ALDH2 as a potential stem cell-related biomarker in lung adenocarcinoma: Comprehensive multi-omics analysis

tRF-29-79 regulates lung adenocarcinoma progression through mediating glutamine transporter SLC1A5

In recent decades, considerable evidence has emerged indicating the involvement of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) in cancer progression through various mechanisms. However, the biological effects and mechanisms of tRFs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain unclear. In this study, we screen out tRF-29-79, a 5'-tRF derived from tRNAGlyGCC, through profiling the tRF expressions in three pairs of LUAD tissues. We show that tRF-29-79 is downregulated in LUAD and downregulation of tRF-29-79 is associated with poorer prognosis. In vivo and in vitro assay reveal that tRF-29-79 inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells. Mechanistically, we discovered that tRF-29-79 interacts with the RNA-binding protein PTBP1 and facilitates the transportation of PTBP1 from nucleus to cytoplasm, which regulates alternative splicing in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of SLC1A5 pre-mRNA. Given that SLC1A5 is a core transporter of glutamine, we proved that tRF-29-79 mediate glutamine metabolism of LUAD through affecting the stability of SLC1A5 mRNA, thus exerts its anticancer function. In summary, our findings uncover the novel mechanism that tRF-29-79 participates in glutamine metabolism through interacting with PTBP1 and regulating alternative splicing in the 3' UTR of SLC1A5 pre-mRNA.

Implications of GCLC in prognosis and immunity of lung adenocarcinoma and multi-omics regulation mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent type of regulated cell death, and has been implicated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Evidence has proved the key role of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) in ferroptosis, but its role in LUAD remains unclear. Herein, we explored the implications of GCLC and relevant genes in LUAD prognosis and immunity as well as underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

This work gathered mRNA, miRNA, DNA methylation, somatic mutation and copy-number variation data from TCGA-LUAD. WGCNA was utilized for selecting GCLC-relevant genes, and a GCLC-relevant prognostic signature was built by uni- and multivariate-cox regression analyses. Immune compositions were estimated via CIBERSORT, and two immunotherapy cohorts of solid tumors were analyzed. Multi-omics regulatory mechanisms were finally assessed.

RESULTS

Our results showed that GCLC was overexpressed in LUAD, and potentially resulted in undesirable survival. A prognostic model was generated, which owned accurate and independent performance in prognostication. GCLC, and relevant genes were notably connected with immune compositions and immune checkpoints. High GCLC expression was linked with better responses to anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 treatment. Their possible DNA methylation sites were inferred, e.g., hypomethylation in cg19740353 might contribute to GCLC up-regulation. Frequent genetic mutations also affected their expression. Upstream transcription factors (E2F1/3/4, etc.), post-transcriptional regulation of miRNAs (hsa-mir-30c-1, etc.), lncRNAs (C8orf34-AS1, etc.), and IGF2BP1-mediated m6A modification were identified. It was also found NOP58-mediated SUMOylation post-translational modification.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, we show that GCLC and relevant genes exert crucial roles in LUAD prognosis and immunity, and their expression can be controlled by complex multi-omics mechanisms.

A novel disulfidptosis-related gene signature predicts overall survival of glioblastoma patients

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic relevance of disulfidptosis-related genes in glioblastoma using bioinformatic analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas Program-Glioblastoma (TCGA-GBM) database and develop a gene signature model for predicting patient prognosis. Methods: We conducted a bioinformatic analysis using the TCGA-GBM database and employed weighted co-expression network analysis to identify disulfidptosis-related genes. Subsequently, we developed a predictive gene signature model based on these genes to stratify glioblastoma patients into high and low-risk groups. Results: Patients categorized into the high-risk group based on the disulfidptosis-related gene signature exhibited a significantly reduced survival rate in comparison to those in the low-risk group. Functional analysis also revealed notable differences in the immune status between the two risk groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, a new disulfidptosis-related gene signature can be utilised to predict prognosis in GBM.

