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Zhang HL, Li N, Dong L, Ma HX, Yang MC. Prox1 Suppresses Proliferation and Drug Resistance of Retinoblastoma Cells via Targeting Notch1. Curr Med Sci 2024; 44:223-231. [PMID: 38277016 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2803-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Retinoblastoma (RB) is a prevalent type of eye cancer in youngsters. Prospero homeobox 1 (Prox1) is a homeobox transcriptional repressor and downstream target of the proneural gene that is relevant in lymphatic, hepatocyte, pancreatic, heart, lens, retinal, and cancer cells. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of Prox1 in RB cell proliferation and drug resistance, as well as to explore the underlying Notch1 mechanism. METHODS Human RB cell lines (SO-RB50 and Y79) and a primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cell line (ACBRI-181) were used in this study. The expression of Prox1 and Notch1 mRNA and protein in RB cells was detected using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was assessed after Prox1 overexpression using the Cell Counting Kit-8 and the MTS assay. Drug-resistant cell lines (SO-RB50/vincristine) were generated and treated with Prox1 to investigate the role of Prox1 in drug resistance. We employed pcDNA-Notch1 to overexpress Notch1 to confirm the role of Notch1 in the protective function of Prox1. Finally, a xenograft model was constructed to assess the effect of Prox1 on RB in vivo. RESULTS Prox1 was significantly downregulated in RB cells. Overexpression of Prox1 effectively decreased RB cell growth while increasing the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to vincristine. Notch1 was involved in Prox1's regulatory effects. Notch1 was identified as a target gene of Prox1, which was found to be upregulated in RB cells and repressed by increased Prox1 expression. When pcDNA-Notch1 was transfected, the effect of Prox1 overexpression on RB was removed. Furthermore, by downregulating Notch1, Prox1 overexpression slowed tumor development and increased vincristine sensitivity in vivo. CONCLUSION These data show that Prox1 decreased RB cell proliferation and drug resistance by targeting Notch1, implying that Prox1 could be a potential therapeutic target for RB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Li Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Hong-Xia Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Mo-Chi Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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2
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Kumari P, Ghosh S, Acharya S, Mitra P, Roy S, Ghosh S, Maji M, Singh S, Mukherjee A. Cytotoxic Imidazolyl-Mesalazine Ester-Based Ru(II) Complexes Reduce Expression of Stemness Genes and Induce Differentiation of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Med Chem 2023; 66:14061-14079. [PMID: 37831489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The aggressiveness and recurrence of cancer is linked to cancer stem cells (CSCs), but drugs targeting CSCs may not succeed in the clinic due to the lack of a distinct CSC subpopulation. Clinical Pt(II) drugs can increase stemness. We screened 15 RuII or IrIII complexes with mesalazine or 3-aminobenzoate Schiff bases of the general formulas [Ru(p-cym)L]+, [Ru(p-cym)L], and [Ir(Cp*)L]+ (L = L1-L9) and found three complexes (2, 12, and 13) that are active against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) CSCs. There is a putative oncogenic role of transcription factors (viz. NOTCH1, SOX2, c-MYC) to enhance the stemness. Our work shows that imidazolyl-mesalazine ester-based RuII complexes inhibit growth of CSC-enriched OSCC 3D spheroids at low micromolar doses (2 μM). Complexes 2, 12, and 13 reduce stemness gene expression and induce differentiation markers (Involucrin, CK10) in OSCC 3D cultures. The imidazolyl-mesalazine ester-based RuII complex 13 shows the strongest effect. Downregulating c-MYC suggests that RuII complexes may target c-MYC-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Kumari
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advance Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Subhashis Ghosh
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani-741251, West Bengal, India
| | - Sourav Acharya
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advance Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Paromita Mitra
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani-741251, West Bengal, India
| | - Souryadip Roy
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advance Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Shilpendu Ghosh
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advance Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Moumita Maji
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advance Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Sandeep Singh
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani-741251, West Bengal, India
| | - Arindam Mukherjee
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advance Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
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Qi Y, Li M, Li S, Zeng D, Xiao Y, Li J, Ye Q, Bremer E, Zhang GJ. Notch1 promotes resistance to cisplatin by up-regulating Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:204. [PMID: 37391408 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01487-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive molecular subtype that due to lack of druggable targets is treated with chemotherapy as standard of care. However, TNBC is prone to chemoresistance and associates with poor survival. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in TNBC. Firstly, we found that the mRNA expression of Notch1 and CD73 in cisplatin-treated patient material associated with poor clinical outcome. Further, both were upregulated at the protein level in cisplatin-resistant TNBC cell lines. Overexpression of Notch1 intracellular domain (termed N1ICD) increased expression of CD73, whereas knockdown of Notch1 decreased CD73 expression. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and Dual-Luciferase assay it was identified that N1ICD directly bound the CD73 promoter and activated transcription. Taken together, these findings suggest CD73 as a direct downstream target of Notch1, providing an additional layer to the mechanisms underlying Notch1-mediated cisplatin resistance in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Qi
