The CD44/COL17A1 pathway promotes the formation of multilayered, transformed epithelia

Plectin, a novel regulator in migration, invasion and adhesion of ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most prevalent gynecologic malignancies and exhibites the highest fatality rate among all gynecologic malignancies. The absence of an early diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target contributes to an overall 5-year survival rate ranging from 30 to 50%. Plectin (PLEC), a 500 kDa scaffolding protein, has gained prominence in recent years due to its pivotal role in various cellular biological functions such as cell morphology, migration and adhesion, while the accurate role of PLEC in OC remains elusive.

RESULTS

In this study, our findings demonstrate that PLEC exerts a positive influence on the progression of OC, encompassing cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

The results providing new insights for the diagnosis and treatment in OC.

Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived COL17A1 promotes gemcitabine resistance and tumorigenesis in pancreatic cancer cells by interacting with ACTN4

BACKGROUND

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of tumor microenvironment and have been identified to be involved in modulating drug resistance in cancers by secreting molecules. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality with high aggressiveness. Gemcitabine (GEM) is one of primary antineoplastic drugs for PC. Collagen XVII (COL17A1) expression was found to be upregulated in GEM-resistant CAFs. Here, this study focused on investigating whether CAFs affected GEM resistance in PC by secreting COL17A1 and its associated mechanisms.

METHODS

In total, 60 newly diagnosed PC patients only with GEM-based chemotherapy were recruited. Normal fibroblasts (NFs) and CAFs were isolated using fresh normal and resistant PC tissues. Human pancreatic duct epithelial (HPDE) cells were used for functional analyses. Levels of COL17A1 and Actinin Alpha 4 (ACTN4) were measured by using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Functional analyses were conducted using MTT, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, transwell, and sphere formation assays, respectively. The interaction between COL17A1 and ACTN4 was analyzed by Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. Animal models were established for in vivo analysis.

RESULTS

CAF incubation promoted GEM resistance and enhanced the proliferation, invasion and stemness in GEM-resistant PC cells. COL17A1 was highly expressed in resistant CAFs and GEM-resistant PC cells, and CAF incubation could increase COL17A1 expression in resistant PC cells. Moreover, COL17A1 silencing in GEM-resistant PC cells or the incubation of COL17A1-decreased CAF with GEM-resistant PC cells could suppress GEM resistance and cell oncogenic phenotype progression. Mechanistically, COL17A1 interacted with ACTN4 protein, and the anticancer effects mediated by COL17A1-decreased CAFs in resistant PC cells were reversed by ACTN4 overexpression. In vivo assay also showed that COL17A1-decreased CAFs suppressed the growth and GEM resistance in PC by ACTN4.

CONCLUSION

CAFs-derived COL17A1 promoted GEM resistance and tumorigenesis in PC by interacting with ACTN4, suggesting a new method for overcoming GEM resistance in PC.

Compatibility of Calycosin-Tanshinone IIA improves Ang II-induced renal artery endothelial cell dysfunction through lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the compatibility of Calycosin and Tanshinone IIA on dysfunction of rat renal artery endothelial cells (RRAECs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We utilized cell culture to optimize Calycosin and Tanshinone IIA concentrations and assessed autophagy, apoptosis, ATP levels, and cell migration using MDC staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, ATP assay, and Transwell assays, respectively. RNA-seq identified differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs, which were validated by qRT-PCR. The compatibility of Calycosin and Tanshinone IIA significantly enhanced the proliferative capacity of Ang II-induced RRAECs, increased autophagosome formation, reduced cell apoptosis, elevated ATP production, and enhanced cell migration ability. RNA sequencing analysis revealed 146 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 43 differentially expressed mRNAs, and co-expression network analysis identified interactions between 28 lncRNAs and 7 mRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses indicated that these differentially expressed mRNAs were primarily involved in the regulation of ATPase activity and metabolic processes related to serine family amino acids, triglycerides, arachidonic acid, etc., as well as the MAPK signaling pathway. The compatibility of Calycosin and Tanshinone IIA improved Ang II-induced dysfunction in RRAECs by modulating the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network, providing new molecular targets and therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of hypertensive renal damage.

