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Xiao D, Xiong M, Wang X, Lyu M, Sun H, Cui Y, Chen C, Jiang Z, Sun F. Regulation of the Function and Expression of EpCAM. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1129. [PMID: 38791091 PMCID: PMC11117676 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a single transmembrane protein on the cell surface. Given its strong expression on epithelial cells and epithelial cell-derived tumors, EpCAM has been identified as a biomarker for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and exosomes and a target for cancer therapy. As a cell adhesion molecule, EpCAM has a crystal structure that indicates that it forms a cis-dimer first and then probably a trans-tetramer to mediate intercellular adhesion. Through regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP), EpCAM and its proteolytic fragments are also able to regulate multiple signaling pathways, Wnt signaling in particular. Although great progress has been made, increasingly more findings have revealed the context-specific expression and function patterns of EpCAM and their regulation processes, which necessitates further studies to determine the structure, function, and expression of EpCAM under both physiological and pathological conditions, broadening its application in basic and translational cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Xiao
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Mingrui Xiong
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Mengqing Lyu
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Hanxiang Sun
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Yeting Cui
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China;
| | - Ziyu Jiang
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China;
| | - Fan Sun
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China; (D.X.); (M.X.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (H.S.); (Y.C.)
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
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Aquino IG, Cuadra-Zelaya FJM, Bizeli ALV, Palma PVB, Mariano FV, Salo T, Coletta RD, Bastos DC, Graner E. Isolation and phenotypic characterization of cancer stem cells from metastatic oral cancer cells. Oral Dis 2024. [PMID: 38764396 DOI: 10.1111/odi.15003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To isolate cancer stem cells (CSC) from a metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line and investigate their in vitro and in vivo phenotypic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subpopulations with individual staining intensities for CD44 and CD326 were isolated from the OSCC cell line LN-1A by FACS: CD44Low/CD326- (CSC-M1), CD44Low/CD326High (CSC-E), and CD44High/CD326- (CSC-M2). Proliferation, clonogenic potential, adhesion, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, and sensitivity to cisplatin and TVB-3166 were analyzed in vitro. Tumor formation and metastasis were assessed by subcutaneous and orthotopic inoculations into BALB/c mice. RESULTS E-cadherin levels were higher in CSC-E cells while vimentin and Slug more produced by CSC-M2 cells. CSC-M1 and CSC-M2 subpopulations showed higher proliferation, produced more colonies, and have stronger adhesion to the extracellular matrix. All cell lines established tumors; however, CSC-E and CSC-M2 formed larger masses and produced more metastases. CONCLUSION The CSC subpopulations here described show increased cancer capabilities in vitro, tumorigenic and metastatic potential in vivo, and may be exploited in the search for novel therapeutic targets for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iara Gonçalves Aquino
- Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Laura Valença Bizeli
- Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Viviane Mariano
- Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tuula Salo
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- HUSLAB, Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ricardo Della Coletta
- Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Buco-Dental, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Débora Campanella Bastos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Buco-Dental, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edgard Graner
- Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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Zhang X, Wang X, Wen Y, Chen S, Zhou C, Wu F. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal metastatic CLDN4+ cancer cells underlying the recurrence of malignant pleural effusion in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1649. [PMID: 38629624 PMCID: PMC11022306 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1649] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent malignant pleural effusion (MPE) resulting from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is easily refractory to conventional therapeutics and lacks predictive markers. The cellular or genetic signatures of recurrent MPE still remain largely uncertain. METHODS 16 NSCLC patients with pleural effusions were recruited, followed by corresponding treatments based on primary tumours. Non-recurrent or recurrent MPE was determined after 3-6 weeks of treatments. The status of MPE was verified by computer tomography (CT) and cytopathology, and the baseline pleural fluids were collected for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Samples were then integrated and profiled. Cellular communications and trajectories were inferred by bioinformatic algorithms. Comparative analysis was conducted and the results were further validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a larger MPE cohort from the authors' centre (n = 64). RESULTS The scRNA-seq revealed that 33 590 cells were annotated as 7 major cell types and further characterized into 14 cell clusters precisely. The cell cluster C1, classified as Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM)+ metastatic cancer cell and correlated with activation of tight junction and adherence junction, was significantly enriched in the recurrent MPE group, in which Claudin-4 (CLDN4) was identified. The subset cell cluster C3 of C1, which was enriched in recurrent MPE and demonstrated a phenotype of ameboidal-type cell migration, also showed a markedly higher expression of CLDN4. Meanwhile, the expression of CLDN4 was positively correlated with E74 Like ETS Transcription Factor 3 (ELF3), EpCAM and Tumour Associated Calcium Signal Transducer 2 (TACSTD2), independent of driver-gene status. CLDN4 was also found to be associated with the expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha (HIF1A) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), and the cell cluster C1 was the major mediator in cellular communication of VEGFA signalling. In the extensive MPE cohort, a notably increased expression of CLDN4 in cells from pleural effusion among patients diagnosed with recurrent MPE was observed, compared with the non-recurrent group, which was also associated with a trend towards worse overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS CLDN4 could be considered as a predictive marker of recurrent MPE among patients with advanced NSCLC. Further validation for its clinical value in cohorts with larger sample size and in-depth mechanism studies on its biological function are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshen Zhang
