CD10 Expression in Epithelial and Stromal Cells of Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC): A Clinic and Pathologic Correlation

Identification of potential biomarkers for lung cancer using integrated bioinformatics and machine learning approaches

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early detection of lung cancer can help reduce the death rate; therefore, the identification of potential biomarkers is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for lung cancer by integrating bioinformatics analysis and machine learning (ML)-based approaches. Data were normalized using the robust multiarray average method and batch effect were corrected using the ComBat method. Differentially expressed genes were identified by the LIMMA approach and carcinoma-associated genes were selected using Enrichr, based on the DisGeNET database. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed using STRING, and the PPI network was visualized using Cytoscape. The core hub genes were identified by overlapping genes obtained from degree, betweenness, closeness, and MNC. Moreover, the MCODE plugin for Cytoscape was used to perform module analysis, and optimal modules were selected based on MCODE scores along with their associated genes. Subsequently, Boruta-based ML approach was utilized to identify the important genes. Consequently, the core genes were identified by the overlapping genes obtained from PPI networks, module analysis, and ML-based approach. The prognostic and discriminative power analysis of the core genes was assessed through survival and ROC analysis. We extracted five datasets from USA cohort and three datasets from Taiwan cohort and performed same experimental protocols to determine potential biomarkers. Four genes (LPL, CLDN18, EDNRB, MME) were identified from USA cohort, while three genes (DNRB, MME, ROBO4) were from Taiwan cohort. Finally, two biomarkers (EDNRB and MME) were identified by intersecting genes, obtained from USA and Taiwan cohorts. The proposed biomarkers can significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier detection, precise diagnosis, and tailored treatment, ultimately contributing to better survival rates and quality of life for patients.

Ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 inhibits A549 cells migration through casein kinase 2α intronless gene and neutral endopeptidase

Background

We have previously reported that a new intronless gene for casein kinase 2α (CK2α), CSNK2A3, is expressed in human cells. The promoter of the well-known CK2α, CSNK2A1, displays characteristics of a housekeeping gene, whereas CSNK2A3 has a characteristic of a regulated promoter with two TATA boxes and a CAAT box. GPR68, a family of the G protein-coupled receptors, is also known as ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1). In the current study, we analyzed the roles of CK2α genes and neutral endopeptidase (NEP), a key enzyme that influences a variety of malignancies, in the OGR1-induced inhibition of A549 cell migration.

Methods

We analyzed the transcript expressions of both the CK2α genes (CSNK2A1 and CSNK2A3) and NEP upon OGR1 overexpression. Protein expression of CK2α and NEP were also analyzed. We further elucidated the functional roles of both CK2α and NEP in the OGR1-induced inhibition of A549 cell migration in vitro using a wound-healing assay. We also analyzed the molecular mechanisms involved in the OGR1-induced inhibition of lung cancer cell migration.

Results

The findings of this study showed that OGR1 upregulated the expression of CSNK2A3 but not CSNK2A1 in the A549 cells. The findings further suggested OGR1 also upregulates the expression of NEP. The OGR1-induced inhibition of A549 cell migration was abrogated completely by inhibition of CK2α activity, whereas partial abrogation (~ 30%) was observed in the presence of NEP inhibition. The results also revealed that OGR1 regulates CSNK2A3 via activation of Rac1/cdc42 and MAPKs pathways. CK2 is ubiquitously expressed, and in contrast, is believed to be a constitutively active enzyme, and its regulation appears to be independent of known second messengers.

Conclusion

In the current study, we report for the first time the OGR1-induced regulation of CSNK2A3, CK2αP, and NEP in A549 cancer cells. Our study also decoded the downstream cellular proteins of OGR1 as well as the molecular mechanism involved in OGR1-induced inhibition of A549 cell migration. The findings of this research suggest the potential therapeutic targets to inhibit lung cancer progression.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09257-1.

Rare cutaneous metastasis from sarcomatoid carcinoma of lung

We present the case of a 57-year-old woman diagnosed with stage 4 sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung who concurrently developed a scalp lesion, thought to be a cyst, which continued to grow and ulcerate. Excision revealed a rare case, only four previously reported in the literature, of metastatic sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung. While a very unusual case, we would like to emphasise the importance of considering skin metastases when presented with unusual skin lesions, and importantly listening to the patient's concerns, showing empathy and respecting their autonomy and referring to an appropriate specialist when considering the management of what may seem to be a minor skin report.

