrophages, we demonstrate that macrophage Cav1 signaling is critical for metastasis and not for primary tumor growth. In particular, Cav1 inhibition does not affect MAM recruitment to the metastatic site but, in turn, favors angiogenesis. We describe a mechanism by which Cav1 in MAMs specifically restrains vascular endothelial growth factor A/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGF-A/VEGFR1) signaling and its downstream effectors, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1). Macrophage Cav1 signaling is critical for restraining lung metastatic growth Cav1 deletion in macrophages favors angiogenesis at the lung metastatic site Cav1 suppresses VEGF-A/VEGFR1 activity and its downstream effectors, MMP9 and CSF1
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Affiliation(s)
- Ward Celus
- Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giusy Di Conza
- Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana Isabel Oliveira
- Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Manuel Ehling
- Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Mathias Wenes
- Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Lab of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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29
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Oliveira AI, Xavier-Magalhães A, Moreira-Barbosa C, Magalhães H, Henrique R, Jerónimo C, Costa BM. Influence of HOTAIR rs920778 and rs12826786 genetic variants on prostate cancer risk and progression-free survival. Biomark Med 2018; 12:257-264. [DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2017-0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Evaluate the impact of the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs920778 and rs12826786 in the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR in the susceptibility and prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Patients & methods: HOTAIR single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism in 151 PCa cases and 180 cancer-free controls. Odds ratio, 95% CIs and prognostic significance were calculated. Results: Our data showed no statistically significant associations between HOTAIR polymorphic variants in rs920778 and rs12826786 and PCa susceptibility. However, the CC genotype in rs12826786 was significantly associated with shorter biochemical recurrence-free survival in pT3-stage PCa patients. Conclusion: Our results indicate that HOTAIR rs12826786 CC genotype may be an independent prognostic biomarker in a particular subset of PCa tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Oliveira
- Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Catarina Moreira-Barbosa
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group – Research Center CI-IPOP, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Magalhães
- Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group – Research Center CI-IPOP, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar – University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group – Research Center CI-IPOP, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar – University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Miranda-Gonçalves V, Granja S, Martinho O, Honavar M, Pojo M, Costa BM, Pires MM, Pinheiro C, Cordeiro M, Bebiano G, Costa P, Reis RM, Baltazar F. Hypoxia-mediated upregulation of MCT1 expression supports the glycolytic phenotype of glioblastomas. Oncotarget 2018; 7:46335-46353. [PMID: 27331625 PMCID: PMC5216802 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastomas (GBM) present a high cellular heterogeneity with conspicuous necrotic regions associated with hypoxia, which is related to tumor aggressiveness. GBM tumors exhibit high glycolytic metabolism with increased lactate production that is extruded to the tumor microenvironment through monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). While hypoxia-mediated regulation of MCT4 has been characterized, the role of MCT1 is still controversial. Thus, we aimed to understand the role of hypoxia in the regulation of MCT expression and function in GBM, MCT1 in particular. Methods Expression of hypoxia- and glycolytic-related markers, as well as MCT1 and MCT4 isoforms was assessed in in vitro and in vivo orthotopic glioma models, and also in human GBM tissues by immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Following MCT1 inhibition, either pharmacologically with CHC (α-cyano-4-hydroxynnamic acid) or genetically with siRNAs, we assessed GBM cell viability, proliferation, metabolism, migration and invasion, under normoxia and hypoxia conditions. Results Hypoxia induced an increase in MCT1 plasma membrane expression in glioma cells, both in in vitro and in vivo models. Additionally, treatment with CHC and downregulation of MCT1 in glioma cells decreased lactate production, cell proliferation and invasion under hypoxia. Moreover, in the in vivo orthotopic model and in human GBM tissues, there was extensive co-expression of MCT1, but not MCT4, with the GBM hypoxia marker CAIX. Conclusion Hypoxia-induced MCT1 supports GBM glycolytic phenotype, being responsible for lactate efflux and an important mediator of cell survival and aggressiveness. Therefore, MCT1 constitutes a promising therapeutic target in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Granja
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Olga Martinho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mrinalini Honavar
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Marta Pojo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuel M Pires
- Unit of Neuropathology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Célia Pinheiro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Gil Bebiano
- Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
| | - Paulo Costa
- Radiotherapy Service, Centro Hospitalar do Montijo, Setúbal, Portugal