- School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Medical OncologyShanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xuanhe Wang
- School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Medical OncologyShanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yaokai Wen
- School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Medical OncologyShanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Shen Chen
- Department of Medical OncologyShanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Caicun Zhou
- Department of Medical OncologyShanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Fengying Wu
- Department of Medical OncologyShanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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Szymanowski W, Szymanowska A, Bielawska A, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Amero P. Aptamers as Potential Therapeutic Tools for Ovarian Cancer: Advancements and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5300. [PMID: 37958473 PMCID: PMC10647731 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215300] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common lethal gynecologic cause of death in women worldwide, with a high mortality rate and increasing incidence. Despite advancements in the treatment, most OC patients still die from their disease due to late-stage diagnosis, the lack of effective diagnostic methods, and relapses. Aptamers, synthetic, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, have emerged as promising anticancer therapeutics. Their ability to selectively bind to target molecules, including cancer-related proteins and receptors, has revolutionized drug discovery and biomarker identification. Aptamers offer unique insights into the molecular pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Moreover, they show immense potential as drug delivery systems, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects and reducing systemic toxicity. In the context of OC, the integration of aptamers with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) presents an opportunity for precise and efficient gene targeting. Additionally, the conjugation of aptamers with nanoparticles allows for accurate and targeted delivery of ncRNAs to specific cells, tissues, or organs. In this review, we will summarize the potential use and challenges associated with the use of aptamers alone or aptamer-ncRNA conjugates, nanoparticles, and multivalent aptamer-based therapeutics for the treatment of OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Szymanowski
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Szymanowska
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paola Amero
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
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Fatemi MY, Lu Y, Sharma C, Feng E, Azher ZL, Diallo AB, Srinivasan G, Rosner GM, Pointer KB, Christensen BC, Salas LA, Tsongalis GJ, Palisoul SM, Perreard L, Kolling FW, Vaickus LJ, Levy JJ. Feasibility of Inferring Spatial Transcriptomics from Single-Cell Histological Patterns for Studying Colon Cancer Tumor Heterogeneity. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.10.09.23296701. [PMID: 37873186 PMCID: PMC10593064 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.09.23296701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Background Spatial transcriptomics involves studying the spatial organization of gene expression within tissues, offering insights into the molecular diversity of tumors. While spatial gene expression is commonly amalgamated from 1-10 cells across 50-micron spots, recent methods have demonstrated the capability to disaggregate this information at subspot resolution by leveraging both expression and histological patterns. However, elucidating such information from histology alone presents a significant challenge but if solved can better permit spatial molecular analysis at cellular resolution for instances where Visium data is not available, reducing study costs. This study explores integrating single-cell histological and transcriptomic data to infer spatial mRNA expression patterns in whole slide images collected from a cohort of stage pT3 colorectal cancer patients. A cell graph neural network algorithm was developed to align histological information extracted from detected cells with single cell RNA patterns through optimal transport methods, facilitating the analysis of cellular groupings and gene relationships. This approach leveraged spot-level expression as an intermediary to co-map histological and transcriptomic information at the single-cell level. Results Our study demonstrated that single-cell transcriptional heterogeneity within a spot could be predicted from histological markers extracted from cells detected within a spot. Furthermore, our model exhibited proficiency in delineating overarching gene expression patterns across whole-slide images. This approach compared favorably to traditional patch-based computer vision methods as well as other methods which did not incorporate single cell expression during the model fitting procedures. Topological nuances of single-cell expression within a Visium spot were preserved using the developed methodology. Conclusion This innovative approach augments the resolution of spatial molecular assays utilizing histology as a sole input through synergistic co-mapping of histological and transcriptomic datasets at the single-cell level, anchored by spatial transcriptomics. While initial results are promising, they warrant rigorous validation. This includes collaborating with pathologists for precise spatial identification of distinct cell types and utilizing sophisticated assays, such as Xenium, to attain deeper subcellular insights.
