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Ballout F, Lu H, Bhat N, Chen L, Peng D, Chen Z, Chen S, Sun X, Giordano S, Corso S, Zaika A, McDonald O, Livingstone AS, El-Rifai W. Targeting SMAD3 Improves Response to Oxaliplatin in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Models by Impeding DNA Repair. Clin Cancer Res 2024:OF1-OF13. [PMID: 38592373 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-24-0027] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE TGFβ signaling is implicated in the progression of most cancers, including esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Emerging evidence indicates that TGFβ signaling is a key factor in the development of resistance toward cancer therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we developed patient-derived organoids and patient-derived xenograft models of EAC and performed bioinformatics analysis combined with functional genetics to investigate the role of SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3) in EAC resistance to oxaliplatin. RESULTS Chemotherapy nonresponding patients showed enrichment of SMAD3 gene expression when compared with responders. In a randomized patient-derived xenograft experiment, SMAD3 inhibition in combination with oxaliplatin effectively diminished tumor burden by impeding DNA repair. SMAD3 interacted directly with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a key regulator of the DNA damage repair protein ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). SMAD3 inhibition diminished ATM phosphorylation by enhancing the binding of PP2A to ATM, causing excessive levels of DNA damage. CONCLUSIONS Our results identify SMAD3 as a promising therapeutic target for future combination strategies for the treatment of patients with EAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ballout
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Steven Chen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Xiaodian Sun
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Silvia Giordano
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Simona Corso
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida
| | - Oliver McDonald
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Alan S Livingstone
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida
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Soutto M, Zhang X, Bhat N, Chen Z, Zhu S, Maacha S, Genoula M, El-Gazzaz O, Peng D, Lu H, McDonald OG, Chen XS, Cao L, Xu Z, El-Rifai W. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 mediates activation of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor-2 in gastric tumorigenesis. Redox Biol 2024; 69:102998. [PMID: 38154380 PMCID: PMC10787301 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the leading risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a member of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors that are activated in cancer. We investigated the role of FGFR4 in regulating the cellular response to H. pylori infection in gastric cancer. High levels of oxidative stress signature and FGFR4 expression were detected in gastric cancer samples. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated enrichment of NRF2 signature in samples with high FGFR4 levels. H. pylori infection induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a cellular response manifested by an increase in FGFR4 with accumulation and nuclear localization NRF2. Knocking down FGFR4 significantly reduced NRF2 protein and transcription activity levels, leading to higher levels of ROS and DNA damage following H. pylori infection. We confirmed the induction of FGFR4 and NRF2 levels using mouse models following infection with a mouse-adapted H. pyloristrain. Pharmacologic inhibition of FGFR4 using H3B-6527, or its knockdown, remarkably reduced the level of NRF2 with a reduction in the size and number of gastric cancer spheroids. Mechanistically, we detected binding between FGFR4 and P62 proteins, competing with NRF2-KEAP1 interaction, allowing NRF2 to escape KEAP1-dependent degradation with subsequent accumulation and translocation to the nucleus. These findings demonstrate a novel functional role of FGFR4 in cellular homeostasis via regulating the NRF2 levels in response to H. pylori infection in gastric carcinogenesis, calling for testing the therapeutic efficacy of FGFR4 inhibitors in gastric cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Selma Maacha
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Melanie Genoula
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Omar El-Gazzaz
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Oliver G McDonald
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Xi Steven Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Science, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Longlong Cao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zekuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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Zhu S, Soutto M, Chen Z, Piazuelo MB, Washington MK, Belkhiri A, Zaika A, Peng D, El-Rifai W. Correction: Activation of IGF1R by DARPP-32 promotes STAT3 signaling in gastric cancer cells. Oncogene 2024; 43:224. [PMID: 38081964 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02916-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - M Blanca Piazuelo
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - M Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Abbes Belkhiri
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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Lu H, Cao LL, Ballout F, Belkhiri A, Peng D, Chen L, Chen Z, Soutto M, Wang TC, Que J, Giordano S, Washington MK, Chen S, McDonald OG, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. Reflux conditions induce E-cadherin cleavage and EMT via APE1 redox function in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Gut 2023; 73:47-62. [PMID: 37734913 PMCID: PMC10872865 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329455] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, where acidic bile salts (ABS) reflux into the oesophagus, is the leading risk factor for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We investigated the role of ABS in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in EAC. DESIGN RNA sequencing data and public databases were analysed for the EMT pathway enrichment and patients' relapse-free survival. Cell models, pL2-IL1β transgenic mice, deidentified EAC patients' derived xenografts (PDXs) and tissues were used to investigate EMT in EAC. RESULTS Analysis of public databases and RNA-sequencing data demonstrated significant enrichment and activation of EMT signalling in EAC. ABS induced multiple characteristics of the EMT process, such as downregulation of E-cadherin, upregulation of vimentin and activation of ß-catenin signalling and EMT-transcription factors. These were associated with morphological changes and enhancement of cell migration and invasion capabilities. Mechanistically, ABS induced E-cadherin cleavage via an MMP14-dependent proteolytic cascade. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1), also known as redox factor 1, is an essential multifunctional protein. APE1 silencing, or its redox-specific inhibitor (E3330), downregulated MMP14 and abrogated the ABS-induced EMT. APE1 and MMP14 coexpression levels were inversely correlated with E-cadherin expression in human EAC tissues and the squamocolumnar junctions of the L2-IL1ß transgenic mouse model of EAC. EAC patients with APE1high and EMThigh signatures had worse relapse-free survival than those with low levels. In addition, treatment of PDXs with E3330 restrained EMT characteristics and suppressed tumour invasion. CONCLUSION Reflux conditions promote EMT via APE1 redox-dependent E-cadherin cleavage. APE1-redox function inhibitors can have a therapeutic role in EAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Long Long Cao
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Farah Ballout
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Abbes Belkhiri
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - DunFa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Silvia Giordano
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino and Candiolo Cancer Institute, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Mary Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Steven Chen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Oliver Gene McDonald
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
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Cao LL, Lu H, Soutto M, Bhat N, Chen Z, Peng D, Gomaa A, Wang JB, Xie JW, Li P, Zheng CH, Nomura S, Datta J, Merchant N, Chen ZB, Villarino A, Zaika A, Huang CM, El-Rifai W. Multivalent tyrosine kinase inhibition promotes T cell recruitment to immune-desert gastric cancers by restricting epithelial-mesenchymal transition via tumour-intrinsic IFN-γ signalling. Gut 2023; 72:2038-2050. [PMID: 37402563 PMCID: PMC10592091 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-329134] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in incidence and fourth for mortality worldwide. The response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in GC is heterogeneous due to tumour-intrinsic and acquired immunotherapy resistance. We developed an immunophenotype-based subtyping of human GC based on immune cells infiltration to develop a novel treatment option. DESIGN A algorithm was developed to reclassify GC into immune inflamed, excluded and desert subtypes. Bioinformatics, human and mouse GC cell lines, syngeneic murine gastric tumour model, and CTLA4 blockade were used to investigate the immunotherapeutic effects by restricting receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signalling in immune desert (ICB-resistant) type GC. RESULTS Our algorithm restratified subtypes of human GC in public databases and showed that immune desert-type and excluded-type tumours are ICB-resistant compared with immune-inflamed GC. Moreover, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signalling was highly enriched in immune desert-type GC, and syngeneic murine tumours exhibiting mesenchymal-like, compared with epithelial-like, properties are T cell-excluded and resistant to CTLA4 blockade. Our analysis further identified a panel of RTKs as potential druggable targets in the immune desert-type GC. Dovitinib, an inhibitor of multiple RTKs, strikingly repressed EMT programming in mesenchymal-like immune desert syngeneic GC models. Dovitinib activated the tumour-intrinsic SNAI1/2-IFN-γ signalling axis and impeded the EMT programme, converting immune desert-type tumours to immune inflamed-type tumours, sensitising these mesenchymal-like 'cold' tumours to CTLA4 blockade. CONCLUSION Our findings identified potential druggable targets relevant to patient groups, especially for refractory immune desert-type/ 'cold' GC. Dovitinib, an RTK inhibitor, sensitised desert-type immune-cold GC to CTLA4 blockade by restricting EMT and recruiting T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Long Cao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ahmed Gomaa
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jia Bin Wang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Wei Xie
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chao Hui Zheng
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Sachiyo Nomura
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jashodeep Datta
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nipun Merchant
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zhi Bin Chen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alejandro Villarino
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Chang Ming Huang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
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Haghighat S, Jiang C, El-Rifai W, Zaika A, Goldberg DS, Kumar S. Urgent need to mitigate disparities in federal funding for cancer research. J Natl Cancer Inst 2023; 115:1220-1223. [PMID: 37287319 PMCID: PMC10560596 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djad097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluate National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding distribution to the most common cancers, considering their respective public health burdens, and explore associations between funding and racial and ethnic burden of disease. The NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results, US Cancer Statistics database, and Funding Statistics were used to calculate funding-to-lethality (FTL) scores. Breast and prostate cancer had the first (179.65) and second (128.90) highest FTL scores, and esophagus and stomach cancer ranked 18th (2.12) and 19th (1.78). We evaluated whether there were differences between the FTL and cancer incidence and/or mortality within individual racial and ethnic groups. NCI funding correlated highly with cancers afflicting a higher proportion of non-Hispanic White individuals (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.84; P < .001). Correlation was stronger for incidence than mortality. These data reveal that funding across cancer sites is not concordant with lethality and that cancers with high incidence among racial and ethnic minorities receive lower funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shida Haghighat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Chunsu Jiang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David S Goldberg
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Shria Kumar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, USA
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Islam MO, Thangaretnam K, Lu H, Peng D, Soutto M, El-Rifai W, Giordano S, Ban Y, Chen X, Bilbao D, Villarino AV, Schürer S, Hosein PJ, Chen Z. Smoking induces WEE1 expression to promote docetaxel resistance in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 30:286-300. [PMID: 37732296 PMCID: PMC10507159 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.08.012] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients have poor clinical outcomes, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 20%. Smoking is a significant risk factor for EAC. The role of WEE1, a nuclear kinase that negatively regulates the cell cycle in normal conditions, in EAC tumorigenesis and drug resistance is not fully understood. Immunohistochemistry staining shows significant WEE1 overexpression in human EAC tissues. Nicotine, nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone, or 2% cigarette smoke extract treatment induces WEE1 protein expression in EAC, detected by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. qRT-PCR and reporter assay indicates that smoking induces WEE1 expression through miR-195-5p downregulation in EAC. ATP-Glo cell viability and clonogenic assay confirmed that WEE1 inhibition sensitizes EAC cells to docetaxel treatment in vitro. A TE-10 smoking machine with EAC patient-derived xenograft mouse model demonstrated that smoking induces WEE1 protein expression and resistance to docetaxel in vivo. MK-1775 and docetaxel combined treatment improves EAC patient-derived xenograft mouse survival in vivo. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that smoking-induced WEE1 overexpression through miRNA dysregulation in EAC plays an essential role in EAC drug resistance. WEE1 inhibition is a promising therapeutic method to overcome drug resistance and target treatment refractory cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Obaidul Islam
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Krishnapriya Thangaretnam
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Silvia Giordano
- University of Torino, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
| | - Yuguang Ban
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Daniel Bilbao
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alejandro V. Villarino
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Stephan Schürer
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Institute for Data Science and Computing, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Peter J. Hosein
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Zhang Y, Karagiannis D, Liu H, Lin M, Fang Y, Jiang M, Chen X, Suresh S, Huang H, She J, Shi F, Yang P, El-Rifai W, Zaika A, Oro AE, Rustgi AK, Wang TC, Lu C, Que J. Epigenetic regulation of p63 blocks squamous-to-neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in esophageal development and malignancy. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.09.556982. [PMID: 37745439 PMCID: PMC10515764 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.09.556982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
While cell fate determination and maintenance are important in establishing and preserving tissue identity and function during development, aberrant cell fate transition leads to cancer cell heterogeneity and resistance to treatment. Here, we report an unexpected role for the transcription factor p63 (Trp63/TP63) in the fate choice of squamous versus neuroendocrine lineage in esophageal development and malignancy. Deletion of p63 results in extensive neuroendocrine differentiation in the developing mouse esophagus and esophageal progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells. In human esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (eNEC) cells, p63 is transcriptionally silenced by EZH2-mediated H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). Upregulation of the major p63 isoform ΔNp63α, through either ectopic expression or EZH2 inhibition, promotes squamous transdifferentiation of eNEC cells. Together these findings uncover p63 as a rheostat in coordinating the transition between squamous and neuroendocrine cell fates during esophageal development and tumor progression.