| | - Rui M Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Ferreira MJ, Pires-Luís AS, Vieira-Coimbra M, Costa-Pinheiro P, Antunes L, Dias PC, Lobo F, Oliveira J, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. SETDB2 and RIOX2 are differentially expressed among renal cell tumor subtypes, associating with prognosis and metastization. Epigenetics 2018; 12:1057-1064. [PMID: 29099276 PMCID: PMC5810786 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2017.1385685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing detection of small renal masses by imaging techniques entails the need for accurate discrimination between benign and malignant renal cell tumors (RCTs) as well as among malignant RCTs, owing to differential risk of progression through metastization. Although histone methylation has been implicated in renal tumorigenesis, its potential as biomarker for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression remains largely unexplored. Thus, we aimed to characterize the differential expression of histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and histone demethylases (HDMs) in RCTs to assess their potential as metastasis biomarkers. We found that SETDB2 and RIOX2 (encoding for an HMT and an HDM, respectively) expression levels was significantly altered in RCTs; these genes were further selected for validation by quantitative RT-PCR in 160 RCTs. Moreover, SETDB2, RIOX2, and three genes encoding for enzymes involved in histone methylation (NO66, SETD3, and SMYD2), previously reported by our group, were quantified (RT-PCR) in an independent series of 62 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) to assess its potential role in ccRCC metastasis development. Additional validation was performed using TCGA dataset. SETDB2 and RIOX2 transcripts were overexpressed in RCTs compared to renal normal tissues (RNTs) and in oncocytomas vs. RCCs, with ccRCC and papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) displaying the lowest levels. Low SETDB2 expression levels and higher stage independently predicted shorter disease-free survival. In our 62 ccRCC cohort, significantly higher RIOX2, but not SETDB2, expression levels were depicted in cases that developed metastasis during follow-up. These findings were not apparent in TCGA dataset. We concluded that SETDB2 and RIOX2 might be involved in renal tumorigenesis and RCC progression, especially in metastatic spread. Moreover, SETDB2 expression levels might independently discriminate among RCC subgroups with distinct outcome, whereas higher RIOX2 transcript levels might identify ccRCC cases with more propensity to endure metastatic dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Ferreira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Sílvia Pires-Luís
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departments of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia Vieira-Coimbra
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Departments of Epidemiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula C. Dias
- Departments of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Lobo
- Departments of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Oliveira
- Departments of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Céline S. Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departments of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) – University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) – University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Oliveira AI, Anjo SI, Vieira de Castro J, Serra SC, Salgado AJ, Manadas B, Costa BM. Crosstalk between glial and glioblastoma cells triggers the "go-or-grow" phenotype of tumor cells. Cell Commun Signal 2017; 15:37. [PMID: 28969644 PMCID: PMC5625790 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-017-0194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM), the most malignant primary brain tumor, leads to poor and unpredictable clinical outcomes. Recent studies showed the tumor microenvironment has a critical role in regulating tumor growth by establishing a complex network of interactions with tumor cells. In this context, we investigated how GBM cells modulate resident glial cells, particularly their paracrine activity, and how this modulation can influence back on the malignant phenotype of GBM cells. Methods Conditioned media (CM) of primary mouse glial cultures unexposed (unprimed) or exposed (primed) to the secretome of GL261 GBM cells were analyzed by proteomic analysis. Additionally, these CM were used in GBM cells to evaluate their impact in glioma cell viability, migration capacity and activation of tumor-related intracellular pathways. Results The proteomic analysis revealed that the pre-exposure of glial cells to CM from GBM cells led to the upregulation of several proteins related to inflammatory response, cell adhesion and extracellular structure organization within the secretome of primed glial cells. At the functional levels, CM derived from unprimed glial cells favored an increase in GBM cell migration capacity, while CM from primed glial cells promoted cells viability. These effects on GBM cells were accompanied by activation of particular intracellular cancer-related pathways, mainly the MAPK/ERK pathway, which is a known regulator of cell proliferation. Conclusions Together, our results suggest that glial cells can impact on the pathophysiology of GBM tumors, and that the secretome of GBM cells is able to modulate the secretome of neighboring glial cells, in a way that regulates the “go-or-grow” phenotypic switch of GBM cells. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12964-017-0194-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra I Anjo
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sofia C Serra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - António J Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno Manadas
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
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Vieira de Castro J, Gomes ED, Granja S, Anjo SI, Baltazar F, Manadas B, Salgado AJ, Costa BM. Impact of mesenchymal stem cells' secretome on glioblastoma pathophysiology. J Transl Med 2017; 15:200. [PMID: 28969635 PMCID: PMC5625623 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1303-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary brain cancer, for which curative therapies are not available. An emerging therapeutic approach suggested to have potential to target malignant gliomas has been based on the use of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), either unmodified or engineered to deliver anticancer therapeutic agents, as these cells present an intrinsic capacity to migrate towards malignant tumors. Nevertheless, it is still controversial whether this innate tropism of MSCs towards the tumor area is associated with cancer promotion or suppression. Considering that one of the major mechanisms by which MSCs interact with and modulate tumor cells is via