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Li S, Wang Z, Lin X, Bian Y, Chen L. Exo I signal amplification of a DNA hydrogel film combined with capillary self-driven action for EpCAM detection. Analyst 2023; 148:4730-4737. [PMID: 37646193 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01011b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Target-responsive aptamer hydrogels are increasingly used in the field of analytical sensing with different morphologies developed by various strategies. Herein, we developed a DNA hydrogel film combined with capillary self-driven action for the specific detection of the tumor marker EpCAM and further introduced Exo I for signal amplification. EpCAM aptamer was used as a crosslinking agent to construct the DNA hydrogel film. When EpCAM was present, it competed for binding with the EpCAM aptamer, resulting in a permeability change of the DNA hydrogel film attached to one end of the capillary, and leading to different solution flow rates through the capillaries that can be utilized for the quantitative detection of EpCAM. This method did not require any instrument and was easy to use. The distance the solution travelled through the capillary was quantified as the concentration of EpCAM, and only a small amount of DNA hydrogel was required for each detection. The detection limit of EpCAM was as low as 0.018 ng mL-1, while offering the advantages of good stability and specificity, and showing great potential in point-of-care testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Zhiguang Wang
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Lin
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Yalan Bian
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Liqun Chen
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
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Ding P, Chen P, Ouyang J, Li Q, Li S. Clinicopathological and prognostic value of epithelial cell adhesion molecule in solid tumours: a meta-analysis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1242231. [PMID: 37664060 PMCID: PMC10468606 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1242231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malignant tumors, mainly solid tumors, are a significant obstacle to the improvement of life expectancy at present. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), a cancer stem cell biomarker, showed widespread expression in most normal epithelial cells and most cancers. Although the clinical significance of EpCAM in various malignant solid tumors has been studied extensively, the latent relationships between EpCAM and pathological and clinical characteristics in solid tumors and differences in the roles of EpCAM among tumors have not been clearly determined. The destination point of this study was to analyze the value of EpCAM in solid tumors in clinicopathological and prognostic dimension using a meta-analysis approach. Method and materials A comprehensive and systematic search of the researches published up to March 7th, 2022, in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane library and PMC databases was performed. The relationships between EpCAM overexpression, clinicopathological characteristics, and survival outcomes were analyzed. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and odds ratios (ORs) were estimated as indicators of the degree of correlation. This research was registered on PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews), ID: CRD42022315070. Results In total, 57 articles and 14184 cases were included in this study. High EpCAM expression had a significant coherence with a poorer overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08-1.58, P < 0.01) and a worse disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.28-1.95, P < 0.01), especially of gastrointestinal tumors' OS (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.15-1.95, P < 0.01), and DFS (HR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.52-2.33, P < 0.01). The DFS of head and neck tumors (HR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.51-3.61, P < 0.01) was also associated with the overexpression of EpCAM. There were no positive relationships between the overexpression of EpCAM and sex (RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.99-1.07, P = 0.141), T classification (RR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.82-1.06, P = 0.293), lymph node metastasis (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.54-1.32, P = 0.461), distant metastasis (RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.84-1.10, P = 0.606), vascular infiltration (RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.85-1.29, P = 0.611), and TNM stage (RR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.83-1.04, P = 0.187). However, the overexpression of EpCAM exhibited a significant association with the histological grades (RR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.97, P < 0.01). Conclusion Based on pooled HRs, the positive expression of EpCAM was totally correlated to a worse OS and DFS in solid tumors. The expression of EpCAM was related to a worse OS in gastrointestinal tumors and a worse DFS in gastrointestinal tumors and head and neck tumors. Moreover, EpCAM expression was correlated with the histological grade. The results presented pointed out that EpCAM could serve as a prognostic biomarker for gastrointestinal and head and neck tumors. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42022315070.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwen Ding
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Panyu Chen
- Operating Room, Sichuan University West China Hospital School of Nursing, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiqi Ouyang
- Department of Gastroenterology, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang’anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shijie Li
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Clinical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Fan D, Cao Y, Cao M, Wang Y, Cao Y, Gong T. Nanomedicine in cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:293. [PMID: 37544972 PMCID: PMC10404590 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01536-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a highly lethal disease in the world. Currently, either conventional cancer therapies or modern immunotherapies are non-tumor-targeted therapeutic approaches that cannot accurately distinguish malignant cells from healthy ones, giving rise to multiple undesired side effects. Recent advances in nanotechnology, accompanied by our growing understanding of cancer biology and nano-bio interactions, have led to the development of a series of nanocarriers, which aim to improve the therapeutic efficacy while reducing off-target toxicity of the encapsulated anticancer agents through tumor tissue-, cell-, or organelle-specific targeting. However, the vast majority of nanocarriers do not possess hierarchical targeting capability, and their therapeutic indices are often compromised by either poor tumor accumulation, inefficient cellular internalization, or inaccurate subcellular localization. This Review outlines current and prospective strategies in the design of tumor tissue-, cell-, and organelle-targeted cancer nanomedicines, and highlights the latest progress in hierarchical targeting technologies that can dynamically integrate these three different stages of static tumor targeting to maximize therapeutic outcomes. Finally, we briefly discuss the current challenges and future opportunities for the clinical translation of cancer nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahua Fan
- Shunde Women and Children's Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Foshan, 528300, China.