Single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals microenvironmental infiltration of myeloid cells and pancreatic prognostic markers in PDAC

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a heterogeneous make-up of myeloid cells that influences the therapeutic response and prognosis. However, understanding the myeloid cell at both a genetic and cellular level remains a significant challenge.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were downloaded from t the Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub and gene expression data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to estimate the relative proportions of each cell type based on the signatures identified by scRNA-seq or previous literature. Cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) was performed to evaluate the abundance of immune infiltrating cells. For further analysis, LASSO and Cox analyses were used to construct a risk model using univariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

Using the scRNA-seq dataset, we identified 7 clusters of myeloid cells, and these clusters were assigned a cell type based on their marker genes. In addition, the results of the CellChat analysis and SCENIC analysis indicate that TAM-spp1 cells may promote the migration of pancreatic tumor cells on different levels. Moreover, the TAM-spp1 cell is most closely related to poor prognoses. An 8-gene risk model was constructed by using univariate Cox and LASSO analyses. In the GEO cohorts, this risk model demonstrated excellent predictive abilities for prognosis. Further, patients with high-risk scores had a lower likelihood of benefiting from immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Using bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq, we analyzed myeloid heterogeneity at the single-cell level, and we developed an 8-gene model that predicts survival outcomes and immunotherapy response in PADC.

Lipid Regulatory Element Interact with CD44 on Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Bovine Adipocyte Differentiation and Lipometabolism

The CD44 gene is a critical factor in animal physiological processes and has been shown to affect insulin resistance and fat accumulation in mammals. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted on its precise functions in lipid metabolism and adipogenic differentiation in beef cattle. This study analyzed the expression of CD44 and miR-199a-3p during bovine preadipocyte differentiation. The luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that CD44 was a direct target of miR-199a-3p. Increased accumulation of lipid droplets and triglyceride levels, altered fatty acid metabolism, and accelerated preadipocyte differentiation were all caused by the upregulation of miR-199a-3p or a reduction in CD44 expression. CD44 knockdown upregulated the expression of adipocyte-specific genes (LPL and FABP4) and altered the levels of lipid metabolites (SOPC, l-arginine, and heptadecanoic acid). Multiomics highlights enriched pathways involved in energy metabolism (MAPK, cAMP, and calcium signaling) and shifts in mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, indicating that CD44 plays a regulatory role in lipid metabolism. The findings show that intracellular lipolysis, glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, fat deposition, and lipid droplet composition are all impacted by miR-199a-3p, which modulates CD44 in bovine adipocytes.

The Deubiquitinase USP22-Stabilized COL17A1 Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly aggressive and rapidly fatal malignancy worldwide. Collagen XVII (COL17A1) has been implicated in various protumorigenic processes. However, the functions and mechanisms of COL17A1 in LUAD progression still remain elusive.

METHODS

COL17A1 and ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) mRNA analysis was performed by quantitative PCR, and their protein levels were detected by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The functional influence was evaluated by determining cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and ferroptosis in vitro, as well as xenograft growth in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and IP experiments were used to examine the USP22/COL17A1 interaction and COL17A1 deubiquitination. Cycloheximide treatment was used to analyze COL17A1 protein stability.

RESULTS

COL17A1 and USP22 were upregulated in human LUAD tissues and cell lines. Functionally, COL17A1 knockdown acted for the suppression of LUAD cell growth, invasion, and migration as well as promotion of cell apoptosis and ferroptosis in vitro. COL17A1 knockdown could diminish the tumorigenicity of LUAD cells in vivo. Mechanistically, USP22 stabilized and upregulated COL17A1 by enhancing the deubiquitination of COL17A1. Additionally, reexpression of COL17A1 could reverse USP22 silencing-induced phenotype changes of LUAD cells in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that USP22-stabilized COL17A1 possesses oncogenic activity in LUAD. We propose that USP22 and COL17A1 would be potential targets for the establishment of therapeutic approaches against LUAD.

Collagen XVII promotes dormancy of colorectal cancer cells by activating mTORC2 signaling

Tumor dormancy is the underpinning for cancer relapse and chemoresistance, leading to massive cancer-related death in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, our comprehension of the mechanisms dictating tumor dormancy and strategies for eliminating dormant tumor cells remains restricted. In this study, we identified that collagen XVII (COL17A1), a hemidesmosomal transmembrane protein, can promote the dormancy of CRC cells. The upregulation of COL17A1 was observed to prolong quiescence periods and diminish drug susceptibility of CRC cells. Mechanistically, COL17A1 acts as a scaffold, enhancing the crosstalk between mTORC2 and Akt, thereby instigating the mTORC2-mediated dormant signaling. Notably, the activation of mTORC2 is contingent upon the intracellular domain of COL17A1, regardless of its ectodomain shedding. Our findings underscore a pivotal role of the COL17A1-mTORC2 axis in CRC dormancy, suggesting that mTORC2-specific inhibitors may hold therapeutic prospects for the eradication of dormant tumor cells.