secreted factors, we studied how the secretome of MSCs modulates critical hallmark features of GBM cells. Methods The effect of conditioned media (CM) from human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs, a MSC population present in the Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord) on GBM cell viability, migration, proliferation and sensitivity to temozolomide treatment of U251 and SNB-19 GBM cells was evaluated. The in vivo chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was used to evaluate the effect of HUCPVCs CM on tumor growth and angiogenesis. The secretome of HUCPVCs was characterized by proteomic analyses. Results We found that both tested GBM cell lines exposed to HUCPVCs CM presented significantly higher cellular viability, proliferation and migration. In contrast, resistance of GBM cells to temozolomide chemotherapy was not significantly affected by HUCPVCs CM. In the in vivo CAM assay, CM from HUCPVCs promoted U251 and SNB-19 tumor cells growth. Proteomic analysis to characterize the secretome of HUCPVCs identified several proteins involved in promotion of cell survival, proliferation and migration, revealing novel putative molecular mediators for the effects observed in GBM cells exposed to HUCPVCs CM. Conclusions These findings provide novel insights to better understand the interplay between GBM cells and MSCs, raising awareness to potential safety issues regarding the use of MSCs as stem-cell based therapies for GBM. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-017-1303-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vieira de Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Eduardo D Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sara Granja
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra I Anjo
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno Manadas
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António J Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
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Carvalho MR, Maia FR, Silva-Correia J, Costa BM, Reis RL, Oliveira JM. A semiautomated microfluidic platform for real-time investigation of nanoparticles’ cellular uptake and cancer cells’ tracking. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2017; 12:581-596. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2016-0344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Develop a platform composed of labeled dendrimer nanoparticles (NPs) and a microfluidic device for real-time monitoring of cancer cells fate. Materials & methods: Carboxymethylchitosan/poly(amidoamine) dendrimer NPs were labeled with fluorescein-5(6)-isothiocyanate and characterized using different physicochemical techniques. After, HeLa, HCT-116 and U87MG were cultured in the presence of NPs, and cell viability and internalization efficiency in static (standard culture) and dynamic (microfluidic culture) conditions were investigated. Results: Cancer cells cultured with NPs in dynamic conditions were viable and presented higher internalization levels as compared with static 2D cultures. Conclusion: This work demonstrated that the proposed microfluidic-based platform allows real-time monitoring, which upon more studies, namely, the assessment of an anticancer drug release effect could be used for cancer theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana R Carvalho
- 3B's Research Group – Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805–017 Barco GMR, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F Raquel Maia
- 3B's Research Group – Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805–017 Barco GMR, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Silva-Correia
- 3B's Research Group – Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805–017 Barco GMR, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710–057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group – Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805–017 Barco GMR, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joaquim M Oliveira
- 3B's Research Group – Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Avepark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805–017 Barco GMR, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Bell RJA, Rube HT, Xavier-Magalhães A, Costa BM, Mancini A, Song JS, Costello JF. Understanding TERT Promoter Mutations: A Common Path to Immortality. Mol Cancer Res 2016; 14:315-23. [PMID: 26941407 PMCID: PMC4852159 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-16-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase (TERT) activation is a fundamental step in tumorigenesis. By maintaining telomere length, telomerase relieves a main barrier on cellular lifespan, enabling limitless proliferation driven by oncogenes. The recently discovered, highly recurrent mutations in the promoter of TERT are found in over 50 cancer types, and are the most common mutation in many cancers. Transcriptional activation of TERT, via promoter mutation or other mechanisms, is the rate-limiting step in production of active telomerase. Although TERT is expressed in stem cells, it is naturally silenced upon differentiation. Thus, the presence of TERT promoter mutations may shed light on whether a particular tumor arose from a stem cell or more differentiated cell type. It is becoming clear that TERT mutations occur early during cellular transformation, and activate the TERT promoter by recruiting transcription factors that do not normally regulate TERT gene expression. This review highlights the fundamental and widespread role of TERT promoter mutations in tumorigenesis, including recent progress on their mechanism of transcriptional activation. These somatic promoter mutations, along with germline variation in the TERT locus also appear to have significant value as biomarkers of patient outcome. Understanding the precise molecular mechanism of TERT activation by promoter mutation and germline variation may inspire novel cancer cell-specific targeted therapies for a large number of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J A Bell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - H Tomas Rube
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California. Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Andrew Mancini
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Jun S Song
- Departments of Bioengineering and Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California.