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China.
| | - Yongkai Cao
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Meiqun Cao
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Shunde Women and Children's Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Foshan, 528300, China
| | | | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
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Li YN, Li YY, Wang SX, Ma XY. Efficacy of Bispecific Antibody Targeting EpCAM and CD3 for Immunotherapy in Ovarian Cancer Ascites: An Experimental Study. Curr Med Sci 2023:10.1007/s11596-023-2753-2. [PMID: 37119369 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2753-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the value of M701, targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD3, in the immunotherapy of ovarian cancer ascites by the in vitro assay. METHODS The expression of EpCAM in ovarian cancer tissues was analyzed by databases. The EpCAM expression and immune cell infiltration in different foci of ovarian cancer were detected by 8-channel flow cytometry. The toxic effect of M701 on OVCAR3 was tested using the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. The 3D cell culture and drug intervention experiments were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of M701 in ovarian cancer specimens. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effect of M701 on the binding of immune cells to tumor cells and the activation capacity of T cells. RESULTS The results of the bioinformatic analysis showed that the expression of EpCAM in ovarian cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in normal ovarian tissue. The 8-channel flow cytometry of clinical samples showed that the EpCAM expression and lymphocyte infiltration were significantly heterogeneous among ovarian cancer patients and lesions at different sites. The in vitro experiment results showed that M701 had a significant killing effect on OVCAR3 cells. M701 also obviously killed primary tumor cells derived from some patients with ovarian cancer ascites. M701 could mediate the binding of CD3+ T cells to EpCAM+ tumor cells and induce T cell activation in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION M701 showed significant inhibitory activity on tumor cells derived from ovarian cancer ascites, which had a promising application in immunotherapy for patients with ovarian cancer ascites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Nuo Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- Department of Gynecology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shi-Xuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Xiang-Yi Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Xiang L, Liang J, Wang Z, Lin F, Zhuang Y, Saiding Q, Wang F, Deng L, Cui W. Motion lubrication suppressed mechanical activation via hydrated fibrous gene patch for tendon healing. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadc9375. [PMID: 36763658 PMCID: PMC9917012 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc9375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical activation of fibroblasts, caused by friction and transforming growth factor-β1 recognition, is one of the main causes of tissue adhesions. In this study, we developed a lubricated gene-hydrogel patch, which provides both a motion lubrication microenvironment and gene therapy. The patch's outer layer is composed of polyethylene glycol polyester hydrogel. The hydrogel forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules to create the motion lubrication layer, and it also serves as a gene delivery library for long-term gene silencing. Under the motion lubricated microenvironment, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-small interfering RNA can silence fibroblasts and enhance the blocking effect against fibroblast activation. In vitro, the proposed patch effectively inhibits fibroblast activation and reduces the coefficient of friction. In vivo, this patch reduces the expression of vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin in fibroblasts. Therefore, the lubricated gene-hydrogel patch can inhibit the mechanical activation of fibroblasts to promote tendon healing.
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Xu T, Schulga A, Konovalova E, Rinne SS, Zhang H, Vorontsova O, Orlova A, Deyev SM, Tolmachev V, Vorobyeva A. Feasibility of Co-Targeting HER3 and EpCAM Using Seribantumab and DARPin-Toxin Fusion in a Pancreatic Cancer Xenograft Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032838. [PMID: 36769161 PMCID: PMC9917732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies. A combination of targeted therapies could increase the therapeutic efficacy in tumors with heterogeneous target expression. Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 3 (HER3) and the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in up to 40% and 30% of PCs, respectively, is associated with poor prognosis and highlights the relevance of these targets. Designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) Ec1 fused with the low immunogenic bacterial toxin LoPE provides specific and potent cytotoxicity against EpCAM-expressing cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether the co-targeting of HER3 using the monoclonal antibody seribantumab (MM-121) and of EpCAM using Ec1-LoPE would improve the therapeutic efficacy in comparison to the individual agents. Radiolabeled 99mTc(CO)3-Ec1-LoPE showed specific binding with rapid internalization in EpCAM-expressing PC cells. MM-121 did not interfere with the binding of Ec1-LoPE to EpCAM. Evaluation of cytotoxicity indicated synergism between Ec1-LoPE and MM-121 in vitro. An experimental therapy study using Ec1-LoPE and MM-121 in mice bearing EpCAM- and HER3-expressing BxPC3 xenografts demonstrated the feasibility of the therapy. Further development of the co-targeting approach using HER3 and EpCAM could therefore be justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Xu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexey Schulga
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Elena Konovalova
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Sara S. Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hongchao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olga Vorontsova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sergey M. Deyev
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Bio-Nanophotonic Laboratory, Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), National Research Nuclear University ‘MEPhI’, Moscow 115409, Russia
- Center of Biomedical Engineering, Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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12