- Cancer Center & Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361101, Xiamen, China
- Department Of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Meifang Li
- The first affiliated hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shaozhong Li
- Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 516621, Shanwei, China
| | - De Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yingsheng Xiao
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
| | - Jiwei Li
- Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qianqian Ye
- Department of Pathology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Ganzhou, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Edwin Bremer
- Department Of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guo-Jun Zhang
- Cancer Center & Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361101, Xiamen, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Breast Cancer (Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University), 361101, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, 361101, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast & Thyroid Cancers, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, 361101, Xiamen, China.
- Central Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, 361101, Xiamen, China.
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Boguszewicz Ł. Predictive Biomarkers for Response and Toxicity of Induction Chemotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:900903. [PMID: 35875133 PMCID: PMC9299243 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.900903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the molecular biology of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and presents current and emerging biomarkers of the response of patients to induction chemotherapy. The usefulness of genes, proteins, and parameters from diagnostic clinical imaging as well as other clinicopathological parameters is thoroughly discussed. The role of induction chemotherapy before radiotherapy or before chemo-radiotherapy is still debated, as the data on its efficacy are somehow confusing. Despite the constant improvement of treatment protocols and the introduction of new cytostatics, there is still no consensus regarding the use of induction chemotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer, with the possible exception of larynx preservation. Such difficulties indicate that potential future treatment strategies should be personalized. Personalized medicine, in which individual tumor genetics drive the selection of targeted therapies and treatment plans for each patient, has recently emerged as the next generation of cancer therapy. Early prediction of treatment outcome or its toxicity may be highly beneficial for those who are at risk of the development of severe toxicities or treatment failure—a different treatment strategy may be applied to these patients, sparing them unnecessary pain. The literature search was carried out in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases as well as in the selected conference proceedings repositories. Of the 265 articles and abstracts found, only 30 met the following inclusion criteria: human studies, analyzing prediction of induction chemotherapy outcome or toxicity based on the pretreatment (or after the first cycle, if more cycles of induction were administered) data, published after the year 2015. The studies regarding metastatic and recurrent cancers as well as the prognosis of overall survival or the outcome of consecutive treatment were not taken into consideration. As revealed from the systematic inspection of the papers, there are over 100 independent parameters analyzed for their suitability as prognostic markers in HNSCC patients undergoing induction chemotherapy. Some of them are promising, but usually they lack important features such as high specificity and sensitivity, low cost, high positive predictive value, clinical relevance, short turnaround time, etc. Subsequent studies are necessary to confirm the usability of the biomarkers for personal medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Boguszewicz
- Department of Medical Physics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Warszawa, Poland
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5
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Notch1 signaling modulates hypoxia-induced multidrug resistance in human laryngeal cancer cells. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:6235-6240. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07421-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Mahabady MK, Mirzaei S, Saebfar H, Gholami MH, Zabolian A, Hushmandi K, Hashemi F, Tajik F, Hashemi M, Kumar AP, Aref AR, Zarrabi A, Khan H, Hamblin MR, Nuri Ertas Y, Samarghandian S. Noncoding RNAs and their therapeutics in paclitaxel chemotherapy: Mechanisms of initiation, progression, and drug sensitivity. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:2309-2344. [PMID: 35437787 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The identification of agents that can reverse drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy, and enhance the overall efficacy is of great interest. Paclitaxel (PTX) belongs to taxane family that exerts an antitumor effect by stabilizing microtubules and inhibiting cell cycle progression. However, PTX resistance often develops in tumors due to the overexpression of drug transporters and tumor-promoting pathways. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are modulators of many processes in cancer cells, such as apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we summarize the effects of ncRNAs on PTX chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can have opposite effects on PTX resistance (stimulation or inhibition) via influencing YES1, SK2, MRP1, and STAT3. Moreover, miRNAs modulate the growth and migration rates of tumor cells in regulating PTX efficacy. PIWI-interacting RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and short-hairpin RNAs are other members of ncRNAs regulating PTX sensitivity of cancer cells. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are similar to miRNAs and can modulate PTX resistance/sensitivity by their influence on miRNAs and drug efflux transport. The cytotoxicity of PTX against tumor cells can also be affected by circular RNAs (circRNAs) and limitation is that oncogenic circRNAs have been emphasized and experiments should also focus on onco-suppressor circRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood K Mahabady
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Saebfar
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad H Gholami
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Zabolian
- Resident of Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, 5th Azar Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farid Hashemi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tajik
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alan P Kumar
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amir R Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Xsphera Biosciences Inc, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
| | - Yavuz Nuri Ertas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,ERNAM-Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
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7
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Yu MD, Men CJ, Do H, Colevas AD, Lin JH, Egbert PR, Tse DT, Kossler AL. Genome Sequencing and Apoptotic Markers to Assess Treatment Response of Lacrimal Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma to Intra-Arterial Cytoreductive Chemotherapy. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 2022; 38:e44-e47. [PMID: 34798653 PMCID: PMC10838401 DOI: 10.1097/iop.0000000000002079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland is an aggressive, malignant epithelial neoplasm. We report the case of a 30-year-old male with lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy through the internal carotid artery, followed by orbital exenteration and chemoradiation. Treatment response was evaluated using a novel combination of pre- and posttreatment genome sequencing coupled with immunohistochemical evaluation, which showed diffuse tumor apoptosis. A posttreatment decrease in variant allele frequency of the NOTCH1 mutation, and robust tumor cytoreduction on imaging, supports exploration of NOTCH1 analysis as a potential marker of cisplatin sensitivity. The use of genome sequencing and immunohistochemical evaluation could provide a more targeted therapeutic assessment of neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy in the management of lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A
| | - Clara J. Men
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A
| | - Huy Do
- Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - A. Dimitrios Colevas
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - Jonathan H. Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - Peter R. Egbert
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - David T. Tse
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Andrea L. Kossler
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A
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NOTCH1 Intracellular Domain and the Tumor Microenvironment as Prognostic Markers in HNSCC. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14041080. [PMID: 35205828 PMCID: PMC8870336 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14041080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In the head and neck, a large proportion of squamous cell carcinoma demonstrate a mutation of the NOTCH1 gene. The aim of this project was to investigate the role of NOTCH1 and immunological characteristics and highlight a potential rationale for therapy. We found that a high expression of NOTCH1 intracellular domain in these patients is associated with reduced overall survival. In vitro experiments additionally showed a reduction of migration and proliferation of cancer cells when NOTCH1 was knocked down. NOTCH1 is, therefore, most likely involved in migration and proliferation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and is a prognostic marker in these patients. Abstract (1) Background: NOTCH1 is the second most common mutated gene in whole-exome sequencing of HNSCC. The aim of this project was to gain further insight into the relevance of NOTCH1 in HNSCC, potentially establishing NOTCH1 as a prognostic marker or therapeutic target; (2) Methods: NOTCH1 was silenced via RNA interference in six HNSCC cell lines and the impact was evaluated in migration and proliferation assays. Subsequently, the protein expression of NOTCH1 intracellular domain (NICD) and NOTCH1 mRNA expression were examined in 70 oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer tissue samples. Lastly, the NICD expression was compared with the local infiltration of lymphocytes, measured with the immunoscore; (3) Results: Knockdown of NOTCH1 decreased migration and proliferation. A high NICD expression was associated with lower OS. A high immunoscore resulted in significantly better OS. NICD expression was independent of the immunoscore and as a whole differentiated three distinct prognostic groups; (4) Conclusions: These data suggest that NOTCH1 is involved in migration and proliferation of HNSCC cell lines. In vivo, NICD expression was associated with overall survival and could, therefore, be used as a prognostic marker. NICD expression differs from NOTCH1 mRNA levels, potentially explaining the previously suggested bimodal role as an oncogene and tumor suppressor in HNSCC.