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Vieira JP, Lopes F, Silva-Fernandes A, Sousa MV, Moura S, Sousa S, Costa BM, Barbosa M, Ylstra B, Temudo T, Lourenço T, Maciel P. Variant Rett syndrome in a girl with a pericentric X-chromosome inversion leading to epigenetic changes and overexpression of the MECP2 gene. Int J Dev Neurosci 2015; 46:82-7. [PMID: 26287660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. We investigated the genetic basis of disease in a female patient with a Rett-like clinical. Karyotype analysis revealed a pericentric inversion in the X chromosome -46,X,inv(X)(p22.1q28), with breakpoints in the cytobands where the MECP2 and CDKL5 genes are located. FISH analysis revealed that the MECP2 gene is not dislocated by the inversion. However, and in spite of a balanced pattern of X inactivation, this patient displayed hypomethylation and an overexpression of the MECP2 gene at the mRNA level in the lymphocytes (mean fold change: 2.55±0.38) in comparison to a group of control individuals; the expression of the CDKL5 gene was similar to that of controls (mean fold change: 0.98±0.10). No gains or losses were detected in the breakpoint regions encompassing known or suspected transcription regulatory elements. We propose that the de-regulation of MECP2 expression in this patient may be due to alterations in long-range genomic interactions caused by the inversion and hypothesize that this type of epigenetic de-regulation of the MECP2 may be present in other RTT-like patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Pedro Vieira
- Neurology Department, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Portugal
| | - Fátima Lopes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Anabela Silva-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Maria Vânia Sousa
- Neurology Department, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Portugal
| | - Sofia Moura
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Susana Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Barbosa
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, The Mindich Child Health & Development Institute, The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Bauke Ylstra
- Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Teresa Temudo
- Neuropediatrics Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal
| | - Teresa Lourenço
- Neurology Department, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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Salgado AJ, Sousa JC, Costa BM, Pires AO, Mateus-Pinheiro A, Teixeira FG, Pinto L, Sousa N. Mesenchymal stem cells secretome as a modulator of the neurogenic niche: basic insights and therapeutic opportunities. Front Cell Neurosci 2015. [PMID: 26217178 PMCID: PMC4499760 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) share few characteristics apart from self-renewal and multipotency. In fact, the neurogenic and osteogenic stem cell niches derive from two distinct embryonary structures; while the later originates from the mesoderm, as all the connective tissues do, the first derives from the ectoderm. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that stem cells isolated from one niche could form terminally differentiated cells from the other. Additionally, these two niches are associated to tissues/systems (e.g., bone and central nervous system) that have markedly different needs and display diverse functions within the human body. Nevertheless they do share common features. For instance, the differentiation of both NSCs and MSCs is intimately associated with the bone morphogenetic protein family. Moreover, both NSCs and MSCs secrete a panel of common growth factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), among others. But it is not the features they share but the interaction between them that seem most important, and worth exploring; namely, it has already been shown that there are mutually beneficially effects when these cell types are co-cultured in vitro. In fact the use of MSCs, and their secretome, become a strong candidate to be used as a therapeutic tool for CNS applications, namely by triggering the endogenous proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors, among other mechanisms. Quite interestingly it was recently revealed that MSCs could be found in the human brain, in the vicinity of capillaries. In the present review we highlight how MSCs and NSCs in the neurogenic niches interact. Furthermore, we propose directions on this field and explore the future therapeutic possibilities that may arise from the combination/interaction of MSCs and NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio J Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joao C Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana O Pires
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António Mateus-Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F G Teixeira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luisa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Gonçalves CS, Xavier-Magalhães A, Pojo M, Oliveira AI, Correia S, Reis RM, Sousa N, Rocha M, Costa BM. Transcriptional profiling of HOXA9-regulated genes in human glioblastoma cell models. Genom Data 2015; 5:54-8. [PMID: 26484224 PMCID: PMC4583997 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2015.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The data here described pertain to the article by Pojo et al. (2015) [10] titled “A transcriptomic signature mediated by HOXA9 promotes human glioblastoma initiation, aggressiveness and resistance to temozolomide” (Pojoet al., 2015 [10]). HOX genes are part of the homeobox gene family, which encodes transcription factors crucial during embryonic development (Grier et al., 2005; Pearson et al., 2005 [6,9]) and also in post developmental regulation(Neville et al., 2002; Yamamoto et al., 2003; Takahashi et al., 2004;Morgan 2006 [8,14,13,7]). Alterations interfering with the regulation of these genes may lead to tumorigenesis in adults. Due to their contributions in the control of important cellular processes, the deregulation of HOX genes is ultimately correlated with cancer treatment failure and patients' poor prognosis (Golub et al., 1999; Abdel-Fattah et al., 2006 [5,1]; Costa et al.,2010 [4]; Pojo et al., 2015 [10]). Recently, our studies showed that HOXA9 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and most malignant primary brain tumor. Mechanistically, HOXA9 is associated with resistance to chemotherapy and with pro-proliferative, pro invasive and anti-apoptotic features (Costa et al., 2010 [4]; Pojo et al., 2015 [10]) in GBM in vitro models. Since HOXA9 is a transcription factor, its target genes can be the true biological effectors of its aggressiveness. In this context, whole genome Agilent's microarrays were used to obtain the full transcriptome of HOXA9 in a variety of GBM cell models, including human immortalized astrocytes, established GBM cell lines, and GBM patient derived cell cultures. Here, we provide detailed methods, including experimental design and microarray data analyses,which can be accessed in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) under the accession number GSE56517. Additional interpretation of the data is included and supplemented in (Pojo et al., 2015 [10]).