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Fleischer JR, Schmitt AM, Haas G, Xu X, Zeisberg EM, Bohnenberger H, Küffer S, Teuwen LA, Karras PJ, Beißbarth T, Bleckmann A, Planque M, Fendt SM, Vermeulen P, Ghadimi M, Kalucka J, De Oliveira T, Conradi LC. Molecular differences of angiogenic versus vessel co-opting colorectal cancer liver metastases at single-cell resolution. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:17. [PMID: 36691028 PMCID: PMC9872436 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01713-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) are associated with a poor prognosis, reflected by a five-year survival rate of 14%. Anti-angiogenic therapy through anti-VEGF antibody administration is one of the limited therapies available. However, only a subgroup of metastases uses sprouting angiogenesis to secure their nutrients and oxygen supply, while others rely on vessel co-option (VCO). The distinct mode of vascularization is reflected by specific histopathological growth patterns (HGPs), which have proven prognostic and predictive significance. Nevertheless, their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. METHODS We evaluated CRCLM from 225 patients regarding their HGP and clinical data. Moreover, we performed spatial (21,804 spots) and single-cell (22,419 cells) RNA sequencing analyses to explore molecular differences in detail, further validated in vitro through immunohistochemical analysis and patient-derived organoid cultures. RESULTS We detected specific metabolic alterations and a signature of WNT signalling activation in metastatic cancer cells related to the VCO phenotype. Importantly, in the corresponding healthy liver of CRCLM displaying sprouting angiogenesis, we identified a predominantly expressed capillary subtype of endothelial cells, which could be further explored as a possible predictor for HGP relying on sprouting angiogenesis. CONCLUSION These findings may prove to be novel therapeutic targets to the treatment of CRCLM, in special the ones relying on VCO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Robert Fleischer
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Maria Schmitt
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gwendolyn Haas
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xingbo Xu
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Maria Zeisberg
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laure-Anne Teuwen
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Philipp Johannes Karras
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of General- and Visceral Surgery, Raphaelsklinik Münster, Loerstraße 23, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Tim Beißbarth
- Department of Medical Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annalen Bleckmann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Mélanie Planque
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Vermeulen
- Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals, Sint-Augustinus, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michael Ghadimi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joanna Kalucka
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tiago De Oliveira
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena-Christin Conradi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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Zia S, Tehreem K, Batool S, Ishfaq M, Mirza SB, Khan S, Almashjary MN, Hazzazi MS, Qanash H, Shaikh A, Baty RS, Jafri I, Alsubhi NH, Alrefaei GI, Sami R, Shahid R. Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ( EpCAM) Expression Can Be Modulated via NFκB. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112985. [PMID: 36428553 PMCID: PMC9687693 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112985] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is considered an essential proliferation signature in cancer. In the current research study, qPCR induced expression of EpCAM was noted in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone found in crepe ginger and lettuce, is a medicinal herb with anticancer properties. Expression of EpCAM and its downstream target genes (Myc and TERT) wasdownregulated upon treatment with costunolide in Jurkat cells. A significant change in the telomere length of Jurkat cells was not noted at 72 h of costunolide treatment. An in silico study revealed hydrophobic interactions between EpCAM extracellular domain and Myc bHLH with costunolide. Reduced expression of NFκB, a transcription factor of EpCAM, Myc, and TERT in costunolide-treated Jurkat cells, suggested that costunolide inhibits gene expression by targeting NFκB and its downstream targets. Overall, the study proposes that costunolide could be a promising therapeutic biomolecule for leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saadiya Zia
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Komal Tehreem
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Sidra Batool
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Mehreen Ishfaq
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Shaher Bano Mirza
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Shahrukh Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Majed N. Almashjary
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohannad S. Hazzazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
| | - Husam Qanash
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha’il, Hail 55476, Saudi Arabia
- Molecular Diagnostics and Personalized Therapeutics Unit, University of Ha’il, Hail 55476, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Shaikh
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 960, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roua S. Baty
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Jafri
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf H. Alsubhi
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science and Arts, King Abdul Aziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghadeer I. Alrefaei
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, P.O. Box 80327, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rokayya Sami
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramla Shahid
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
- Correspondence:
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Understanding the versatile roles and applications of EpCAM in cancers: from bench to bedside. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:97. [PMID: 36369033 PMCID: PMC9650829 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00352-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) functions not only in physiological processes but also participates in the development and progression of cancer. In recent decades, extensive efforts have been made to decipher the role of EpCAM in cancers. Great advances have been achieved in elucidating its structure, molecular functions, pathophysiological mechanisms, and clinical applications. Beyond its well-recognized role as a biomarker of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or circulating tumor cells (CTCs), EpCAM exhibits novel and promising value in targeted therapy. At the same time, the roles of EpCAM in cancer progression are found to be highly context-dependent and even contradictory in some cases. The versatile functional modules of EpCAM and its communication with other signaling pathways complicate the study of this molecule. In this review, we start from the structure of EpCAM and focus on communication with other signaling pathways. The impacts on the biology of cancers and the up-to-date clinical applications of EpCAM are also introduced and summarized, aiming to shed light on the translational prospects of EpCAM.
