Serum angiogenin levels predict treatment response in patients with stage IV melanoma

The evaluation of tumor microenvironment infiltration and the identification of angiogenesis-related subgroups in skin cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND

There are limited studies on the association between angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) and the predictive risk of melanoma, even though angiogenic factors, which are essential for tumor growth and metastasis, might be secreted by angiogenesis-related protein in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). To forecast patient outcomes, this study attempts to develop a predictive risk signature linked to angiogenesis in cutaneous melanoma.

METHODS

In 650 patients with SKCM, the expression and mutation of ARGs were examined, and this information was related to the clinical prognosis. SKCM patients were split into two groups based on how well they performed on the ARG. The link between ARGs, risk genes, and immunological microenvironment was examined using a range of algorithmic analysis techniques. Based on these five risk genes, an angiogenesis risk signature was created. We developed a nomogram and examined the sensitivity of antineoplastic medications to help the proposed risk model's clinical applicability.

RESULTS

The risk model developed by ARGs revealed that the prognosis for the two groups was significantly different. The predictive risk score was negatively connected with memory B cells, activated memory CD4 + T cells, M1 macrophages, and CD8 + T cells, and favorably correlated with dendritic cells, mast cells, and neutrophils.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings offer fresh perspectives on prognostic evaluation and imply that ARG modulation is implicated in SKCM. Potential medications for the treatment of individuals with various SKCM subtypes were predicted by drug sensitivity analysis.

Construction and validation of a prognostic risk model of angiogenesis factors in skin cutaneous melanoma

Melanoma can secrete tumor angiogenesis factors, which is the essential factor for tumor growth and metastasis. However, there are few reports on the relationship between angiogenesis factors and prognosis risk in melanoma. This study aimed to develop a prognostic risk model of angiogenesis for melanoma. Forty-nine differentially expressed angiogenesis were identified from the TCGA database, which were mainly involved in PI3K/Akt pathway, focal adhesion, and MAPK signaling pathway. We then establish an eleven-gene signature. The model indicated a strong prognostic capability in both the discovery cohort and the validation cohort. Patients of smaller height (<170 cm) and lower weight (<80 kg) and those with advanced-stage and ulcerated melanoma had higher risk scores. The risk score was positively correlated with mutation load, homologous recombination defect, neoantigen load and chromosome instability. In addition, the high-risk group had a higher degree of immune cell infiltration, better response to immunotherapy and lower immune score. Therefore, these results indicate that the risk model is an effective method to predict the prognosis of melanoma.

Angiogenin Upregulation Independently Predicts Unfavorable Overall Survival in Proneural Subtype of Glioblastoma

Objective:

Angiogenin is a small protein that exerts potent stimulating effects on angiogenesis. In this study, we aimed to examine the expression of angiogenin in different subtypes of glioblastoma and estimated its independent prognostic value.

Methods:

The genomic and survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas-glioblastoma were extracted for a secondary study. Results The expression of angiogenin was upregulated in glioblastoma tissues and varied significantly in different subtypes. Although the proneural subtype had the lowest angiogenin expression, high angiogenin expression was associated with significantly worse overall survival. However, this association was not observed in other subtypes. By performing univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, we observed that high angiogenin expression was an independent indicator of shorter overall survival in proneural glioblastoma (hazard ratio: 1.669, 95% confidence interval: 1.033-2.696, P = .036), after adjustment of age, gender, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutation, temozolomide chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In addition, we also observed a correlation between elevated angiogenin expression and the hypomethylated status of its DNA. The hypermethylation group had significantly better overall survival.

Conclusions:

Angiogenin upregulation might serve as a biomarker for unfavorable overall survival in the proneural subtype of glioblastoma.

Antibody-enzyme fusion proteins for cancer therapy

Advances in biomolecular technology have allowed the development of genetically fused antibody-enzymes. Antibody-enzyme fusion proteins have been used to target tumors for cancer therapy in two ways. In one system, an antibody-enzyme is pretargeted to the tumor followed by administration of an inactive prodrug that is converted to its active form by the pretargeted enzyme. This system has been described as antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. The other system uses antibody-enzyme fusion proteins as direct therapeutics, where the enzyme is toxic in its own right. The key feature in this approach is that the antibody is used to internalize the toxic enzyme into the tumor cell, which activates cell-death processes. This antibody-enzyme system has been largely applied to deliver ribonucleases. This article addresses these two antibody-enzyme targeting strategies for cancer therapy from concept to (pre)clinical trials.

Biomarkers of metastatic melanoma

Melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of human cancer, has undergone an alarming increase in incidence in recent years. Early detection is a prerequisite for proper diagnosis and therapy orientation. Soluble biomarkers are an important tool for early diagnosis. Markers that are associated with melanocyte functions imply the enzymes involved in melanin synthesis and the melanin-related metabolites. Proteins such as autocrine melanocyte cell growth factor and melanoma metastasis suppressor have gained attention in the biomarkers domain. The antimelanoma immune response elicited in patients can not only provide new biomarkers but important therapeutic approaches in specific treatments. All the molecules generated during the metastasis process, invasion of neighboring tissue, angiogenesis, invading lymphatic/blood vessels and establishing new tumors at a distant site, are targets for biomarker discovery.

RNA processing pathways in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

RNA processing is a tightly regulated, highly complex pathway which includes RNA transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, editing, transportation, translation, and degradation of RNA. Over the past few years, several RNA processing genes have been shown to be mutated or genetically associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including the RNA-binding proteins TDP-43 and FUS/TLS. These findings suggest that RNA processing may represent a common pathogenic mechanism involved in development of ALS. In this review, we will discuss six ALS-related, RNA processing genes including their discovery, function, and commonalities.

The role of mammalian ribonucleases (RNases) in cancer

Ribonucleases (RNases) are a group of enzymes that cleave RNAs at phosphodiester bonds resulting in remarkably diverse biological consequences. This review focuses on mammalian RNases that are capable of, or potentially capable of, cleaving messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as other RNAs in cells and play roles in the development of human cancers. The aims of this review are to provide an overview of the roles of currently known mammalian RNases, and the evidence that associate them as regulators of tumor development. The roles of these RNases as oncoproteins and/or tumor suppressors in influencing cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and other cellular hallmarks of cancer will be presented and discussed. The RNases under discussion include RNases from the conventional mRNA decay pathways, RNases that are activated under cellular stress, RNases from the miRNA pathway, and RNases with multifunctional activity.

Host deficiency in Vav2/3 guanine nucleotide exchange factors impairs tumor growth, survival, and angiogenesis in vivo

Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factors modulate changes in cytoskeletal organization through activation of Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 small GTPases. Although Vav1 expression is restricted to the immune system, Vav2 and Vav3 are expressed in several tissues, including highly vascularized organs. Here, we provide the first evidence that Vav2 and Vav3 function within the tumor microenvironment to promote tumor growth, survival, and neovascularization. Host Vav2/3 deficiency reduced microvascular density, as well as tumor growth and/or survival, in transplanted B16 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma models in vivo. These defects were due in part to Vav2/3 deficiency in endothelial cells. Vav2/3-deficient endothelial cells displayed reduced migration in response to tumor cells in coculture migration assays, and failed to incorporate into tumor vessels and enhance tumor volume in tumor-endothelial cotransplantation experiments. These data suggest that Vav2/3 guanine nucleotide exchange factors play a critical role in host-mediated tumor progression and angiogenesis, particularly in tumor endothelium.