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta Pojo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Correia
- Centre of Biological Engineering, Department of Informatics, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Rui M Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal ; Barretos Cancer Hospital, Molecular Oncology Research Center, Rua Antenor Duarte Vilela, 1331-Doutor Paulo Prata, Barretos, SP 14780-000, Brazil
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Miguel Rocha
- Centre of Biological Engineering, Department of Informatics, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Costa-Pinheiro P, Ramalho-Carvalho J, Vieira FQ, Torres-Ferreira J, Oliveira J, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. MicroRNA-375 plays a dual role in prostate carcinogenesis. Clin Epigenetics 2015; 7:42. [PMID: 25977730 PMCID: PMC4431534 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-015-0076-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prostate cancer (PCa), a highly incident and heterogeneous malignancy, mostly affects men from developed countries. Increased knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying PCa onset and progression are critical for improved clinical management. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) deregulation is common in human cancers, and understanding how it impacts in PCa is of major importance. MiRNAs are mostly downregulated in cancer, although some are overexpressed, playing a critical role in tumor initiation and progression. We aimed to identify miRNAs overexpressed in PCa and subsequently determine its impact in tumorigenesis. Results MicroRNA expression profiling in primary PCa and morphological normal prostate (MNPT) tissues identified 17 miRNAs significantly overexpressed in PCa. Expression of three miRNAs, not previously associated with PCa, was subsequently assessed in large independent sets of primary tumors, in which miR-182 and miR-375 were validated, but not miR-32. Significantly higher expression levels of miR-375 were depicted in patients with higher Gleason score and more advanced pathological stage, as well as with regional lymph nodes metastases. Forced expression of miR-375 in PC-3 cells, which display the lowest miR-375 levels among PCa cell lines, increased apoptosis and reduced invasion ability and cell viability. Intriguingly, in 22Rv1 cells, which displayed the highest miR-375 expression, knockdown experiments also attenuated the malignant phenotype. Gene ontology analysis implicated miR-375 in several key pathways deregulated in PCa, including cell cycle and cell differentiation. Moreover, CCND2 was identified as putative miR-375 target in PCa, confirmed by luciferase assay. Conclusions A dual role for miR-375 in prostate cancer progression is suggested, highlighting the importance of cellular context on microRNA targeting. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-015-0076-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center (Lab3), Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal
| | - João Ramalho-Carvalho
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center (Lab3), Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal
| | - Filipa Quintela Vieira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center (Lab3), Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal.,School of Allied Health Sciences (ESTSP), Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito 322, Vila Nova de Gaia, 4400-330 Portugal
| | - Jorge Torres-Ferreira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center (Lab3), Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal
| | - Jorge Oliveira
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Rua da Universidade, 4704-553 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Guimarães, Braga Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Rua da Universidade, 4704-553 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Guimarães, Braga Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center (Lab3), Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, 4050-313 Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group - Research Center (Lab3), Portuguese Oncology Institute - Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, Porto, 4200-072 Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, 4050-313 Portugal
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Pojo M, Gonçalves CS, Xavier-Magalhães A, Oliveira AI, Gonçalves T, Correia S, Rodrigues AJ, Costa S, Pinto L, Pinto AA, Lopes JM, Reis RM, Rocha M, Sousa N, Costa BM. A transcriptomic signature mediated by HOXA9 promotes human glioblastoma initiation, aggressiveness and resistance to temozolomide. Oncotarget 2015; 6:7657-74. [PMID: 25762636 PMCID: PMC4480707 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor, exhibiting remarkable resistance to treatment. Here we investigated the oncogenic potential of HOXA9 in gliomagenesis, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which HOXA9 renders glioblastoma more aggressive, and how HOXA9 affects response to chemotherapy and survival. The prognostic value of HOXA9 in glioblastoma patients was validated in two large datasets from TCGA and Rembrandt, where high HOXA9 levels were associated with shorter survival. Transcriptomic analyses identified novel HOXA9-target genes with key roles in cancer-related processes, including cell proliferation, DNA repair, and stem cell maintenance. Functional studies with HOXA9-overexpressing and HOXA9-silenced glioblastoma cell models revealed that HOXA9 promotes cell viability, stemness and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis. Additionally, HOXA9 promoted the malignant transformation of human immortalized astrocytes in an orthotopic in vivo model, and caused tumor-associated death. HOXA9 also mediated resistance to temozolomide treatment in vitro and in vivo via upregulation of BCL2. Importantly, the pharmacological inhibition of BCL2 with the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 reverted temozolomide resistance in HOXA9-positive cells. These data establish HOXA9 as a driver of glioma initiation, aggressiveness and resistance to therapy. In the future, the combination of BH3 mimetics with temozolomide should be further explored as an alternative treatment for glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pojo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Céline S. Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Tiago Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sara Correia