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15
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Zhang D, Liu L, Wang J, Zhang H, Zhang Z, Xing G, Wang X, Liu M. Drug-loaded PEG-PLGA nanoparticles for cancer treatment. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:990505. [PMID: 36059964 PMCID: PMC9437283 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.990505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticles based on single-component synthetic polymers, such as poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), have been extensively studied for antitumor drug delivery and adjuvant therapy due to their ability to encapsulate and release drugs, as well as passively target tumors. Amphiphilic block co-polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG)-PLGA, have also been used to prepare multifunctional nanodrug delivery systems with prolonged circulation time and greater bioavailability that can encapsulate a wider variety of drugs, including small molecules, gene-targeting drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and multi-target enzyme inhibitors, enhancing their antitumor effect and safety. In addition, the surface of PEG-PLGA nanoparticles has been modified with various ligands to achieve active targeting and selective accumulation of antitumor drugs in tumor cells. Modification with two ligands has also been applied with good antitumor effects, while the use of imaging agents and pH-responsive or magnetic materials has paved the way for the application of such nanoparticles in clinical diagnosis. In this work, we provide an overview of the synthesis and application of PEG-PLGA nanoparticles in cancer treatment and we discuss the recent advances in ligand modification for active tumor targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Pharmaceutical Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Gang Xing
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xuan Wang, ; Minghua Liu,
| | - Minghua Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xuan Wang, ; Minghua Liu,
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Liao Y, Wu M, Jia Y, Mou R, Li X. EpCAM as a Novel Biomarker for Survivals in Prostate Cancer Patients. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:843604. [PMID: 35517503 PMCID: PMC9065552 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.843604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Due to the insufficient understanding of the biological mechanisms, the improvement of therapeutic effects of prostate cancer (PCa) is limited. There is an urgent need to find the molecular mechanisms and underlying PCa to improve its early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Methods: The mRNA expression profiles, survival and methylation data of PRAD were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses were performed by R software. Subsequently, we identified the key gene and validated its prognostic role from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database, UALCAN and the LinkedOmics database. We performd correlation analysis and constructed the ceRNA network based on the data obtained from miRbase and starBase. Finally, we performed methylation analysis and evaluated the immune cell infiltration by Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Results: A total of 567 DEGs were identified in PCa. ARHGEF38, SLPI, EpCAM, C1QTNF1, and HBB were regarded as target genes related to favorable overall survival (OS). Among them, EpCAM was considered as the most significant gene through the HPA database and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A prognostic ceRNA network was constructed with EBLN3P, miR-204-5p, and EpCAM. EpCAM was found to be related to DNA methylation and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Conclusion: Our findings provide novel insights into the tumorigenesis mechanism of PCa and contribute to the development of EpCAM as a potential prognostic biomarker in PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liao
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Mingxin Wu
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingjie Jia
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruiyu Mou
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaojiang Li
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaojiang Li,
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17
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Dai Y, Wang Y, Cao Y, Yu P, Zhang L, Liu Z, Ping Y, Wang D, Zhang G, Sang Y, Wang X, Tao Z. A Multivariate Diagnostic Model Based on Urinary EpCAM-CD9-Positive Extracellular Vesicles for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:777684. [PMID: 34900726 PMCID: PMC8652292 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.777684] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the leading cause of cancer death in males worldwide. Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has considerably improved the detection of PCa, it has also led to a dramatic increase in overdiagnosing indolent disease due to its low specificity. This study aimed to develop and validate a multivariate diagnostic model based on the urinary epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-CD9-positive extracellular vesicles (EVs) (uEVEpCAM-CD9) to improve the diagnosis of PCa. Methods We investigated the performance of uEVEpCAM-CD9 from urine samples of 193 participants (112 PCa patients, 55 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients, and 26 healthy donors) to diagnose PCa using our laboratory-developed chemiluminescent immunoassay. We applied machine learning to training sets and subsequently evaluated the multivariate diagnostic model based on uEVEpCAM-CD9 in validation sets. Results Results showed that uEVEpCAM-CD9 was able to distinguish PCa from controls, and a significant decrease of uEVEpCAM-CD9 was observed after prostatectomy. We further used a training set (N = 116) and constructed an exclusive multivariate diagnostic model based on uEVEpCAM-CD9, PSA, and other clinical parameters, which showed an enhanced diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and performed excellently to diagnose PCa [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.952, P < 0.0001]. When applied to a validation test (N = 77), the model achieved an AUC of 0.947 (P < 0.0001). Moreover, this diagnostic model also exhibited a superior diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.917, P < 0.0001) over PSA (AUC = 0.712, P = 0.0018) at the PSA gray zone. Conclusions The multivariate model based on uEVEpCAM-CD9 achieved a notable diagnostic performance to diagnose PCa. In the future, this model may potentially be used to better select patients for prostate transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibei Dai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiyun Wang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pan Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lingyu Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenping Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Ping
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Danhua Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gong Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Sang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuchu Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhihua Tao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Imaging-Guided Therapy Simultaneously Targeting HER2 and EpCAM with Trastuzumab and EpCAM-Directed Toxin Provides Additive Effect in Ovarian Cancer Model. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13163939. [PMID: 34439094 PMCID: PMC8393281 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient treatment of disseminated ovarian cancer (OC) is challenging due to its heterogeneity and chemoresistance. Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in approx. 30% and 70% of ovarian cancers, respectively, allows for co-targeted treatment. The clinical efficacy of the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive breast, gastric and gastroesophageal cancers makes it readily available as the HER2-targeting component. As the EpCAM-targeting component, we investigated the designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) Ec1 fused to a truncated variant of Pseudomonas exotoxin A with reduced immunogenicity and low general toxicity (LoPE). Ec1-LoPE was radiolabeled, evaluated in ovarian cancer cells in vitro and its biodistribution and tumor-targeting properties were studied in vivo. The therapeutic efficacy of Ec1-LoPE alone and in combination with trastuzumab was studied in mice bearing EpCAM- and HER2-expressing SKOV3 xenografts. SPECT/CT imaging enabled visualization of EpCAM and HER2 expression in the tumors. Co-treatment using Ec1-LoPE and trastuzumab was more effective at reducing tumor growth and prolonged the median survival of mice compared with mice in the control and monotherapy groups. Repeated administration of Ec1-LoPE was well tolerated without signs of hepatic or kidney toxicity. Co-treatment with trastuzumab and Ec1-LoPE might be a potential therapeutic strategy for HER2- and EpCAM-positive OC.
