Correlations of fascin-1 and cadherin-17 protein expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer

Fascin-1 in Cancer Cell Metastasis: Old Target-New Insights

As metastasis is responsible for most cancer-related deaths, understanding the cellular and molecular events that lead to cancer cell migration and invasion will certainly provide insights into novel anti-metastatic therapeutic targets. Fascin-1 is an actin-bundling protein fundamental to all physiological or pathological processes that require cell migration. It is responsible for cross-linking actin microfilaments during the formation of actin-rich cellular structures at the leading edge of migrating cells such as filopodia, lamellipodia and invadopodia. While most epithelial tissues express low levels of Fascin-1, it is dramatically elevated in the majority of cancers and its expression has been associated with more aggressive disease and decreased overall survival. Hence, it has been proposed as a potential anti-cancer target. In the present review, we studied recent literature with regard to Fascin-1 expression in different cancers, its role in altering the mechanical properties of cancer cells, promoting cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis and the effect of its inhibition, via various pharmacological inhibitors, in eliminating metastasis in vitro and/or in vivo. Recent studies corroborate the notion that Fascin-1 is critically involved in metastasis and prove that it is a valuable anti-metastatic target that is worth investigating further.

Fascin in Gynecological Cancers: An Update of the Literature

Simple Summary

Fascin, an actin-binding protein, is upregulated in different types of human cancers. It is reportedly responsible for increasing the invasive and metastatic ability of cancer cells by reducing cell–cell adhesions. This review provides a brief overview of fascin and its interactions with other genes and oncoviruses to induce the onset and progression of cancer.

Abstract

Fascin is an actin-binding protein that is encoded by the FSCN1 gene (located on chromosome 7). It triggers membrane projections and stimulates cell motility in cancer cells. Fascin overexpression has been described in different types of human cancers in which its expression correlated with tumor growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, overexpression of fascin was found in oncovirus-infected cells, such as human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), disrupting the cell–cell adhesion and enhancing cancer progression. Based on these findings, several studies reported fascin as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target in various cancers. This review provides a brief overview of the FSCN1 role in various cancers with emphasis on gynecological malignancies. We also discuss fascin interactions with other genes and oncoviruses through which it might induce cancer development and progression.

Fascin as a useful marker for cancer-associated fibroblasts in invasive lung adenocarcinoma

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been attracting attention in recent years, but their nature has not been fully elucidated. Although CAFs have been recognized as an important therapeutic target, therapeutic agents have not been developed to date. CAFs are characterized by their high migration rate and involvement in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with some displaying a dendritic morphology that is reminiscent of fascin expression.The present study was designed to immunohistochemically investigate fascin expression in lung adenocarcinoma including CAFs and compare the results with existing CAF markers.We immunohistochemically investigated fascin expression in not only cancer tissue but also CAFs from 26 autopsy cases of lung adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry of α-smooth muscle actin and fibroblast activation protein was also performed.Fascin-positive staining in CAFs was observed in all cases, with a strong correlation observed with existing CAF markers α-smooth muscle actin and fibroblast activation protein (P < .001). In addition, the proportion of tumor cells showing fascin-positive staining was found to correlate with its expression in CAFs (P < .05).We propose that CAFs express fascin, and that fascin may mediate crosstalk between cancer tissue and CAFs. Fascin might be a novel therapeutic target for treatments that target the cancer stroma.

Emerging Role of Fascin-1 in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment of the Gastrointestinal Cancers

Simple Summary

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, remain as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a large proportion accounting for fatalities related to metastatic disease. The active involvement of fascin-1 in forming membrane protrusions crucial for cellular movement has been identified as an important molecular mechanism behind the phenotypic switch from the localized to the metastatic tumor. Thus, fascin-1 expression status in the malignant tissue has been utilized as an important component in determining the patient’s clinicopathological outcomes. In this review, we provide an up-to-date literature review of the role of fascin-1 in the initiation and metastatic progression of GI tract cancers, its involvement in patients’ clinical outcomes, and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, remain as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a large proportion accounting for fatalities related to metastatic disease. Invasion of primary cancer occurs by the actin cytoskeleton remodeling, including the formation of the filopodia, stereocilia, and other finger-like membrane protrusions. The crucial step of actin remodeling in the malignant cells is mediated by the fascin protein family, with fascin-1 being the most active. Fascin-1 is an actin-binding protein that cross-links filamentous actin into tightly packed parallel bundles, giving rise to finger-like cell protrusions, thus equipping the cell with the machinery necessary for adhesion, motility, and invasion. Thus, fascin-1 has been noted to be a key component for determining patient diagnosis and treatment plan. Indeed, the overexpression of fascin-1 in GI tract cancers has been associated with a poor clinical prognosis and metastatic progression. Moreover, fascin-1 has received attention as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic GI tract cancers. In this review, we provide an up-to-date literature review of the role of fascin-1 in the initiation of GI tract cancers, metastatic progression, and patients’ clinical outcomes.