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Chen Q, Weng K, Lin M, Jiang M, Fang Y, Chung SSW, Huang X, Zhong Q, Liu Z, Huang Z, Lin J, Li P, El-Rifai W, Zaika A, Li H, Rustgi AK, Nakagawa H, Abrams JA, Wang TC, Lu C, Huang C, Que J. SOX9 Modulates the Transformation of Gastric Stem Cells Through Biased Symmetric Cell Division. Gastroenterology 2023; 164:1119-1136.e12. [PMID: 36740200 PMCID: PMC10200757 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Transformation of stem/progenitor cells has been associated with tumorigenesis in multiple tissues, but stem cells in the stomach have been hard to localize. We therefore aimed to use a combination of several markers to better target oncogenes to gastric stem cells and understand their behavior in the initial stages of gastric tumorigenesis. METHODS Mouse models of gastric metaplasia and cancer by targeting stem/progenitor cells were generated and analyzed with techniques including reanalysis of single-cell RNA sequencing and immunostaining. Gastric cancer cell organoids were genetically manipulated with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) for functional studies. Cell division was determined by bromodeoxyuridine-chasing assay and the assessment of the orientation of the mitotic spindles. Gastric tissues from patients were examined by histopathology and immunostaining. RESULTS Oncogenic insults lead to expansion of SOX9+ progenitor cells in the mouse stomach. Genetic lineage tracing and organoid culture studies show that SOX9+ gastric epithelial cells overlap with SOX2+ progenitors and include stem cells that can self-renew and differentiate to generate all gastric epithelial cells. Moreover, oncogenic targeting of SOX9+SOX2+ cells leads to invasive gastric cancer in our novel mouse model (Sox2-CreERT;Sox9-loxp(66)-rtTA-T2A-Flpo-IRES-loxp(71);Kras(Frt-STOP-Frt-G12D);P53R172H), which combines Cre-loxp and Flippase-Frt genetic recombination systems. Sox9 deletion impedes the expansion of gastric progenitor cells and blocks neoplasia after Kras activation. Although Sox9 is not required for maintaining tissue homeostasis where asymmetric division predominates, loss of Sox9 in the setting of Kras activation leads to reduced symmetric cell division and effectively attenuates the Kras-dependent expansion of stem/progenitor cells. Similarly, Sox9 deletion in gastric cancer organoids reduces symmetric cell division, organoid number, and organoid size. In patients with gastric cancer, high levels of SOX9 are associated with recurrence and poor prognosis. CONCLUSION SOX9 marks gastric stem cells and modulates biased symmetric cell division, which appears to be required for the malignant transformation of gastric stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyue Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kai Weng
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Mi Lin
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Ming Jiang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health of the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinshan Fang
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Sanny S W Chung
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Xiaobo Huang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Zhong
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Zening Huang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxian Lin
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida
| | - Haiyan Li
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Hiroshi Nakagawa
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Julian A Abrams
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Changming Huang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianwen Que
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
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10
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Ballout F, Lu H, Peng D, El-Rifai W. Abstract 3964: APE1 protects SMAD3 against ROC1 ubiquitin mediated degradation in esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-3964] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased more than six-fold over the past three decades and continues to rise in the Western world. The 5-year survival rate for EAC patients is less than 20% which underscores the need to better understand the underlying mechanisms to identify new therapeutic approaches. This study aimed at investigating the potential role of APE1 in regulating SMAD3 and promoting EAC progression.
Methods and Results: Western blot data showed that APE1 and SMAD3 were highly expressed in EAC cell lines. APE1 silencing reduced SMAD3 nuclear expression and downregulated its downstream targets SERPINE1 and c-myc. These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining showing loss of nuclear accumulation of SMAD3 after APE1 knockdown. Mechanistically, immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays revealed a direct binding between APE1 and SMAD3 in the nucleus. Further investigation showed that APE1 binds to the C-terminal MH2 domain of SMAD3, and this binding protects SMAD3 from ubiquitin mediated proteasomal degradation by blocking its interaction with the RING finger protein, ROC1. Interestingly, APE1-redox-specific inhibition (APX2009) downregulated SMAD3 expression and the APE1 redox-deficient mutant (C65A) disrupted APE1-SMAD3 binding indicating that this regulation depends on APE1 redox activity.
Conclusion: Our findings establish a role of APE1 in regulating SMAD3 in EAC. These findings provide a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of EAC by the pharmacological inhibition of APE1.
Citation Format: Farah Ballout, Heng Lu, Dunfa Peng, Wael El-Rifai. APE1 protects SMAD3 against ROC1 ubiquitin mediated degradation in esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3964.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ballout
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Dunfa Peng
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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11
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Lu H, Cao L, Ballout F, Belkhiri A, Peng D, Chen L, Soutto M, McDonald O, Zaika A, Que J, El-Rifai W. Abstract 1232: Gastroesophageal reflux disease promotes E-cadherin cleavage and activates EMT via APE1-redox function in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-1232] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased rapidly over the past four decades. Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where acidic bile salts (ABS) abnormally refluxate into the esophagus, is the leading risk factor for the development of a metaplastic condition known as Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and its progression to EAC. We used 3D organotypic culture, mouse and human tissue samples to assess the role of ABS in Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in EAC. Analysis of public databases revealed significant enrichment of EMT signaling in EAC progression. RNA-seq analysis of EAC cells showed activation of EMT pathway in response to ABS exposure. ABS induced multiple characteristics of the EMT process, such as downregulation of E-cadherin, upregulation of Vimentin, activation of ß-catenin and EMT-transcription factors (EMT-TFs), cell morphological changes, and enhancement of cell migration and invasion capabilities. Mechanistically, we discovered that ABS induced E-cadherin cleavage via MMP14 proteolytic cascade. APE1 silencing, or APE1-redox-specific inhibitor (E3330), abrogated the ABS-induced EMT process and signaling by downregulating MMP14. Furthermore, APE1 and MMP14 co-expression levels were inversely correlated with E-cadherin expression in gastroesophageal junctions of human EAC tissues, and the L2-IL1ß transgenic mouse model of BE/EAC. EAC patients with high APE1 and EMT signatures had worse relapse free survival than those with low signature. In a summary, this study demonstrates the role of ABS in promoting EMT via the redox-sensitive signaling axis of APE1/MMP14/E-cadherin/ß-catenin. Pharmacological inhibition of APE1-redox function could be a potential therapeutic approach to effectively reduce the risk of Barrett’s carcinogenesis.
Citation Format: Heng Lu, Longlong Cao, Farah Ballout, Abbes Belkhiri, Dunfa Peng, Lei Chen, Mohammed Soutto, Oliver McDonald, Alexander Zaika, Jianwen Que, Wael El-Rifai. Gastroesophageal reflux disease promotes E-cadherin cleavage and activates EMT via APE1-redox function in esophageal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1232.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - Longlong Cao
- 2Fujian Medical University, Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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12
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Bhat NS, Soutto M, Zhang X, Chen Z, Gomaa A, Al-Mathkour M, Maacha S, Lu H, Peng D, Xu Z, El-Rifai W. Abstract 2592: Helicobacter pylori-induced FGFR4 mediates nuclear accumulation of NRF2 in gastric tumorigenesis. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-2592] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a member of the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor family and has been linked to a variety of malignancies. NRF2 (Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor) is a cytoprotective factor and a critical regulator in the antioxidant response pathway. In this study, we sought to uncover novel functions of FGFR4 and its role in regulating the antioxidant response in gastric carcinogenesis.
Methods and Results: Using western blot and immunofluorescence, H. pylori infection in gastric cancer cell lines demonstrated high levels of reactive oxygen species and induction of both FGFR4 and NRF2. Using Flow cytometry, FGFR4 silencing resulted in decrease of NRF2 with a significant spike in ROS levels and an increase in DNA damage and cell death. FGFR4 knockdown showed a significant decrease in NRF2 transcriptional activity as measured by NRF2 ARE luciferase reporter assay and resulted in reduced mRNA levels of HO-1 (Heme Oxygenase-1), which is a classical target of NRF2. These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence showing a significant increase of nuclear accumulation of NRF2 after H. pylori infection which was abolished after FGFR4 knockdown. Similar results were found using recombinant protein FGF19, a FGFR4 ligand. C57/B6 wild-type mice were infected with the pylori strain (PMSS1). An increase in FGFR4, NRF2, and HO-1 was seen by immunofluorescence, Western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR in H. pylori-infected mice vs control mice. We observed a reduction in NRF2 in our in vitro and in vivo models using H3B-6527, a specific FGFR4 inhibitor. We also discovered an association between an increase in FGFR4 and P62 protein expressions and NRF2 protein stability. We detected a significant increase in FGFR4, NRF2, and HO1 in dysplastic and neoplastic gastric lesions using the TFF1-KO mouse model which was further aggravated by H. pylori infection. In terms of the mechanism, utilizing proximity ligation and immunoprecipitation assays, we found that FGFR4 binds to P62 to inhibit the interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1, allowing NRF2 to avoid degradation facilitating its translocation and accumulation in the nucleus.
Conclusion: These findings revealed that FGFR4 has a unique functional role in promoting gastric carcinogenesis by mediating accumulation and activation of the NRF2 antioxidant response. The use of FGFR4 inhibitors is a viable treatment option that warrants further research in patients with gastric cancer.
Citation Format: Nadeem S. Bhat, Mohammed Soutto, Xing Zhang, Zheng Chen, Ahmed Gomaa, Marwah Al-Mathkour, Selma Maacha, Heng Lu, Dunfa Peng, Zekuan Xu, Wael El-Rifai. Helicobacter pylori-induced FGFR4 mediates nuclear accumulation of NRF2 in gastric tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2592.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | | | - Zekuan Xu
- 2The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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13
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Ballout F, Lu H, Chen Z, Hu T, Chen L, El-Rifai W, Peng D. Abstract 4776: NRF2 is overexpressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its targeting sensitizes tumor cells to cisplatin through induction of ferroptosis and apoptosis. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-4776] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the predominant type of esophageal cancer in the United States, with the 5-year survival rate is below 20%. EAC develops through Barrett’s esophagus (BE)-dysplasia-carcinoma cascade. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where acidic bile salts refluxate into the esophagus, is the main risk factor for the development of BE and its progression to EAC. The NFE2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is the master cellular antioxidant regulator, involving in many cancer hallmarks.