Abnormal methylation mediated upregulation of LINC00857 boosts malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma by modulating the miR-486-5p/NEK2 axis

LINC00857 is frequently dysregulated in varying cancers, which in turn exerts carcinogenic effects; however, its DNA methylation status in promoter region and molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain rarely understood. Through bioinformatics analysis, we examined the expression state and methylation site of LINC00857 in LUAD and further investigated the properties of LINC00857 as a competitive endogenous RNA in the cancer progression. The current study revealed that the overexpression of LINC00857 in LUAD tissue and cells was mainly caused by the hypomethylation of the promoter region. LINC00857 knockdown prominently reduced cell proliferation, impeded cell migration and invasion, and restrained lymph node metastasis, with enhancing radiosensitivity. The effects of LINC00857 on tumor growth were also investigated in nude mice models. Subsequently, the downstream factors, miR-486-5p and NEK2, were screened, and the putative regulatory axis was examined. Overall, the regulatory effect of methylation-mediated LINC00857 overexpression on miR-486-5p/NEK2 axis may be a new mechanism for LUAD progression.

Three Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation-Related Genes Associated with Prognosis in Glioma

Purpose

Dysregulated liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) instigates tumorigenesis through biomolecular condensate dysfunction. However, the association between LLPS-associated genes and glioma remains underexplored.

Patients and Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of glioma were obtained from the GSE50161 dataset, including 34 glioma and 13 normal samples. We analyzed differentially expressed LLPS-related genes in glioma from public databases. These genes informed refined molecular subtyping on the TCGA-glioma dataset. CIBERSORT assessed immune cell infiltration across three subclusters. A prognostic model was devised using univariate and lasso Cox regressions on intersecting genes. Prognostic gene expression was validated in glioma cells via RT-qPCR.

Results

A total of 673 differentially expressed LLPS-associated genes were identified in glioma. Three distinct molecular subtypes (C1, C2, and C3) of glioma were obtained with a marked variance in the expression of immune checkpoint genes PD1 and PDL1. Differences in immune cell infiltration were observed across subtypes. In addition, a tri-gene prognostic signature (TAGLN2, NTNG2, and IGF2BP2) was derived with significant survival differences between high and low-risk groups. The prognostic model displayed impressive AUC values for 1, 3, and 5-year survival in both training and validation sets. Further analysis highlighted a notable correlation between the three prognostic genes and immune cells in glioma samples. Furthermore, we found the upregulation of TAGLN2 and IGF2BP2 and the downregulation of NTNG2 in glioma tumors and cells.

Conclusion

This study innovatively uncovers the significant role of LLPS-related genes in glioma tumor grading and prognosis. The constructed tri-gene prognostic model holds promise for enhancing personalized prognosis assessments and optimizing immunotherapy strategies for glioma patients.

Identification of Lower Grade Glioma Antigens Based on Ferroptosis Status for mRNA Vaccine Development

Purpose

mRNA vaccines represent a promising and innovative strategy within the realm of cancer immunotherapy. However, their efficacy in treating lower-grade glioma (LGG) requires evaluation. Ferroptosis exhibits close associations with the initiation, evolution, and suppression of cancer. In this study, we explored the landscape of the ferroptosis-associated tumor microenvironment to facilitate the development of mRNA vaccines for LGG patients.

Patients and Methods

Genomic and clinical data of the LGG patients was obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. Ferroptosis-related tumor antigens were identified based on differential expression, mutation status, correlation with antigen-presenting cells, and prognosis, relevance to immunogenic cell death (ICD). Antigen expression levels in LGG specimens and cell lines were validated using real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Consensus clustering was employed for patient classification. The immune landscapes of ferroptosis subtypes were further characterized, including immune responses, prognostic ability, tumor microenvironment, and tumor-related signatures.

Results

Five tumor antigens, namely, HOTAIR, IDO1, KIF20A, NR5A2, and RRM2 were identified in LGG. RT-PCR demonstrated higher expression of these genes in LGG compared to the control. Twelve gene modules and four ferroptosis subtypes (FS1-FS4) of LGG were defined. FS2 and FS4, characterized as "cold" tumors due to their decreased tumor mutation burden (TMB) and immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs), were deemed appropriate candidates for the mRNA vaccine.

Conclusion

HOTAIR, IDO1, KIF20A, NR5A2, and RRM2 were identified as promising candidate antigens for the development of an LGG mRNA vaccine, particularly offering potential benefits to FS2 and FS4 patients.

