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Senchukova MA. Colorectal cancer and dormant metastases: Put to sleep or destroy? World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:2304-2317. [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
After reading the review by An et al “Biological factors driving colorectal cancer metastasis”, which covers the problem of the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC), I had a desire to discuss with readers one of the exciting problems associated with dormant metastases. Most deaths from CRCs are caused by metastases, which can be detected both at diagnosis of the primary tumor and several years or even decades after treatment. This is because tumor cells that enter the bloodstream can be destroyed by the immune system, cause metastatic growth, or remain dormant for a long time. Dormant tumor cells may not manifest themselves throughout a person’s life or, after some time and under appropriate conditions, may give rise to the growth of metastases. In this editorial, we will discuss the most important features of dormant metastases and the mechanisms of premetastatic niche formation, as well as factors that contribute to the activation of dormant metastases in CRCs. We will pay special attention to the possible mechanisms involved in the formation of circulating tumor cell complexes and the choice of therapeutic strategies that promote the dormancy or destruction of tumor cells in CRCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Senchukova
- Department of Oncology, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg 460000, Russia
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Chen J, Chen W, Li X, Ye Y, Huang W, Gao L, Zhang M. CBC-1 as a Cynanbungeigenin C derivative inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer through targeting Hedgehog pathway component GLI 1. Steroids 2024; 206:109421. [PMID: 38614233 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers that results in death in worldwide. The Hedgehog (HH) signalling pathway regulates the initiation and progression of CRC. Inhibiting the HH pathway has been presented as a potential treatment strategy in recent years. Cynanbungeigenin C (CBC) is a new type of C21 steroid that has been previously reported for the treatment of medulloblastoma. However, its further investigation was limited by its poor water solubility. In this study, six new CBC derivatives were synthesized through the structural modification of CBC, and four of them showed better water solubility than CBC. Moreover, their antiproliferative activities on CRC were evaluated. It was found that CBC-1 presented the best inhibitory effect on three types of CRC cell lines, and this effect was superior to that of CBC. Mechanistically, CBC-1 inhibited the proliferation of CRC cells through regulation of mRNA and proteins of the HH pathway according to qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. Furthermore, Cellular Thermal Shift Assay results indicated that CBC-1 regulated this signalling pathway by targeting glioma‑associated oncogene (GLI 1).In addition, cell apoptosis was induced increasingly by transfection with GLI 1 siRNA or treatment with CBC-1 to downregulate GLI 1. Last, the in vivo results demonstrated that CBC-1 significantly reduced tumour size and downregulated GLI 1 in CRC. Therefore, this study suggests that CBC-1, a new GLI 1 inhibitor derived from natural products, may be developed as a potential antitumour candidate for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwen Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311200, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311200, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311200, China.
| | - Yiping Ye
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenkang Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lijuan Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Bustamante-Madrid P, Barbáchano A, Albandea-Rodríguez D, Rodríguez-Cobos J, Rodríguez-Salas N, Prieto I, Burgos A, Martínez de Villarreal J, Real FX, González-Sancho JM, Larriba MJ, Lafarga M, Muñoz A, Fernández-Barral A. Vitamin D opposes multilineage cell differentiation induced by Notch inhibition and BMP4 pathway activation in human colon organoids. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:301. [PMID: 38684650 PMCID: PMC11058856 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06680-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms involved in colonic epithelial differentiation is key to unraveling the alterations causing inflammatory conditions and cancer. Organoid cultures provide an unique tool to address these questions but studies are scarce. We report a differentiation system toward enterocytes and goblet cells, the two major colonic epithelial cell lineages, using colon organoids generated from healthy tissue of colorectal cancer patients. Culture of these organoids in medium lacking stemness agents resulted in a modest ultrastructural differentiation phenotype with low-level expression of enterocyte (KLF4, KRT20, CA1, FABP2) and goblet cell (TFF2, TFF3, AGR2) lineage markers. BMP pathway activation through depletion of Noggin and addition of BMP4 resulted in enterocyte-biased differentiation. Contrarily, blockade of the Notch pathway using the γ-secretase inhibitor dibenzazepine (DBZ) favored goblet cell differentiation. Combination treatment with BMP4 and DBZ caused a balanced strong induction of both lineages. In contrast, colon tumor organoids responded poorly to BMP4 showing only weak signals of cell differentiation, and were unresponsive to DBZ. We also investigated the effects of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) on differentiation. Calcitriol attenuated the effects of BMP4 and DBZ on colon normal organoids, with reduced expression of differentiation genes and phenotype. Consistently, in normal organoids, calcitriol inhibited early signaling by BMP4 as assessed by reduction of the level of phospho-SMAD1/5/8. Our results show that BMP and Notch signaling play key roles in human colon stem cell differentiation to the enterocytic and goblet cell lineages and that calcitriol modulates these processes favoring stemness features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Bustamante-Madrid
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Barbáchano
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Albandea-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Rodríguez-Cobos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Rodríguez-Salas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Prieto
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurora Burgos
- Servicio de Digestivo, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Martínez de Villarreal
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco X Real
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Manuel González-Sancho
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Jesús Larriba
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Lafarga
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, 39008, Santander, Spain
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Asunción Fernández-Barral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), 28046, Madrid, Spain.
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Saadh MJ, Allela OQB, Sattay ZJ, Al Zuhairi RAH, Ahmad H, Eldesoky GE, Adil M, Ali MS. Deciphering the functional landscape and therapeutic implications of noncoding RNAs in the TGF-β signaling pathway in colorectal cancer: A comprehensive review. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 255:155158. [PMID: 38320438 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health concern, necessitating an in-depth exploration of the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying its progression and potential therapeutic interventions. Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, a pivotal pathway implicated in CRC plays a dual role as a tumor suppressor in the early stages and a promoter of tumor progression in later stages. Recent research has shed light on the critical involvement of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in modulating the TGF-β signaling pathway, introducing a new layer of complexity to our understanding of CRC pathogenesis. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current state of knowledge regarding the function and therapeutic potential of various classes of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in the context of TGF-β signaling in CRC. The intricate interplay between these ncRNAs and key components of the TGF-β pathway is dissected, revealing regulatory networks that contribute to the dynamic balance between tumor suppression and promotion. Emphasis is placed on how dysregulation of specific ncRNAs can disrupt this delicate equilibrium, fostering CRC initiation, progression, and metastasis. Moreover, the review provides a critical appraisal of the emerging therapeutic strategies targeting ncRNAs associated with TGF-β signaling in CRC. The potential of these ncRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is discussed, highlighting their clinical relevance. Additionally, the challenges and prospects of developing RNA-based therapeutics, such as RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas-based approaches, are explored in the context of modulating TGF-β signaling for CRC treatment. In conclusion, this review offers a comprehensive overview of the intricate interplay between ncRNAs and the TGF-β signaling pathway in CRC. By unraveling the functional significance of these regulatory elements, we gain valuable insights into the molecular landscape of CRC, paving the way for the development of novel and targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the TGF-β signaling cascade through the manipulation of ncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed J Saadh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Amman 11831, Jordan
| | | | - Zahraa Jasim Sattay
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology l, University of imam Jaafar Al-Sadiq, Iraq
| | | | - Hijaz Ahmad
- Section of Mathematics, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 39, Rome 00186, Italy; Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait; Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Gaber E Eldesoky
- Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Mahmoudi R, Afshar S, Amini R, Jalali A, Saidijam M, Najafi R. Evaluation of BMP-2 as a Differentiating and Radiosensitizing Agent for Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:83-93. [PMID: 36998132 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230330085615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite effective clinical responses, a large proportion of patients undergo resistance to radiotherapy. The low response rate to current treatments in different stages of colorectal cancer depends on the prominent role of stem cells in cancer. OBJECTIVE In the present study, the role of BMP-2 as an ionizing radiation-sensitive factor in colorectal cancer cells was investigated. METHODS A sphere formation assay was used for the enrichment of HCT-116 cancer stem cells (CSCs). The effects of combination therapy (BMP-2+ radiation) on DNA damage response (DDR), proliferation, and apoptosis were evaluated in HCT-116 and CSCs. Gene expressions of CSCs and epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were also evaluated. RESULTS We found that the sphere formation assay showed a significant increase in the percentage of CSCs. Moreover, expression of CSCs markers, EMT-related genes, and DNA repair proteins significantly decreased in HCT-116 cells compared to the CSCs group after radiation. In addition, BMP-2 promoted the radiosensitivity of HCT-116 cells by decreasing the survival rate of the treated cells at 2, 4, and 6 Gy compared to the control group in HCT-116 cells. CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that BMP-2 could affect numerous signaling pathways involved in radioresistance. Therefore, BMP-2 can be considered an appealing therapeutic target for the treatment of radioresistant human colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Mahmoudi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Saeid Afshar
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Razieh Amini
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Akram Jalali
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Massoud Saidijam
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Rezvan Najafi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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6
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Brisset M, Mehlen P, Meurette O, Hollande F. Notch receptor/ligand diversity: contribution to colorectal cancer stem cell heterogeneity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1231416. [PMID: 37860822 PMCID: PMC10582728 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1231416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell heterogeneity is a key contributor to therapeutic failure and post-treatment recurrence. Targeting cell subpopulations responsible for chemoresistance and recurrence seems to be an attractive approach to improve treatment outcome in cancer patients. However, this remains challenging due to the complexity and incomplete characterization of tumor cell subpopulations. The heterogeneity of cells exhibiting stemness-related features, such as self-renewal and chemoresistance, fuels this complexity. Notch signaling is a known regulator of cancer stem cell (CSC) features in colorectal cancer (CRC), though the effects of its heterogenous signaling on CRC cell stemness are only just emerging. In this review, we discuss how Notch ligand-receptor specificity contributes to regulating stemness, self-renewal, chemoresistance and cancer stem cells heterogeneity in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Brisset
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Cancer Cell Death Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, INSERM U1052-CNRS UMR5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Patrick Mehlen
- Cancer Cell Death Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, INSERM U1052-CNRS UMR5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Meurette
- Cancer Cell Death Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, INSERM U1052-CNRS UMR5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Hollande
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Madigan LA, Jaime D, Fallon JR. MuSK-BMP signaling in adult muscle stem cells maintains quiescence and regulates myofiber size. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.17.541238. [PMID: 37292636 PMCID: PMC10245747 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.17.541238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A central question in the biology of adult stem cells is elucidating the signaling pathways regulating their dynamics and function in diverse physiological and age-related contexts. Adult muscle stem cells (Satellite Cells; SCs) are generally quiescent but can activate and contribute to muscle homeostasis and repair. Here we tested the role of the MuSK-BMP pathway in regulating adult SC quiescence and myofiber size. We attenuated MuSK-BMP signaling by deletion of the BMP-binding MuSK Ig3 domain ('ΔIg3-MuSK') and studied the fast TA and EDL muscles. In germ line mutants at 3 months of age SC and myonuclei numbers as well as myofiber size were comparable in ΔIg3-MuSK and WT animals. However, in 5-month-old ΔIg3-MuSK animals SC density was decreased while myofiber size, myonuclear number and grip strength were increased - indicating that SCs had activated and productively fused into the myofibers over this interval. Notably, myonuclear domain size was conserved. Following injury, the mutant muscle fully regenerated with restoration of myofiber size and SC pool to WT levels, indicating that ΔIg3-MuSK SCs maintain full stem cell function. Conditional expression of ΔIg3-MuSK in adult SCs showed that the MuSK-BMP pathway regulates quiescence and myofiber size in a cell autonomous fashion. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SCs from uninjured ΔIg3-MuSK mice exhibit signatures of activation, including elevated Notch and epigenetic signaling. We conclude that the MuSK-BMP pathway regulates SC quiescence and myofiber size in a cell autonomous, age-dependent manner. Targeting MuSK-BMP signaling in muscle stem cells thus emerges a therapeutic strategy for promoting muscle growth and function in the settings of injury, disease, and aging.
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Iyengar PV, Marvin DL, Lama D, Tan TZ, Suriyamurthy S, Xie F, van Dinther M, Mei H, Verma CS, Zhang L, Ritsma L, ten Dijke P. TRAF4 Inhibits Bladder Cancer Progression by Promoting BMP/SMAD Signaling. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:1516-1531. [PMID: 35731212 PMCID: PMC9530648 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-1029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Patients with bladder cancer often have a poor prognosis due to the highly invasive and metastatic characteristics of bladder cancer cells. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been causally linked to bladder cancer invasion. The E3 ubiquitin ligase, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) has been implicated as a tumor promoter in a wide range of cancers. In contrast, here we show that low TRAF4 expression is associated with poor overall survival in patients with bladder cancer. We show that the TRAF4 gene is epigenetically silenced and that ERK mediates TRAF4 phosphorylation, resulting in lower TRAF4 protein levels in bladder cancer cells. In addition, we demonstrate that TRAF4 is inversely correlated with an EMT gene signature/protein marker expression. Functionally, by manipulating TRAF4 expression, we show that TRAF4 regulates EMT genes and epithelial and invasive properties in bladder cancer cells. Transcriptomic analysis of dysregulated TRAF4 expression in bladder cancer cell lines revealed that high TRAF4 expression enhances the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD and inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway. Mechanistically, we show that TRAF4 targets the E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF1, a negative regulator of BMP/SMAD signaling, for proteasomal degradation in bladder cancer cells. This was corroborated in patient samples where TRAF4 positively correlates with phospho-SMAD1/5, and negatively correlates with phospho-NFκb-p65. Lastly, we show that genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of SMURF1 inhibits the migration of aggressive mesenchymal bladder cancer cells. IMPLICATIONS Our findings identify E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF4 as a potential therapeutic target or biomarker for bladder cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Vasudevan Iyengar
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Corresponding Authors: Prasanna Vasudevan Iyengar, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden 2333ZC, the Netherlands. Phone: 715-269-271; Fax: 715-268-270; E-mail: ; and Peter ten Dijke,
| | - Dieuwke Louise Marvin
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dilraj Lama
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sudha Suriyamurthy
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Feng Xie
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Maarten van Dinther
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Chandra Shekhar Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Long Zhang
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Laila Ritsma
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Corresponding Authors: Prasanna Vasudevan Iyengar, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden 2333ZC, the Netherlands. Phone: 715-269-271; Fax: 715-268-270; E-mail: ; and Peter ten Dijke,
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9
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A RAS-Independent Biomarker Panel to Reliably Predict Response to MEK Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133252. [PMID: 35805024 PMCID: PMC9265111 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Today, clinical management for the majority of cancer patients is still based on a “one-size-fits-all” approach. To improve the outcomes in the era of personalized medicine, it is essential to stratify patients based on established and novel biomarkers. In the present study, we investigated a SMAD4 loss-of-function mutation, which is associated with chemoresistance and decreased overall survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). To investigate the molecular mechanism behind the impact on drug response, we used CRISPR technology on patient-derived organoid models (PDOs) of CRC. We showed that PDOs with loss-of-function SMAD4 mutations are sensitive to MEK-inhibitors. Using a novel four-gene signature reliably predicts sensitivity towards MEK-inhibitors, regardless of the RAS and BRAF status. The present study is a significant step towards personalized cancer therapy by identifying a new biomarker. Abstract Background: In colorectal cancer (CRC), mutations of genes associated with the TGF-β/BMP signaling pathway, particularly affecting SMAD4, are known to correlate with decreased overall survival and it is assumed that this signaling axis plays a key role in chemoresistance. Methods: Using CRISPR technology on syngeneic patient-derived organoids (PDOs), we investigated the role of a loss-of-function of SMAD4 in sensitivity to MEK-inhibitors. CRISPR-engineered SMAD4R361H PDOs were subjected to drug screening, RNA-Sequencing, and multiplex protein profiling (DigiWest®). Initial observations were validated on an additional set of 62 PDOs with known mutational status. Results: We show that loss-of-function of SMAD4 renders PDOs sensitive to MEK-inhibitors. Multiomics analyses indicate that disruption of the BMP branch within the TGF-β/BMP pathway is the pivotal mechanism of increased drug sensitivity. Further investigation led to the identification of the SFAB-signature (SMAD4, FBXW7, ARID1A, or BMPR2), coherently predicting sensitivity towards MEK-inhibitors, independent of both RAS and BRAF status. Conclusion: We identified a novel mutational signature that reliably predicts sensitivity towards MEK-inhibitors, regardless of the RAS and BRAF status. This finding poses a significant step towards better-tailored cancer therapies guided by the use of molecular biomarkers.
