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Souza VGP, Forder A, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, de Araujo RP, Stewart GL, Vieira J, Reis PP, Lam WL. The Complex Role of the Microbiome in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Development and Progression. Cells 2023; 12:2801. [PMID: 38132121 PMCID: PMC10741843 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242801] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the relationship between microorganisms in the surrounding environment and cancer cells. While the tumor microenvironment predominantly comprises cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune cells, emerging research highlights the significant contributions of microbial cells to tumor development and progression. Although the impact of the gut microbiome on treatment response in lung cancer is well established, recent investigations indicate complex roles of lung microbiota in lung cancer. This article focuses on recent findings on the human lung microbiome and its impacts in cancer development and progression. We delve into the characteristics of the lung microbiome and its influence on lung cancer development. Additionally, we explore the characteristics of the intratumoral microbiome, the metabolic interactions between lung tumor cells, and how microorganism-produced metabolites can contribute to cancer progression. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive review of the current literature on the lung microbiome and its implications for the metastatic potential of tumor cells. Additionally, this review discusses the potential for therapeutic modulation of the microbiome to establish lung cancer prevention strategies and optimize lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa G. P. Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil (P.P.R.)
| | - Aisling Forder
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | | | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Rachel Paes de Araujo
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil (P.P.R.)
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Juliana Vieira
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil (P.P.R.)
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
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2
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Vega AA, Marshall EA, Noonan AJC, Filho FSL, Yang J, Stewart GL, Johnson FD, Vucic EA, Pewarchuk ME, Shah PP, Clem BF, Nislow C, Lam S, Lockwood WW, Hallam SJ, Leung JM, Beverly LJ, Lam WL. Methionine-producing tumor micro(be) environment fuels growth of solid tumors. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:1659-1673. [PMID: 37318751 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00832-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have uncovered the near-ubiquitous presence of microbes in solid tumors of diverse origins. Previous literature has shown the impact of specific bacterial species on the progression of cancer. We propose that local microbial dysbiosis enables certain cancer phenotypes through provisioning of essential metabolites directly to tumor cells. METHODS 16S rDNA sequencing of 75 patient lung samples revealed the lung tumor microbiome specifically enriched for bacteria capable of producing methionine. Wild-type (WT) and methionine auxotrophic (metA mutant) E. coli cells were used to condition cell culture media and the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells were measured using SYTO60 staining. Further, colony forming assay, Annexin V Staining, BrdU, AlamarBlue, western blot, qPCR, LINE microarray and subcutaneous injection with methionine modulated feed were used to analyze cellular proliferation, cell-cycle, cell death, methylation potential, and xenograft formation under methionine restriction. Moreover, C14-labeled glucose was used to illustrate the interplay between tumor cells and bacteria. RESULTS/DISCUSSION Our results show bacteria found locally within the tumor microenvironment are enriched for methionine synthetic pathways, while having reduced S-adenosylmethionine metabolizing pathways. As methionine is one of nine essential amino acids that mammals are unable to synthesize de novo, we investigated a potentially novel function for the microbiome, supplying essential nutrients, such as methionine, to cancer cells. We demonstrate that LUAD cells can utilize methionine generated by bacteria to rescue phenotypes that would otherwise be inhibited due to nutrient restriction. In addition to this, with WT and metA mutant E. coli, we saw a selective advantage for bacteria with an intact methionine synthetic pathway to survive under the conditions induced by LUAD cells. These results would suggest that there is a potential bi-directional cross-talk between the local microbiome and adjacent tumor cells. In this study, we focused on methionine as one of the critical molecules, but we also hypothesize that additional bacterial metabolites may also be utilized by LUAD. Indeed, our radiolabeling data suggest that other biomolecules are shared between cancer cells and bacteria. Thus, modulating the local microbiome may have an indirect effect on tumor development, progression, and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis A Vega
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock St. Rm 204, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Erin A Marshall
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Avery J C Noonan
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- ECOSCOPE Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Julia Yang
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Greg L Stewart
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Fraser D Johnson
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Michelle E Pewarchuk
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Parag P Shah
- Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock St. Rm 204, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Brian F Clem
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock St. Rm 204, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Corey Nislow
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stephen Lam
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - William W Lockwood