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 in human cancer: promising biomarker or therapeutic target?

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) is a highly conserved actin-bundling protein that cross links F-actin microfilaments into tight, parallel bundles. Elevated FSCN1 levels have been reported in many types of human cancers and have been correlated with aggressive clinical progression, poor prognosis, and survival outcomes. The overexpression of FSCN1 in cancer cells has been associated with tumor growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Currently, FSCN1 is recognized as a candidate biomarker for multiple cancer types and as a potential therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to provide a brief overview of the FSCN1 gene and protein structure and elucidate on its actin-bundling activity and physiological functions. The main focus was on the role of FSCN1 and its upregulatory mechanisms and significance in cancer cells. Up-to-date studies on FSCN1 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancers are reviewed. It is shown that FSCN1 is an unusual biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for cancer.

The meta and bioinformatics analysis of fascin expression in gastric cancer: a potential marker for aggressiveness and worse prognosis

Fascin is a FSCN1-encoded actin bundling protein, and positively associated with proliferation, migration and metastasis of malignancies. Here, we performed a systematic meta and bioinformatics analysis through multiple online databases up to March 14, 2017. We found up-regulated fascin expression in gastric cancer, compared with normal mucosa (p<0.05). Fascin expression was positively with lymph node metastasis, TNM staging and worse prognosis of gastric cancer (p<0.05). According to bioinformatics database, FSCN1 mRNA expression was higher in gastric cancer than normal tissues (p<0.05). According to Kaplan-Meier plotter, we found that a higher FSCN1 expression was negatively correlated with overall and progression-free survival rates of all cancer patients, even stratified by aggressive parameters (p<0.05). These findings indicated that fascin expression might be employed as a potential marker to indicate gastric carcinogenesis and subsequent progression, even prognosis.

EMP3 is induced by TWIST1/2 and regulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells

In this study, we aimed to explore new downstream effectors of TWIST1/2 in inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer. Bioinformatic data mining was performed using data in The Cancer Genome Atlas Stomach Adenocarcinoma. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier plotter. Gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and SGC-7901) were used as in vitro cell model to investigate the regulative effect of TWIST1/2 on epithelial membrane protein 3 expression and the progression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Results showed that TWIST1 and TWIST2 are usually co-upregulated in patients with primary gastric cancer. High TWIST1 expression is associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.26; 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.49; p = 0.007) and also worse first progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 1.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.18-1.82; p < 0.0001). Similarly, high TWIST2 expression is associated with unfavorable overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.71; 95% confidence interval = 1.32-2.22; p < 0.0001) and progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 1.99; 95% confidence interval = 1.45-2.72; p < 0.0001). Epithelial membrane protein 3 is negatively correlated to CDH1 expression (Pearson's r = -0.46) but is positively correlated to VIM expression (Pearson's r = 0.83). Knockdown of epithelial membrane protein 3 significantly increased E-cadherin but significantly decreased Vimentin expression in AGS cells. Gastric cancer patients with metastasis have significantly higher epithelial membrane protein 3 expression than the cases without metastasis. In addition, high epithelial membrane protein 3 expression is associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.59; 95% confidence interval = 2.06-3.26; p < 0.0001) and also worse progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.21; 95% confidence interval = 1.78-2.74; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, epithelial membrane protein 3 is a downstream effector of TWIST1/2 in inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer. Epithelial membrane protein 3 upregulation might be associated with gastric cancer metastasis and is a potential indicator of unfavorable overall survival and progression-free survival in gastric cancer patients.

MiR-34a-5p promotes multi-chemoresistance of osteosarcoma through down-regulation of the DLL1 gene

MiR-34a-5p has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of several types of cancer. However, the role of miR-34a-5p in osteosarcoma (OS) remains largely unknown. This study was performed in two multi-chemosensitive (G-292 and MG63.2) and two resistant (SJSA-1 and MNNG/HOS) OS cell lines. MiR-34a-5p promotes OS multi-chemoresistance via its repression of the Delta-like ligand 1 (DLL1) gene, the ligand of the Notch pathway, and thus negatively correlates with OS chemoresistance. The siRNA-mediated repression of the DLL1 gene suppressed cell apoptosis and de-sensitized G-292 and MG63.2 cells, while overexpression of DLL1 sensitized SJSA-1 and MNNG/HOS cells to drug-induced cell death. In agreement with the changes in the drug-induced cell death, the activity of the ATF2/ATF3/ATF4 signaling pathway was significantly altered by a forced reversal of miR-34a-5p or DLL1 levels in OS cells. DLL1 is a target of miR-34a-5p and negatively regulates the multi-chemoresistance of OS. This study suggested that miR-34a-5p, DLL1 and the ATF2/ATF3/ATF4 signaling pathway-associated genes are the potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets for an effective chemotherapy of OS. Our results also provide novel insights into the effective chemotherapy for OS patients.