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Zhang M, Tao Z, Gao L, Chen F, Ye Y, Xu S, Huang W, Li X. Toosendanin inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth through the Hedgehog pathway by targeting Shh. Drug Dev Res 2022; 83:1201-1211. [PMID: 35656621 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. This complex and often fatal disease has a high mortality rate. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is crucial in CRC. Many studies have indicated that Shh is overexpressed in cancer stem cells (CSCs), and shh overexpression is positively correlated with CRC tumorigenesis. New drugs that kill CRC cells through the Hh pathway are needed. Toosendanin (TSN), a natural triterpenoid saponin extracted from the bark or fruit of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc, can inhibit various tumors. Here, we investigated the effects of TSN in CRC and explored the possible targets and mechanisms. Shh-Light Ⅱ cells were treated with TSN and tested by dual luciferase reporter assays to determine the relationship with the Hh pathway. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were used to test the inhibitory effects of TSN on CRC cells. The expression of Hh components after TSN treatment was detected using western blots and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cellular thermal shift assays confirmed the targets of TSN. The same effects of TSN on xenograft tumor growth were investigated in vivo. The average weight, volume of the finally resected tumor, and the expression of Shh in the TSN-treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control group. This result strongly suggested that TSN administration inhibited CRC growth in vivo. Our research preliminarily demonstrated that the target of TSN was Shh and that TSN inhibits CRC cell growth by inhibiting the Hh pathway, identifying a new anticancer molecular mechanism of TSN in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhongyi Tao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lijuan Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fengyang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiping Ye
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shifang Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenkang Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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11
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OVOL1 inhibits breast cancer cell invasion by enhancing the degradation of TGF-β type I receptor. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:126. [PMID: 35484112 PMCID: PMC9050647 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00944-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovo-like transcriptional repressor 1 (OVOL1) is a key mediator of epithelial lineage determination and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). The cytokines transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) control the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) of cancer cells, but whether this occurs through interplay with OVOL1 is not known. Here, we show that OVOL1 is inversely correlated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature, and is an indicator of a favorable prognosis for breast cancer patients. OVOL1 suppresses EMT, migration, extravasation, and early metastatic events of breast cancer cells. Importantly, BMP strongly promotes the expression of OVOL1, which enhances BMP signaling in turn. This positive feedback loop is established through the inhibition of TGF-β receptor signaling by OVOL1. Mechanistically, OVOL1 interacts with and prevents the ubiquitination and degradation of SMAD family member 7 (SMAD7), which is a negative regulator of TGF-β type I receptor stability. Moreover, a small-molecule compound 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ) was identified to activate OVOL1 expression and thereby antagonizing (at least in part) TGF-β-mediated EMT and migration in breast cancer cells. Our results uncover a novel mechanism by which OVOL1 attenuates TGF-β/SMAD signaling and maintains the epithelial identity of breast cancer cells.
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12
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Elemam NM, Malek AI, Mahmoud EE, El-Huneidi W, Talaat IM. Insights into the Role of Gremlin-1, a Bone Morphogenic Protein Antagonist, in Cancer Initiation and Progression. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020301. [PMID: 35203511 PMCID: PMC8869528 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The bone morphogenic protein (BMP) antagonist Gremlin-1 is a biologically significant regulator known for its crucial role in tissue differentiation and embryonic development. Nevertheless, it has been reported that Gremlin-1 can exhibit its function through BMP dependent and independent pathways. Gremlin-1 has also been reported to be involved in organ fibrosis, which has been correlated to the development of other diseases, such as renal inflammation and diabetic nephropathy. Based on growing evidence, Gremlin-1 has recently been implicated in the initiation and progression of different types of cancers. Further, it contributes to the stemness state of cancer cells. Herein, we explore the recent findings on the role of Gremlin-1 in various cancer types, including breast, cervical, colorectal, and gastric cancers, as well as glioblastomas. Additionally, we highlighted the impact of Gremlin-1 on cellular processes and signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis. Therefore, it was suggested that Gremlin-1 might be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha Mousaad Elemam
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; (N.M.E.); (A.I.M.); (E.E.M.)
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdullah Imadeddin Malek
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; (N.M.E.); (A.I.M.); (E.E.M.)
| | - Esraa Elaraby Mahmoud
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; (N.M.E.); (A.I.M.); (E.E.M.)
| | - Waseem El-Huneidi
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; (N.M.E.); (A.I.M.); (E.E.M.)
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (W.E.-H.); (I.M.T.)
| | - Iman M. Talaat
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; (N.M.E.); (A.I.M.); (E.E.M.)
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
- Correspondence: (W.E.-H.); (I.M.T.)