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Kałafut J, Czerwonka A, Anameriç A, Przybyszewska-Podstawka A, Misiorek JO, Rivero-Müller A, Nees M. Shooting at Moving and Hidden Targets-Tumour Cell Plasticity and the Notch Signalling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6219. [PMID: 34944837 PMCID: PMC8699303 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is often aggressive, with poor response to current therapies in approximately 40-50% of the patients. Current therapies are restricted to operation and irradiation, often combined with a small number of standard-of-care chemotherapeutic drugs, preferentially for advanced tumour patients. Only very recently, newer targeted therapies have entered the clinics, including Cetuximab, which targets the EGF receptor (EGFR), and several immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the immune receptor PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1. HNSCC tumour tissues are characterized by a high degree of intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH), and non-genetic alterations that may affect both non-transformed cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and transformed carcinoma cells. This very high degree of heterogeneity likely contributes to acquired drug resistance, tumour dormancy, relapse, and distant or lymph node metastasis. ITH, in turn, is likely promoted by pronounced tumour cell plasticity, which manifests in highly dynamic and reversible phenomena such as of partial or hybrid forms of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and enhanced tumour stemness. Stemness and tumour cell plasticity are strongly promoted by Notch signalling, which remains poorly understood especially in HNSCC. Here, we aim to elucidate how Notch signal may act both as a tumour suppressor and proto-oncogenic, probably during different stages of tumour cell initiation and progression. Notch signalling also interacts with numerous other signalling pathways, that may also have a decisive impact on tumour cell plasticity, acquired radio/chemoresistance, and metastatic progression of HNSCC. We outline the current stage of research related to Notch signalling, and how this pathway may be intricately interconnected with other, druggable targets and signalling mechanisms in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kałafut
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Arkadiusz Czerwonka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Alinda Anameriç
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Alicja Przybyszewska-Podstawka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Julia O. Misiorek
- Department of Molecular Neurooncology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Adolfo Rivero-Müller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Matthias Nees
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
- Western Finland Cancer Centre (FICAN West), Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20101 Turku, Finland
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10
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Aytatli A, Barlak N, Sanli F, Caglar HO, Gundogdu B, Tatar A, Ittmann M, Karatas OF. AZD4547 targets the FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis to overcome paclitaxel resistance in head and neck cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 45:41-56. [PMID: 34837170 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00645-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Development of chemoresistance is one of the major obstacles to the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The PI3K/Akt pathway, involved in drug resistance, has been found to be overactivated in > 90% of HNSCCs. Aberrant activation of the FGF receptors (FGFRs) has been reported to cause overactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and to be associated with the maintenance of stem cell features, which is controlled via SOX2 expression. In this study, we aimed at investigating the potential of using AZD4547, an orally bioavailable FGFR inhibitor, to overcome taxol-resistance by targeting the FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis in HNSCC. METHODS We initially evaluated FGFR2 and SOX2 expression using in silico tools. We analyzed the FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis in normal/tumor tissue pairs and in recombinant FGF2 treated HNSCC cells. Next, we explored the effects of AZD4547 alone and in combination with taxol on the proliferation, migration and colony forming capacities of parental/taxol-resistant cells using in vitro models. RESULTS We found that the p-FGFR, p-AKT, p-GSK-3β and SOX2 expression levels were higher in tumor tissues than in its corresponding normal tissues, and that AZD4547 effectively suppressed the expression of FGFR and its downstream targets in recombinant FGF2 treated HNSCC cells. We also found that AZD4547 diminished the viability, migration and colony forming capacity of HNSCC cells, and that co-treatment with taxol potentiated the impact of taxol on these cells. Finally, we found that AZD4547 inhibited the overexpressed FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis and profoundly suppressed cancer-related phenotypes in taxol-resistant HNSCC cells. CONCLUSION From our data we conclude that AZD4547 may increase the impact of taxol during HNSCC treatment. We suggest AZD4547 as a therapeutic agent to overcome taxol-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulmelik Aytatli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Neslisah Barlak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Fatma Sanli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Hasan Onur Caglar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Betul Gundogdu
- Department of Medical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Arzu Tatar
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Michael Ittmann
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey VAMC, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Omer Faruk Karatas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey.