Informed by Cancer Stem Cells of Solid Tumors: Advances in Treatments Targeting Tumor-Promoting Factors and Pathways

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation within tumors that promote cancer progression, metastasis, and recurrence due to their self-renewal capacity and resistance to conventional therapies. CSC-specific markers and signaling pathways highly active in CSCs have emerged as a promising strategy for improving patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic targets associated with CSCs of solid tumors across various cancer types, including key molecular markers aldehyde dehydrogenases, CD44, epithelial cellular adhesion molecule, and CD133 and signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and Sonic Hedgehog. We discuss a wide array of therapeutic modalities ranging from targeted antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and near-infrared photoimmunotherapy to advanced genetic approaches like RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, aptamers, antisense oligonucleotides, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, CAR natural killer cells, bispecific T cell engagers, immunotoxins, drug-antibody conjugates, therapeutic peptides, and dendritic cell vaccines. This review spans developments from preclinical investigations to ongoing clinical trials, highlighting the innovative targeting strategies that have been informed by CSC-associated pathways and molecules to overcome therapeutic resistance. We aim to provide insights into the potential of these therapies to revolutionize cancer treatment, underscoring the critical need for a multi-faceted approach in the battle against cancer. This comprehensive analysis demonstrates how advances made in the CSC field have informed significant developments in novel targeted therapeutic approaches, with the ultimate goal of achieving more effective and durable responses in cancer patients.

Identification of Novel Molecular and Clinical Biomarkers of Survival in Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients: A Study Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Data

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent type of brain tumour; although advancements in treatment have been made, the median survival time for GBM patients has persisted at 15 months. This study is aimed at investigating the genetic alterations and clinical features of GBM patients to find predictors of survival. GBM patients' methylation and gene expression data along with clinical information from TCGA were retrieved. The most overrepresented pathways were identified independently for each omics dataset. From the genes found in at least 30% of these pathways, one gene that was identified in both sets was further examined using the Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis. Additionally, three groups of patients who started radio and chemotherapy at different times were identified, and the influence of these variations in treatment modality on patient survival was evaluated. Four pathways that seemed to negatively impact survival and two with the opposite effect were identified. The methylation status of PRKCB was highlighted as a potential novel biomarker for patient survival. The study also found that treatment with chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy can have a significant impact on patient survival, which could lead to improvements in clinical management and therapeutic approaches for GBM patients.

Depletion of CPNE7 sensitizes colorectal cancer to 5-fluorouracil by downregulating ATG9B expression

We aimed to explore the biological function of CPNE7 and determine the impact of CPNE7 on chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. According to the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database and previously published data, CPNE7 was identified as a potential oncogene in CRC. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to verify the expression of CPNE7. Chi-square test was used to evaluate the associations between CPNE7 and clinical features. Cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed to determine the effects of CPNE7. Transcriptome sequencing was used to identify potential downstream regulatory genes, and gene set enrichment analysis was performed to investigate downstream pathways. The effect of CPNE7 on 5-fluorouracil chemosensitivity was verified by half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay was used to examine the role of CPNE7 in sensitivity of CRC to chemotherapy in vivo. Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect autophagosomes. CPNE7 was highly expressed in CRC tissues, and its expression was correlated with T stage and tumour site. Knockdown of CPNE7 inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of CRC cells and promoted apoptosis. Knockdown of CPNE7 suppressed the expression of ATG9B and enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to 5-fluorouracil in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of CPNE7 reversed the induction of the autophagy pathway by rapamycin and reduced the number of autophagosomes. Depletion of CPNE7 attenuated the malignant proliferation of CRC cells and enhanced the chemosensitivity of CRC cells to 5-fluorouracil.

Coactosin-Like Protein 1 (COTL1) Could Be an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker: From Pan-Cancer Analysis to Low-Grade Glioma Validation

Background

Cancer represents a widespread global health challenge impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Identifying new targets for cancer treatment is a crucial step in developing more effective therapies. Among these potential targets, Coactosin-like protein 1 (COTL1), a cytoskeleton-associated protein with critical roles in cell migration, adhesion, and signaling, has shown involvement in tumor progression.

Methods

GSCA, TIMER, SangerBox database were used to explore the COTL1 expression across different tumor types. We employed the TCGA Pan-Atlas Cancer Genomics Dataset, which is available through the cBioportal platform, to explore genetic alterations in COTL1. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of COTL1, encompassing gene expression, clinical prognosis, RNA modification, immunotherapy, and cancer stemness through SangerBox database. Clinical samples were validated using immunohistochemistry.