Methods and Results: Using western blotting and immunohistochemistry technologies, we detected high NRF2 protein levels in EAC cell lines and primary EAC tissues, as compared with normal esophagus and non-neoplastic Barrett’s esophagus samples. The knockdown of NRF2 using NRF2 specific siRNAs significantly increased oxidative stress in response to cellular stress stimuli by bile salts or cisplatin. This was associated with an increase in DNA damage and inhibition of EAC cell growth. Brusatol, a NRF2 inhibitor, significantly inhibited NRF2 transcriptional activity and downregulated NRF2 target genes. We discovered that in addition to inducing apoptosis, Brusatol alone or in combination with CDDP induced significant lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis as evidenced by reduced xCT and GPX4 expression, two known ferroptosis markers. Moreover, the combination of Brusatol and CDDP significantly inhibited EAC tumor xenografts growth in vivo. We confirmed the in vitro data showing ferroptosis as an important mechanism in the xenografted tumors treated with Brusatol or Brusatol and CDDP combination using IHC staining.
Conclusion: Our data support the role of NRF2 in protecting against stress-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in EACs. Targeting NRF2 in combination with platinum therapy can be an effective strategy for eliminating cancer cells in EAC.
Citation Format: Farah Ballout, Heng Lu, Zheng Chen, Tianling Hu, Lei Chen, Wael El-Rifai, Dunfa Peng. NRF2 is overexpressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its targeting sensitizes tumor cells to cisplatin through induction of ferroptosis and apoptosis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4776.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami, Miami, FL
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Al-Mathkour MM, Zhu S, Cao L, Khalafi S, Chen Z, Poveda J, Peng D, Lu H, Soutto M, Hu T, McDonalnd O, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. Abstract 5972: CDK1 bridges NF-kB and b-catenin signaling in response to H. pylori infection in gastric tumorigenesis. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-5972] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Cell cycle dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer, resulting in unregulated cell proliferation and, eventually, tumor development. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) is a cell cycle regulatory protein that is involved in cell cycle maintenance. CDK1 has been discovered to be substantially elevated in a several tumors and is linked to poor overall and relapse-free survival. The aim of this study is to understand the regulation role of Helicobacter Pylori infection and inflammation on CDK1 expression in gastric cancer.
Methods: Using TCGA data and our integrated comprehensive gene expression analysis, we found a significant overexpression of CDK1 in gastric cancer human and mouse tissues. We detected overexpression of CDK1 in human and mouse gastric glands in response to H. pylori infection. Our data demonstrated that H. pylori infection induced phosphorylation (S536) and activation of NF-kB in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, H. pylori infection and TNF-α treatment increased the CDK1 mRNA and protein levels in gastric cancer cell lines. Using the ChIP assay, we detected direct biding of NF-κB on the CDK1 promoter regulating its transcription. CDK1 promoted activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway. Using the pTOP/pFOP luciferase reporter assays, as a measure of β-catenin/TCF transcription activity, we confirmed CDK1-dependent activation of β-catenin in response to H. pylori infection. Pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of CDK1 reversed these effects and decreased number and size of gastric tumors organoid from mouse and human.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate NF-kB-mediated induction of CDK1 expression in response to H. pylori infection with subsequent activation of tumorigenic β-catenin signaling. This novel regulatory link between infection, CDK1, and β-catenin suggests the importance of considering CDK1 inhibitors in gastric cancer.
Citation Format: Marwah M. Al-Mathkour, Shoumin Zhu, Longlong Cao, Shayan Khalafi, Zheng Chen, Julio Poveda, Dunfa Peng, Heng Lu, Mohammed Soutto, Tianling Hu, Oliver McDonalnd, Alexander Zaika, Wael El-Rifai. CDK1 bridges NF-kB and b-catenin signaling in response to H. pylori infection in gastric tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5972.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Longlong Cao
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Shayan Khalafi
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Zheng Chen
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Julio Poveda
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Dunfa Peng
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | | | - Tianling Hu
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | | | | | - Wael El-Rifai
- 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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15
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Soutto M, Zhang X, El-Rifai W. Reply. Gastroenterology 2023; 164:499-500. [PMID: 36397305 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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16
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Chen L, Lu H, Peng D, Cao LL, Ballout F, Srirmajayam K, Chen Z, Bhat A, Wang TC, Capobianco A, Que J, McDonald OG, Zaika A, Zhang S, El-Rifai W. Activation of NOTCH signaling via DLL1 is mediated by APE1-redox-dependent NF-κB activation in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Gut 2023; 72:421-432. [PMID: 35750470 PMCID: PMC9789198 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) arises in the setting of Barrett's oesophagus, an intestinal metaplastic precursor lesion that can develop in patients with chronic GERD. Here, we investigated the role of acidic bile salts, the mimicry of reflux, in activation of NOTCH signaling in EAC. DESIGN This study used public databases, EAC cell line models, L2-IL1β transgenic mouse model and human EAC tissue samples to identify mechanisms of NOTCH activation under reflux conditions. RESULTS Analysis of public databases demonstrated significant upregulation of NOTCH signaling components in EAC. In vitro studies demonstrated nuclear accumulation of active NOTCH1 cleaved fragment (NOTCH intracellular domain) and upregulation of NOTCH targets in EAC cells in response to reflux conditions. Additional investigations identified DLL1 as the predominant ligand contributing to NOTCH1 activation under reflux conditions. We discovered a novel crosstalk between APE1 redox function, reflux-induced inflammation and DLL1 upregulation where NF-κB can directly bind to and induce the expression of DLL1. The APE1 redox function was crucial for activation of the APE1-NF-κB-NOTCH axis and promoting cancer cell stem-like properties in response to reflux conditions. Overexpression of APE1 and DLL1 was detected in gastro-oesophageal junctions of the L2-IL1ß transgenic mouse model and human EAC tissue microarrays. DLL1 high levels were associated with poor overall survival in patients with EAC. CONCLUSION These findings underscore a unique mechanism that links redox balance, inflammation and embryonic development (NOTCH) into a common pro-tumorigenic pathway that is intrinsic to EAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Long Long Cao
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian, China
| | - Farah Ballout
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Kannappan Srirmajayam
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ajaz Bhat
- Sidra Medicine, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anthony Capobianco
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Oliver Gene McDonald
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Shutian Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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17
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Caspa Gokulan R, Paulrasu K, Azfar J, El-Rifai W, Que J, Boutaud OG, Ban Y, Gao Z, Buitrago MG, Dikalov SI, Zaika AI. Protein adduction causes non-mutational inhibition of p53 tumor suppressor. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112024. [PMID: 36848235 PMCID: PMC9989503 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112024] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
p53 is a key tumor suppressor that is frequently mutated in human tumors. In this study, we investigated how p53 is regulated in precancerous lesions prior to mutations in the p53 gene. Analyzing esophageal cells in conditions of genotoxic stress that promotes development of esophageal adenocarcinoma, we find that p53 protein is adducted with reactive isolevuglandins (isoLGs), products of lipid peroxidation. Modification of p53 protein with isoLGs diminishes its acetylation and binding to the promoters of p53 target genes causing modulation of p53-dependent transcription. It also leads to accumulation of adducted p53 protein in intracellular amyloid-like aggregates that can be inhibited by isoLG scavenger 2-HOBA in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our studies reveal a posttranslational modification of p53 protein that causes molecular aggregation of p53 protein and its non-mutational inactivation in conditions of DNA damage that may play an important role in human tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jamal Azfar
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olivier G Boutaud
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yuguang Ban
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zhen Gao
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Sergey I Dikalov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexander I Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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18
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Zhu S, Al-Mathkour M, Cao L, Khalafi S, Chen Z, Poveda J, Peng D, Lu H, Soutto M, Hu T, McDonald OG, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. CDK1 bridges NF-κB and β-catenin signaling in response to H. pylori infection in gastric tumorigenesis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112005. [PMID: 36681899 PMCID: PMC9973518 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main risk factor for gastric cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The oncogenic functions of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) are not fully understood in gastric tumorigenesis. Using public datasets, quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses, we detect high levels of CDK1 in human and mouse gastric tumors. H. pylori infection induces activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) with a significant increase in CDK1 in in vitro and in vivo models (p < 0.01). We confirm active NF-κB binding sites on the CDK1 promoter sequence. CDK1 phosphorylates and inhibits GSK-3β activity through direct binding with subsequent accumulation and activation of β-catenin. CDK1 silencing or pharmacologic inhibition reverses these effects and impairs tumor organoids and spheroid formation. IHC analysis demonstrates a positive correlation between CDK1 and β-catenin. The results demonstrate a mechanistic link between infection, inflammation, and gastric tumorigenesis where CDK1 plays a critical role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Marwah Al-Mathkour
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Longlong Cao
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shayan Khalafi
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Julio Poveda
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Tianling Hu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Oliver G McDonald
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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19
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Cao L, Lu H, El-Rifai W. Reply. Gastroenterology 2022; 163:1122-1123. [PMID: 35760087 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.06.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Longlong Cao
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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20
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Ballout F, Lu H, Chen Z, Hu T, Chen L, Washington MK, El-Rifai W, Peng D. Targeting NRF2 Sensitizes Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells to Cisplatin through Induction of Ferroptosis and Apoptosis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1859. [PMID: 36290582 PMCID: PMC9598457 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11101859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the predominant type of esophageal cancer in the United States, develops through Barrett's esophagus (BE)-dysplasia-carcinoma cascade. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, where acidic bile salts refluxate into the esophagus, is the main risk factor for the development of BE and its progression to EAC. The NFE2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is the master cellular antioxidant regulator. We detected high NRF2 protein levels in the EAC cell lines and primary tissues. Knockdown of NRF2 significantly enhanced acidic bile salt-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inhibited EAC cell growth. Brusatol, an NRF2 inhibitor, significantly inhibited NRF2 transcriptional activity and downregulated the NRF2 target genes. We discovered that in addition to inducing apoptosis, Brusatol alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) induced significant lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis, as evidenced by reduced xCT and GPX4 expression, two known ferroptosis markers. The combination of Brusatol and CDDP significantly inhibited EAC tumor xenograft growth in vivo and confirmed the in vitro data showing ferroptosis as an important mechanism in the tumors treated with Brusatol or Brusatol and CDDP combination. Our data support the role of NRF2 in protecting against stress-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in EACs. Targeting NRF2 in combination with platinum therapy can be an effective strategy for eliminating cancer cells in EAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ballout
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Tianling Hu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Mary Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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21