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey.
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11
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Ohya S, Kajikuri J, Endo K, Kito H, Elboray EE, Suzuki T. Ca 2+ -activated K + channel K Ca 1.1 as a therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in three-dimensional sarcoma spheroid models. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:3769-3783. [PMID: 34181803 PMCID: PMC8409426 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The large‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channel KCa1.1 plays a pivotal role in tumor development and progression in several solid cancers. The three‐dimensional (3D) in vitro cell culture system is a powerful tool for cancer spheroid formation, and mimics in vivo solid tumor resistance to chemotherapy in the tumor microenvironment (TME). KCa1.1 is functionally expressed in osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma cell lines. KCa1.1 activator‐induced hyperpolarizing responses were significantly larger in human osteosarcoma MG‐63 cells isolated from 3D spheroid models compared with in those from adherent 2D monolayer cells. The present study investigated the mechanisms underlying the upregulation of KCa1.1 and its role in chemoresistance using a 3D spheroid model. KCa1.1 protein expression levels were significantly elevated in the lipid‐raft‐enriched compartments of MG‐63 spheroids without changes in its transcriptional level. 3D spheroid formation downregulated the expression of the ubiquitin E3 ligase FBXW7, which is an essential contributor to KCa1.1 protein degradation in breast cancer. The siRNA‐mediated inhibition of FBXW7 in MG‐63 cells from 2D monolayers upregulated KCa1.1 protein expression. Furthermore, a treatment with a potent and selective KCa1.1 inhibitor overcame the chemoresistance of the MG‐63 and human chondrosarcoma SW‐1353 spheroid models to paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. Among several multidrug resistance ATP‐binding cassette transporters, the expression of the multidrug resistance‐associated protein MRP1 was upregulated in both spheroids and restored by the inhibition of KCa1.1. Therefore, the pharmacological inhibition of KCa1.1 may be an attractive new strategy for acquiring resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in the TME of KCa1.1‐positive sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Ohya
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Junko Kajikuri
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kyoko Endo
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kito
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Elghareeb E Elboray
- Department of Complex Molecular Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- Department of Complex Molecular Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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12
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Shah PA, Huang C, Li Q, Kazi SA, Byers LA, Wang J, Johnson FM, Frederick MJ. NOTCH1 Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122677. [PMID: 33322834 PMCID: PMC7764697 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomarker-driven targeted therapies are lacking for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is common and lethal. Efforts to develop such therapies are hindered by a genomic landscape dominated by the loss of tumor suppressor function, including NOTCH1 that is frequently mutated in HNSCC. Clearer understanding of NOTCH1 signaling in HNSCCs is crucial to clinically targeting this pathway. Structural characterization of NOTCH1 mutations in HNSCC demonstrates that most are predicted to cause loss of function, in agreement with NOTCH1's role as a tumor suppressor in this cancer. Experimental manipulation of NOTCH1 signaling in HNSCC cell lines harboring either mutant or wild-type NOTCH1 further supports a tumor suppressor function. Additionally, the loss of NOTCH1 signaling can drive HNSCC tumorigenesis and clinical aggressiveness. Our recent data suggest that NOTCH1 controls genes involved in early differentiation that could have different phenotypic consequences depending on the cancer's genetic background, including acquisition of pseudo-stem cell-like properties. The presence of NOTCH1 mutations may predict response to treatment with an immune checkpoint or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. The latter is being tested in a clinical trial, and if validated, it may lead to the development of the first biomarker-driven targeted therapy for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja A. Shah
- Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (P.A.S.); (L.A.B.)
| | - Chenfei Huang
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (C.H.); (M.J.F.)
| | - Qiuli Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China;
| | - Sawad A. Kazi
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Lauren A. Byers
- Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (P.A.S.); (L.A.B.)