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13
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Xu XY, Choi HS, Park SY, Kim JK, Seo KH, Kim H, Kim YJ. Hibiscus syriacus L. cultivated in callus culture exerts cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer via Notch signaling-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis suppression. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 95:153870. [PMID: 34896899 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In our previous study, Hibiscus syriacus leaf tissue was successfully cultivated in an optimized callus culture system, and subsequently extracted with 70% ethanol to prepare H. syriacus callus extract (HCE). The previous study suggested that the callus culture is useful method for obtaining the anti-inflammatory ingredients from H. syriacus. PURPOSE In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of HCE on the colorectal cancer (CRC) and its underlying mechanism of action using HT-29 cells and thymus-deficient mice bearing HT-29 xenografts. METHODS The cytotoxicity of HCE was investigated by MTT and colonies formation. The underling mechanism by which HCE regulates specific proteins in HT-29 cells was evaluated by the proteomic analysis. These putative proteins were validated using qRT-PCR and immunoblotting analyses. Subsequently, oral administration of HCE for 15 days further evaluating the anti-tumor activity by mRNA and protein expressions levels and tumor histopathology. RESULTS Results of cell viability and colony formation assays revealed a significant cytotoxic effect of HCE at doses below 100 μg/ml against HT-29 cells, but not against normal cells. Through differential protein expression analysis, signaling pathways underlying anti-CRC activity were predicted in HCE-treated HT-29 cells: Notch signaling, cholesterol biosynthesis, and AMPK signaling pathways. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting analyses indicated that the cytotoxic effect of HCE against HT-29 cells might be associated with the suppression of Notch signaling, which positively contributes to cholesterol biosynthesis. To our knowledge, this can be presented as the first study to demonstrate the detailed relationship between Notch signaling and cholesterol-AMPK signaling. Our in vivo result further corroborated the in vitro finding that 100 and 200 mg/kg HCE for 15 days exerts its anti-cancer effect via Notch signaling-mediated suppression of cholesterol synthesis without systemic toxicity. CONCLUSION Our findings can serve as a starting point for developing the novel anti-CRC agent using HCE, as a targeted medicine acting on regulating Notch signaling and cholesterol synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Yue Xu
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Sol Choi
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jin-Kyu Kim
- Biocenter, Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator, Suwon 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Hoon Seo
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeon-Ju Kim
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Brown KM, Xue A, Smith RC, Samra JS, Gill AJ, Hugh TJ. Cancer-associated stroma reveals prognostic biomarkers and novel insights into the tumour microenvironment of colorectal cancer and colorectal liver metastases. Cancer Med 2021; 11:492-506. [PMID: 34874125 PMCID: PMC8729056 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Cancer‐associated stroma (CAS) is emerging as a key determinant of metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, little is known about CAS in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study aimed to validate the prognostic significance of stromal protein biomarkers in primary CRC and CRLM. Secondly, this study aimed to describe the transcriptome of the CAS of CRLM and identify novel targetable pathways of metastasis. Methods A case–control study design from a prospectively maintained database was adopted. The prognostic value of epithelial and stromal CALD1, IGFBP7, POSTN, FAP, TGF‐β and pSMAD2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in multivariate models. Pathway enrichment and sparse partial least square‐discriminant analysis (sPLS‐DA) were performed on a nested cohort after isolating epithelial tumour and CAS by laser capture microdissection. Results 110 CRCs with 124 paired CRLMs, and 110 matched non‐metastatic control CRCs were included. Median follow‐up was 62 and 45 months for primary and CRLM groups, respectively. Stromal FAP and POSTN were independent predictors for the development of CRLM. After CRLM resection, stromal IGFBP7 and POSTN were predictors of poorer survival. sPLS‐DA on the nested cohort identified a number of novel targetable stromal genes and pathways that defined poor prognosis CRC and the CAS of CRLM. Conclusions This study is the first to describe key differences in stromal gene expression between paired primary CRC and CRLM as well as identifying several targetable biomarkers and transcriptomic pathways whose relevance specifically in the CAS of CRC and CRLM have not been previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai M Brown
- Cancer Surgery and Metabolism Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Upper GI Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Aiqun Xue
- Cancer Surgery and Metabolism Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ross C Smith
- Cancer Surgery and Metabolism Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jaswinder S Samra
- Upper GI Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony J Gill
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas J Hugh
- Cancer Surgery and Metabolism Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Upper GI Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.,Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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15
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Lampis A, Hahne JC, Gasparini P, Cascione L, Hedayat S, Vlachogiannis G, Murgia C, Fontana E, Edwards J, Horgan PG, Terracciano L, Sansom OJ, Martins CD, Kramer-Marek G, Croce CM, Braconi C, Fassan M, Valeri N. MIR21-induced loss of junctional adhesion molecule A promotes activation of oncogenic pathways, progression and metastasis in colorectal cancer. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:2970-2982. [PMID: 34226680 PMCID: PMC8481293 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00820-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) play a critical role in cell permeability, polarity and migration. JAM-A, a key protein of the JAM family, is altered in a number of conditions including cancer; however, consequences of JAM-A dysregulation on carcinogenesis appear to be tissue dependent and organ dependent with significant implications for the use of JAM-A as a biomarker or therapeutic target. Here, we test the expression and prognostic role of JAM-A downregulation in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) (n = 947). We show that JAM-A downregulation is observed in ~60% of CRC and correlates with poor outcome in four cohorts of stages II and III CRC (n = 1098). Using JAM-A knockdown, re-expression and rescue experiments in cell line monolayers, 3D spheroids, patient-derived organoids and xenotransplants, we demonstrate that JAM-A silencing promotes proliferation and migration in 2D and 3D cell models and increases tumour volume and metastases in vivo. Using gene-expression and proteomic analyses, we show that JAM-A downregulation results in the activation of ERK, AKT and ROCK pathways and leads to decreased bone morphogenetic protein 7 expression. We identify MIR21 upregulation as the cause of JAM-A downregulation and show that JAM-A rescue mitigates the effects of MIR21 overexpression on cancer phenotype. Our results identify a novel molecular loop involving MIR21 dysregulation, JAM-A silencing and activation of multiple oncogenic pathways in promoting invasiveness and metastasis in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Lampis
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Jens C Hahne
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Pierluigi Gasparini
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Luciano Cascione
- Bioinformatics Core Unit, Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Somaieh Hedayat
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Georgios Vlachogiannis
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Elisa Fontana
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Joanne Edwards
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul G Horgan
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Luigi Terracciano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Carlos D Martins
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Carlo M Croce
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Chiara Braconi
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Matteo Fassan
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgical Pathology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Padua, Italy
| | - Nicola Valeri
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
- Division of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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16
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Martin M, Sun M, Motolani A, Lu T. The Pivotal Player: Components of NF-κB Pathway as Promising Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7429. [PMID: 34299049 PMCID: PMC8303169 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last several decades, colorectal cancer (CRC) has been one of the most prevalent cancers. While significant progress has been made in both diagnostic screening and therapeutic approaches, a large knowledge gap still remains regarding the early identification and treatment of CRC. Specifically, identification of CRC biomarkers that can help with the creation of targeted therapies as well as increasing the ability for clinicians to predict the biological response of a patient to therapeutics, is of particular importance. This review provides an overview of CRC and its progression stages, as well as the basic types of CRC biomarkers. We then lay out the synopsis of signaling pathways related to CRC, and further highlight the pivotal and multifaceted role of nuclear factor (NF) κB signaling in CRC. Particularly, we bring forth knowledge regarding the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CRC, and its complex interaction with cancer cells. We also provide examples of NF-κB signaling-related CRC biomarkers, and ongoing efforts made at targeting NF-κB signaling in CRC treatment. We conclude and anticipate that with more emerging novel regulators of the NF-κB pathway being discovered, together with their in-depth characterization and the integration of large groups of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data, the day of successful development of more ideal NF-κB inhibitors is fast approaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Mengyao Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Aishat Motolani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Tao Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 975 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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17
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Helmi SA, Rohani L, Zaher AR, El Hawary YM, Rancourt DE. Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells via γ-Secretase Inhibition. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105215. [PMID: 34069142 PMCID: PMC8156631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone healing is a complex, well-organized process. Multiple factors regulate this process, including growth factors, hormones, cytokines, mechanical stimulation, and aging. One of the most important signaling pathways that affect bone healing is the Notch signaling pathway. It has a significant role in controlling the differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells and forming new bone. Interventions to enhance the healing of critical-sized bone defects are of great importance, and stem cell transplantations are eminent candidates for treating such defects. Understanding how Notch signaling impacts pluripotent stem cell differentiation can significantly enhance osteogenesis and improve the overall healing process upon transplantation. In Rancourt’s lab, mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) have been successfully differentiated to the osteogenic cell lineage. This study investigates the role of Notch signaling inhibition in the osteogenic differentiation of mouse embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). Our data showed that Notch inhibition greatly enhanced the differentiation of both mouse embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer A. Helmi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; (A.R.Z.); (Y.M.E.H.)
| | - Leili Rohani
- Department of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada;
| | - Ahmed R. Zaher
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; (A.R.Z.); (Y.M.E.H.)
| | - Youssry M. El Hawary
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; (A.R.Z.); (Y.M.E.H.)