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Zhang X, Soutto M, Chen Z, Bhat N, Zhu S, Eissmann MF, Ernst M, Lu H, Peng D, Xu Z, El-Rifai W. Induction of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 by Helicobacter pylori via Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 With a Feedforward Activation Loop Involving SRC Signaling in Gastric Cancer. Gastroenterology 2022; 163:620-636.e9. [PMID: 35588797 PMCID: PMC9629135 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is the main risk factor for gastric cancer. The role of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGRFs) in H pylori-mediated gastric tumorigenesis remains largely unknown. This study investigated the molecular and mechanistic links between H pylori, inflammation, and FGFR4 in gastric cancer. METHODS Cell lines, human and mouse gastric tissue samples, and gastric organoids models were implemented. Infection with H pylori was performed using in vitro and in vivo models. Western blot, real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays were used for molecular, mechanistic, and functional studies. RESULTS Analysis of FGFR family members using The Cancer Genome Atlas data, followed by validation, indicated that FGFR4 messenger (m)RNA was the most significantly overexpressed member in human gastric cancer tissue samples (P < .001). We also detected high levels of Fgfr4 mRNA and protein in gastric dysplasia and adenocarcinoma lesions in mouse models. Infection with J166, 7.13, and PMSS1 cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA)+ H pylori strains induced FGFR4 mRNA and protein expression in in vitro and in vivo models. This was associated with a concordant activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Analysis of the FGFR4 promoter suggested several putative binding sites for STAT3. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and an FGFR-promoter luciferase reporter containing putative STAT3 binding sites and their mutants, we confirmed a direct functional binding of STAT3 on the FGFR4 promoter. Mechanistically, we also discovered a feedforward activation loop between FGFR4 and STAT3 where the fibroblast growth factor 19–FGFR4 axis played an essential role in activating STAT3 in a SRC proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase dependent manner. Functionally, we found that FGFR4 protected against H pylori-induced DNA damage and cell death. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated a link between infection, inflammation, and FGFR4 activation, where a feedforward activation loop between FGFR4 and STAT3 is established via SRC proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase in response to H pylori infection. Given the relevance of FGFR4 to the etiology and biology of gastric cancer, we propose FGFR4 as a druggable molecular vulnerability that can be tested in patients with gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Moritz F Eissmann
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Zekuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
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22
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Ballout F, Lu H, Chen L, Sriramajayam K, Que J, Meng Z, Wang TC, Giordano S, Zaika A, McDonald O, Peng D, El-Rifai W. APE1 redox function is required for activation of Yes-associated protein 1 under reflux conditions in Barrett's-associated esophageal adenocarcinomas. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:264. [PMID: 36045416 PMCID: PMC9434868 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02472-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is characterized by poor prognosis and low survival rate. Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the main risk factor for the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE), a preneoplastic metaplastic condition, and its progression to EAC. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) activation mediates stem-like properties under cellular stress. The role of acidic bile salts (ABS) in promoting YAP1 activation under reflux conditions remains unexplored. METHODS A combination of EAC cell lines, transgenic mice, and patient-derived xenografts were utilized in this study. mRNA expression and protein levels of APE1 and YAP1 were evaluated by qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. YAP1 activation was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and luciferase transcriptional activity reporter assay. The functional role and mechanism of regulation of YAP1 by APE1 was determined by sphere formation assay, siRNA mediated knockdown, redox-specific inhibition, and co-immunoprecipitation assays. RESULTS We showed that YAP1 signaling is activated in BE and EAC cells following exposure to ABS, the mimicry of reflux conditions in patients with GERD. This induction was consistent with APE1 upregulation in response to ABS. YAP1 activation was confirmed by its nuclear accumulation with corresponding up-regulation of YAP1 target genes. APE1 silencing inhibited YAP1 protein induction and reduced its nuclear expression and transcriptional activity, following ABS treatment. Further investigation revealed that APE1-redox-specific inhibition (E3330) or APE1 redox-deficient mutant (C65A) abrogated ABS-mediated YAP1 activation, indicating an APE1 redox-dependent mechanism. APE1 silencing or E3330 treatment reduced YAP1 protein levels and diminished the number and size of EAC spheroids. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that APE1 regulated YAP1 stability through interaction with β-TrCP ubiquitinase, whereas APE1-redox-specific inhibition induced YAP1 poly-ubiquitination promoting its degradation. CONCLUSION Our findings established a novel function of APE1 in EAC progression elucidating druggable molecular vulnerabilities via targeting APE1 or YAP1 for the treatment of EAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ballout
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Kannappan Sriramajayam
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Zhipeng Meng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology & Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Department of Medicine and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Silvia Giordano
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino and Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Oliver McDonald
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Med Science Bldg., 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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23
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Palrasu M, Zaika E, Paulrasu K, Caspa Gokulan R, Suarez G, Que J, El-Rifai W, Peek RM, Garcia-Buitrago M, Zaika AI. Helicobacter pylori pathogen inhibits cellular responses to oncogenic stress and apoptosis. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010628. [PMID: 35767594 PMCID: PMC9242521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common gastric pathogen that infects approximately half of the world's population. Infection with H. pylori can lead to diverse pathological conditions, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and cancer. The latter is the most severe consequence of H. pylori infection. According to epidemiological studies, gastric infection with H. pylori is the strongest known risk factor for non-cardia gastric cancer (GC), which remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, it still remains to be poorly understood how host-microbe interactions result in cancer development in the human stomach. Here we focus on the H. pylori bacterial factors that affect the host ubiquitin proteasome system. We investigated E3 ubiquitin ligases SIVA1 and ULF that regulate p14ARF (p19ARF in mice) tumor suppressor. ARF plays a key role in regulation of the oncogenic stress response and is frequently inhibited during GC progression. Expression of ARF, SIVA1 and ULF proteins were investigated in gastroids, H. pylori-infected mice and human gastric tissues. The role of the H. pylori type IV secretion system was assessed using various H. pylori isogenic mutants. Our studies demonstrated that H. pylori infection results in induction of ULF, decrease in SIVA1 protein levels, and subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of p14ARF tumor suppressor. Bacterial CagA protein was found to sequentially bind to SIVA1 and ULF proteins. This process is regulated by CagA protein phosphorylation at the EPIYA motifs. Downregulation of ARF protein leads to inhibition of cellular apoptosis and oncogenic stress response that may promote gastric carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manikandan Palrasu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Elena Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kodisundaram Paulrasu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ravindran Caspa Gokulan
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Giovanni Suarez
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Richard M. Peek
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Monica Garcia-Buitrago
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alexander I. Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Bhat AA, Masoodi T, Mishra D, Singh M, Nisar S, Hashem S, Baba SK, Bagga P, Reddy R, Bedognetti D, Uddin S, El-Rifai W, Macha MA, Haris M. Abstract 6221: Tandem use of multi-omics and artificial intelligence identified novel prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-6221] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is categorized into Human Papilloma Virus positive (HPV+ve) and negative (HPV-ve) tumors, with the latter being more aggressive and displaying poor overall survival (OS). There is a need to identify aggressive biomarkers for patient stratification and improved patient care.
Materials and Methods: Using the multi-omics data, including somatic mutations, copy number alterations, RNA sequencing, miRNA sequencing, and methylation from 513 HNSCC patients, we performed an integrative clustering analysis to differentiate HPV+ve and HPV-ve tumors and identify novel prognostic biomarkers for survival and treatment response. Using artificial intelligence (AI) based machine learning approach by implementing scikit-learn, we developed a model to predict the patient's OS.
Results: Our clustering analysis robustly segregated HNSCC patients into HPV+ve and HPV-ve tumors. Artificial intelligence-based machine learning model identified a 30 gene signature panel specific to HPV-ve tumors precisely predicting poor OS with an accuracy of 90.5±0.8% (95% CI) and AUC of 80.2%. Furthermore, the multivariate Cox regression survival model identified 12 genes as independent prognostic biomarkers in HPV-ve tumors, including overexpression of novel genes NT5E and TRIML2. Interestingly, higher expression of NT5E and TRIML2 due to promoter hypomethylation predicted therapy resistance in 62.8% and 65.1% of HNSCC patients, respectively. The prognostic signature panel of 30 genes was further validated using three additional expression data sets (n = 450) of HNSCC.
Conclusion: Our multi-omics and AI analysis revealed a novel HPV-ve molecular cluster with implications for predicting disease aggressiveness, therapeutic response, and OS in HNSCC patients.
Citation Format: Ajaz A. Bhat, Tariq Masoodi, Deepika Mishra, Mayank Singh, Sabah Nisar, Sheema Hashem, Sana K. Baba, Puneet Bagga, Ravinder Reddy, Davide Bedognetti, Shahab Uddin, Wael El-Rifai, Muzafar A. Macha, Mohammad Haris. Tandem use of multi-omics and artificial intelligence identified novel prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 6221.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Deepika Mishra
- 3All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mayank Singh
- 3All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Sana K. Baba
- 4Islamic University of Science and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Puneet Bagga
- 5St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | | | | | - Wael El-Rifai
- 8University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Muzafar A. Macha
- 4Islamic University of Science and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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Chen L, Lu H, Peng D, Cao L, Chen Z, Bhat A, Zaika A, Zhang S, El-Rifai W. Abstract 6071: Activation of NOTCH signaling via DLL1 is mediated by APE1-redox-dependent NF-κB activation in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-6071] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is one of the most lethal of all human malignancies. EAC arises in the setting of Barrett’s esophagus, which is an intestinal metaplastic precursor lesion that develops from chronic reflux of gastrointestinal contents (especially acidic bile salts). Here we report that NOTCH signaling is activated in the esophagus through a unique pathway during exposure to acidic bile salts and progression to EAC. Using a combination of public databases, EAC cell line models, transgenic mice, and patient tissue samples, we detected significant upregulation of several NOTCH signaling components in EAC. Activated NOTCH signaling was confirmed by nuclear accumulation of NOTCH1 cleaved fragment (NICD) with corresponding up-regulation of NOTCH targets in EAC cells in response to acidic bile salts. Moreover, we identified DLL1 as the predominant ligand contributing NOTCH1 activation. Remarkably, DLL1 was regulated by direct cross talk between redox and inflammatory pathways that are activated during both reflux and malignant transformation. Mechanistically, the APE1 redox function transcriptionally up-regulated NF-κB in response to bile salts. This licensed NF-κB to transcriptionally up-regulate DLL1 to activate and stimulate downstream NOTCH1 signaling, thereby defining a novel APE1-NF-kB-NOTCH pro-tumorigenic pathway. This pathway was important for maintaining tumor initiating (cancer “stem cell-like”) properties in vitro, recurrently detected in genetically engineered mouse models of EAC and in EAC patient samples in vivo, and portended an overall poor prognosis. Collectively, these findings indicate that progression from chronic injury to malignancy in the esophagus is driven by a unique mechanism that links redox balance, inflammation, embryonic development (NOTCH) together into a common pro-tumorigenic pathway that is intrinsic to EAC cells.
Citation Format: Lei Chen, Heng Lu, Dunfa Peng, Longlong Cao, Zheng Chen, Ajaz Bhat, Alexander Zaika, Shutian Zhang, Wael El-Rifai. Activation of NOTCH signaling via DLL1 is mediated by APE1-redox-dependent NF-κB activation in esophageal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 6071.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Mimai, Miami, FL
| | | | - Longlong Cao
- 2Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Miami, FL
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Bhat NS, Soutto M, Zhang X, Chen Z, Zhu S, Lu H, Peng D, Xu Z, El-Rifai W. Abstract 5849: Activation of STAT3 is mediated by FGFR4 induction via SRC signaling after H. pylori infection. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-5849] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Gastric cancer is considered the 5th most common form of cancer and 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to the late stage of diagnosis, gastric cancer carries poor prognosis and poor overall survival. Infection with H. pylori is the strongest known risk factor. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 (FGFR4) belongs to a family of highly conserved tyrosine kinases. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of FGFR4 regulation in response to H. pylori infection.
