IBD-associated Colon Cancers Differ in DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Profiles Compared With Sporadic Colon Cancers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As ulcerative colitis [UC]-associated colorectal cancer [CRC] and sporadic CRC differ in presentation and molecular features, we sought to evaluate differences in the impact of DNA methylation on gene expression.

METHODS

DNA methylation was assessed in 11 UC-CRCs and adjacent tissue and 11 sporadic CRCs and adjacent tissue, using Illumina arrays. RNA sequencing was performed on 10 UC-CRCs and adjacent tissue and eight sporadic CRCs and adjacent tissues. Differences in DNA methylation and transcript expression, as well as their correlation in the same tissues, were assessed. Immunohistochemistry was performed for three proteins, ANPEP, FAM92A1, and STK31, all of which exhibited an inverse correlation between DNA methylation and transcript expression in UC.

RESULTS

Thirty three loci demonstrated differences in DNA methylation between UC-CRC and adjacent tissue. In contrast, there were 4204 differentially methylated loci between sporadic colon cancer and adjacent tissue. Eight hundred eighty six genes as well as 10 long non-coding RNAs [lncRNA] were differentially expressed between UC-CRC and adjacent tissues. Although there were no differentially methylated loci between UC and sporadic CRC, 997 genes and 38 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between UC-CRC and sporadic CRC. In UC, 18 genes demonstrated a negative correlation between DNA methylation and transcript expression. Evaluation of protein expression related to three genes, ANPEP, FAM92A1, and STK31, confirmed down-regulation of ANPEP and up-regulation of STK31 in UC-CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

Regulation of transcript expression by DNA methylation involves genes key to colon carcinogenesis and may account for differences in presentation and outcomes between inflammatory bowel disease and sporadic colon cancer.

Losartan and Vitamin D Inhibit Colonic Tumor Development in a Conditional Apc-Deleted Mouse Model of Sporadic Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is upregulated in colorectal cancer, and epidemiologic studies suggest RAS inhibitors reduce cancer risk. Because vitamin D (VD) receptor negatively regulates renin, we examined anticancer efficacy of VD and losartan (L), an angiotensin receptor blocker. Control Apc^+/LoxP mice and tumor-forming Apc^+/LoxP Cdx2P-Cre mice were randomized to unsupplemented Western diet (UN), or diets supplemented with VD, L, or VD+L, the latter to assess additive or synergistic effects. At 6 months, mice were killed. Plasma Ca²⁺, 25(OH)D3, 1α, 25(OH)2D3, renin, and angiotensin II (Ang II) were quantified. Colonic transcripts were assessed by qPCR and proteins by immunostaining and blotting. Cancer incidence and tumor burden were significantly lower in Cre+ VD and Cre+ L, but not in the Cre+ VD+L group. In Apc^+/LoxP mice, VD increased plasma 1,25(OH)2D3 and colonic VDR. In Apc^+/LoxP-Cdx2P-Cre mice, plasma renin and Ang II, and colonic tumor AT1, AT2, and Cyp27B1 were increased and VDR downregulated. L increased, whereas VD decreased plasma renin and Ang II in Cre+ mice. VD or L inhibited tumor development, while exerting differential effects on plasma VD metabolites and RAS components. We speculate that AT1 is critical for tumor development, whereas RAS suppression plays a key role in VD chemoprevention. When combined with L, VD no longer increases active VD and colonic VDR in Cre- mice nor suppresses renin and Ang II in Cre+ mice, likely contributing to lack of chemopreventive efficacy of the combination.

Increased mucosal expression of miR-215 precedes the development of neoplasia in patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis

Identification of biological markers predicting the onset of neoplasia in patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC) could allow for risk stratification in this population. In this study, we retrospectively identified subjects with chronic UC who developed colon neoplasia (n = 16) matched to UC patients who never developed neoplasia. RNA was extracted from archived colonic biopsies obtained at an interval of 1–2 years prior and 3–5 years prior to the onset of neoplasia. miRNA expression was assessed using Nanostring arrays in 12 subjects, and significantly up-regulated miRNAs were evaluated by real time pcr in the entire cohort of patients. Expression of miR-215 was also assessed in UC-associated colon cancers and compared to p53 expression. By array analysis, there were 17 significantly down-regulated and 7 significantly up-regulated miRNAs in subjects who later developed neoplasia. miR-215 was significantly up-regulated both 1–2 years prior to the onset of neoplasia (3.5-fold, p < 0.001) and 3–5 years prior to the onset of neoplasia (5.4-fold, p = 0.007). miR-215 expression was also increased in UC-associated colon cancers (5.3-fold, p = 0.03) and adjacent non-dysplastic UC tissue (6.2-fold, p = 0.02). p53 was expressed in 20% of patients prior to the onset of neoplasia and in 67% of UC-associated colon cancers, although was not correlated with miR-215 expression. Our data demonstrates that expression of miR-215 can discriminate patients who progressed to neoplasia from non-progressors as early as 5 years prior to the diagnosis of neoplasia, supporting that this and perhaps other miRNAs could serve as predictive biomarkers to risk stratify patients with chronic UC.