Collagen 17A1 in the Urothelium Regulates Epithelial Cell Integrity and Local Immunologic Responses in Obstructive Uropathy

Collagen 17A1 (COL17A1), an epidermal hemidesmosome component, is ectopically induced in the urothelium of mouse and human renal pelvis (RP) in parallel with urinary tract-associated lymphoid structure development. Here, COL17A1 was induced in obstructive uropathy-prone ureter of humans and cats. To ascertain its function, murine urinary organs with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) were analyzed during 1 week after surgery. One day after UUO, COL17A1 expression increased in urothelial cells of RP and ureter, and was positively correlated with renal tubulointerstitial lesions. A portion of RP where the smooth muscle layer from the ureter was interrupted was sensitive to urothelium deciduation and COL17A1 induction, showing urine leaked from the RP lumen into the parenchyma. After urine stimulation, cultured immune cells expressed Cxcl2, also up-regulated in CD11b+ cells following COL17A1 stimulation. One day after UUO, CXCL2+ CD11b+ cells infiltrated the urothelium-disrupted area. However, these numbers were significantly lower in Col17a1-deficient mice. COL17A1+ urothelial cells partially co-expressed cytokeratin-14, a progenitor cell marker for urothelium, whereas Col17a1-deficient mice had lower numbers of cytokeratin-14+ cells. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that expression of epithelial- and immune-associated genes was up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, in the ureter of Col17a1-deficient mice 4 days after UUO. Thus, COL17A1 maintains urothelium integrity by regulating urothelial cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, and activates local immune responses during obstructive uropathy in mammals.

CD44 and its implication in neoplastic diseases

CD44, a nonkinase single span transmembrane glycoprotein, is a major cell surface receptor for many other extracellular matrix components as well as classic markers of cancer stem cells and immune cells. Through alternative splicing of CD44 gene, CD44 is divided into two isoforms, the standard isoform of CD44 (CD44s) and the variant isoform of CD44 (CD44v). Different isoforms of CD44 participate in regulating various signaling pathways, modulating cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, with its aberrant expression and dysregulation contributing to tumor initiation and progression. However, CD44s and CD44v play overlapping or contradictory roles in tumor initiation and progression, which is not fully understood. Herein, we discuss the present understanding of the functional and structural roles of CD44 in the pathogenic mechanism of multiple cancers. The regulation functions of CD44 in cancers-associated signaling pathways is summarized. Moreover, we provide an overview of the anticancer therapeutic strategies that targeting CD44 and preclinical and clinical trials evaluating the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and drug-related toxicity about CD44-targeted therapies. This review provides up-to-date information about the roles of CD44 in neoplastic diseases, which may open new perspectives in the field of cancer treatment through targeting CD44.

Unveiling Collagen's Role in Breast Cancer: Insights into Expression Patterns, Functions and Clinical Implications

Collagen, the predominant protein constituent of the mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM), comprises a diverse family of 28 members (I-XXVIII). Beyond its structural significance, collagen is implicated in various diseases or cancers, notably breast cancer, where it influences crucial cellular processes including proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and drug resistance, intricately shaping cancer progression and prognosis. In breast cancer, distinct collagens exhibit differential expression profiles, with some showing heightened or diminished levels in cancerous tissues or cells compared to normal counterparts, suggesting specific and pivotal biological functions. In this review, we meticulously analyze the expression of individual collagen members in breast cancer, utilizing Transcripts Per Million (TPM) data sourced from the GEPIA2 database. Through this analysis, we identify collagens that deviate from normal expression patterns in breast cancer, providing a comprehensive overview of their expression dynamics, functional roles, and underlying mechanisms. Our findings shed light on recent advancements in understanding the intricate interplay between these aberrantly expressed collagens and breast cancer. This exploration aims to offer valuable insights for the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets, thereby advancing the prospects of more effective interventions in breast cancer treatment.

NEIL1 drives the initiation of colorectal cancer through transcriptional regulation of COL17A1

Deficiency of DNA repair pathways drives the development of colorectal cancer. However, the role of the base excision repair (BER) pathway in colorectal cancer initiation remains unclear. This study shows that Nei-like DNA glycosylase 1 (NEIL1) is highly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Knocking out neil1 in mice markedly suppresses tumorigenesis and enhances infiltration of CD8+ T cells in intestinal tumors. Furthermore, NEIL1 directly forms a complex with SATB2/c-Myc to enhance the transcription of COL17A1 and subsequently promotes the production of immunosuppressive cytokines in CRC cells. A NEIL1 peptide suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis in ApcMin/+ mice, and targeting NEIL1 demonstrates a synergistic suppressive effect on tumor growth when combined with a nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) inhibitor. These results suggest that combined targeting of NEIL1 and NF-κB may represent a promising strategy for CRC therapy.