Results

Our analysis revealed that COTL1 is highly expressed in most cancers and correlates with decreased survival in Glioma, Glioblastoma multiforme, and pan-kidney cohorts. Furthermore, COTL1 was found to be associated with DNA and RNA stemness in 20 and 22 different tumor types, respectively. Additionally, COTL1 showed positive correlations with immunological checkpoints and immune infiltration cells. It was also linked to tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), neoantigen (NEO), and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), all of which are potential targets for immunotherapies. Moreover, a favorable relationship was demonstrated between genomic-instability markers such as heterozygosity (LOH), homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), and mutant allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) with COTL1. Furthermore, our findings confirmed a positive correlation between COTL1 expression, CD8, and PD-L1 in LGG, as well as an association of high COTL1 expression with decreased patient survival in LGG.

Conclusion

Based on these compelling findings, COTL1 may hold significant clinical implications for the development of novel cancer therapies and serve as a potential target for tumors associated with immunotherapy in the future.

Inhibition of UBA52 induces autophagy via EMC6 to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression

Ubiquitin A-52 residue ribosomal protein fusion product 1 (UBA52) has a role in the occurrence and development of tumours. However, the mechanism by which UBA52 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis and progression remains poorly understood. By using the Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8), colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, we assessed the effects of UBA52 knockdown and overexpression on the proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro. By establishing subcutaneous and metastatic tumour models in nude mice, we evaluated the effects of UBA52 on HCC cell proliferation and migration in vivo. Through bioinformatic analysis of data from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we discovered that UBA52 is associated with autophagy. In addition, we discovered that HCC tissues with high UBA52 expression had a poor prognosis in patients. Moreover, knockdown of UBA52 reduced HCC cell growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, knockdown of UBA52 induced autophagy through EMC6 in HCC cells. These findings suggest that UBA52 promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC cells through autophagy regulation via EMC6 and imply that UBA52 may be a viable novel treatment target for HCC patients.

NME6 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target involved in immune infiltration for lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a prevalent form of lung cancer, is characterized by its high global mortality rate. Previous studies have demonstrated the significance of Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NME) in various cancers; however, the specific role of NME6 in LUAD remains inadequately understood.

OBJECTIVE

This research aims to enhance our understanding of LUAD by investigating the expression level, epigenetic mechanism, signaling activities, and immune infiltrating characteristic immune cells of NME6 in patients.

METHODS

The NME6 expression was explored between LUAD and normal tissue samples using GEPIA, UALCAN and HPA databases. The survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier plotter. The Shiny Methylation Analysis Resource Tool was employed to examine the methylation characteristics of NME6. The Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub (TISCH) and CIBERSORT algorithm were utilized to analyze immune infiltrating characteristic immune cells between NME6 high- and low-expression group in LUAD.

RESULTS

According to GEPIA, UALCAN, and HPA databases, NME6 is highly expressed in LUAD compared to normal tissues. At the same time, elevated levels of NME6 were found to be significantly correlated with inferior overall survival outcomes in LUAD patients. Subsequently, the top 10 genes interacted with NME6 were mainly involved in seven pathways, such as p53 signaling pathway, glutathione metabolism, thiamine metabolism, metabolic pathways, and drug metabolism. Notably, NME6 methylation in LUAD samples was lower than in normal samples. The methylation of cg04625862 has a significant impact on the regulation of NME6 expression in LUAD. Furthermore, high NME6 expression in LUAD was associated with tumor stages and relative abundance of tumor infiltrating immune cells, such as Macrophage M2, activated mast cell, and neutrophil. Moreover, NME6 regulated the expression of m6A modification of genes related to LUAD, including METTL3, WTAP, RBM15B, METTL14, RBMX, VIRMA, YTHDC1, RBM15, ZC3H13, YTHDF1, YTHDC2, IGF2BP2, YTHDF3, HNRNPA2B1, YTHDF2, HNRNPC, FTO, and ALKBH5.