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Functional Implications of the Dynamic Regulation of EpCAM during Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11070956. [PMID: 34209658 PMCID: PMC8301972 DOI: 10.3390/biom11070956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in epithelial tissues. EpCAM forms intercellular, homophilic adhesions, modulates epithelial junctional protein complex formation, and promotes epithelial tissue homeostasis. EpCAM is a target of molecular therapies and plays a prominent role in tumor biology. In this review, we focus on the dynamic regulation of EpCAM expression during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the functional implications of EpCAM expression on the regulation of EMT. EpCAM is frequently and highly expressed in epithelial cancers, while silenced in mesenchymal cancers. During EMT, EpCAM expression is downregulated by extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and EMT transcription factors, as well as by regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP). The functional impact of EpCAM expression on tumor biology is frequently dependent on the cancer type and predominant oncogenic signaling pathways, suggesting that the role of EpCAM in tumor biology and EMT is multifunctional. Membrane EpCAM is cleaved in cancers and its intracellular domain (EpICD) is transported into the nucleus and binds β-catenin, FHL2, and LEF1. This stimulates gene transcription that promotes growth, cancer stem cell properties, and EMT. EpCAM is also regulated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and the EpCAM ectoderm (EpEX) is an EGFR ligand that affects EMT. EpCAM is expressed on circulating tumor and cancer stem cells undergoing EMT and modulates metastases and cancer treatment responses. Future research exploring EpCAM’s role in EMT may reveal additional therapeutic opportunities.
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Tanaka T, Ohishi T, Asano T, Takei J, Nanamiya R, Hosono H, Sano M, Harada H, Kawada M, Kaneko MK, Kato Y. An anti‑TROP2 monoclonal antibody TrMab‑6 exerts antitumor activity in breast cancer mouse xenograft models. Oncol Rep 2021; 46:132. [PMID: 34013368 PMCID: PMC8144932 DOI: 10.3892/or.2021.8083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2), reported to be overexpressed in several types of cancer, is involved in cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis of many types of cancer. Previously, a highly sensitive anti-TROP2 monoclonal antibody (clone TrMab-6; mouse IgG2b, κ) was developed using a Cell-Based Immunization and Screening (CBIS) method. TrMab-6 was useful for investigations using flow cytometry, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether TrMab-6 possesses in vitro antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activities or in vivo antitumor activities using mouse xenograft models of TROP2-overexpressed CHO-K1 (CHO/TROP2) and breast cancer cell lines, including MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468. In vitro experiments revealed that TrMab-6 strongly induced ADCC and CDC activities against CHO/TROP2 and the three breast cancer cell lines, whereas it did not show those activities against parental CHO-K1 and MCF7/TROP2-knockout cells. Furthermore, in vivo experiments on CHO/TROP2 and MCF7 ×enografts revealed that TrMab-6 significantly reduced tumor growth, whereas it did not show antitumor activities against parental CHO-K1 and MCF7/TROP2-knockout xenografts. The findings suggest that TrMab-6 is a promising treatment option for TROP2-expressing breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Tanaka
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Ohishi
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Numazu, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation, Numazu‑shi, Shizuoka 410‑0301, Japan
| | - Teizo Asano
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Junko Takei
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Ren Nanamiya
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Hideki Hosono
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Masato Sano
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Harada
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo‑ku, Tokyo 113‑8510, Japan
| | - Manabu Kawada
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Numazu, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation, Numazu‑shi, Shizuoka 410‑0301, Japan
| | - Mika K Kaneko
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba‑ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980‑8575, Japan
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Ceelen W. Intraperitoneal EpCAM-Targeted Immunotoxin: A First Step Towards Engineering the Immune Environment in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases? Ann Surg Oncol 2021; 28:4772-4774. [PMID: 33993377 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-10147-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wim Ceelen
- Department of GI Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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22