Methods and Results: Among all the FGFRs, FGFR4 mRNA expression level was the most significantly elevated in human gastric cancer samples as compared to normal samples, using Real-time qPCR. These results were confirmed using the TCGA and Geo database analysis, confirming that FGFR4 is highly expressed in gastric cancer. Using western blot, we found that FGFR4 is significantly expressed in dysplasia and adenocarcinoma lesions in the TFF1-KO gastric cancer mouse model. Following infection with H. pylori in in-vitro (J166, 7.13) and in-vivo (PMSS1) models, we detected a significant increase in the expression of FGFR4 at the protein and mRNA levels. We also detected activation of STAT3 in human gastric cell lines and mice gastric tissues. Furthermore, analysis of FGFR4 promoter revealed several putative binding sites for STAT3. To confirm that FGFR4 expression is dependent upon STAT3 activation, we performed ChIP assay and confirmed direct functional binding of STAT3 on FGFR4 promoter. Using the FGF19, the ligand for FGFR4, we found that FGF19-FGFR4 axis played a vital role in activating STAT3 through an SRC-dependent mechanism and discovered that there is a feedforward activation loop between FGFR4 and STAT3. Functionally, we found that FGFR4 protected against H. pylori-induced DNA damage and cell death.
Conclusion: Our study established a feedforward activation loop between FGFR4 and STAT3 in response to H. pylori infection and FGFR4 could be a possible druggable moiety for future therapies in gastric cancer.
Citation Format: Nadeem S. Bhat, Mohammed Soutto, Xing Zhang, Zheng Chen, Shoumin Zhu, Heng Lu, Dunfa Peng, Zekuan Xu, Wael El-Rifai. Activation of STAT3 is mediated by FGFR4 induction via SRC signaling after H. pylori infection [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5849.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xing Zhang
- 2Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | | | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | | | - Zekuan Xu
- 2Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Peng D, Hu T, Chen L, Lu H, Zhu S, El-Rifai W. Abstract 5407: Targeting NRF2 using specific inhibitor brusatol sensitized esophageal adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin through inducing ferroptosis. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-5407] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The incidence rate of the esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased rapidly among men during the past four decades in the USA and western countries while the 5 year survival rate is still below 20%. Traditional chemotherapy is still the main stream strategy in treatment of EAC patients. However, chemo-resistance usually develops that finally leads to failure of treatments. NFE2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is the master regulator of cellular anti-oxidant properties that maintains cell viability and cellular homeostasis. Overexpression of NRF2 in human cancers are associated with drug-resistance and poor prognosis.
Methods and Results: NRF2 protein levels are higher in several EAC cell lines, as compared to BE cell lines (CPA, BAR10T) and normal esophageal squamous cell lines, using Western blot analysis. We confirmed NRF2 overexpression in primary EAC samples, using immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray that contained 76 EACs. Brusatol is an NRF2 specific inhibitor originated from natural plant. Administration of Brusatol in EAC cells significantly inhibited NRF2 ARE luciferase activity and reduced gene expression of NRF2 target genes such as GR, HO1, GSTM2, GPX3 and GPX4, resulting in a significant increase in cellular ROS levels, which were further increased by treatment with CDDP with subsequent increase in cancer cell death. Further investigation revealed that Brusatol significantly increased lipid peroxidation levels as detected by immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry and resulted in significant ferroptosis, in particular in combination with CDDP treatments. We confirmed that Brusatol in combination with CDDP significantly suppressed tumor growth in a xenografting mice model.
Conclusion: Constitutive overexpression of NRF2 in EAC cells favors tumor cell survival and drug resistance. NRF2 specific inhibitor may synergize with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs by inducing lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in EAC.
Citation Format: Dunfa Peng, Tianling Hu, Lei Chen, Heng Lu, Shoumin Zhu, Wael El-Rifai. Targeting NRF2 using specific inhibitor brusatol sensitized esophageal adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin through inducing ferroptosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5407.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Heng Lu
- 1University of Miami, Miami, FL
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Cao L, Zhu S, Lu H, Soutto M, Bhat N, Chen Z, Peng D, Lin J, Lu J, Li P, Zheng C, Huang C, El-Rifai W. Helicobacter pylori-induced RASAL2 Through Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB Promotes Gastric Tumorigenesis via β-catenin Signaling Axis. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1716-1731.e17. [PMID: 35134322 PMCID: PMC9038683 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [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: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Helicobacter pylori infection is the predominant risk factor for gastric cancer. RAS protein activator like 2 (RASAL2) is considered a double-edged sword in carcinogenesis. Herein, we investigated the role of RASAL2 in response to H pylori infection and gastric tumorigenesis. METHODS Bioinformatics analyses of local and public databases were applied to analyze RASAL2 expression, signaling pathways, and clinical significance. In vitro cell culture, spheroids, patient-derived organoids, and in vivo mouse models were used. Molecular assays included chromatin immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunocyto/histochemistry. RESULTS H pylori infection induced RASAL2 expression via a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-dependent mechanism whereby NF-κB was directly bound to the RASAL2 promoter activating its transcription. By gene silencing and ectopic overexpression, we found that RASAL2 upregulated β-catenin transcriptional activity. RASAL2 inhibited protein phosphatase 2A activity through direct binding with subsequent activation of the AKT/β-catenin signaling axis. Functionally, RASAL2 silencing decreased nuclear β-catenin levels and impaired tumor spheroids and organoids formation. Furthermore, the depletion of RASAL2 impaired tumor growth in gastric tumor xenograft mouse models. Clinicopathological analysis indicated that abnormal overexpression of RASAL2 correlated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in human gastric tumors. CONCLUSIONS These studies uncovered a novel signaling axis of NF-κB/RASAL2/β-catenin, providing a novel link between infection, inflammation and gastric tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longlong Cao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Jianxian Lin
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chaohui Zheng
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Changming Huang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
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Lone SN, Nisar S, Masoodi T, Singh M, Rizwan A, Hashem S, El-Rifai W, Bedognetti D, Batra SK, Haris M, Bhat AA, Macha MA. Liquid biopsy: a step closer to transform diagnosis, prognosis and future of cancer treatments. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:79. [PMID: 35303879 PMCID: PMC8932066 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01543-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, invasive techniques for diagnosing and monitoring cancers are slowly being replaced by non-invasive methods such as liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsies have drastically revolutionized the field of clinical oncology, offering ease in tumor sampling, continuous monitoring by repeated sampling, devising personalized therapeutic regimens, and screening for therapeutic resistance. Liquid biopsies consist of isolating tumor-derived entities like circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, tumor extracellular vesicles, etc., present in the body fluids of patients with cancer, followed by an analysis of genomic and proteomic data contained within them. Methods for isolation and analysis of liquid biopsies have rapidly evolved over the past few years as described in the review, thus providing greater details about tumor characteristics such as tumor progression, tumor staging, heterogeneity, gene mutations, and clonal evolution, etc. Liquid biopsies from cancer patients have opened up newer avenues in detection and continuous monitoring, treatment based on precision medicine, and screening of markers for therapeutic resistance. Though the technology of liquid biopsies is still evolving, its non-invasive nature promises to open new eras in clinical oncology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current methodologies involved in liquid biopsies and their application in isolating tumor markers for detection, prognosis, and monitoring cancer treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saife N Lone
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Cancer Research Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicince, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE 68198, Omaha, USA
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE 68198, Omaha, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, (IUST), 192122, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
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Lu H, Gomaa A, Wang-Bishop L, Ballout F, Hu T, McDonald O, Washington MK, Livingstone AS, Wang TC, Peng D, El-Rifai W, Chen Z. Unfolded Protein Response Is Activated by Aurora Kinase A in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1401. [PMID: 35326553 PMCID: PMC8946061 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Unfolded protein response (UPR) protects malignant cells from endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. We report that Aurora kinase A (AURKA) promotes cancer cell survival by activating UPR in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). A strong positive correlation between AURKA and binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP) mRNA expression levels was found in EACs. The in vitro assays indicated that AURKA promoted IRE1α protein phosphorylation, activating prosurvival UPR in FLO-1 and OE33 cells. The use of acidic bile salts to mimic reflux conditions in patients induced high AURKA and IRE1α levels. This induction was abrogated by AURKA knockdown in EAC cells. AURKA and p-IRE1α protein colocalization was observed in neoplastic gastroesophageal lesions of the L2-IL1b mouse model of Barrett's esophageal neoplasia. The combined treatment using AURKA inhibitor and tunicamycin synergistically induced cancer cell death. The use of alisertib for AURKA inhibition in the EAC xenograft model led to a decrease in IRE1α phosphorylation with a significant reduction in tumor growth. These results indicate that AURKA activates UPR, promoting cancer cell survival during ER stress in EAC. Targeting AURKA can significantly reverse prosurvival UPR signaling mechanisms and decrease cancer cell survival, providing a promising approach for the treatment of EAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Ahmed Gomaa
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Lihong Wang-Bishop
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Farah Ballout
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Tianling Hu
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Oliver McDonald
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Mary Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Alan S. Livingstone
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Timothy C. Wang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.L.); (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.H.); (A.S.L.); (W.E.-R.)
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Khalafi S, Zhu S, Khurana R, Lohse I, Giordano S, Corso S, Al-Ali H, Brothers SP, Wahlestedt C, Schürer S, El-Rifai W. A novel strategy for combination of clofarabine and pictilisib is synergistic in gastric cancer. Transl Oncol 2021; 15:101260. [PMID: 34735897 PMCID: PMC8571525 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug sensitivity testing identified novel drugs like clofarabine effective in treating gastric cancer. mRNA sequencing can be used to identify agents with synergistic activity to a reference compound. Pictilisib sensitizes gastric cancer to clofarabine treatment through AKT inhibition. The combination of clofarabine and pictilisib inhibits tumor growth in cell lines and PDX models.
Gastric cancer (GC) is frequently characterized by resistance to standard chemotherapeutic regimens and poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to identify a novel therapeutic approach using drug sensitivity testing (DST) and our computational SynerySeq pipeline. DST of GC cell lines was performed with a library of 215 Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved compounds and identified clofarabine as a potential therapeutic agent. RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) of clofarabine treated GC cells was analyzed according to our SynergySeq pipeline and identified pictilisib as a potential synergistic agent. Clonogenic survival and Annexin V assays demonstrated increased cell death with clofarabine and pictilisib combination treatment (P<0.01). The combination induced double strand breaks (DSB) as indicated by phosphorylated H2A histone family member X (γH2AX) immunofluorescence and western blot analysis (P<0.01). Pictilisib treatment inhibited the protein kinase B (AKT) cell survival pathway and promoted a pro-apoptotic phenotype as evidenced by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein family members (P<0.01). Patient derived xenograft (PDX) data confirmed that the combination is more effective in abrogating tumor growth with prolonged survival than single-agent treatment (P<0.01). The novel combination of clofarabine and pictilisib in GC promotes DNA damage and inhibits key cell survival pathways to induce cell death beyond single-agent treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Khalafi
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Medical Science Bldg, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL 33136-1015, United States
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Medical Science Bldg, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL 33136-1015, United States; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Rimpi Khurana
- Department of Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Ines Lohse
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Molecular Therapeutics Shared Resource, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Silvia Giordano
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo 10060, Italy; Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo 10060, Italy
| | - Simona Corso
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo 10060, Italy; Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo 10060, Italy
| | - Hassan Al-Ali
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Peggy and Harold Katz Drug Discovery Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Shaun P Brothers
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Stephan Schürer
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Institute for Data Science and Computing, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Rosenstiel Medical Science Bldg, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Room 4007, Miami, FL 33136-1015, United States; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, United States.