CONCLUSION

The analysis showed that NME6 is a crucial prognostic factor for LUAD patients. NME6 regulates genes related to m6A modification and immune cells infiltration. Furthermore, NME6 could sever as a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the IFI6 Gene as a Prognostic Indicator and Therapeutic Target in Esophageal Cancer

The role of the IFI6 gene has been described in several cancers, but its involvement in esophageal cancer (ESCA) remains unclear. This study aimed to identify novel prognostic indicators for ESCA-targeted therapy by investigating IFI6's expression, epigenetic mechanisms, and signaling activities. We utilized public data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to analyze IFI6's expression, clinical characteristics, gene function, pathways, and correlation with different immune cells in ESCA. The TIMER2.0 database was employed to assess the pan-cancer expression of IFI6, while UALCAN was used to examine its expression across tumor stages and histology subtypes. Additionally, the KEGG database helped identify related pathways. Our findings revealed 95 genes positively correlated and 15 genes negatively correlated with IFI6 in ESCA. IFI6 was over-expressed in ESCA and other cancers, impacting patient survival and showing higher expression in tumor tissues than normal tissues. IFI6 was also correlated with CD4+ T cells and B cell receptors (BCRs), both essential in immune response. GO Biological Process (GO BP) enrichment analysis indicated that IFI6 was primarily associated with the Type I interferon signaling pathway and the defense response to viruses. Intriguingly, KEGG pathway analysis demonstrated that IFI6 and its positively correlated genes in ESCA were mostly linked to the Cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, which plays a crucial role in innate immunity and viral defense, and the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway, which detects viral infections and activates immune responses. Pathways related to various viral infections were also identified. It is important to note that our study relied on online databases. Given that ESCA consists of two distinct subgroups (ESCC and EAC), most databases combine them into a single category. Future research should focus on evaluating IFI6 expression and its impact on each subgroup to gain more specific insights. In conclusion, inhibiting IFI6 using targeted therapy could be an effective strategy for treating ESCA considering its potential as a biomarker and correlation with immune cell factors.

ALDH2 is a novel biomarker and exerts an inhibitory effect on melanoma

Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor. This study aimed to explore and assess the effect of novel biomarkers on the progression of melanoma. Differently expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from GSE3189 and GSE46517 datasets of Gene Expression Omnibus database using GEO2R. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were conducted based on the identified DEGs. Hub genes were identified and assessed using protein-protein interaction networks, principal component analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to measure the mRNA expression levels. TIMER revealed the association between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and tumor immune microenvironment. The viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, wound healing, and transwell assays. Total 241 common DEGs were screened out from GSE3189 and GSE46517 datasets. We determined 6 hub genes with high prediction values for melanoma, which could distinguish tumor samples from normal samples. ALDH2, ADH1B, ALDH3A2, DPT, EPHX2, and GATM were down-regulated in A375 and SK-MEL-2 cells, compared with the human normal melanin cell line (PIG1 cells). ALDH2 was selected as the candidate gene in this research, presenting a high diagnostic and predictive value for melanoma. ALDH2 had a positive correlation with the infiltrating levels of immune cells in melanoma microenvironment. Overexpression of ALDH2 inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of A375/SK-MEL-2 cells. ALDH2 is a new gene biomarker of melanoma, which exerts an inhibitory effect on melanoma.

The association of genomic alterations with PD-L1 expression in Chinese patients with EGFR/ALK wild-type lung adenocarcinoma and potential predictive value of Hippo pathway mutations to immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

The study focuses on PD-L1 expression as an essential biomarker for gauging the response of EGFR/ALK wild-type NSCLC patients to FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). It aims to explore clinical, molecular, and immune microenvironment characteristics associated with PD-L1 expression in EGFR/ALK wild-type lung adenocarcinoma patients eligible for ICI therapy.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, tumor samples from 359 Chinese EGFR/ALK wild-type lung adenocarcinoma patients underwent comprehensive evaluations for PD-L1 expression and NGS-targeted sequencing. The investigation encompassed the analysis and comparison of clinical traits, gene mutations, pathways, and immune signatures between two groups categorized by PD-L1 status: negative (TPS < 1%) and positive (TPS ≥ 1%). Additionally, the study explored the link between genomic changes and outcomes following immunotherapy.

RESULTS

High tumor mutational burden correlated significantly with PD-L1 positivity in patients with EGFR/ALK wild-type lung adenocarcinoma. Gene alterations, including TP53, KRAS, and others, were more pronounced in the PD-L1 positive group. Pathway analysis highlighted higher frequencies of alterations in pathways like RTK/RAS, p53, and Hippo in PD-L1-positive patients. The Hippo pathway's relevance was confirmed in separate immunotherapy cohorts, associated with better outcomes. In terms of immune cell infiltration, Hippo mutants exhibited higher levels of CD68+ PD-L1+ macrophages, CD8+ T cells, and CD8+ PD-1- T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers insights into genomic features of Chinese EGFR/ALK wild-type lung adenocarcinoma patients based on PD-L1 expression. Notably, Hippo pathway alterations were linked to improved immunotherapy outcomes. These findings suggest connections between the Hippo pathway and PD-L1 expression, warranting further clinical and functional investigations. The research advances our understanding of PD-L1 expression's genomic context and immunotherapy response in EGFR/ALK wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.