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Sankpal NV, Brown TC, Fleming TP, Herndon JM, Amaravati AA, Loynd AN, Gillanders WE. Cancer-associated mutations reveal a novel role for EpCAM as an inhibitor of cathepsin-L and tumor cell invasion. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:541. [PMID: 33980181 PMCID: PMC8114703 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08239-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background EpCAM (Epithelial cell adhesion molecule) is often dysregulated in epithelial cancers. Prior studies implicate EpCAM in the regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. It was recently demonstrated that EpCAM contains a thyroglobulin type-1 (TY-1) domain. Multiple proteins with TY-1 domains are known to inhibit cathepsin-L (CTSL), a cysteine protease that promotes tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Analysis of human cancer sequencing studies reveals that somatic EpCAM mutations are present in up to 5.1% of tested tumors. Methods The Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database was queried to tabulate the position and amino acid changes of cancer associated EpCAM mutations. To determine how EpCAM mutations affect cancer biology we studied C66Y, a damaging TY-1 domain mutation identified in liver cancer, as well as 13 other cancer-associated EpCAM mutations. In vitro and in vivo models were used to determine the effect of wild type (WT) and mutant EpCAM on CTSL activity and invasion. Immunoprecipitation and localization studies tested EpCAM and CTSL protein binding and determined compartmental expression patterns of EpCAM mutants. Results We demonstrate that WT EpCAM, but not C66Y EpCAM, inhibits CTSL activity in vitro, and the TY-1 domain of EpCAM is responsible for this inhibition. WT EpCAM, but not C66Y EpCAM, inhibits tumor cell invasion in vitro and lung metastases in vivo. In an extended panel of human cancer cell lines, EpCAM expression is inversely correlated with CTSL activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that EpCAM germline mutations can prevent EpCAM from being expressed at the cell surface. We demonstrate that C66Y and multiple other EpCAM cancer-associated mutations prevent surface expression of EpCAM. Cancer-associated mutations that prevent EpCAM cell surface expression abrogate the ability of EpCAM to inhibit CTSL activity and tumor cell invasion. Conclusions These studies reveal a novel role for EpCAM as a CTSL inhibitor, confirm the functional relevance of multiple cancer-associated EpCAM mutations, and suggest a therapeutic vulnerability in cancers harboring EpCAM mutations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08239-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra V Sankpal
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Taylor C Brown
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Timothy P Fleming
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 124 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, 85013, AZ, USA
| | - John M Herndon
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Anusha A Amaravati
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Allison N Loynd
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - William E Gillanders
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA. .,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Jechorek D, Haeusler-Pliske I, Meyer F, Roessner A. Diagnostic value of syndecan-4 protein expression in colorectal cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 222:153431. [PMID: 34029877 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly dependent on the disease stage at diagnosis. Therefore, it is crucial to study molecules involved in the progression of colorectal cancer tumorigenesis and to shed light on their potential use as targetable proteins in diagnostics and therapy. As syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a transmembrane proteoglycan with important functions in cell adhesion, migration, cytoskeleton organization, and gene expression through the binding of extracellular matrix molecules, it might play a role in local tumor cell invasion. To clarify its impact on the progression of CRC, we analyzed 177 patients for SDC4 expression in colon carcinoma tissue, lymph node and liver metastasis under consideration of specific morphological features and cellular elements of CRC. Highly upregulated SDC4 was particularly expressed at the tumor invasion front. Expression was strongest in tumor cell buds appearing as membranous expression polarized to peritumoral stromal cells. Increased SDC4 expression directed to the tumor-stromal- or tumor-endothelial-interface was also confirmed for metastasis and angioinvasive tumor cell clusters. Furthermore, strong immunoreactivity of SDC4 in fibroblasts and macrophages being in contact with invasive tumor cells suggests a cooperation between the different types of cells in tumor progression at the cell-matrix interface and a role for SDC4 in tumor cells attached to the extracellular matrix. Overexpression of SDC4 in tumor cells at the invasion front was significantly associated with progressive pathological features and inversely related to disease-free and overall survival. Therefore, overexpression of SDC4 may be a predictor for poor prognosis in patients with CRC and might prove useful in clinical practice, thus identifying patients with potential disease progression. Further investigations will have to reveal the functional role of SDC4 in tumor cell buds, fibroblasts and macrophages at the tumor stromal interface to confirm that SDC4 might also be a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with advanced CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Inken Haeusler-Pliske
- Department of General-, Visceral-, Vascular- and Transplantation Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Frank Meyer
- Department of General-, Visceral-, Vascular- and Transplantation Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
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