[CD10 expression in stromal cells of patients with breast cancer: a poor prognostic marker]

Introduction

markers in breast cancer stem cells, such as cluster of differentiation 10 (CD10), would be correlated with invasive and metastatic potential of several types of cancer, contributing to tumor growth and metastases. In patients with breast cancer, its prognostic value is still controversial, given the discrepancy of results. The purpose of the study was to study CD10 expression in stromal cells of patients with breast cancer as well as to evaluate the prognostic value of this expression.

Method

we conducted a retrospective, descriptive and prognostic study. It involved 57 patients with invasive cancer of no special type, whose data were collected in the Department of Pathological Anatomy at the Mongi Slim Hospital over a 38-month period. CD10 expression was studied immunohistochemically and interpreted by semi-quantitative scoring system based on three categories with thresholds of 10 and 30%.

Results

the average age of patients was 56.4 years. Twenty-eight patients (49%) had labeled CD10 stromal, half of patients had a score of 1 (low) and the other half had 2 (high). This labeling significantly reduced recurrence-free survival (p=0.001). However, it had no influence on overall survival (p=0.84). The correlation study showed that CD10 expression in stromal cells was significantly correlated with 12 poor prognostic factors in patients with breast cancer.

Conclusion

CD10 expression in stromal cells of invasive breast cancer is a poor prognostic factor, predictive of poor survival without recurrence and associated with a high invasive and metastatic potential.

High expression of CD10 in anaplastic thyroid carcinomas

AIMS

CD10 is an endopeptidase that degrades various bioactive peptides in the extracellular matrix. In addition to enzymatic degradation, it affects multiple intracellular signal transduction pathways. CD10 expression has been extensively studied in human epithelial cancers of numerous organs and sites. However, its presence in thyroid carcinomas, especially in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), has not been fully determined. An actual CD10 expression in thyroid lesions including a large series of ATC was evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined CD10 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 152 thyroid lesions: nine adenomatous goitres (AGs) and 143 tumours, including 47 anaplastic carcinomas. IHC showed diffuse and strong positivity for CD10 in the epithelial components of almost all ATCs. However, epithelia with squamous metaplasia and oncocytic change from AGs, follicular adenomas and differentiated carcinomas had focal CD10 reactivity. Some papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), along with the PTC components of some ATCs, showed CD10 positivity in fibroblast-like stromal cells and fibrous material.

CONCLUSION

Our results imply that the CD10 expression pattern depended on the histotypes of thyroid lesions. When possible metastatic tumours and non-epithelial tumours are excluded, high CD10 expression may be useful in determining whether a primary thyroid carcinoma includes an anaplastic component.

Chromosomal and Genetic Analysis of a Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line OM

Background:

Lung cancer has become the leading cause of death in many regions. Carcinogenesis is caused by the stepwise accumulation of genetic and chromosomal changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the chromosome and gene alterations in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM.

Methods:

We used Giemsa banding and multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization focusing on the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM to analyze its chromosome alterations. In addition, the gains and losses in the specific chromosome regions were identified by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and the amplifications of cancer-related genes were also detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results:

We identified a large number of chromosomal numerical alterations on all chromosomes except chromosome X and 19. Chromosome 10 is the most frequently involved in translocations with six different interchromosomal translocations. CGH revealed the gains on chromosome regions of 3q25.3-28, 5p13, 12q22-23.24, and the losses on 3p25-26, 6p25, 6q26-27, 7q34-36, 8p22-23, 9p21-24, 10q25-26.3, 12p13.31-13.33 and 17p13.1-13.3. And PCR showed the amplification of genes: Membrane metalloendopeptidase (MME), sucrase-isomaltase (SI), butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE), and kininogen (KNG).