- Centre of Biological Engineering/Department of Informatics, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana J. Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Luísa Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Afonso A. Pinto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Braga, Sete Fontes, 4710-243 São Victor, Braga, Portugal
| | - José M. Lopes
- Department of Pathology, Hospital S. João, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology at the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Medical Faculty, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui M. Reis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Barretos Cancer Hospital, Molecular Oncology Research Center, Rua Antenor Duarte Vilela, 1331 - Doutor Paulo Prata, Barretos - SP, 14780-000, Brasil
| | - Miguel Rocha
- Centre of Biological Engineering/Department of Informatics, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruno M. Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Xavier-Magalhães A, Nandhabalan M, Jones C, Costa BM. Molecular prognostic factors in glioblastoma: state of the art and future challenges. CNS Oncol 2015; 2:495-510. [PMID: 25054820 DOI: 10.2217/cns.13.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliomas account for the majority of primary tumors of the CNS, of which glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant, and for which survival is very poor. Despite significant inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, all patients are treated with a standardized therapeutic approach. While some clinical features of GBM patients have already been established as classic prognostic factors (e.g., patient age at diagnosis and Karnofsky performance status), one of the most important research fields in neuro-oncology today is the identification of novel molecular determinants of patient survival and tumor response to therapy. Here, we aim to review and discuss some of the most relevant and novel prognostic biomarkers in adult and pediatric GBM patients that may aid in stratifying subgroups of GBMs and rationalizing treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Xavier-Magalhães
- Life & Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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Vieira de Castro J, Gonçalves CS, Costa S, Linhares P, Vaz R, Nabiço R, Amorim J, Viana-Pereira M, Reis RM, Costa BM. Impact of TGF-β1 -509C/T and 869T/C polymorphisms on glioma risk and patient prognosis. Tumour Biol 2015; 36:6525-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3343-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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Pires-Luís AS, Vieira-Coimbra M, Vieira FQ, Costa-Pinheiro P, Silva-Santos R, Dias PC, Antunes L, Lobo F, Oliveira J, Gonçalves CS, Costa BM, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Expression of histone methyltransferases as novel biomarkers for renal cell tumor diagnosis and prognostication. Epigenetics 2015; 10:1033-43. [PMID: 26488939 PMCID: PMC4844211 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1103578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell tumors (RCTs) are the most lethal of the common urological cancers. The widespread use of imaging entailed an increased detection of small renal masses, emphasizing the need for accurate distinction between benign and malignant RCTs, which is critical for adequate therapeutic management. Histone methylation has been implicated in renal tumorigenesis, but its potential clinical value as RCT biomarker remains mostly unexplored. Hence, the main goal of this study was to identify differentially expressed histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and histone demethylases (HDMs) that might prove useful for RCT diagnosis and prognostication, emphasizing the discrimination between oncocytoma (a benign tumor) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), especially the chromophobe subtype (chRCC). We found that the expression levels of 3 genes--SMYD2, SETD3, and NO66--was significantly altered in a set of RCTs, which was further validated in a large independent cohort. Higher expression levels were found in RCTs compared to normal renal tissues (RNTs) and in chRCCs comparatively to oncocytomas. SMYD2 and SETD3 mRNA levels correlated with protein expression assessed by immunohistochemistry. SMYD2 transcript levels discriminated RCTs from RNT, with 82.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity [area under curve (AUC) = 0.959], and distinguished chRCCs from oncocytomas, with 71.0% sensitivity and 73.3% specificity (AUC = 0.784). Low expression levels of SMYD2, SETD3, and NO66 were significantly associated with shorter disease-specific and disease-free survival, especially in patients with non-organ confined tumors. We conclude that expression of selected HMTs and HDMs might constitute novel biomarkers to assist in RCT diagnosis and assessment of tumor aggressiveness.