Blood FOLR3 methylation dysregulations and heterogeneity in non-small lung cancer highlight its strong associations with lung squamous carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the vast majority of lung cancers. Early detection is crucial to reduce lung cancer-related mortality. Aberrant DNA methylation occurs early during carcinogenesis and can be detected in blood. It is essential to investigate the dysregulated blood methylation markers for early diagnosis of NSCLC.

METHODS

NSCLC-associated methylation gene folate receptor gamma (FOLR3) was selected from an Illumina 850K array analysis of peripheral blood samples. Mass spectrometry was used for validation in two independent case-control studies (validation I: n = 2548; validation II: n = 3866). Patients with lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) or lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), normal controls (NCs) and benign pulmonary nodule (BPN) cases were included. FOLR3 methylations were compared among different populations. Their associations with NSCLC clinical features were investigated. Receiver operating characteristic analyses, Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon test, logistics regression analysis and nomogram analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Two CpG sites (CpG_1 and CpG_2) of FOLR3 was significantly lower methylated in NSCLC patients than NCs in the discovery round. In the two validations, both LUSC and LUAD patients presented significant FOLR3 hypomethylations. LUSC patients were highlighted to have significantly lower methylation levels of CpG_1 and CpG_2 than BPN cases and LUAD patients. Both in the two validations, CpG_1 methylation and CpG_2 methylation could discriminate LUSC from NCs well, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.818 and 0.832 in validation I, and 0.789 and 0.780 in validation II. They could also differentiate LUAD from NCs, but with lower efficiency. CpG_1 and CpG_2 methylations could also discriminate LUSC from BPNs well individually in the two validations. With the combined dataset of two validations, the independent associations of age, gender, and FOLR3 methylation with LUSC and LUAD risk were shown and the age-gender-CpG_1 signature could discriminate LUSC and LUAD from NCs and BPNs, with higher efficiency for LUSC.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood-based FOLR3 hypomethylation was shown in LUSC and LUAD. FOLR3 methylation heterogeneity between LUSC and LUAD highlighted its stronger associations with LUSC. FOLR3 methylation and the age-gender-CpG_1 signature might be novel diagnostic markers for the early detection of NSCLC, especially for LUSC.

Multi-omics and single-cell sequencing analyses reveal the potential significance of circadian pathways in cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

Circadian rhythm disturbance is an independent risk factor for cancer. However, few studies have been reported on circadian rhythm related genes (CRGs) in cancer, so it is important to further explore the impact of CRGs in pan-cancer.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to collect cancer-related data such as copy number variation, single nucleotide variants, methylation, and survival differences. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to verify the expression of circadian rhythm hub genes. The circadian pathway scores (CRS) were calculated using single-sample gene enrichment analysis. TIMER and GEPIA databases were used for immune-cell integration and assessment. Single-cell sequencing data was used to evaluate the abundance of CRS in tumor microenvironment cells.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that the expression of circadian pathway varies between tumors. CSNK1E was significantly up-regulated in most tumors and CRY2 was significantly down-regulated in most tumors. The protein interaction network suggested CRY2 as the core gene and IHC verified its significant low expression in KIRC. In addition, CRGs were found to be protective factors in most tumors and have the potential to act as specific immune markers in different tumors. CRS was significantly lower in abundance in most tumors. CRS was significantly associated with overall survival in tumor patients and associated with the expression of many immune cells in the tumor immune microenvironment. CRS is significantly associated with tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability scores in most tumors and may serve as a potential immunotherapeutic marker.

CONCLUSIONS

The circadian rhythm pathway may be a breakthrough point in regulating the tumor microenvironment meanwhile a suitable immunotherapy method in the future.

Prognostic value and immune regulatory role of dynamin 1-like in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with poor treatment outcomes worldwide. Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), which is encoded by the dynamin 1-like (DNM1L) gene, acts as a regulator of mitochondrial fission and plays crucial roles in tumor initiation and progression. However, the clinical value and immune regulation of DNM1L in LUAD have not been explored.