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Steven J Hallam
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- ECOSCOPE Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Bioinformatics Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biofactorial High-Throughput Biology Facility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Janice M Leung
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Levi J Beverly
- Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock St. Rm 204, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Wan L Lam
- Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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3
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Souza VGP, Forder A, Brockley LJ, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, de Araújo RP, Trejo J, Benard K, Seneda AL, Minutentag IW, Erkan M, Stewart GL, Hasimoto EN, Garnis C, Lam WL, Martinez VD, Reis PP. Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer: Biomarkers for the Management of Recurrence and Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108894. [PMID: 37240238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsies have emerged as a promising tool for the detection of metastases as well as local and regional recurrence in lung cancer. Liquid biopsy tests involve analyzing a patient's blood, urine, or other body fluids for the detection of biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells or tumor-derived DNA/RNA that have been shed into the bloodstream. Studies have shown that liquid biopsies can detect lung cancer metastases with high accuracy and sensitivity, even before they are visible on imaging scans. Such tests are valuable for early intervention and personalized treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes. Liquid biopsies are also minimally invasive compared to traditional tissue biopsies, which require the removal of a sample of the tumor for further analysis. This makes liquid biopsies a more convenient and less risky option for patients, particularly those who are not good candidates for invasive procedures due to other medical conditions. While liquid biopsies for lung cancer metastases and relapse are still being developed and validated, they hold great promise for improving the detection and treatment of this deadly disease. Herein, we summarize available and novel approaches to liquid biopsy tests for lung cancer metastases and recurrence detection and describe their applications in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa G P Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Aisling Forder
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Liam J Brockley
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | | | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Rachel Paes de Araújo
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Jessica Trejo
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Katya Benard
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Ana Laura Seneda
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Iael W Minutentag
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Melis Erkan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Greg L Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Erica N Hasimoto
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Cathie Garnis
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Wan L Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Victor D Martinez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Patricia P Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil
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4
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Brockley LJ, Souza VGP, Forder A, Pewarchuk ME, Erkan M, Telkar N, Benard K, Trejo J, Stewart MD, Stewart GL, Reis PP, Lam WL, Martinez VD. Sequence-Based Platforms for Discovering Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082275. [PMID: 37190212 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer detection and monitoring are hampered by a lack of sensitive biomarkers, which results in diagnosis at late stages and difficulty in tracking response to treatment. Recent developments have established liquid biopsies as promising non-invasive methods for detecting biomarkers in lung cancer patients. With concurrent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools, new approaches for biomarker discovery have emerged. In this article, we survey established and emerging biomarker discovery methods using nucleic acid materials derived from bodily fluids in the context of lung cancer. We introduce nucleic acid biomarkers extracted from liquid biopsies and outline biological sources and methods of isolation. We discuss next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms commonly used to identify novel biomarkers and describe how these have been applied to liquid biopsy. We highlight emerging biomarker discovery methods, including applications of long-read sequencing, fragmentomics, whole-genome amplification methods for single-cell analysis, and whole-genome methylation assays. Finally, we discuss advanced bioinformatics tools, describing methods for processing NGS data, as well as recently developed software tailored for liquid biopsy biomarker detection, which holds promise for early diagnosis of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam J Brockley
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Vanessa G P Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Aisling Forder
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | | | - Melis Erkan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Katya Benard
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Jessica Trejo
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Matt D Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Greg L Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Patricia P Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Wan L Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Victor D Martinez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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5