| | - Derrick E. Rancourt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-403-220-2888
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18
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Sphyris N, Hodder MC, Sansom OJ. Subversion of Niche-Signalling Pathways in Colorectal Cancer: What Makes and Breaks the Intestinal Stem Cell. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1000. [PMID: 33673710 PMCID: PMC7957493 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium fulfils pleiotropic functions in nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and immune surveillance while also forming a barrier against luminal toxins and gut-resident microbiota. Incessantly barraged by extraneous stresses, the intestine must continuously replenish its epithelial lining and regenerate the full gamut of specialized cell types that underpin its functions. Homeostatic remodelling is orchestrated by the intestinal stem cell (ISC) niche: a convergence of epithelial- and stromal-derived cues, which maintains ISCs in a multipotent state. Following demise of homeostatic ISCs post injury, plasticity is pervasive among multiple populations of reserve stem-like cells, lineage-committed progenitors, and/or fully differentiated cell types, all of which can contribute to regeneration and repair. Failure to restore the epithelial barrier risks seepage of toxic luminal contents, resulting in inflammation and likely predisposing to tumour formation. Here, we explore how homeostatic niche-signalling pathways are subverted in tumorigenesis, enabling ISCs to gain autonomy from niche restraints ("ISC emancipation") and transform into cancer stem cells capable of driving tumour initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. We further consider the implications of the pervasive plasticity of the intestinal epithelium for the trajectory of colorectal cancer, the emergence of distinct molecular subtypes, the propensity to metastasize, and the development of effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Sphyris
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; (N.S.); (M.C.H.)
| | - Michael C. Hodder
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; (N.S.); (M.C.H.)
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Owen J. Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; (N.S.); (M.C.H.)
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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19
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Context Matters: NOTCH Signatures and Pathway in Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010094. [PMID: 33430387 PMCID: PMC7827494 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is a critical player in embryogenesis but also plays various roles in tumorigenesis, with both tumor suppressor and oncogenic activities. Mutations, deletions, amplifications, or over-expression of Notch receptors, ligands, and a growing list of downstream Notch-activated genes have by now been described for most human cancer types. Yet, it often remains unclear what may be the functional impact of these changes for tumor biology, initiation, and progression, for cancer therapy, and for personalized medicine. Emerging data indicate that Notch signaling can also contribute to increased aggressive properties such as invasion, tumor heterogeneity, angiogenesis, or tumor cell dormancy within solid cancer tissues; especially in epithelial cancers, which are in the center of this review. Notch further supports the “stemness” of cancer cells and helps define the stem cell niche for their long-term survival, by integrating the interaction between cancer cells and the cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The complexity of Notch crosstalk with other signaling pathways and its roles in cell fate and trans-differentiation processes such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) point to this pathway as a decisive player that may tip the balance between tumor suppression and promotion, differentiation and invasion. Here we not only review the literature, but also explore genomic databases with a specific focus on Notch signatures, and how they relate to different stages in tumor development. Altered Notch signaling hereby plays a key role for tumor cell survival and coping with a broad spectrum of vital issues, contributing to failed therapies, poor patient outcome, and loss of lives.
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Chang SF, Yang WH, Cheng CY, Luo SJ, Wang TC. γ-secretase inhibitors, DAPT and RO4929097, promote the migration of Human Glioma Cells via Smad5-downregulated E-cadherin Expression. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:2551-2560. [PMID: 34104086 PMCID: PMC8176174 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.50484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant gliomas are a type of central nervous system cancer with extremely high mortality rates in humans. γ-secretase has been becoming a potential target for cancer therapy, including glioma, because of the involvement of its enzymatic activity in regulating the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. In this study, we attempted to determine whether γ-secretase activity regulates E-cadherin to affect glioma cell migration. The human glioma cell lines, including LN18 and LN229, and the γ-secretase inhibitors, including N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) and RO4929097, were used in this study. It was shown that γ-secretase activity inhibition by DAPT and RO4929097 could promote LN18 and LN229 glioma cell migration via downregulating E-cadherin mRNA and protein expressions, but not via affecting E-cadherin protein processing. In addition, γ-secretase activity inhibition was regulated by bone morphogenetic proteins-independent Smad5 activation in glioma cells. Moreover, endogenous Smad1 in glioma cells was found to play an important role in regulating E-cadherin expression and subsequent cell migration but did not affect DAPT-stimulated effects. These results help further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of γ-secretase activity regulation involved in controlling glioma cell malignancy. Information about a potential role for Smad1/5 activity upregulation and subsequent E-cadherin downregulation during inhibition of γ-secretase activity in the development of gliomas is therefore relevant for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Fu Chang
- Department of Medical Research and Development, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Chiayi Branch, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hsun Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Jie Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chung Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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21
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Li X, Liu W, Geng C, Li T, Li Y, Guo Y, Wang C. Ginsenoside Rg3 Suppresses Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via Downregulating Notch-Hes1 Signaling in Colon Cancer Cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2020; 49:217-235. [PMID: 33371813 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x21500129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Invasion and metastasis are the major causes leading to the high mortality of colon cancer. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), as a bioactive ginseng compound, is suggested to possess antimetastasis effects in colon cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we reported that Rg3 could effectively inhibit colon cancer cell invasion and metastasis through in vivo and in vitro studies. In addition, Rg3 suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCT15 cells and SW48 cells evidenced by detecting EMT related markers E-cadherin, vimentin, and snail expression. Furthermore, inhibition of Notch signaling by LY411,575 or specific Hes1 siRNA obviously repressed colon cancer cell migration and metastasis, and induced increase in E-cadherin and decrease in vimentin and snail. Meanwhile, the expression of NICD and Hes1 was obviously decreased in the presence of Rg3. However, Rg3 failed to suppress EMT in Hes1 overexpressed colon cancer cells. In particular, Rg3 significantly reversed IL-6-induced EMT promotion and blocked IL-6- induced NICD and Hes1 upregulations. Overall, these findings suggested that Rg3 could inhibit colon cancer migration and metastasis via suppressing Notch-Hes1-EMT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Chong Geng
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Yanni Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Yaoyu Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Chunhui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China
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22
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Plotnikov A, Kozer N, Cohen G, Carvalho S, Duberstein S, Almog O, Solmesky LJ, Shurrush KA, Babaev I, Benjamin S, Gilad S, Kupervaser M, Levin Y, Gershovits M, Ben-Avraham D, Barr HM. PRMT1 inhibition induces differentiation of colon cancer cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20030. [PMID: 33208761 PMCID: PMC7676271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77028-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Differentiation therapy has been recently revisited as a prospective approach in cancer therapy by targeting the aberrant growth, and repairing the differentiation and cell death programs of cancer cells. However, differentiation therapy of solid tumors is a challenging issue and progress in this field is limited. We performed High Throughput Screening (HTS) using a novel dual multiplex assay to discover compounds, which induce differentiation of human colon cancer cells. Here we show that the protein arginine methyl transferase (PRMT) type 1 inhibitor, MS023, is a potent inducer of colon cancer cell differentiation with a large therapeutic window. Differentiation changes in the highly aggressive human colon cancer cell line (HT-29) were proved by proteomic and genomic approaches. Growth of HT-29 xenograft in nude mice was significantly delayed upon MS023 treatment and immunohistochemistry of tumor indicated differentiation changes. These findings may lead to development of clinically effective anti-cancer drugs based on the mechanism of cancer cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Plotnikov
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Noga Kozer
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Galit Cohen
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Silvia Carvalho
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shirly Duberstein
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ofir Almog
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Leonardo Javier Solmesky
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Khriesto A Shurrush
