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Hu J, Liu Q, Feng B, Lu Y, Chen K. Deciphering the Hypoxia-immune interface in esophageal squamous carcinoma: a prognostic network model. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1296814. [PMID: 38148838 PMCID: PMC10751000 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1296814] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The rapid progress and poor prognosis of the exercise of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCA) bring great challenges to the treatment. Hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment has become a key factor in the pathogenesis of tumors. However, due to the lack of clear therapeutic targets, hypoxia targeted therapy of ESCA is still in the exploratory stage. Methods To bridge this critical gap, we mined a large number of gene expression profiles and clinical data on ESCA from public databases. First, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and functional enrichment analysis were performed. We next delved into the relationship between hypoxia and apoptotic cell interactions. Meanwhile, using LASAS-Cox regression, we designed a robust prognostic risk score, which was subsequently validated in the GSE53625 cohort. In addition, we performed a comprehensive analysis of immune cell infiltration and tumor microenvironment using cutting-edge computational tools. Results Hypoxia-related genes were identified and classified by WGCNA. Functional enrichment analysis further elucidated the mechanism by which hypoxia affected the ESCA landscape. The results of the interaction analysis of hypoxia and apoptotic cells revealed their important roles in driving tumor progression. The validation results of the prognostic risk score model in the GSE53625 cohort obtained a good area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the risk score was independently verified as a significant predictor of ESCA outcome. The results of immune cell infiltration and tumor microenvironment analysis reveal the profound impact of immune cell dynamics on tumor evolution. Conclusion Overall, our study presents a pioneering hypoxiacentered gene signature for prognostication in ESCA, providing valuable prognostic insights that could potentially revolutionize patient stratification and therapeutic management in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology of The Eastern Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qilong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology of The Eastern Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bi Feng
- Department of Medical Oncology of The Eastern Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanling Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology of The Eastern Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology of The Eastern Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Kang L, Liu Y, He J, Wang Y, Xue M, Wu X, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Chu M, Li J, Wei W, Li J, Li E, Liao L, Xiao J, Zhang R, Xu L, Wong J. GSK3β-driven SOX2 overexpression is a targetable vulnerability in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncogene 2023; 42:2297-2314. [PMID: 37349645 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02748-w] [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] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest forms of human malignancy that currently lacks approved targeted therapeutics. Accumulating evidence suggests that SOX2 overexpression is a key driving factor for ESCC and various squamous cell carcinoma. Here, through screening a small-molecule kinase inhibitor library, we identified GSK3β as a kinase that is critically required for robust SOX2 expression in ESCC cells. GSK3β did not promote SOX2 transcriptionally but was required for SOX2 protein stability. We demonstrated that GSK3β interacts with and phosphorylates SOX2 at residue S251, which blocks SOX2 from ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation instigated by ubiquitin E3 ligase CUL4ADET1-COP1. Pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of GSK3β by RNA interference selectively impaired SOX2-positive ESCC cell proliferation, cancer stemness, and tumor growth in mouse xenograft model, suggesting that GSK3β promotes ESCC tumorigenesis primarily by driving SOX2 overexpression. GSK3β was found to be frequently overexpressed in clinical esophageal tumors, and there was a positive correlation between GSK3β and SOX2 protein levels. Notably, we found that SOX2 enhanced GSK3β expression transcriptionally, suggesting the existence of a vicious cycle that drives a coordinated GSK3β and SOX2 overexpression in ESCC cells. Finally, we demonstrated in tumor xenograft model that GSK3β inhibitor AR-A014418 was effective in suppressing SOX2-positive ESCC tumor progression and inhibited tumor progression cooperatively with chemotherapeutic agent carboplatin. In conclusion, we uncovered a novel role for GSK3β in driving SOX2 overexpression and tumorigenesis and provided evidence that targeting GSK3β may hold promise for the treatment of recalcitrant ESCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Kang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 6600th Nanfeng Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianzhong He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yaling Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengyang Xue
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fengxian Central Hospital affiliated to the Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Manyu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jialun Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiwen Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Enmin Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lujian Liao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianru Xiao
- Department of Orthopedic Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fengxian Central Hospital affiliated to the Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liyan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jiemin Wong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
- Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 6600th Nanfeng Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, China.
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Kang L, Zhang H, Wang Y, Chu M, He J, Xue M, Pan L, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Chen Z, Huang Y, Chen Z, Li E, Li J, Xu L, Zhang R, Wong J. Control of SOX2 protein stability and tumorigenic activity by E3 ligase CHIP in esophageal cancer cells. Oncogene 2023; 42:2315-2328. [PMID: 37353616 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02745-z] [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] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
SOX2 is highly expressed and controls tumor initiation and cancer stem cell function in various squamous cell carcinomas including esophageal squamous cancer. However, the molecular mechanism leading to SOX2 overexpression in cancer is incompletely understood. Here, we identified CHIP, a chaperone-associated ubiquitin E3 ligase, as a novel negative regulator of SOX2 protein stability and tumorigenic activity in esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. We showed that CHIP interacted with SOX2 primarily via chaperone HSP70, together they catalyzed SOX2 ubiquitination and degradation via proteasome. In contrast, HSP90 promoted SOX2 stability and inhibition of HSP90 activity induced SOX2 ubiquitination and degradation. Notably, unlike the case in normal esophageal tissues where CHIP was detected in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, CHIP in clinical esophageal tumor specimens was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. Consistent with this observation, we observed increased expression of exportin-1/CRM-1 in clinical esophageal tumor specimens. We further demonstrated that CHIP catalyzed SOX2 ubiquitination and degradation primarily in the nuclear compartment. Taken together, our study has identified CHIP as a key suppressor of SOX2 protein stability and tumorigenic activity and revealed CHIP nuclear exclusion as a potential mechanism for aberrant SOX2 overexpression in esophageal cancer. Our study also suggests HSP90 inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for SOX2-positive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Kang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Huifang Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yaling Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Manyu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianzhong He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengyang Xue
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Fengxian Central Hospital affiliated to the Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Pan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Fengxian Central Hospital affiliated to the Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinzhou Medical University, Liaoning, China
| | - Yunfeng Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaosu Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yuanyong Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zitai Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Enmin Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiwen Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Liyan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Fengxian Central Hospital affiliated to the Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jiemin Wong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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