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Wright RJ, Pewarchuk ME, Marshall EA, Murrary B, Rosin MP, Laronde DM, Zhang L, Lam WL, Langille MGI, Rock LD. Exploring the microbiome of oral epithelial dysplasia as a predictor of malignant progression. BMC Oral Health 2023; 23:206. [PMID: 37024828 PMCID: PMC10080811 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-02911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing body of research associates the oral microbiome and oral cancer. Well-characterized clinical samples with outcome data are required to establish relevant associations between the microbiota and disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the community variations and the functional implications of the microbiome in low-grade oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing from annotated archival swabs in progressing (P) and non-progressing (NP) OED. We characterised the microbial community in 90 OED samples - 30 swabs from low-grade OED that progressed to cancer (cases) and 60 swabs from low-grade OED that did not progress after a minimum of 5 years of follow up (matched control subjects). There were small but significant differences between P and NP samples in terms of alpha diversity as well as beta diversity in conjunction with other clinical factors such as age and smoking status for both taxa and functional predictions. Across all samples, the most abundant genus was Streptococcus, followed by Haemophilus, Rothia, and Neisseria. Taxa and predicted functions were identified that were significantly differentially abundant with progression status (all Ps and NPs), when samples were grouped broadly by the number of years between sampling and progression or in specific time to progression for Ps only. However, these differentially abundant features were typically present only at low abundances. For example, Campylobacter was present in slightly higher abundance in Ps (1.72%) than NPs (1.41%) and this difference was significant when Ps were grouped by time to progression. Furthermore, several of the significantly differentially abundant functions were linked to the Campylobacteraceae family in Ps and may justify further investigation. Larger cohort studies to further explore the microbiome as a potential biomarker of risk in OED are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn J Wright
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
| | - Michelle E Pewarchuk
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Erin A Marshall
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Benjamin Murrary
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Miriam P Rosin
- Department of Cancer Control Research, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Denise M Laronde
- Department of Cancer Control Research, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lewei Zhang
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Oral Biopsy Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wan L Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Morgan G I Langille
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Canada
| | - Leigha D Rock
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, QEII Hospital, Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, Canada
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Forder A, Zhuang R, Souza VGP, Brockley LJ, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, Stewart GL, Benard K, Marshall EA, Reis PP, Lam WL. Mechanisms Contributing to the Comorbidity of COPD and Lung Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032859. [PMID: 36769181 PMCID: PMC9918127 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often co-occur, and individuals with COPD are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer. While the underlying mechanism for this risk is not well understood, its major contributing factors have been proposed to include genomic, immune, and microenvironment dysregulation. Here, we review the evidence and significant studies that explore the mechanisms underlying the heightened lung cancer risk in people with COPD. Genetic and epigenetic changes, as well as the aberrant expression of non-coding RNAs, predispose the lung epithelium to carcinogenesis by altering the expression of cancer- and immune-related genes. Oxidative stress generated by tobacco smoking plays a role in reducing genomic integrity, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal-transition, and generating a chronic inflammatory environment. This leads to abnormal immune responses that promote cancer development, though not all smokers develop lung cancer. Sex differences in the metabolism of tobacco smoke predispose females to developing COPD and accumulating damage from oxidative stress that poses a risk for the development of lung cancer. Dysregulation of the lung microenvironment and microbiome contributes to chronic inflammation, which is observed in COPD and known to facilitate cancer initiation in various tumor types. Further, there is a need to better characterize and identify the proportion of individuals with COPD who are at a high risk for developing lung cancer. We evaluate possible novel and individualized screening strategies, including biomarkers identified in genetic studies and exhaled breath condensate analysis. We also discuss the use of corticosteroids and statins as chemopreventive agents to prevent lung cancer. It is crucial that we optimize the current methods for the early detection and management of lung cancer and COPD in order to improve the health outcomes for a large affected population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling Forder
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Rebecca Zhuang
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Vanessa G P Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Liam J Brockley
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Michelle E Pewarchuk
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Greg L Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Katya Benard
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Erin A Marshall
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Patricia P Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Wan L Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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7