Conclusions:

The lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM exhibited multiple complex karyotypes, and chromosome 10 was frequently involved in chromosomal translocation, which may play key roles in tumorigenesis. We speculated that the oncogenes may be located at 3q25.3-28, 5p13, 12q22-23.24, while tumor suppressor genes may exist in 3p25-26, 6p25, 6q26-27, 7q34-36, 8p22-23, 9p21-24, 10q25-26.3, 12p13.31-13.33, and 17p13.1-13.3. Moreover, at least four genes (MME, SI, BCHE, and KNG) may be involved in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM.

Tumoral CD10 expression correlates with high-grade histology and increases risk of recurrence in patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

CD10 (neutral endopeptidase) is expressed in various normal and tumor cells, and its biological function can be controlled through enzymatic activity and signaling pathways. We investigated whether CD10 expression predicted disease recurrence and whether it correlated with histologic subtypes of stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed tumor slides of resected pathologic stage I lung adenocarcinomas (1995-2009). Tumors were classified according to the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification. CD10 immunohistochemistry was performed using tissue microarrays (n=915). We combined the intensity (0-3) and distribution scores (0-2) for CD10 to create a total score (0-5). Risk of recurrence was estimated using competing risks methods.

RESULTS

In the training cohort (n=313), risk of recurrence of patients with high tumoral CD10 (score>1, n=57) was significantly higher (5-year cumulative incidence of recurrence [CIR], 37%) than in those with low CD10 (score≤1; n=256; 5-year CIR, 16%; P<0.001); this finding was confirmed in the validation cohort (n=602, P=0.036). High tumoral CD10 was associated with higher risk of recurrence in acinar (P=0.007) and papillary predominant tumors (P=0.022). High tumoral CD10 was most frequently identified in micropapillary predominant (41%) and solid predominant tumors (34%). On multivariate analysis of intermediate-grade tumors, high tumoral CD10 remained a significant independent risk factor of recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.88; P=0.025).

CONCLUSION

In stage I lung adenocarcinoma, tumoral CD10 correlated with high-grade histology and was an independent predictor of recurrence in intermediate-grade tumors.

Overexpression of membrane metalloendopeptidase inhibits substance P stimulation of cholangiocarcinoma growth

Substance P (SP) promotes cholangiocyte growth during cholestasis by activating its receptor, NK1R. SP is a proteolytic product of tachykinin (Tac1) and is deactivated by membrane metalloendopeptidase (MME). This study aimed to evaluate the functional role of SP in the regulation of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) growth. NK1R, Tac1, and MME expression and SP secretion were assessed in human CCA cells and nonmalignant cholangiocytes. The proliferative effects of SP (in the absence/presence of the NK1R inhibitor, L-733,060) and of L-733,060 were evaluated. In vivo, the effect of L-733,060 treatment or MME overexpression on tumor growth was evaluated by using a xenograft model of CCA in nu/nu nude mice. The expression of Tac1, MME, NK1R, PCNA, CK-19, and VEGF-A was analyzed in the resulting tumors. Human CCA cell lines had increased expression of Tac1 and NK1R, along with reduced levels of MME compared with nonmalignant cholangiocytes, resulting in a subsequent increase in SP secretion. SP treatment increased CCA cell proliferation in vitro, which was blocked by L-733,060. Treatment with L-733,060 alone inhibited CCA proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Xenograft tumors derived from MME-overexpressed human Mz-ChA-1 CCA cells had a slower growth rate than those derived from control cells. Expression of PCNA, CK-19, and VEGF-A decreased, whereas MME expression increased in the xenograft tumors treated with L-733,060 or MME-overexpressed xenograft tumors compared with controls. The study suggests that SP secreted by CCA promotes CCA growth via autocrine pathway. Blockade of SP secretion and NK1R signaling may be important for the management of CCA.

Prognostic significance of the combined expression of neutral endopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients after surgery resection

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) proteins, and the clinical significance of the two proteins in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (IHCC).

Methods

Expression patterns and subcellular localizations of NEP and DPP IV proteins in 186 primary IHCC and 60 noncancerous liver tissue specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Both the expression of NEP and DPP IV proteins in IHCC tissues were significantly higher than those in noncancerous liver tissues (both P<0.001). Of 186 patients with IHCC, 128 (68.82%) highly expressed both NEP and DPP IV proteins. In addition, the coexpression of NEP and DPP IV proteins was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (P=0.009), positive lymph node metastasis (P=0.016) and distant metastasis (P=0.013), and the presence of recurrence (P=0.027). Moreover, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that IHCC patients with high NEP expression, high DPP IV expression, and combined overexpression of NEP and DPP IV proteins all had poorer overall survival and early recurrence after surgery. Furthermore, Cox analysis suggested that NEP expression, DPP IV expression, and combined expression of NEP and DPP IV proteins were all independent prognostic markers for overall survival and recurrence-free survival in patients with IHCC.