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Soutto M, Bhat N, Khalafi S, Zhu S, Poveda J, Garcia-Buitrago M, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. NF-kB-dependent activation of STAT3 by H. pylori is suppressed by TFF1. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:444. [PMID: 34419066 PMCID: PMC8380333 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02140-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND H. pylori infection is the main risk factor for gastric cancer. In this study, we investigated H. pylori-mediated activation of STAT3 and NF-κB in gastric cancer, using in vitro and in vivo models. METHODS To investigate the activation of NF-κB and STAT3 by H. pylori strains we used in vitro and in vivo mouse models, western blots, immunofluorescence, ChIP Assay, luciferase and quantitative real-time PCR assays. RESULTS Following infection with H. pylori in vitro, we found an earlier phosphorylation of NF-kB-p65 (S536), followed by STAT3 (Y705). Immunofluorescence, using in vitro and in vivo models, demonstrated nuclear localization of NF-kB and STAT3, following H. pylori infection. NF-kB and STAT3 luciferase reporter assays confirmed earlier activation of NF-kB followed by STAT3. In vitro and in vivo models demonstrated induction of mRNA expression of IL-6 (p < 0.001), VEGF-α (p < 0.05), IL-17 (p < 0.001), and IL-23 (p < 0.001). Using ChIP, we confirmed co-binding of both NF-kB-p65 and STAT3 on the IL6 promoter. The reconstitution of Trefoil Factor 1 (TFF1) suppressed activation of NF-kB with reduction in IL6 levels and STAT3 activity, in response to H. pylori infection. Using pharmacologic (BAY11-7082) and genetic (IκB super repressor (IκBSR)) inhibitors of NF-kB-p65, we confirmed the requirement of NF-kB-p65 for activation of STAT3, as measured by phosphorylation, transcription activity, and nuclear localization of STAT3 in in vitro and in vivo models. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest the presence of an early autocrine NF-kB-dependent activation of STAT3 in response to H. pylori infection. TFF1 acts as an anti-inflammatory guard against H. pylori-mediated activation of pro-inflammatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Shayan Khalafi
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Julio Poveda
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA.
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Dai J, Leung M, Guan W, Guo HT, Krasnow RE, Wang TJ, El-Rifai W, Zhao Z, Reed T. Whole-Genome Differentially Hydroxymethylated DNA Regions among Twins Discordant for Cardiovascular Death. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12081183. [PMID: 34440357 PMCID: PMC8392630 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081183] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics is a mechanism underlying cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether DNA hydroxymethylation is prospectively associated with the risk for cardiovascular death independent of germline and common environment. Male twin pairs middle-aged in 1969–1973 and discordant for cardiovascular death through December 31, 2014, were included. Hydroxymethylation was quantified in buffy coat DNA collected in 1986–1987. The 1893 differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) were identified after controlling for blood leukocyte subtypes and age among 12 monozygotic (MZ) pairs (Benjamini–Hochberg False Discovery Rate < 0.01), of which the 102 DhMRs were confirmed with directionally consistent log2-fold changes and p < 0.01 among additional 7 MZ pairs. These signature 102 DhMRs, independent of the germline, were located on all chromosomes except for chromosome 21 and the Y chromosome, mainly within/overlapped with intergenic regions and introns, and predominantly hyper-hydroxymethylated. A binary linear classifier predicting cardiovascular death among 19 dizygotic pairs was identified and equivalent to that generated from MZ via the 2D transformation. Computational bioinformatics discovered pathways, phenotypes, and DNA motifs for these DhMRs or their subtypes, suggesting that hydroxymethylation was a pathophysiological mechanism underlying cardiovascular death that might be influenced by genetic factors and warranted further investigations of mechanisms of these signature regions in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Dai
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-515-271-1367
| | - Ming Leung
- Institute for Personalized Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Weihua Guan
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Han-Tian Guo
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Undergraduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;
| | - Ruth E. Krasnow
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA;
| | - Thomas J. Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Terry Reed
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
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Jabbour SK, Williams TM, Sayan M, Miller ED, Ajani JA, Chang AC, Coleman N, El-Rifai W, Haddock M, Ilson D, Jamorabo D, Kunos C, Lin S, Liu G, Prasanna PG, Rustgi AK, Wong R, Vikram B, Ahmed MM. Potential Molecular Targets in the Setting of Chemoradiation for Esophageal Malignancies. J Natl Cancer Inst 2021; 113:665-679. [PMID: 33351071 PMCID: PMC8600025 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaa195] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the development of effective combined chemoradiation regimens for esophageal cancers has resulted in statistically significant survival benefits, the majority of patients treated with curative intent develop locoregional and/or distant relapse. Further improvements in disease control and survival will require the development of individualized therapy based on the knowledge of host and tumor genomics and potentially harnessing the host immune system. Although there are a number of gene targets that are amplified and proteins that are overexpressed in esophageal cancers, attempts to target several of these have not proven successful in unselected patients. Herein, we review our current state of knowledge regarding the molecular pathways implicated in esophageal carcinoma, and the available agents for targeting these pathways that may rationally be combined with standard chemoradiation, with the hope that this commentary will guide future efforts of novel combinations of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma K Jabbour
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Terence M Williams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Mutlay Sayan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Eric D Miller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jaffer A Ajani
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew C Chang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Surgery, Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Norman Coleman
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Michael Haddock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Ilson
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Charles Kunos
- Investigational Drug Branch, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Steven Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Geoffrey Liu
- Division of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pataje G Prasanna
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosemary Wong
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Bhadrasain Vikram
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mansoor M Ahmed
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
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Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the dominant form of esophageal malignancies in the United States and other industrialized countries. The incidence of EAC has been rising rapidly during the past four decades. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the main precancerous condition for EAC, where a metaplastic columnar epithelium replaces normal squamous mucosa of the lower esophagus. The primary risk factor for BE and EAC are chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity and smoking. During the BE-dysplasia-EAC sequence, esophageal cells are under a tremendous burden of accumulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. While normal cells have intact antioxidant machinery to maintain a balanced anti-tumorigenic physiological response, the antioxidant capacity is compromised in neoplastic cells with a pro-tumorigenic development antioxidant response. The accumulation of ROS, during the neoplastic progression of the GERD-BE-EAC sequence, induces DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Neoplastic cells adapt to oxidative stress by developing a pro-tumorigenic antioxidant response that keeps oxidative damage below lethal levels while promoting tumorigenesis, progression, and resistance to therapy. In this review, we will summarize the recent findings on oxidative stress in tumorigenesis in the context of the GERD-BE-EAC process. We will discuss how EAC cells adapt to increased ROS. We will review APE1 and NRF2 signaling mechanisms in the context of EAC. Finally, we will discuss the potential clinical significance of applying antioxidants or NRF2 activators as chemoprevention and NRF2 inhibitors in treating EAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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36
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Lone SN, Bhat AA, Wani NA, Karedath T, Hashem S, Nisar S, Singh M, Bagga P, Das BC, Bedognetti D, Reddy R, Frenneaux MP, El-Rifai W, Siddiqi MA, Haris M, Macha MA. miRNAs as novel immunoregulators in cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 124:3-14. [PMID: 33926791 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The immune system is a well-known vital regulator of tumor growth, and one of the main hallmarks of cancer is evading the immune system. Immune system deregulation can lead to immune surveillance evasion, sustained cancer growth, proliferation, and metastasis. Tumor-mediated disruption of the immune system is accomplished by different mechanisms that involve extensive crosstalk with the immediate microenvironment, which includes endothelial cells, immune cells, and stromal cells, to create a favorable tumor niche that facilitates the development of cancer. The essential role of non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) in the mechanism of cancer cell immune evasion has been highlighted in recent studies. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate a wide range of post-transcriptional gene expression in a cell. Recent studies have focused on the function that miRNAs play in controlling the expression of target proteins linked to immune modulation. Studies show that miRNAs modulate the immune response in cancers by regulating the expression of different immune-modulatory molecules associated with immune effector cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells, as well as those present in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. This review explores the relationship between miRNAs, their altered patterns of expression in tumors, immune modulation, and the functional control of a wide range of immune cells, thereby offering detailed insights on the crosstalk of tumor-immune cells and their use as prognostic markers or therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saife N Lone
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Molecular and Metabolic Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nissar A Wani
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | | | - Sheema Hashem
- Molecular and Metabolic Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Molecular and Metabolic Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (BRAIRCH), AIIMS, New Delhi, India
| | - Puneet Bagga
- Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Bhudev Chandra Das
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunogenomics, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mushtaq A Siddiqi
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, India
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Molecular and Metabolic Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, India.
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37
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Palrasu M, Zaika E, El-Rifai W, Que J, Zaika AI. Role of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens in Gastric Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081878. [PMID: 33919876 PMCID: PMC8070847 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Stomach cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, with over one million new cases diagnosed in 2020. Despite recent advances in cancer treatments, gastric cancer remains a serious clinical problem. This disease is tightly linked to gastric infections with Helicobacter pylori bacterium, Epstein–Barr virus, and some other less known pathogens. Here, we discuss how gastric pathogens induce tumorigenic changes in the stomach. Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide. In contrast to many other tumor types, gastric carcinogenesis is tightly linked to infectious events. Infections with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) are the two most investigated risk factors for GC. These pathogens infect more than half of the world’s population. Fortunately, only a small fraction of infected individuals develops GC, suggesting high complexity of tumorigenic processes in the human stomach. Recent studies suggest that the multifaceted interplay between microbial, environmental, and host genetic factors underlies gastric tumorigenesis. Many aspects of these interactions still remain unclear. In this review, we update on recent discoveries, focusing on the roles of various gastric pathogens and gastric microbiome in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manikandan Palrasu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.P.); (E.Z.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Elena Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.P.); (E.Z.); (W.E.-R.)
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.P.); (E.Z.); (W.E.-R.)
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Alexander I. Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.P.); (E.Z.); (W.E.-R.)