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Minatel BC, Cohn DE, Pewarchuk ME, Barros-Filho MC, Sage AP, Stewart GL, Marshall EA, Telkar N, Martinez VD, Reis PP, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms Deregulate the CRL2pVHL Complex in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:910221. [PMID: 35664333 PMCID: PMC9159809 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.910221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway genes through copy number alteration, promoter hypomethylation, and miRNA deregulation is involved in cancer development and progression. Further characterizing alterations in these genes may uncover novel drug targets across a range of diseases in which druggable alterations are uncommon, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed 377 HCC and 59 adjacent non-malignant liver tissue samples, focusing on alterations to component genes of the widely studied CRL2pVHL E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. mRNA upregulation of the component genes was common, and was correlated with DNA hypomethylation and copy number increase, but many tumours displayed overexpression that was not explained by either mechanism. Interestingly, we found 66 miRNAs, including 39 previously unannotated miRNAs, that were downregulated in HCC and predicted to target one or more CRL2pVHL components. Several miRNAs, including hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-139-5p, were negatively correlated with multiple component genes, suggesting that miRNA deregulation may contribute to CRL2pVHL overexpression. Combining miRNA and mRNA expression, DNA copy number, and methylation status into one multidimensional survival analysis, we found a significant association between greater numbers of alterations and poorer overall survival for multiple component genes. While the intricacies of CRL2pVHL complex gene regulation require additional research, it is evident that multiple causes for the deregulation of these genes must be considered in HCC, including non-traditional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda C. Minatel
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David E. Cohn
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: David E. Cohn,
| | - Michelle E. Pewarchuk
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mateus C. Barros-Filho
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Hospital Sírio-Libanes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adam P. Sage
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin A. Marshall
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nikita Telkar
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Victor D. Martinez
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics and Experimental Research Unity (UNIPEX), Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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8
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Telkar N, Stewart GL, Pewarchuk ME, Cohn DE, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Small Non-Coding RNAs in the Human Placenta: Regulatory Roles and Clinical Utility. Front Genet 2022; 13:868598. [PMID: 35432451 PMCID: PMC9006164 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.868598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a vital organ formed during pregnancy, and being the interface between the mother and fetus, it is paramount that placental functioning is strictly controlled. Gene expression in the placenta is finely tuned-with aberrant expression causing placental pathologies and inducing stress on both mother and fetus. Gene regulation is brought upon by several mechanisms, and small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have recently been appreciated for their contribution in gene repression. Their dysregulation has been implicated in a range of somatic and inherited disorders, highlighting their importance in maintaining healthy organ function. Their specific roles within the placenta, however, are not well understood, and require further exploration. To this end, we summarize the mechanisms of microRNAs (miRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), and transfer RNAs (tRNAs), their known contributions to human placental health and disease, the relevance of sncRNAs as promising biomarkers throughout pregnancy, and the current challenges faced by placental sncRNA studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - David E. Cohn
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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9
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Cohn DE, Barros-Filho MC, Minatel BC, Pewarchuk ME, Marshall EA, Vucic EA, Sage AP, Telkar N, Stewart GL, Jurisica I, Reis PP, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Reactivation of Multiple Fetal miRNAs in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2686. [PMID: 34072436 PMCID: PMC8199175 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in the regulation of normal developmental pathways. However, cancer cells can co-opt these miRNAs, and the pathways that they regulate, to drive pro-tumourigenic phenotypes. Characterization of the miRNA transcriptomes of fetal organs is essential for identifying these oncofetal miRNAs, but it has been limited by fetal sample availability. As oncofetal miRNAs are absent from healthy adult lungs, they represent ideal targets for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We conducted small RNA sequencing of a rare collection of 25 human fetal lung (FL) samples and compared them to two independent cohorts (n = 140, n = 427), each comprised of adult non-neoplastic lung (ANL) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) samples. We identified 13 oncofetal miRNAs that were expressed in FL and LUAD but not in ANL. These oncofetal miRNAs are potential biomarkers for LUAD detection (AUC = 0.963). Five of these miRNAs are derived from the imprinted C14MC miRNA cluster at the 14q32 locus, which has been associated with cancer development and abnormal fetal and placental development. Additionally, we observed the pulmonary expression of 44 previously unannotated miRNAs. The sequencing of these fetal lung samples also provides a baseline resource against which aberrant samples can be compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Cohn