Methods

We comprehensively analyzed the expression of DNM1L in the LUAD cohort of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and the University of The ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN) databases. Kaplan-Meier plotter, in addition to the PrognoScan database, was used to estimate the correlation between DNM1L expression and survival outcome of LUAD patients. The association between the immune tumor microenvironment (TME) and DNM1L expression in LUAD was evaluated based on the Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER)2.0 database. Finally, the functions of DNM1L were validated in vitro experiments, including reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot, wound healing assays, and transwell assays.

Results

DNM1L was overexpressed in LUAD compared to healthy control tissues and was regarded as an independent prognostic factor. Overexpression of DNM1L was significantly related to clinical variables and poor survival outcomes of LUAD patients. Moreover, DNM1L expression was positively associated with the expression of key genes involved in the regulation of immune cell subsets, including T helper (Th)2 cells, Th cells, B cells, CD8 T cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells. In contrast, DNM1L was negatively correlated with the infiltrating levels of myeloid dendritic cells and B cells. Furthermore, DNM1L may play a role in regulating immune cell infiltration and have prognostic value in LUAD patients. Finally, the in vitro experiments showed that increased DNM1L significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells.

Conclusions

This study suggested that DNM1L may play an important role in regulating the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells as well as the infiltration of tumor-related immune cells, which suggests DNM1L was a potential therapeutic target in LUAD. Further studies are however warranted to define its exact mechanism of action and potential therapeutic significance in LUAD patients.

Time series-based hybrid ensemble learning model with multivariate multidimensional feature coding for DNA methylation prediction

BACKGROUND

DNA methylation is a form of epigenetic modification that impacts gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence, thereby exerting control over gene function and cellular development. The prediction of DNA methylation is vital for understanding and exploring gene regulatory mechanisms. Currently, machine learning algorithms are primarily used for model construction. However, several challenges remain to be addressed, including limited prediction accuracy, constrained generalization capability, and insufficient learning capacity.

RESULTS

In response to the aforementioned challenges, this paper leverages the similarities between DNA sequences and time series to introduce a time series-based hybrid ensemble learning model, called Multi2-Con-CAPSO-LSTM. The model utilizes multivariate and multidimensional encoding approach, combining three types of time series encodings with three kinds of genetic feature encodings, resulting in a total of nine types of feature encoding matrices. Convolutional Neural Networks are utilized to extract features from DNA sequences, including temporal, positional, physicochemical, and genetic information, thereby creating a comprehensive feature matrix. The Long Short-Term Memory model is then optimized using the Chaotic Accelerated Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm for predicting DNA methylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Through cross-validation experiments conducted on 17 species involving three types of DNA methylation (6 mA, 5hmC, and 4mC), the results demonstrate the robust predictive capabilities of the Multi2-Con-CAPSO-LSTM model in DNA methylation prediction across various types and species. Compared with other benchmark models, the Multi2-Con-CAPSO-LSTM model demonstrates significant advantages in sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and correlation. The model proposed in this paper provides valuable insights and inspiration across various disciplines, including sequence alignment, genetic evolution, time series analysis, and structure-activity relationships.

Identification of circulating miRNA as early diagnostic molecular markers in malignant glioblastoma base on decision tree joint scoring algorithm

PURPOSE

The lack of clinical markers prevents early diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Many studies have found that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as early diagnostic markers of malignant tumours. Therefore, the identification of novel circulating miRNA biomolecular markers could be beneficial to clinicians in the early diagnosis of GBM.

METHODS

We developed a decision tree joint scoring algorithm (DTSA), systematically integrating significance analysis of microarray (SAM), Pearson hierarchical clustering, T test, Decision tree and Entropy weight score algorithm, to screen out circulating miRNA molecular markers with high sensitivity and accuracy for early diagnosis of GBM.

RESULTS

DTSA was developed and applied for GBM datasets and three circulating miRNA molecular markers were identified, namely, hsa-miR-2278, hsa-miR-555 and hsa-miR-892b. We have found that hsa-miR-2278 and hsa-miR-892b regulate the GBM pathway through target genes, promoting the development of GBM and affecting the survival of patients. DTSA has better classification effect in all data sets than other classification algorithms, and identified miRNAs are better than existing markers of GBM.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that DTSA can effectively identify circulating miRNA, thus contributing to the early diagnosis and personalised treatment of GBM.

