Perturbation of BRMS1 interactome reveals pathways that impact metastasis

Breast Cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1 (BRMS1) expression is associated with longer patient survival in multiple cancer types. Understanding BRMS1 functionality will provide insights into both mechanism of action and will enhance potential therapeutic development. In this study, we confirmed that the C-terminus of BRMS1 is critical for metastasis suppression and hypothesized that critical protein interactions in this region would explain its function. Phosphorylation status at S237 regulates BRMS1 protein interactions related to a variety of biological processes, phenotypes [cell cycle (e.g., CDKN2A), DNA repair (e.g., BRCA1)], and metastasis [(e.g., TCF2 and POLE2)]. Presence of S237 also directly decreased MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma migration in vitro and metastases in vivo. The results add significantly to our understanding of how BRMS1 interactions with Sin3/HDAC complexes regulate metastasis and expand insights into BRMS1's molecular role, as they demonstrate BRMS1 C-terminus involvement in distinct protein-protein interactions.

Human papillomavirus and salivary gland neoplasia: a p16INK4 immunohistochemical and in situ hybridisation study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the association between human papillomavirus infection and salivary gland tumours in a Scottish cohort.

METHODS

Specimens from a range of salivary gland tumours operated on between 1997 and 2012 were studied. A tissue microarray constructed from tissue blocks was subjected to p16INK4 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A) immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation using probes specific for human papillomavirus, including types 16 and 18.

RESULTS

A total of 61 tumours (benign and malignant) were deemed suitable for the study. p16INK4 staining yielded three (4.9 per cent) positive samples: one small cell carcinoma, one squamous cell carcinoma and one poorly differentiated carcinoma. Human papillomavirus in situ hybridisation demonstrated a positive signal in the latter sample only (1.6 per cent).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a very low human papillomavirus detection rate in salivary gland tumours. It can therefore be concluded that human papillomavirus infection is unlikely to play a role in salivary gland neoplasia. Rare human papillomavirus positive cases should be carefully evaluated to exclude the possibility of a metastatic lesion.