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Correspondence:
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38
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Bhat AA, Yousuf P, Wani NA, Rizwan A, Chauhan SS, Siddiqi MA, Bedognetti D, El-Rifai W, Frenneaux MP, Batra SK, Haris M, Macha MA. Correction: Tumor microenvironment: an evil nexus promoting aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and avenue for targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:93. [PMID: 33637674 PMCID: PMC7910536 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00503-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parvaiz Yousuf
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Nissar A Wani
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam S Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mushtaq A Siddiqi
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunogenomics, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
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39
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Nisar S, Bhat AA, Singh M, Karedath T, Rizwan A, Hashem S, Bagga P, Reddy R, Jamal F, Uddin S, Chand G, Bedognetti D, El-Rifai W, Frenneaux MP, Macha MA, Ahmed I, Haris M. Insights Into the Role of CircRNAs: Biogenesis, Characterization, Functional, and Clinical Impact in Human Malignancies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:617281. [PMID: 33614648 PMCID: PMC7894079 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.617281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [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: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an evolutionarily conserved novel class of non-coding endogenous RNAs (ncRNAs) found in the eukaryotic transcriptome, originally believed to be aberrant RNA splicing by-products with decreased functionality. However, recent advances in high-throughput genomic technology have allowed circRNAs to be characterized in detail and revealed their role in controlling various biological and molecular processes, the most essential being gene regulation. Because of the structural stability, high expression, availability of microRNA (miRNA) binding sites and tissue-specific expression, circRNAs have become hot topic of research in RNA biology. Compared to the linear RNA, circRNAs are produced differentially by backsplicing exons or lariat introns from a pre-messenger RNA (mRNA) forming a covalently closed loop structure missing 3′ poly-(A) tail or 5′ cap, rendering them immune to exonuclease-mediated degradation. Emerging research has identified multifaceted roles of circRNAs as miRNA and RNA binding protein (RBP) sponges and transcription, translation, and splicing event regulators. CircRNAs have been involved in many human illnesses, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, due to their aberrant expression in different pathological conditions. The functional versatility exhibited by circRNAs enables them to serve as potential diagnostic or predictive biomarkers for various diseases. This review discusses the properties, characterization, profiling, and the diverse molecular mechanisms of circRNAs and their use as potential therapeutic targets in different human malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Nisar
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (BRAIRCH), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | | | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Puneet Bagga
- Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Farrukh Jamal
- Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya, India
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Gyan Chand
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunogenomics, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Pulwama, India
| | - Ikhlak Ahmed
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Palrasu M, Zaika E, El-Rifai W, Garcia-Buitrago M, Piazuelo MB, Wilson KT, Peek RM, Zaika AI. Bacterial CagA protein compromises tumor suppressor mechanisms in gastric epithelial cells. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:2422-2434. [PMID: 32250340 DOI: 10.1172/jci130015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately half of the world's population is infected with the stomach pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Infection with H. pylori is the main risk factor for distal gastric cancer. Bacterial virulence factors, such as the oncoprotein CagA, augment cancer risk. Yet despite high infection rates, only a fraction of H. pylori-infected individuals develop gastric cancer. This raises the question of defining the specific host and bacterial factors responsible for gastric tumorigenesis. To investigate the tumorigenic determinants, we analyzed gastric tissues from human subjects and animals infected with H. pylori bacteria harboring different CagA status. For laboratory studies, well-defined H. pylori strain B128 and its cancerogenic derivative strain 7.13, as well as various bacterial isogenic mutants were employed. We found that H. pylori compromises key tumor suppressor mechanisms: the host stress and apoptotic responses. Our studies showed that CagA induces phosphorylation of XIAP E3 ubiquitin ligase, which enhances ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the host proapoptotic factor Siva1. This process is mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway. Inhibition of Siva1 by H. pylori increases survival of human cells with damaged DNA. It occurs in a strain-specific manner and is associated with the ability to induce gastric tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manikandan Palrasu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Elena Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Monica Garcia-Buitrago
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Maria Blanca Piazuelo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Keith T Wilson
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Tennessee Valley Health Care System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Richard M Peek
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Alexander I Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
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Bhat AA, Yousuf P, Wani NA, Rizwan A, Chauhan SS, Siddiqi MA, Bedognetti D, El-Rifai W, Frenneaux MP, Batra SK, Haris M, Macha MA. Tumor microenvironment: an evil nexus promoting aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and avenue for targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:12. [PMID: 33436555 PMCID: PMC7804459 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a very aggressive disease with a poor prognosis for advanced-stage tumors. Recent clinical, genomic, and cellular studies have revealed the highly heterogeneous and immunosuppressive nature of HNSCC. Despite significant advances in multimodal therapeutic interventions, failure to cure and recurrence are common and account for most deaths. It is becoming increasingly apparent that tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in HNSCC tumorigenesis, promotes the evolution of aggressive tumors and resistance to therapy, and thereby adversely affects the prognosis. A complete understanding of the TME factors, together with the highly complex tumor-stromal interactions, can lead to new therapeutic interventions in HNSCC. Interestingly, different molecular and immune landscapes between HPV+ve and HPV-ve (human papillomavirus) HNSCC tumors offer new opportunities for developing individualized, targeted chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) regimen. This review highlights the current understanding of the complexity between HPV+ve and HPV-ve HNSCC TME and various tumor-stromal cross-talk modulating processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), anoikis resistance, angiogenesis, immune surveillance, metastatic niche, therapeutic resistance, and development of an aggressive tumor phenotype. Furthermore, we summarize the recent developments and the rationale behind CIT strategies and their clinical applications in HPV+ve and HPV-ve HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parvaiz Yousuf
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Nissar A Wani
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam S Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mushtaq A Siddiqi
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunogenomics, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
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Bhat AA, Nisar S, Maacha S, Carneiro-Lobo TC, Akhtar S, Siveen KS, Wani NA, Rizwan A, Bagga P, Singh M, Reddy R, Uddin S, Grivel JC, Chand G, Frenneaux MP, Siddiqi MA, Bedognetti D, El-Rifai W, Macha MA, Haris M. Cytokine-chemokine network driven metastasis in esophageal cancer; promising avenue for targeted therapy. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:2. [PMID: 33390169 PMCID: PMC7780621 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01294-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a disease often marked by aggressive growth and poor prognosis. Lack of targeted therapies, resistance to chemoradiation therapy, and distant metastases among patients with advanced disease account for the high mortality rate. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, adipocytes, stromal proteins, and growth factors, which play a significant role in supporting the growth and aggressive behavior of cancer cells. The complex and dynamic interactions of the secreted cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and their receptors mediate chronic inflammation and immunosuppressive TME favoring tumor progression, metastasis, and decreased response to therapy. The molecular changes in the TME are used as biological markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment in patients. This review highlighted the novel insights into the understanding and functional impact of deregulated cytokines and chemokines in imparting aggressive EC, stressing the nature and therapeutic consequences of the cytokine-chemokine network. We also discuss cytokine-chemokine oncogenic potential by contributing to the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), angiogenesis, immunosuppression, metastatic niche, and therapeutic resistance development. In addition, it discusses the wide range of changes and intracellular signaling pathways that occur in the TME. Overall, this is a relatively unexplored field that could provide crucial insights into tumor immunology and encourage the effective application of modulatory cytokine-chemokine therapy to EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Selma Maacha
- Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Sabah Akhtar
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Nissar A Wani
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - Puneet Bagga
- Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mayank Singh
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (BRAIRCH), AIIMS, New Delhi, India
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Gyan Chand
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Mushtaq A Siddiqi
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunogenomics, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Bhat AA, Younes SN, Raza SS, Zarif L, Nisar S, Ahmed I, Mir R, Kumar S, Sharawat SK, Hashem S, Elfaki I, Kulinski M, Kuttikrishnan S, Prabhu KS, Khan AQ, Yadav SK, El-Rifai W, Zargar MA, Zayed H, Haris M, Uddin S. Correction to: Role of non-coding RNA networks in leukemia progression, metastasis and drug resistance. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:174. [PMID: 33372597 PMCID: PMC7771205 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01303-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salma N Younes
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Syed Shadab Raza
- Laboratoryfor Stem Cell & Restorative Neurology, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Lubna Zarif
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ikhlak Ahmed
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rashid Mir
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Surender K Sharawat
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Imadeldin Elfaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michal Kulinski
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shilpa Kuttikrishnan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kirti S Prabhu
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdul Q Khan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Santosh K Yadav
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mohammad A Zargar
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
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Khalafi S, Lockhart AC, Livingstone AS, El-Rifai W. Targeted Molecular Therapies in the Treatment of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Are We There Yet? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3077. [PMID: 33105560 PMCID: PMC7690268 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased at an alarming rate in the Western world and long-term survival remains poor. Current treatment approaches involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Unfortunately, standard first-line approaches are met with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. More recent investigations into the distinct molecular composition of these tumors have uncovered key genetic and epigenetic alterations involved in tumorigenesis and progression. These discoveries have driven the development of targeted therapeutic agents in esophageal adenocarcinoma. While many agents have been studied, therapeutics targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways have demonstrated improved survival. More recent advances in immunotherapies have also demonstrated survival advantages with monoclonal antibodies targeting the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). In this review we highlight recent advances of targeted therapies, specifically agents targeting receptor tyrosine kinases, small molecule kinase inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. While targeted therapeutics and immunotherapies have significantly improved survival, the benefits are limited to patients whose tumors express biomarkers such as PD-L1 and HER2. Survival remains poor for the remainder of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, underscoring the critical need for development of novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Khalafi
- Department of Surgery, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (S.K.); (A.S.L.)
| | - Albert Craig Lockhart
- Department of Medicine, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alan S. Livingstone
- Department of Surgery, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (S.K.); (A.S.L.)
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (S.K.); (A.S.L.)
- Department of Medicine, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Alvarez-Trotta A, Wang Z, Shersher E, Li B, Long J, Lohse I, Wahlestedt C, El-Rifai W, Robbins DJ, Capobianco AJ. The bromodomain inhibitor IBET-151 attenuates vismodegib-resistant esophageal adenocarcinoma growth through reduction of GLI signaling. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3174-3187. [PMID: 32913560 PMCID: PMC7443367 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog/GLI (HH/GLI) signaling pathway plays a critical role in human oncogenesis. Unfortunately, the clinical use of HH inhibitor(s) has been associated with serious adverse effects and mutation-related drug resistance. Since the efficacy of SMO (Smoothened) and GLI inhibitors is limited in clinical trials, there remains a critical need for the HH/GLI pathway inhibitors with different mechanisms of action. Here, we show that esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cell lines are insensitive to vismodegib (SMO inhibitor) but respond to GANT61 (GLI1 inhibitor). Furthermore, we examine the role of GLI1 in tumorigenicity of EAC and how a selective bromodomain inhibitor IBET-151 downregulates transcriptional activity of the GLI1 transcription factor in EAC. Our study demonstrates that GLI1 plays an important role in tumorigenicity of EAC and that elevated GLI1 expression in patients’ ultrasound-assisted endoscopic biopsy may predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) FOLFOX. Importantly, IBET-151 abrogates the growth of vismodegib-resistant EAC cells and downregulates HH/GLI by reducing the occupancy of BRD4 at the GLI1 locus. IBET-151 also attenuates tumor growth of EAC-PDXs and does so in an on-target manner as it reduces the expression of GLI1. We identify HH/GLI signaling as a novel druggable pathway in EAC as well as validate an ability of clinically relevant GLI inhibitor to attenuate the viability of vismodegib-resistant EAC cells. Therefore, we propose that selective bromodomain inhibitors, such as IBET-151, could be used as novel therapeutic agents for EAC patients harboring GLI-dependent tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamil Alvarez-Trotta
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Elena Shersher
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Bin Li
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jun Long
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ines Lohse
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Molecular Therapeutics Shared Resource, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David J Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Co-senior authors
| | - Anthony J Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Co-senior authors
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Peng D, Lu H, Hu T, Sriramajayam K, El-Rifai W. Abstract 1938: Targeting constitutively overexpressed NRF2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-1938] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has rising rapidly in the US and western countries during past three decades. However, it remains very lethal disease with an overall five-year survival rate less than 20%, due to later stages on diagnosis and lack of efficient therapeutic approaches. The development of alternative therapeutic strategies based on updated biological and molecular discoveries are urgently needed to improve clinical outcome. NFE2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a major regulator of cellular anti-oxidant properties that maintains cell viability and cellular homeostasis. We have found that NRF2 is constitutively overexpressed in EAC. Here we show that overexpression of NRF2 in EAC promotes tumor growth and targeting NRF2 may have therapeutic efficacy in EAC.