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ilana Babaev
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sima Benjamin
- Crown Institute for Genomics, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shlomit Gilad
- Crown Institute for Genomics, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meital Kupervaser
- de Botton Institute for Proteomics, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yishai Levin
- de Botton Institute for Proteomics, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael Gershovits
- Mantoux Institute for Bioinformatics, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Danny Ben-Avraham
- Mantoux Institute for Bioinformatics, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Haim Michael Barr
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, High Throughput Screening Unit, Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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23
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Wang F, Long J, Li L, Zhao ZB, Wei F, Yao Y, Qiu WJ, Wu ZX, Luo QQ, Liu W, Quan YB, Lian ZX, Cao J. Mutations in the notch signalling pathway are associated with enhanced anti-tumour immunity in colorectal cancer. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:12176-12187. [PMID: 32924269 PMCID: PMC7579712 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch signalling pathway is involved in the development of several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, whether mutations in this pathway could alter the CRC immunophenotype remains unknown. Here, we investigated the relationship between Notch signalling pathway mutations and the tumour immune microenvironment by analysing gene expression data from the GSE108989 single T cell RNA sequencing data set and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set. We found that Notch signalling pathway mutations were associated with an increased number of tumour-specific CD8+ T cells and decreased number of inhibitory regulatory T (Treg) cells, representing an enhanced anti-tumour response in the GSE108989 data set. In TCGA data set, we also found that Notch signalling pathway mutations were associated with enrichment of genes associated with immune activation pathways and higher expressions of PDCD1, GZMB and PRF1. Although Notch signalling pathway mutations did not affect the overall survival and disease-free survival of CRC patients, they were associated with earlier disease stages and lower rates of metastasis. These results demonstrated that Notch signalling pathway mutations can enhance anti-tumour immunity in CRC, as validated by the two data sets, suggesting that they may be promising biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockade therapies for CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Long
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Chronic Disease Laboratory, Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Immunology and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Chronic Disease Laboratory, Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Chronic Disease Laboratory, Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang Wei
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Jing Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zi-Xin Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qing-Qing Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Bo Quan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe-Xiong Lian
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Chronic Disease Laboratory, Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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24
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Ren J, Wang Y, Ware T, Iaria J, Ten Dijke P, Zhu HJ. Reactivation of BMP signaling by suboptimal concentrations of MEK inhibitor and FK506 reduces organ-specific breast cancer metastasis. Cancer Lett 2020; 493:41-54. [PMID: 32768522 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
TGFβ-SMAD3 signaling is a major driving force for cancer metastasis, while BMP-SMAD1/5 signaling can counteract this response. Analysis of gene expression profiles revealed that an increased TGFβ-SMAD3 and a reduced BMP-SMAD1/5 targeted gene expression signature correlated with shortened distant metastasis free survival and overall survival of patients. At molecular levels, we discovered that TGFβ abolished BMP-induced SMAD1/5 activation in the highly-invasive breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, but to a less extent in the non-invasive cancer and normal breast cells. This suggests an inverse correlation between BMP signaling and invasiveness of tumor cells and TGFβ signaling acts in a double whammy fashion in driving cancer invasion and metastasis. Sustained ERK activation by TGFβ was specifically observed in MDA-MB-231 cells, and MEK inhibitor (MEKi) treatment restored BMP-SMAD1/5 signaling while not affecting SMAD2/3 activation. FK506 potently activated BMP, but not TGFβ signaling in breast cancer cells. MEKi or FK506 alone inhibited MDA-MB-231 extravasation in a zebrafish xenograft cancer model. Importantly, when administrated at suboptimal concentrations MEKi and FK506 strongly synergized in promoting BMP-SMAD1/5 signaling and inhibiting cancer cell extravasation. Furthermore, this combination of suboptimal concentrations treatment in a mouse tumor model resulted in real-time reduction of BMP-SMAD1/5 signaling in live tumors, and consequently potently inhibited tumor self-seeding, liver and bone metastasis, but not lung and brain metastasis. Mechanistically, it is the first time to identify BMP-SMAD1/5 signaling as an underlying molecular driver for organ-specific metastasis. Combining of MEKi and FK506, or their analogues, may be explored for clinical development of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Ren
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Yanhong Wang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Thomas Ware
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Josephine Iaria
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Peter Ten Dijke
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Hong-Jian Zhu
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia.
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25
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Wan ML, Wang Y, Zeng Z, Deng B, Zhu BS, Cao T, Li YK, Xiao J, Han Q, Wu Q. Colorectal cancer (CRC) as a multifactorial disease and its causal correlations with multiple signaling pathways. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:BSR20200265. [PMID: 32149326 PMCID: PMC7087324 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20200265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among men worldwide. CRC is a multifactor digestive pathology, which is a huge problem faced not only by clinicians but also by researchers. Importantly, a unique feature of CRC is the dysregulation of molecular signaling pathways. To date, a series of reviews have indicated that different signaling pathways are disordered and have potential as therapeutic targets in CRC. Nevertheless, an overview of the function and interaction of multiple signaling pathways in CRC is needed. Therefore, we summarized the pathways, biological functions and important interactions involved in CRC. First, we investigated the involvement of signaling pathways, including Wnt, PI3K/Akt, Hedgehog, ErbB, RHOA, Notch, BMP, Hippo, AMPK, NF-κB, MAPK and JNK. Subsequently, we discussed the biological function of these pathways in pathophysiological aspects of CRC, such as proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. Finally, we summarized important interactions among these pathways in CRC. We believe that the interaction of these pathways could provide new strategies for the treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao-lin Wan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xianning Central Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437000, P.R. China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, P.R. China
| | - Zhi Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Xianning Central Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437000, P.R. China
| | - Bo Deng
- Department of Oncology, Xianning Central Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437000, P.R. China
| | - Bi-sheng Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Xianning Central Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437000, P.R. China
| | - Ting Cao
- Department of Digestive Medical, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421002, P.R. China
| | - Yu-kun Li
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular and Molecular Pathology, College of Hunan Province, Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Xiao
- Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421002, P.R. China
| | - Qi Han
- Department of Oncology, Xianning Central Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437000, P.R. China
| | - Qing Wu
- Department of Digestive Medical, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421002, P.R. China
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26
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Bidirectional tumor/stroma crosstalk promotes metastasis in mesenchymal colorectal cancer. Oncogene 2020; 39:2453-2466. [PMID: 31974473 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1157-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Patients with the mesenchymal subtype colorectal cancer (CRC) have a poor prognosis, in particular patients with stroma-rich tumors and aberrant SMAD4 expression. We hypothesized that interactions between SMAD4-deficient CRC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts provide a biological explanation. In transwell invasion assays, fibroblasts increased the invasive capacity of SMAD4-deficient HT29 CRC cells, but not isogenic SMAD4-proficient HT29 cells. A TGF-β/BMP-specific array showed BMP2 upregulation by fibroblasts upon stimulation with conditioned medium from SMAD4-deficient CRC cells, while also stimulating their invasion. In a mouse model for experimental liver metastasis, the co-injection of fibroblasts increased metastasis formation of SMAD4-deficient CRC cells (p = 0.02) but not that of SMAD4-proficient CRC cells. Significantly less metastases were seen in mice co-injected with BMP2 knocked-down fibroblasts. Fibroblast BMP2 expression seemed to be regulated by TRAIL, a factor overexpressed in SMAD4-deficient CRC cells. In a cohort of 146 stage III CRC patients, we showed that patients with a combination of high stromal BMP2 expression and the loss of tumor SMAD4 expression had a significantly poorer overall survival (HR 2.88, p = 0.04). Our results suggest the existence of a reciprocal loop in which TRAIL from SMAD4-deficient CRC cells induces BMP2 in fibroblasts, which enhances CRC invasiveness and metastasis.