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MESH Headings
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnosis
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/enzymology
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/genetics
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Dioxygenases
- Early Detection of Cancer
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Histone Demethylases/genetics
- Histone Demethylases/metabolism
- Histone Methyltransferases
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/genetics
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism
- Humans
- Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis
- Kidney Neoplasms/enzymology
- Kidney Neoplasms/genetics
- Kidney Neoplasms/pathology
- Prognosis
- Survival Analysis
- Up-Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sílvia Pires-Luís
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia Vieira-Coimbra
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipa Quintela Vieira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
- School of Allied Health Sciences (ESTSP); Polytechnic of Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Silva-Santos
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula C Dias
- Department of Pathology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Department of Epidemiology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Lobo
- Department of Urology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Oliveira
- Department of Urology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Céline S Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS); School of Health Sciences; University of Minho; Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory; University of Minho; Braga/Guimarães; Portugal
| | - Bruno M Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS); School of Health Sciences; University of Minho; Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory; University of Minho; Braga/Guimarães; Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology; Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) – University of Porto; Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group – Research Center; Portuguese Oncology Institute – Porto; Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology; Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) – University of Porto; Porto, Portugal
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Costa BM, Silva DP, Santos CG, Deslandes AC, Ribeiro P, Pompeu FA. Acute Effect Of Ethanol And Taurine Intake In Heart Rate During Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2014. [DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000495742.02183.6d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Da Silva DP, Costa BM, Santos CG, Deslandes AC, Ribeiro P, Pompeu FAMS. Acute Effect Of Taurine And Ethanol Intake In The Gross Efficiency. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2014. [DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000493262.93765.a9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Rodrigues AJ, Leão P, Pêgo JM, Cardona D, Carvalho MM, Oliveira M, Costa BM, Carvalho AF, Morgado P, Araújo D, Palha JA, Almeida OFX, Sousa N. Mechanisms of initiation and reversal of drug-seeking behavior induced by prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids. Mol Psychiatry 2012; 17:1295-305. [PMID: 21968930 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2011.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stress and exposure to glucocorticoids (GC) during early life render individuals vulnerable to brain disorders by inducing structural and chemical alterations in specific neural substrates. Here we show that adult rats that had been exposed to in utero GCs (iuGC) display increased preference for opiates and ethanol, and are more responsive to the psychostimulatory actions of morphine. These animals presented prominent changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a key component of the mesolimbic reward circuitry; specifically, cell numbers and dopamine (DA) levels were significantly reduced, whereas DA receptor 2 (Drd2) mRNA expression levels were markedly upregulated in the NAcc. Interestingly, repeated morphine exposure significantly downregulated Drd2 expression in iuGC-exposed animals, in parallel with increased DNA methylation of the Drd2 gene. Administration of a therapeutic dose of L-dopa reverted the hypodopaminergic state in the NAcc of iuGC animals, normalized Drd2 expression and prevented morphine-induced hypermethylation of the Drd2 promoter. In addition, L-dopa treatment promoted dendritic and synaptic plasticity in the NAcc and, importantly, reversed drug-seeking behavior. These results reveal a new mechanism through which drug-seeking behaviors may emerge and suggest that a brief and simple pharmacological intervention can restrain these behaviors in vulnerable individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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de Mello RA, Costa BM, Reis RM, Hespanhol V. Insights into angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, polymorphic genes, and targeted therapies. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2012; 7:118-31. [PMID: 21854359 DOI: 10.2174/157489212798357994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2010] [Revised: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 02/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a highly prevalent disease worldwide. Currently, there are more than 150 million patients with lung cancer in the world, with more than 1 million new cases diagnosed per year. Tumoral angiogenesis is an important hallmark of this disease, but despite being extensively studied, the complete angiogenic mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Recent studies have reported a correlation between pharmacological inhibition of these angiogenic mechanisms and improvement of overall survival in lung cancer patients, mainly for those in advanced stages. The family of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins has critical roles in tumoral angiogenesis. An interaction between VEGF-A and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) is the main pathway of activation and maintenance of angiogenesis. In tumors, this process is intimately correlative with progression and metastasis. Some studies suggested that serum levels of VEGF are higher in patients with lung cancer, especially in some types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Other studies revealed that genetic polymorphisms of VEGF correlate with susceptibility, prognosis, and therapeutic response of some patients with NSCLC. This paper aims to review the impact of angiogenesis, especially on VEGF pathways, in NSCLC, and highlights the relevance of known and new patents disclosed of anti-angiogenic therapies in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Andrade de Mello
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto, Rua Dr Antonio Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