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Mateus C. Barros-Filho
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
- International Research Center, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, SP 01525-001, Brazil
| | - Brenda C. Minatel
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Michelle E. Pewarchuk
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Erin A. Marshall
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Emily A. Vucic
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
- NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Adam P. Sage
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada;
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Igor Jurisica
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada;
- Data Science Discovery Centre for Chronic Diseases, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2E4, Canada
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618-687, Brazil;
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada;
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.C.B.-F.); (B.C.M.); (M.E.P.); (E.A.M.); (E.A.V.); (A.P.S.); (N.T.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
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10
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Pewarchuk ME, Barros-Filho MC, Minatel BC, Cohn DE, Guisier F, Sage AP, Marshall EA, Stewart GL, Rock LD, Garnis C, Lam WL. Upgrading the Repertoire of miRNAs in Gastric Adenocarcinoma to Provide a New Resource for Biomarker Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225697. [PMID: 31739401 PMCID: PMC6888638 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have uncovered microRNAs (miRNAs) that have been overlooked in early genomic explorations, which show remarkable tissue- and context-specific expression. Here, we aim to identify and characterize previously unannotated miRNAs expressed in gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). Raw small RNA-sequencing data were analyzed using the miRMaster platform to predict and quantify previously unannotated miRNAs. A discovery cohort of 475 gastric samples (434 GA and 41 adjacent nonmalignant samples), collected by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), were evaluated. Candidate miRNAs were similarly assessed in an independent cohort of 25 gastric samples. We discovered 170 previously unannotated miRNA candidates expressed in gastric tissues. The expression of these novel miRNAs was highly specific to the gastric samples, 143 of which were significantly deregulated between tumor and nonmalignant contexts (p-adjusted < 0.05; fold change > 1.5). Multivariate survival analyses showed that the combined expression of one previously annotated miRNA and two novel miRNA candidates was significantly predictive of patient outcome. Further, the expression of these three miRNAs was able to stratify patients into three distinct prognostic groups (p = 0.00003). These novel miRNAs were also present in the independent cohort (43 sequences detected in both cohorts). Our findings uncover novel miRNA transcripts in gastric tissues that may have implications in the biology and management of gastric adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. Pewarchuk
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Mateus C. Barros-Filho
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
- International Research Center, A.C.Camargo Cancer Center, Sao Paulo 01508-010, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-604-675-8111
| | - Brenda C. Minatel
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
| | - David E. Cohn
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Florian Guisier
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
- Department of Pulmonology, Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Intensive Care & CIC-CRB INSERM 1404, Rouen University Hospital, 76000 Rouen, France
- QuantIF-LITIS EA 4108, IRIB, Rouen University, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Adam P. Sage
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Erin A. Marshall
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Leigha D. Rock
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
- Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Cathie Garnis
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (M.E.P.); (B.C.M.); (D.E.C.); (F.G.); (A.P.S.); (E.A.M.); (G.L.S.); (L.D.R.); (C.G.); (W.L.L.)
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11
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Stewart GL, Enfield KSS, Sage AP, Martinez VD, Minatel BC, Pewarchuk ME, Marshall EA, Lam WL. Aberrant Expression of Pseudogene-Derived lncRNAs as an Alternative Mechanism of Cancer Gene Regulation in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2019; 10:138. [PMID: 30894871 PMCID: PMC6414417 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome sequencing has led to the widespread identification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Subsequently, these genes have been shown to hold functional importance in human cellular biology, which can be exploited by tumors to drive the hallmarks of cancer. Due to the complex tertiary structure and unknown binding motifs of lncRNAs, there is a growing disparity between the number of lncRNAs identified and those that have been functionally characterized. As such, lncRNAs deregulated in cancer may represent critical components of cancer pathways that could serve as novel therapeutic intervention points. Pseudogenes are non-coding DNA sequences that are defunct relatives of their protein-coding parent genes but retain high sequence similarity. Interestingly, certain lncRNAs expressed from pseudogene loci have been shown to regulate the protein-coding parent genes of these pseudogenes in trans particularly because of this sequence complementarity. We hypothesize that this phenomenon occurs more broadly than previously realized, and that aberrant expression of lncRNAs overlapping pseudogene loci provides an alternative mechanism of cancer gene deregulation. Using RNA-sequencing data from two cohorts of lung adenocarcinoma, each paired with patient-matched non-malignant lung samples, we discovered 104 deregulated pseudogene-derived lncRNAs. Remarkably, many of these deregulated lncRNAs (i) were expressed from the loci of pseudogenes related to known cancer genes, (ii) had expression that significantly correlated with protein-coding parent gene expression, and (iii) had lncRNA protein-coding parent gene expression that was significantly associated with survival. Here, we uncover evidence to suggest the lncRNA-pseudogene-protein-coding gene axis as a prominent mechanism of cancer gene regulation in lung adenocarcinoma, and highlights the clinical utility of exploring the non-coding regions of the cancer transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katey S S Enfield
- BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam P Sage
- BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Wan L Lam
- BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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12
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Ng KW, Marshall EA, Enfield KS, Martin SD, Milne K, Pewarchuk ME, Abraham N, Lam WL. Somatic mutation-associated T follicular helper cell elevation in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1504728. [PMID: 30524903 PMCID: PMC6279324 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1504728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
T follicular helper cells (Tfh) play crucial roles in the development of humoral immunity. In the B cell-rich germinal center of lymphoid organs, they select for high-affinity B cells and aid in their maturation. While Tfh have known roles in B cell malignancies and have prognostic value in some epithelial cancers, their role in lung tumour initiation and development is unknown. Through immune cell deconvolution, we observed significantly increased Tfh in tumours from two independent cohorts of lung adenocarcinomas and found that this upregulation occurs early in tumour development. A subset of tumours were stained for T and B cells using multicolour immunohistochemistry, which revealed the presence of tumour-adjacent tertiary lymphoid organs in 17/20 cases each with an average of 16 Tfh observed in the germinal center. Importantly, Tfh levels were correlated with tumour mutational load and immunogenic cancer testis antigens, suggesting their involvement in mounting an active immune response against tumour neoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W Ng
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Integrative Oncology Department, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Erin A Marshall
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Integrative Oncology Department, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Katey Ss Enfield
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Integrative Oncology Department, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Spencer D Martin
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Integrative Oncology Department, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Katy Milne
- Deeley Research Centre, Victoria, Canada
| | - Michelle E Pewarchuk
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Integrative Oncology Department, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ninan Abraham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wan L Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Integrative Oncology Department, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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13
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Sage AP, Martinez VD, Minatel BC, Pewarchuk ME, Marshall EA, MacAulay GM, Hubaux R, Pearson DD, Goodarzi AA, Dellaire G, Lam WL. Genomics and Epigenetics of Malignant Mesothelioma. High Throughput 2018; 7:E20. [PMID: 30060501 PMCID: PMC6163664 DOI: 10.3390/ht7030020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive and lethal asbestos-related disease. Diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is particularly challenging and is further complicated by the lack of disease subtype-specific markers. As a result, it is especially difficult to distinguish malignant mesothelioma from benign reactive mesothelial proliferations or reactive fibrosis. Additionally, mesothelioma diagnoses can be confounded by other anatomically related tumors that can invade the pleural or peritoneal cavities, collectively resulting in delayed diagnoses and greatly affecting patient management. High-throughput analyses have uncovered key genomic and epigenomic alterations driving malignant mesothelioma. These molecular features have the potential to better our understanding of malignant mesothelioma biology as well as to improve disease diagnosis and patient prognosis. Genomic approaches have been instrumental in identifying molecular events frequently occurring in mesothelioma. As such, we review the discoveries made using high-throughput technologies, including novel insights obtained from the analysis of the non-coding transcriptome, and the clinical potential of these genetic and epigenetic findings in mesothelioma. Furthermore, we aim to highlight the potential of these technologies in the future clinical applications of the novel molecular features in malignant mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P Sage
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Victor D Martinez
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Brenda C Minatel
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Michelle E Pewarchuk
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
| | - Erin A Marshall
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Gavin M MacAulay
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
| | - Roland Hubaux
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
| | - Dustin D Pearson
- Robson DNA Science Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Aaron A Goodarzi
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
- Robson DNA Science Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Graham Dellaire
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
- Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Wan L Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
- Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Dalhousie University, P.O. BOX 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
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