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Jing Wang
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Faye M. Johnson
- Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (P.A.S.); (L.A.B.)
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-713–792-6363; Fax: +1-713-792-1220
| | - Mitchell J. Frederick
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (C.H.); (M.J.F.)
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13
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Yuan XW, Yan TQ, Tong H. Effect of miR-515-5p on Proliferation and Drug Sensitivity of Retinoblastoma Cells. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:12087-12098. [PMID: 33262657 PMCID: PMC7700094 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s271165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Retinoblastoma (RB) is a common malignancy in children eyes. Aberrant microRNA (miR) expression is observed in many cancer cases. miR-515-5p is reported to be concerned with the course of many cancers. This study explores the role of miR-515-5p in proliferation and drug sensitivity of RB cells. Methods Human RB cell lines (WERI-RB1, SO-RB50 and Y79) and human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 were utilized in this study. Drug-resistant cells SO-RB50/VCR and SO-RB50/CBP were constructed for the following experiments. The expressions of miR-515-5p and Notch1 in RB cells were detected. Notch1 was significantly upregulated in RB cells while miR-515-5p was notably downregulated. Then, the binding relationship between miR-515-5p and Notch1 was predicted and verified. Results miR-515-5p negatively regulated Notch1 expression. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that overexpressed miR-515-5p inhibited RB cell proliferation and enhanced drug sensitivity. Functional rescue experiment suggested that miR-515-5p regulated RB cell proliferation and drug sensitivity via inhibiting Notch1 expression. Conclusion It could be concluded that overexpressed miR-515-5p suppressed proliferation and drug resistance of RB cells by targeting Notch1 expression, indicating that miR-515-5p might constitute a promising therapy target for RB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wen Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan People's Hospital, Jinan City, Shandong Province 271199, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Qin Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan People's Hospital, Jinan City, Shandong Province 271199, People's Republic of China.,Department of Ophthalmology, Tai'an Central Hospital, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271000, People's Republic of China
| | - Huilin Tong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Laoshan Branch of the Affifiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, People's Republic of China
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14
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Maloney SM, Hoover CA, Morejon-Lasso LV, Prosperi JR. Mechanisms of Taxane Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3323. [PMID: 33182737 PMCID: PMC7697134 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The taxane family of chemotherapy drugs has been used to treat a variety of mostly epithelial-derived tumors and remain the first-line treatment for some cancers. Despite the improved survival time and reduction of tumor size observed in some patients, many have no response to the drugs or develop resistance over time. Taxane resistance is multi-faceted and involves multiple pathways in proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and the transport of foreign substances. In this review, we dive deeper into hypothesized resistance mechanisms from research during the last decade, with a focus on the cancer types that use taxanes as first-line treatment but frequently develop resistance to them. Furthermore, we will discuss current clinical inhibitors and those yet to be approved that target key pathways or proteins and aim to reverse resistance in combination with taxanes or individually. Lastly, we will highlight taxane response biomarkers, specific genes with monitored expression and correlated with response to taxanes, mentioning those currently being used and those that should be adopted. The future directions of taxanes involve more personalized approaches to treatment by tailoring drug-inhibitor combinations or alternatives depending on levels of resistance biomarkers. We hope that this review will identify gaps in knowledge surrounding taxane resistance that future research or clinical trials can overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Maloney
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN 46617, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA
| | - Camden A. Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; (C.A.H.); (L.V.M.-L.)
| | - Lorena V. Morejon-Lasso
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; (C.A.H.); (L.V.M.-L.)
| | - Jenifer R. Prosperi
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN 46617, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; (C.A.H.); (L.V.M.-L.)
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