Kinesin superfamily member KIFC2 as an independent prognostic biomarker of colon adenocarcinoma associated with poor immune response

Clinical outcomes of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) exhibit heterogeneity among different patients, highlighting the need for novel prognostic biomarkers. Kinesin superfamily members have been shown to play a crucial role in tumors and can predict cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, the role of kinesin family member C2 (KIFC2) in tumors, particularly its prognostic value in COAD, remains poorly understood. Our bioinformatics analysis of the cancer genome atlas and GEO databases revealed significantly higher expression of KIFC2 in COAD, correlating with a worse prognosis in the cancer genome atlas-COAD and GSE17536 cohorts. Additionally, differentially expressed genes in COAD were enriched in immune-related pathways, and patients with higher KIFC2 expression showed fewer activated CD4 + T cells. These findings suggest KIFC2 as a potential prognostic biomarker for COAD, warranting further validation in clinical studies.

CCDC103 as a Prognostic Biomarker Correlated with Tumor Progression and Immune Infiltration in Glioma

Background

The Coiled-coil domain-containing proteins (CCDCs) are expressed in many cancers, but the role of Coiled-coil domain-containing protein 103 (CCDC103) in cancers remains unclear. Further investigations are necessary to ascertain its diagnostic significance and understand its biological function in cancers. This study aims to elucidate the biological functionalities of CCDC103 in glioma and evaluate the correlation between CCDC103 expression with glioma progression.

Methods

Clinical data on glioma patients were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The evaluation encompassed the examination of correlations between CCDC103 expression, pathological characteristics, and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the analysis included the assessment of the correlations between CCDC103 expression and immune cell infiltration as well as glioma progression.

Results

Gliomas have higher levels of CCDC103 expression than the para-carcinoma tissues. Poorer prognosis, unfavorable histological characteristics, the absence of IDH gene mutations, and the absence of chromosome 1p and 19q deletions were all associated with higher expression of CCDC103 in gliomas. In addition to patient age, tumor grade, the absence of IDH mutations, and the absence of chromosome 1p and 19q deletions, univariate and multivariate Cox analyses showed that CCDC103 expression was independently prognostic of overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival in patients with glioma. Furthermore, tumor infiltration of B cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells were all linked with elevated expression of CCDC103. High CCDC103 expression was linked to immune response-related signaling pathways and cell proliferation, according to gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Notably, the knockdown of CCDC103 in glioma cell lines resulted in a significant reduction in cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusion

The correlation between CCDC103 expression and both glioma progression and immune cell infiltration implies that CCDC103 expression holds promise as a valuable prognostic biomarker for glioma.

Targeted EGFR Nanotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis remains poor, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. The present review explores the potential of targeted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) nanotherapy as an alternative treatment for NSCLC, showing that EGFR-targeted nanoparticles are efficiently taken up by NSCLC cells, leading to a significant reduction in tumor growth in mouse models. Consequently, we suggest that targeted EGFR nanotherapy could be an innovative treatment strategy for NSCLC; however, further studies are needed to optimize the nanoparticles and evaluate their safety and efficacy in clinical settings and human trials.

Hyper-methylation of ABCG1 as an epigenetics biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent histological type of lung cancer and the leading cause of death globally. Patients with NSCLC have a poor prognosis for various factors, and a late diagnosis is one of them. The DNA methylation of CpG island sequences found in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes has recently received attention as a potential biomarker of human cancer. In this study, we report DNA methylation changes of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1), which belongs to the ATP cassette transporter family in NSCLC patients. Our results demonstrate that ABCG1 is hyper-methylation in NSCLC samples, and these changes are negatively correlated to gene and protein expression. Furthermore, the expression of the ABCG1 gene is significantly associated with the survival time of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients; however, it did not show a correlation to overall survival (OS) of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients. Notably, we found ABCG1 methylation status at locus cg20214535 is strongly associated with the survival time and consistently observed hyper-methylation in LUAD samples. This novel finding suggests ABCG1 is a potential candidate for targeted therapy in lung cancer via this specific probe. In addition, we illustrate the protein-protein interaction (PPI) of ABCG1 with other proteins and the strong communication of ABCG1 with immune cells.