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Clarke JL, Molinaro AM, Butowski NA, Chang SM, Phillips JJ, Costa BM, Costello JF, Rabbitt JE, Kivett VA, DeSilva AA, Prados M. A single-institution phase II trial of radiation (RT), temozolomide (TMZ), erlotinib, and bevacizumab for initial treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). J Clin Oncol 2012. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.2026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
2026 Background: Standard treatment for GBM includes surgery followed by RT and TMZ, rarely a curative treatment. Both the EGFR and VEGF pathways are frequently overactive in GBM; we previously added erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor, to RT and TMZ, with modest improvement in survival. The present study combined bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, and erlotinib with RT and TMZ, with the goal of improving overall survival (OS). Methods: Treatment consisted of fractionated RT to 60 Gy with daily TMZ at 75 mg/m2/d and erlotinib 150-200 mg/d (or 500-600 mg/d for patients on enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs [EIAEDs]). Bevacizumab was given at 10 mg/kg every 2 wks, starting ≥ 4 wks after surgery. After RT, adjuvant TMZ was given at 200 mg/m2/d x 5d per 28d cycle, with unchanged erlotinib and bevacizumab doses. Treatment was continued until progression or for 12 mo, with an option to continue for up to 24 mo. OS and progression-free survival (PFS) from initial diagnosis were compared against institutional historical controls (recent prior up-front clinical trials including RT and TMZ). Results: 59 pts were enrolled; 12 were receiving EIAEDs. Median age was 54 yrs; median KPS was 90. 33% underwent gross total resection and 53% subtotal resection. 16 pts had tumors with methylated MGMT (mMGMT), 26 with unmethylated MGMT (umMGMT), and 17 with unknown status. The most frequent related grade 3/4 AEs were lymphopenia (68%) thrombocytopenia (24%), neutropenia (10%), diarrhea (14%), weight loss (14%), and fatigue (12%). 1 pt died of aspergillosis. Median OS and PFS were 19.8 mo and 13.5 mo, respectively, vs. 18 mo and 8.6 mo for the historical control. The hazard ratio (adj for age, KPS, and extent of surgery) for PFS was 0.7 (95% CI 0.49-0.99, p=0.04). Median OS in pts with mMGMT was 20.9 mo, vs. 17.5 mo in pts with umMGMT; median PFS was 14 mo vs. 12.4 mo, respectively. Conclusions: The combination of bevacizumab, erlotinib, TMZ, and RT showed improved PFS but not OS vs. historical controls. Though the numbers were small, PFS and OS for pts with umMGMT were not significantly different from pts with mMGMT, suggesting that this combination may be more effective than standard therapy alone for pts with unMGMT tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jane E Rabbitt
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | | | - Michael Prados
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Butowski N, Chang SM, Lamborn KR, Polley MY, Pieper R, Costello JF, Vandenberg S, Parvataneni R, Nicole A, Sneed PK, Clarke J, Hsieh E, Costa BM, Reis RM, Hristova-Kazmierski M, Nicol SJ, Thornton DE, Prados MD. Phase II and pharmacogenomics study of enzastaurin plus temozolomide during and following radiation therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme and gliosarcoma. Neuro Oncol 2011; 13:1331-8. [PMID: 21896554 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nor130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This open-label, single-arm, phase II study combined enzastaurin with temozolomide plus radiation therapy (RT) to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and gliosarcoma. Adults with newly diagnosed disease and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 60 were enrolled. Treatment was started within 5 weeks after surgical diagnosis. RT consisted of 60 Gy over 6 weeks. Temozolomide was given at 75 mg/m(2) daily during RT and then adjuvantly at 200 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days, followed by a 23-day break. Enzastaurin was given once daily during RT and in the adjuvant period at 250 mg/day. Cycles were 28 days. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Progression-free survival (PFS), toxicity, and correlations between efficacy and molecular markers analyzed from tumor tissue samples were also evaluated. A prospectively planned analysis compared OS and PFS of the current trial with outcomes from 3 historical phase II trials that combined novel agents with temozolomide plus RT in patients with GBM or gliosarcoma. Sixty-six patients were enrolled. The treatment regimen was well tolerated. OS (median, 74 weeks) and PFS (median, 36 weeks) results from the current trial were comparable to those from a prior phase II study using erlotinib and were significantly better than those from 2 other previous studies that used thalidomide or cis-retinoic acid, all in combination with temozolomide plus RT. A positive correlation between O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation and OS was observed. Adjusting for age and KPS, no other biomarker was associated with survival outcome. Correlation of relevant biomarkers with OS may be useful in future trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Butowski
- Neuro-Oncology Service, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, A808, San Francisco, CA 94143-0350, USA.
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Araújo AP, Costa BM, Pinto-Correia AL, Fragoso M, Ferreira P, Dinis-Ribeiro M, Costa S, Reis RM, Medeiros R. Association between EGF +61A/G polymorphism and gastric cancer in Caucasians. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17:488-92. [PMID: 21274378 PMCID: PMC3027015 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i4.488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2010] [Revised: 04/30/2010] [Accepted: 05/07/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the association between epidermal growth factor (EGF) +61A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to gastric cancer, through a cross-sectional study.
METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction resctriction fragment lenght polymorphism analyses were used to genotype EGF +61 in 207 patients with gastric lesions (162 patients with gastric adenocarcinomas, 45 with atrophy or intestinal metaplasia) and 984 controls. All subjects were Caucasian.
RESULTS: Genotype distribution was 23.5% for GG and 76.5% for GA/AA in the control group, 18.4% for GG and 68.6% for GA/AA in the entire group with gastric lesions and 17.9% for GG and 82.1% for GA/AA in the group with gastric adenocarcinoma. No statistically significant associations were found between EGF +61 variants and risk for developing gastric cancer [odds ratios (OR) = 1.41, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.90-2.21, P = 0.116]. However, the stratification of individuals by gender revealed that males carrying A alleles (EGF +61A/G or AA) had an increased risk for developing gastric cancer as compared to GG homozygous males (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.05-2.28, P = 0.021).
CONCLUSION: In summary, we found that males who were A carriers for EGF +61 had an increased risk for developing gastric cancer. This result may be explained by the suggestion that women secrete less gastric acid than men.
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