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27
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Inflammation-induced colon cancer in uPA-deficient mice is associated with a deregulated expression of Notch signaling pathway components. Mol Cell Biochem 2019; 464:181-191. [PMID: 31758376 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-019-03659-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Notch is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway with an important role in development and cell fate determination. Deregulation of Notch signaling has been associated with several pathological conditions, including cancer. Acting as an oncogene in some types of cancers and as a tumor suppressor in other, Notch effects seem to be highly context-dependent in solid tumors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate gene expression levels of Notch pathway constituents, including ligands, receptors, and target genes, during the early stages of inflammation-associated intestinal carcinogenesis. To achieve so, we used our recently developed mouse model, in which colon cancer arises in the absence of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) due to colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment. Among the cell surface components, ligands Jag1/Jag2 and receptors Notch1/Notch2 were found to be significantly upregulated in the uPA-deficient protumorigenic inflammatory microenvironment. Moreover, several intracellular Notch modulators, i.e. Hes1, Hey1, and Klf4, were also shown to be deregulated with inflammation, yet irrespective of uPA status. Sox9 transcription factor, however, was significantly downregulated in the uPA-deficient/DSS-treated mice that developed colon adenomas as compared to the wild-type/DSS-treated group with no neoplasia identified. The latter finding supports a tumor suppressive role of Sox9 in intestinal carcinogenesis. Our results point towards an early activation of Notch signaling pathway at the receptor-ligand level in inflammation-associated colon neoplasmatogenesis developed in the absence of uPA. Interestingly, such activation may not be accompanied by deregulation of downstream Notch-target genes, possibly due to the effects of other inter-related signaling pathways.
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28
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Targeting chemoresistant colorectal cancer via systemic administration of a BMP7 variant. Oncogene 2019; 39:987-1003. [PMID: 31591478 PMCID: PMC6989400 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-1047-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite intense research and clinical efforts, patients affected by advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) have still a poor prognosis. The discovery of colorectal (CR) cancer stem cell (CSC) as the cell compartment responsible for tumor initiation and propagation may provide new opportunities for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Given the reduced sensitivity of CR-CSCs to chemotherapy and the ability of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) to promote colonic stem cell differentiation, we aimed to investigate whether an enhanced variant of BMP7 (BMP7v) could sensitize to chemotherapy-resistant CRC cells and tumors. Thirty-five primary human cultures enriched in CR-CSCs, including four from chemoresistant metastatic lesions, were used for in vitro studies and to generate CR-CSC-based mouse avatars to evaluate tumor growth and progression upon treatment with BMP7v alone or in combination with standard therapy or PI3K inhibitors. BMP7v treatment promotes CR-CSC differentiation and recapitulates the cell differentiation-related gene expression profile by suppressing Wnt pathway activity and reducing mesenchymal traits and survival of CR-CSCs. Moreover, in CR-CSC-based mouse avatars, BMP7v exerts an antiangiogenic effect and sensitizes tumor cells to standard chemotherapy regardless of the mutational, MSI, and CMS profiles. Of note, tumor harboring PIK3CA mutations were affected to a lower extent by the combination of BMP7v and chemotherapy. However, the addition of a PI3K inhibitor to the BMP7v-based combination potentiates PIK3CA-mutant tumor drug response and reduces the metastatic lesion size. These data suggest that BMP7v treatment may represent a useful antiangiogenic and prodifferentiation agent, which renders CSCs sensitive to both standard and targeted therapies.
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29
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Jackstadt R, van Hooff SR, Leach JD, Cortes-Lavaud X, Lohuis JO, Ridgway RA, Wouters VM, Roper J, Kendall TJ, Roxburgh CS, Horgan PG, Nixon C, Nourse C, Gunzer M, Clark W, Hedley A, Yilmaz OH, Rashid M, Bailey P, Biankin AV, Campbell AD, Adams DJ, Barry ST, Steele CW, Medema JP, Sansom OJ. Epithelial NOTCH Signaling Rewires the Tumor Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer to Drive Poor-Prognosis Subtypes and Metastasis. Cancer Cell 2019; 36:319-336.e7. [PMID: 31526760 PMCID: PMC6853173 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The metastatic process of colorectal cancer (CRC) is not fully understood and effective therapies are lacking. We show that activation of NOTCH1 signaling in the murine intestinal epithelium leads to highly penetrant metastasis (100% metastasis; with >80% liver metastases) in KrasG12D-driven serrated cancer. Transcriptional profiling reveals that epithelial NOTCH1 signaling creates a tumor microenvironment (TME) reminiscent of poorly prognostic human CRC subtypes (CMS4 and CRIS-B), and drives metastasis through transforming growth factor (TGF) β-dependent neutrophil recruitment. Importantly, inhibition of this recruitment with clinically relevant therapeutic agents blocks metastasis. We propose that NOTCH1 signaling is key to CRC progression and should be exploited clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sander R van Hooff
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joshua D Leach
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | | | - Valérie M Wouters
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jatin Roper
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Timothy J Kendall
- Division of Pathology/Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Campbell S Roxburgh
- Academic Unit of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul G Horgan
- Academic Unit of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Colin Nixon
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Craig Nourse
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Matthias Gunzer
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Ann Hedley
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Omer H Yilmaz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Bailey
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew V Biankin
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - David J Adams
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon T Barry
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Colin W Steele
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jan Paul Medema
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, UK.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article reviews the past 2 years of research on Notch signaling as it relates to bone physiology, with the goal of reconciling seemingly discrepant findings and identifying fruitful areas of potential future research. RECENT FINDINGS Conditional animal models and high-throughput omics have contributed to a greater understanding of the context-dependent role of Notch signaling in bone. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of how spatiotemporal context and epigenetic state dictate downstream Notch phenotypes. Biphasic activation of Notch signaling orchestrates progression of mesenchymal progenitor cells through the osteoblast lineage, but there is a limited understanding of ligand- and receptor-specific functions. Paracrine Notch signaling through non-osteoblastic cell types contributes additional layers of complexity, and we anticipate impactful future work related to the integration of these cell types and signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Youngstrom
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48872, USA.
| | - Kurt D Hankenson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48872, USA
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31
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Uncovering Potential Therapeutic Targets in Colorectal Cancer by Deciphering Mutational Status and Expression of Druggable Oncogenes. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11070983. [PMID: 31337155 PMCID: PMC6679198 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11070983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Numerous driver mutations have been identified in colorectal cancer (CRC), but their relevance to the development of targeted therapies remains elusive. The secondary effects of pathogenic driver mutations on downstream signaling pathways offer a potential approach for the identification of therapeutic targets. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes as potential drug targets linked to driver mutations. Methods: Somatic mutations and the gene expression data of 582 CRC patients were utilized, incorporating the mutational status of 39,916 and the expression levels of 20,500 genes. To uncover candidate targets, the expression levels of various genes in wild-type and mutant cases for the most frequent disruptive mutations were compared with a Mann–Whitney test. A survival analysis was performed in 2100 patients with transcriptomic gene expression data. Up-regulated genes associated with worse survival were filtered for potentially actionable targets. The most significant hits were validated in an independent set of 171 CRC patients. Results: Altogether, 426 disruptive mutation-associated upregulated genes were identified. Among these, 95 were linked to worse recurrence-free survival (RFS). Based on the druggability filter, 37 potentially actionable targets were revealed. We selected seven genes and validated their expression in 171 patient specimens. The best independently validated combinations were DUSP4 (p = 2.6 × 10−12) in ACVR2A mutated (7.7%) patients; BMP4 (p = 1.6 × 10−04) in SOX9 mutated (8.1%) patients; TRIB2 (p = 1.35 × 10−14) in ACVR2A mutated patients; VSIG4 (p = 2.6 × 10−05) in ANK3 mutated (7.6%) patients, and DUSP4 (p = 7.1 × 10−04) in AMER1 mutated (8.2%) patients. Conclusions: The results uncovered potentially druggable genes in colorectal cancer. The identified mutations could enable future patient stratification for targeted therapy.