Methods and Results: Using western blotting analysis, we observed overexpression of NRF2 protein level in EAC cell lines comparing to cell lines originating from normal esophagus and Barrett's esophagus. We confirmed overexpression of NRF2 in primary EAC tissue samples using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining on a tissue microarray. Knocking down of NRF2 using NRF2 specific siRNAs (validated by downregulation of NRF2 target genes like HO-1, GR, NQO1) significantly inhibited tumor cell growth in FLO1 and OE33 tumor cells by colony formation assay. To target constitutively overexpressed NRF2, we used a potent NRF2 specific inhibitor, Brusatol. We first confirmed that Brusatol could significantly inhibit NRF2 ARE reporter activity in less than 100 nM range and subsequently downregulated NRF2 target genes like HO-1 and GR. Our data shows that EAC cancer cells are sensitive to Brusatol with IC 50 within 100 nM (using Colony formation assay and ATP-Glo assay), whereas Barrett's cells (CPA) and a normal esophageal fibroblast cells (hEF) are relatively resistant to Brusatol (IC 50 = 0.31 µM and 0.32 µM, respectively). Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the first line chemotherapy drug for EAC. But drug-resistance usually emerges that leads to failure of treatments. Of note, Brusatol could kill cancer cells efficiently (with IC 50 less than 50 nM) in CDDP resistant cells, such as OE19 of which the IC 50 to CDDP is more than 10 µM. Moreover, Brusatol in combination with CDDP could significantly sensitize cancer cells to CDDP treatments. It is known that cancer cells usually have higher than normal ROS level and NRF2 is the master regulator of cellular stress favoring cell survival. Our results displayed that inhibition of NRF2 by Brusatol in combination with CDDP significantly increased cellular ROS level than using the drugs alone, and this sharp increase of ROS levels were associated with significant cell death as determined by flow cytometry of annexin V. In summary, our data indicate that targeting constitutively overexpressed NRF2 in EAC may have potential therapeutic efficacy alone or in combination with other therapeutic reagents.
Citation Format: Dunfa Peng, Heng Lu, Tianling Hu, Kannappan Sriramajayam, Wael El-Rifai. Targeting constitutively overexpressed NRF2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1938.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heng Lu
- University of Miami, Miami, FL
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Hong J, Abid F, Phillips S, Salaria SN, Revetta FL, Peng D, Washington MK, El-Rifai W, Belkhiri A. Co-overexpression of AXL and c-ABL predicts a poor prognosis in esophageal adenocarcinoma and promotes cancer cell survival. J Cancer 2020; 11:5867-5879. [PMID: 32922529 PMCID: PMC7477426 DOI: 10.7150/jca.47318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is highly aggressive and characterized by poor prognosis. AXL expression has been linked to Barrett's tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy, which is associated with c-ABL intracellular localization. However, the molecular and functional relationship between AXL and c-ABL and the clinical significance of the co-expression of these proteins in EAC remain unclear. Methods: We used immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) on tissue microarrays containing human EAC samples (n=53) and normal esophageal tissues (n=11) in combination with corresponding deidentified clinicopathological information to evaluate the expression and the prognostic significance of AXL and c-ABL in EAC. The data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, the chi-square, the Fisher's exact, and Pearson tests. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to evaluate cancer patient survival. We used a serum deprivation EAC cell model to investigate the pro-survival function of AXL and c-ABL using cell viability, apoptosis, and lactate dehydrogenase activity assays. We performed in vitro assays, including Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, and translational chromatin immunoprecipitation (TrIP-Chip) to study the molecular relationship between AXL and c-ABL in EAC cells. Results: IHC analysis revealed that AXL and c-ABL were overexpressed in 55% and 66% of EAC samples, respectively, as compared to normal tissues. Co-overexpression of the two proteins was observed in 49% of EAC samples. The chi-square test indicated a significant association between AXL and c-ABL expression in the EAC samples (χ2 = 6.873, p = 0.032), and the expression of these proteins was significantly associated with EAC patient age (p < 0.001), tumor stage (p < 0.01), and lymph node status (p < 0.001). AXL and c-ABL protein expression data analysis exhibited an identical clinicopathological association profile. Additionally, we found a significant association between expression of AXL (χ2 = 16.7, p = 0.002) or c-ABL (χ2 = 13.4, p = 0.001) and survival of EAC patients. The Cox proportional hazards model and log rank test predicted a significant increase in mortality of patients with high expression of AXL [hazard ratio (HR): 2.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.53 - 5.34, p = 0.003] or c-ABL [HR: 3.29, 95% CI: 1.35 - 8.03, p = 0.001] as compared to those patients with low expression of AXL or c-ABL proteins. Molecular investigations indicated that AXL positively regulates c-ABL protein expression through increased cap-dependent protein translation involving phosphorylation of EIF4E in EAC cells. Next, we investigated the functional relationship between AXL and c-ABL in EAC cells. We demonstrated that the pro-survival activity of AXL requires c-ABL expression in response to serum deprivation. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of the co-overexpression of AXL and c-ABL proteins as a valuable prognostic biomarker and targeting these proteins could be an effective therapeutic approach in EAC or other solid tumors expressing high levels of AXL and c-ABL proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hong
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Fatma Abid
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sharon Phillips
- Vanderbilt Center for Quantitative Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Safia N Salaria
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Frank L Revetta
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mary K Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Abbes Belkhiri
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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48
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Zhu S, Khalafi S, Chen Z, Poveda J, Peng D, Lu H, Soutto M, Que J, Garcia-Buitrago M, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. Silencing of miR490-3p by H. pylori activates DARPP-32 and induces resistance to gefitinib. Cancer Lett 2020; 491:87-96. [PMID: 32735911 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the expression, molecular functions, and downstream effectors of miR490-3p in gastric cancer. We used in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the role of H. pylori in regulating miR490-3p, DARPP-32-dependent functions, and therapeutic resistance. Human and mouse neoplastic gastric lesions demonstrated a negative correlation between DARPP-32 and miR490-3p expression (R = -0.58, P < 0.01). This was also detected following infection with H. pylori (R = -0.66, P < 0.01). Molecular assays confirmed DARPP-32 as a direct target of miR490-3p. CHRM2, the host gene of miR490-3p, was hypermethylated and downregulated in neoplastic gastric tissues (P < 0.05). H. pylori induced methylation and downregulation of CHRM2 and miR490-3p. Functionally, the reconstitution of miR490-3p sensitized cancer cells to gefitinib by inactivating DRAPP-32-dependent AKT and STAT3 pathways. Patients with low miR490-3p or high DARPP-32 expression had decreased overall survival (P < 0.05). Hypermethylation-mediated silencing of CHRM2 and miR490-3p by H. pylori increased DARPP-32 expression. Downregulation of miR490-3p in gastric cancer plays a role in gefitinib response by inducing DARPP-32-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT, STAT3 signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Shayan Khalafi
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Julio Poveda
- Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery and Department of Pathology, Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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49
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Bhat AA, Younes SN, Raza SS, Zarif L, Nisar S, Ahmed I, Mir R, Kumar S, Sharawat SK, Hashem S, Elfaki I, Kulinski M, Kuttikrishnan S, Prabhu KS, Khan AQ, Yadav SK, El-Rifai W, Zargar MA, Zayed H, Haris M, Uddin S. Role of non-coding RNA networks in leukemia progression, metastasis and drug resistance. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:57. [PMID: 32164715 PMCID: PMC7069174 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01175-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-stage detection of leukemia is a critical determinant for successful treatment of the disease and can increase the survival rate of leukemia patients. The factors limiting the current screening approaches to leukemia include low sensitivity and specificity, high costs, and a low participation rate. An approach based on novel and innovative biomarkers with high accuracy from peripheral blood offers a comfortable and appealing alternative to patients, potentially leading to a higher participation rate. Recently, non-coding RNAs due to their involvement in vital oncogenic processes such as differentiation, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis have attracted much attention as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in leukemia. Emerging lines of evidence have shown that the mutational spectrum and dysregulated expression of non-coding RNA genes are closely associated with the development and progression of various cancers, including leukemia. In this review, we highlight the expression and functional roles of different types of non-coding RNAs in leukemia and discuss their potential clinical applications as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salma N Younes
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Syed Shadab Raza
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Restorative Neurology, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Lubna Zarif
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ikhlak Ahmed
- Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rashid Mir
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Surender K Sharawat
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Imadeldin Elfaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michal Kulinski
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shilpa Kuttikrishnan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kirti S Prabhu
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdul Q Khan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Santosh K Yadav
- Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mohammad A Zargar
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
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50
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Liu K, Xie F, Zhao T, Zhang R, Gao A, Chen Y, Li H, Zhang S, Xiao Z, Li J, Hong X, Shang L, Huang W, Wang J, El-Rifai W, Zaika A, Chen X, Que J, Lan X. Targeting SOX2 Protein with Peptide Aptamers for Therapeutic Gains against Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mol Ther 2020; 28:901-913. [PMID: 31991109 PMCID: PMC7054732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.01.012] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a predominant cancer type in developing countries such as China, where ESCC accounts for approximately 90% of esophageal malignancies. Lacking effective and targeted therapy contributes to the poor 5-year survival rate. Recent studies showed that about 30% of ESCC cases have high levels of SOX2. Herein, we aim to target this transcription factor with aptamer. We established a peptide aptamer library and then performed an unbiased screening to identify several peptide aptamers including P42 that can bind and inhibit SOX2 downstream target genes. We further found that P42 overexpression or incubation with a synthetic peptide 42 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells. Moreover, peptide 42 treatment inhibited the growth and metastasis of ESCC xenografts in mouse and zebrafish. Further analysis revealed that P42 overexpression led to alternations in the levels of proteins that are important for the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells. Taken together, our study identified the peptide 42 as a key inhibitor of SOX2 function, reducing the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo, and thereby offering a potential therapy against ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuancan Liu
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China,Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China,Fuzhou General Hospital Clinical Medical School, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350025, China,Corresponding author: Kuancan Liu, School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China.
| | - Fuan Xie
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Tingting Zhao
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China,Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Anding Gao
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Yunyun Chen
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China,Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Department of Pathology, Westechester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Shihui Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Zhangwu Xiao
- Emergency Department, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Jieping Li
- Department of Clinic Medical Laboratory, General Hospital of Fujian Corps of CAPF, Fuzhou, Fujian 350003, China
| | - Xiaoqian Hong
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China,Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Lei Shang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China,Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Weifeng Huang
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, China
| | - Junkai Wang
- School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team or Dongfang Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA,Corresponding author: Jianwen Que, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Xiaopeng Lan
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University or Institute for Laboratory Medicine, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China
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