Conclusion

Our data suggest, for the first time, that both the expression of NEP and DPP IV proteins may be upregulated in human IHCC tissues and the combined expression of NEP and DPP IV proteins may play important roles in progression and prognosis of patients with IHCC.

Hypoxia increases membrane metallo-endopeptidase expression in a novel lung cancer ex vivo model - role of tumor stroma cells

Background

Hypoxia-induced genes are potential targets in cancer therapy. Responses to hypoxia have been extensively studied in vitro, however, they may differ in vivo due to the specific tumor microenvironment. In this study gene expression profiles were obtained from fresh human lung cancer tissue fragments cultured ex vivo under different oxygen concentrations in order to study responses to hypoxia in a model that mimics human lung cancer in vivo.

Methods

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) fragments from altogether 70 patients were maintained ex vivo in normoxia or hypoxia in short-term culture. Viability, apoptosis rates and tissue hypoxia were assessed. Gene expression profiles were studied using Affymetrix GeneChip 1.0 ST microarrays.

Results

Apoptosis rates were comparable in normoxia and hypoxia despite different oxygenation levels, suggesting adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia. Gene expression profiles in hypoxic compared to normoxic fragments largely overlapped with published hypoxia-signatures. While most of these genes were up-regulated by hypoxia also in NSCLC cell lines, membrane metallo-endopeptidase (MME, neprilysin, CD10) expression was not increased in hypoxia in NSCLC cell lines, but in carcinoma-associated fibroblasts isolated from non-small cell lung cancers. High MME expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival in 342 NSCLC patients in a meta-analysis of published microarray datasets.

Conclusions

The novel ex vivo model allowed for the first time to analyze hypoxia-regulated gene expression in preserved human lung cancer tissue. Gene expression profiles in human hypoxic lung cancer tissue overlapped with hypoxia-signatures from cancer cell lines, however, the elastase MME was identified as a novel hypoxia-induced gene in lung cancer. Due to the lack of hypoxia effects on MME expression in NSCLC cell lines in contrast to carcinoma-associated fibroblasts, a direct up-regulation of stroma fibroblast MME expression under hypoxia might contribute to enhanced aggressiveness of hypoxic cancers.

Podoplanin-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts could have prognostic value independent of cancer cell phenotype in stage I lung squamous cell carcinoma: usefulness of combining analysis of both cancer cell phenotype and cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype

BACKGROUND

The prognostic significance of the tumor microenvironment, which is created by both cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), has been increasingly recognized. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognostic markers of stage I squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC), with special reference to the immunophenotypes of both cancer cells and CAFs.

METHODS

A total of 142 patients with stage I SqCC were included in this study. We examined the expressions of E-cadherin, laminin-5, podoplanin, c-MET, carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX), CD10, and CD44 in the cancer cells and those of podoplanin, CA-IX, CD10, and CD44 in the CAFs to evaluate their prognostic value.

RESULTS

Patients with low E-cadherin expression in the cancer cells showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with high E-cadherin expression in the cancer cells ( P , .001). On the other hand, high podoplanin expression in the CAFs was also associated with a significantly poorer prognosis ( P , .001). A multivariate analysis identified low E-cadherin expression in the cancer cells and high podoplanin expression in the CAFs as significantly independent prognostic factors for overall survival ( P 5 .013 and P 5 .0011, respectively). According to subgroup analyses combining E-cadherin expression in cancer cells and podoplanin expression in CAFs, 5-year overall survival of patients with low E-cadherin expression in the cancer cells and high podoplanin expression in the CAFs was 7.0% and showed a significantly poorer prognosis as compared with other groups ( P , .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study indicates that immunophenotypes of CAFs could have a prognostic value independent of those of the cancer cells in SqCC.