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32
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Wu X, Yao J, Wang L, Zhang D, Zhang L, Reynolds EX, Yu T, Boström KI, Yao Y. Crosstalk between BMP and Notch Induces Sox2 in Cerebral Endothelial Cells. Cells 2019; 8:E549. [PMID: 31174355 PMCID: PMC6628192 DOI: 10.3390/cells8060549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Notch signaling are critical for endothelial cell (EC) differentiation in vascular development. Recent studies have shown that excess BMP activity induces Notch signaling in cerebral ECs resulting in arteriovenous malformation (AVMs). However, it is unclear how the crosstalk between BMP and Notch signaling affects cerebral EC differentiation at the gene regulatory level. Here, we report that BMP6 activates the activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) 3, a BMP type 1 receptor, to induce Notch1 receptor and Jagged1 and Jagged2 ligands. We show that increased expression of the Notch components alters the transcriptional regulatory complex in the SRY-Box 2 (Sox2) promoter region so as to induce its expression in cerebral ECs. Together, our results identify Sox2 as a direct target of BMP and Notch signaling and provide information on how altered BMP and Notch signaling affects the endothelial transcriptional landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuju Wu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
| | - Jiayi Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
| | - Lumin Wang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
- Department of cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, China.
| | - Daoqin Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
| | - Eric X Reynolds
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
| | - Tongtong Yu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
- Department of Cardiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
| | - Kristina I Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
- The Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570, USA.
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
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33
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Liu Y, Li Y, Hou R, Shu Z. Knockdown GREM1 suppresses cell growth, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer. J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:5583-5596. [PMID: 30426548 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Gremlin 1 (GREM1), as a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) novel agonist, has been confirmed as overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues but its role in carcinogenesis remains unclear. Here we reported that the GREM1 expression in mesenchymal-like colon cancer cells (SW620 and SW480) was significantly higher than that of epithelial-like colon cancer cells (Caco-2, HTC116, and HT29) and normal colon cell. Simultaneously, we analyzed two series of CRC transcriptomes from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and found the great majority of primary CRC tissues expressed high level of GREM1 messenger RNA (mRNA) compared with adjacent normal tissues, and that the GREM1 mRNA expression is correlated with low histological grade development and stage 2 to 3 metastatic recurrence in CRC based on a data analysis of 104 different stage CRC tissue from the GEO databases. Functional studies showed that GREM1 silencing by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) significantly inhibited CRC cells proliferation, migration, the formation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced capillary structure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells by repressing phosphorylation levels of BMP downstream signal Smad1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) downstream signal matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), and metastasis-related factor C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) expression. In addition, shGREM1 combined with VEGF inhibitor BAW2881 displayed more effective antiangiogenesis to inhibit the tube formation of HUVEC. Hence, these experiments demonstrated that GREM1 is involved in CRC development and procession and provide a new idea for CRC diagnosis, resistance therapy, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Department of Ultrasonography, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yongchao Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ruizhe Hou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhenbo Shu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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34
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Chen E, Li Q, Wang H, Yang F, Min L, Yang J. MiR-92a promotes tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer, a transcriptomic and functional based study. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:1370-1377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.07.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
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35
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Testa U, Pelosi E, Castelli G. Colorectal cancer: genetic abnormalities, tumor progression, tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution and tumor-initiating cells. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:E31. [PMID: 29652830 PMCID: PMC6024750 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. Most colorectal cancer occurrences are sporadic, not related to genetic predisposition or family history; however, 20-30% of patients with colorectal cancer have a family history of colorectal cancer and 5% of these tumors arise in the setting of a Mendelian inheritance syndrome. In many patients, the development of a colorectal cancer is preceded by a benign neoplastic lesion: either an adenomatous polyp or a serrated polyp. Studies carried out in the last years have characterized the main molecular alterations occurring in colorectal cancers, showing that the tumor of each patient displays from two to eight driver mutations. The ensemble of molecular studies, including gene expression studies, has led to two proposed classifications of colorectal cancers, with the identification of four/five non-overlapping groups. The homeostasis of the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium is ensured by few stem cells present at the level of the base of intestinal crypts. Various experimental evidence suggests that colorectal cancers may derive from the malignant transformation of intestinal stem cells or of intestinal cells that acquire stem cell properties following malignant transformation. Colon cancer stem cells seem to be involved in tumor chemoresistance, radioresistance and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Testa
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Germana Castelli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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36
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Stantzou A, Schirwis E, Swist S, Alonso-Martin S, Polydorou I, Zarrouki F, Mouisel E, Beley C, Julien A, Le Grand F, Garcia L, Colnot C, Birchmeier C, Braun T, Schuelke M, Relaix F, Amthor H. BMP signaling regulates satellite cell-dependent postnatal muscle growth. Development 2017; 144:2737-2747. [PMID: 28694257 DOI: 10.1242/dev.144089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Postnatal growth of skeletal muscle largely depends on the expansion and differentiation of resident stem cells, the so-called satellite cells. Here, we demonstrate that postnatal satellite cells express components of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling machinery. Overexpression of noggin in postnatal mice (to antagonize BMP ligands), satellite cell-specific knockout of Alk3 (the gene encoding the BMP transmembrane receptor) or overexpression of inhibitory SMAD6 decreased satellite cell proliferation and accretion during myofiber growth, and ultimately retarded muscle growth. Moreover, reduced BMP signaling diminished the adult satellite cell pool. Abrogation of BMP signaling in satellite cell-derived primary myoblasts strongly diminished cell proliferation and upregulated the expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p57 In conclusion, these results show that BMP signaling defines postnatal muscle development by regulating satellite cell-dependent myofiber growth and the generation of the adult muscle stem cell pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Stantzou
- Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, INSERM U1179, LIA BAHN CSM, Montigny-le-Bretonneux 78180, France.,Department of Neuropediatrics and NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University-Medicine, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris Sorbonne, INSERM, UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, Paris 75013, France
| | - Elija Schirwis
- Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, INSERM U1179, LIA BAHN CSM, Montigny-le-Bretonneux 78180, France.,Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris Sorbonne, INSERM, UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, Paris 75013, France.,Developmental Biology/Signal Transduction Group, Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin 13092, Germany
| | - Sandra Swist
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany.,Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Sonia Alonso-Martin
- Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris Sorbonne, INSERM, UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, Paris 75013, France.,INSERM, Paris Est University, IMRB U955-E10, Créteil 94010, France
| | - Ioanna Polydorou
- Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, INSERM U1179, LIA BAHN CSM, Montigny-le-Bretonneux 78180, France.,Department of Neuropediatrics and NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University-Medicine, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Faouzi Zarrouki
- Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, INSERM U1179, LIA BAHN CSM, Montigny-le-Bretonneux 78180, France
| | - Etienne Mouisel
- Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris Sorbonne, INSERM, UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, Paris 75013, France.,Paul Sabatier University, Inserm UMR 1048, Toulouse 31432, France
| | | | - Anaïs Julien
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Inserm UMR1163, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Fabien Le Grand
- Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris Sorbonne, INSERM, UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, Paris 75013, France
| | - Luis Garcia
- Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, INSERM U1179, LIA BAHN CSM, Montigny-le-Bretonneux 78180, France
| | - Céline Colnot
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Inserm UMR1163, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Carmen Birchmeier
- Developmental Biology/Signal Transduction Group, Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin 13092, Germany
| | - Thomas Braun
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
| | - Markus Schuelke
- Department of Neuropediatrics and NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University-Medicine, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Frédéric Relaix
- Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris Sorbonne, INSERM, UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, Paris 75013, France.,INSERM, Paris Est University, IMRB U955-E10, Créteil 94010, France
| | - Helge Amthor
- Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, INSERM U1179, LIA BAHN CSM, Montigny-le-Bretonneux 78180, France .,Pediatric Department, University Hospital Raymond Poincaré, Garches 92380, France
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