miR-193a-3p is a Key Tumor Suppressor in Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Colon Cancer and Promotes Carcinogenesis through Upregulation of IL17RD

Purpose: Patients with ulcerative colitis are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, although mechanisms underlying neoplastic transformation are poorly understood. We sought to evaluate the role of microRNAs in neoplasia development in this high-risk population.Experimental Design: Tissue from 12 controls, 9 ulcerative colitis patients without neoplasia, and 11 ulcerative colitis patients with neoplasia was analyzed. miRNA array analysis was performed and select miRNAs assayed by real-time PCR on the discovery cohort and a validation cohort. DNA methylation of miR-193a was assessed. Following transfection of miR-193a-3p, proliferation, IL17RD expression, and luciferase activity of the 3'UTR of IL17RD were measured. Tumor growth in xenografts as well as EGFR signaling were assessed in HCT116 cells expressing IL17RD with either a mutant 3' untranslated region (UTR) or wild-type (WT) 3'UTR.Results: miR-31, miR-34a, miR-106b, and miR-193a-3p were significantly dysregulated in ulcerative colitis-neoplasia and adjacent tissue. Significant down-regulation of miR-193a-3p was also seen in an independent cohort of ulcerative colitis cancers. Changes in methylation of miR-193a or expression of pri-miR-193a were not observed in ulcerative colitis cancer. Transfection of miR-193a-3p resulted in decreased proliferation, and identified IL17RD as a direct target of miR-193a-3p. IL17RD expression was increased in ulcerative colitis cancers, and miR-193a-3p treatment decreased growth and EGFR signaling of HCT116 cells in xenografts expressing both IL17RD with WT 3'UTR compared with cells expressing IL17RD with mutant 3'UTR.Conclusions: miR-193a-3p is downregulated in ulcerative colitis neoplasia, and its loss promotes carcinogenesis through upregulation of IL17RD. These findings provide novel insight into inflammation-driven colorectal cancer and could suggest new therapeutic targets in this high-risk population. Clin Cancer Res; 23(17); 5281-91. ©2017 AACR.

ADAM17 is a Tumor Promoter and Therapeutic Target in Western Diet-associated Colon Cancer

PURPOSE

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are required for tumor promotion by Western diet. The metalloprotease, ADAM17 activates EGFR by releasing pro-EGFR ligands. ADAM17 is regulated by G-protein-coupled receptors, including CXCR4. Here we investigated CXCR4-ADAM17 crosstalk and examined the role of ADAM17 in tumorigenesis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We used CXCR4 inhibitor, AMD3100 and ADAM17 inhibitor, BMS566394 to assess CXCR4-ADAM17 crosstalk in colon cancer cells. We compared the expression of CXCR4 ligand, CXCL2, and ADAM17 in mice fed Western diet versus standard diet. Separately, mice were treated with marimastat, a broad-spectrum ADAM17 inhibitor, or AMD3100 to assess EGFR activation by ADAM17 and CXCR4. Using Apc-mutant Min mice, we investigated the effects of ADAM17/10 inhibitor INCB3619 on tumorigenesis. To assess the effects of colonocyte ADAM17, mice with ADAM17 conditional deletion were treated with azoxymethane (AOM). ADAM17 expression was also compared in colonocytes from primary human colon cancers and adjacent mucosa.

RESULTS

CXCL12 treatment activated colon cancer cell EGFR signals, and CXCR4 or ADAM17 blockade reduced this activation. In vivo, Western diet increased CXCL12 in stromal cells and TGFα in colonocytes. Marimastat or AMD3100 caused >50% reduction in EGFR signals (P < 0.05). In Min mice, INCB3619 reduced EGFR signals in adenomas and inhibited intestinal tumor multiplicity (P < 0.05). In the AOM model, colonocyte ADAM17 deletion reduced EGFR signals and colonic tumor development (P < 0.05). Finally, ADAM17 was upregulated >2.5-fold in human malignant colonocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

ADAM17 is a Western diet-inducible enzyme activated by CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling, suggesting the pathway: Western diet→CXCL12→CXCR4→ADAM17→TGFα→EGFR. ADAM17 might serve as a druggable target in chemoprevention strategies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(2); 549-61. ©2016 AACR.