Copy Number Variations in Pancreatic Cancer: From Biological Significance to Clinical Utility

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer, characterized by high tumor heterogeneity and a poor prognosis. Inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity in PDAC is a major obstacle to effective PDAC treatment; therefore, it is highly desirable to explore the tumor heterogeneity and underlying mechanisms for the improvement of PDAC prognosis. Gene copy number variations (CNVs) are increasingly recognized as a common and heritable source of inter-individual variation in genomic sequence. In this review, we outline the origin, main characteristics, and pathological aspects of CNVs. We then describe the occurrence of CNVs in PDAC, including those that have been clearly shown to have a pathogenic role, and further highlight some key examples of their involvement in tumor development and progression. The ability to efficiently identify and analyze CNVs in tumor samples is important to support translational research and foster precision oncology, as copy number variants can be utilized to guide clinical decisions. We provide insights into understanding the CNV landscapes and the role of both somatic and germline CNVs in PDAC, which could lead to significant advances in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Although there has been significant progress in this field, understanding the full contribution of CNVs to the genetic basis of PDAC will require further research, with more accurate CNV assays such as single-cell techniques and larger cohorts than have been performed to date.

Collagen XVII regulates tumor growth in pancreatic cancer through interaction with the tumor microenvironment

Expression of the gene for collagen XVII (COL17A1) in tumor tissue is positively or negatively associated with patient survival depending on cancer type. High COL17A1 expression is thus a favorable prognostic marker for breast cancer but unfavorable for pancreatic cancer. This study explored the effects of COL17A1 expression on pancreatic tumor growth and their underlying mechanisms. Analysis of published single-cell RNA-sequencing data for human pancreatic cancer tissue revealed that COL17A1 was expressed predominantly in cancer cells rather than surrounding stromal cells. Forced expression of COL17A1 did not substantially affect the proliferation rate of the mouse pancreatic cancer cell lines KPC and AK4.4 in vitro. However, in mouse homograft tumor models in which KPC or AK4.4 cells were injected into syngeneic C57BL/6 or FVB mice, respectively, COL17A1 expression promoted or suppressed tumor growth, respectively, suggesting that the effect of COL17A1 on tumor growth was influenced by the tumor microenvironment. RNA-sequencing analysis of tumor tissue revealed effects of COL17A1 on gene expression profiles (including the expression of genes related to cell proliferation, the immune response, Wnt signaling, and Hippo signaling) that differed between C57BL/6-KPC and FVB-AK4.4 tumors. Our data thus suggest that COL17A1 promotes or suppresses cancer progression in a manner dependent on the interaction of tumor cells with the tumor microenvironment.

Accumulation of annexin A2 and S100A10 prevents apoptosis of apically delaminated, transformed epithelial cells

In various epithelial tissues, the epithelial monolayer acts as a barrier. To fulfill its function, the structural integrity of the epithelium is tightly controlled. When normal epithelial cells detach from the basal substratum and delaminate into the apical lumen, the apically extruded cells undergo apoptosis, which is termed anoikis. In contrast, transformed cells often become resistant to anoikis and able to survive and grow in the apical luminal space, leading to the formation of multilayered structures, which can be observed at the early stage of carcinogenesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms still remain elusive. In this study, we first demonstrate that S100A10 and ANXA2 (Annexin A2) accumulate in apically extruded, transformed cells in both various cell culture systems and murine epithelial tissues in vivo. ANXA2 acts upstream of S100A10 accumulation. Knockdown of ANXA2 promotes apoptosis of apically extruded RasV12-transformed cells and suppresses the formation of multilayered epithelia. In addition, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are elevated in apically extruded RasV12 cells. Treatment with ROS scavenger Trolox reduces the occurrence of apoptosis of apically extruded ANXA2-knockdown RasV12 cells and restores the formation of multilayered epithelia. Furthermore, ROS-mediated p38MAPK activation is observed in apically delaminated RasV12 cells, and ANXA2 knockdown further enhances the p38MAPK activity. Moreover, the p38MAPK inhibitor promotes the formation of multilayered epithelia of ANXA2-knockdown RasV12 cells. These results indicate that accumulated ANXA2 diminishes the ROS-mediated p38MAPK activation in apically extruded transformed cells, thereby blocking the induction of apoptosis. Hence, ANXA2 can be a potential therapeutic target to prevent multilayered, precancerous lesions.

Dynamic links between mechanical forces and metabolism shape the tumor milieu

Cell function relies on the spatiotemporal dynamics of metabolic reactions. In all physiopathological processes of tissues, mechanical forces impact the structure and function of membranes, enzymes, organelles and regulators of metabolic gene programs, thus regulating cell metabolism. In turn, metabolic pathways feedback impacts the physical properties of cell and tissues. Hence, metabolism and tissue mechanics are dynamically intertwined and continuously interact. Cancer is akin to an ecosystem, comprising tumor cells and various subpopulations of stromal cells embedded in an altered extracellular matrix. The progression of cancer, from initiation to advanced stage and metastasis, is driven by genetic mutations and crucially influenced by physical and metabolic alterations in the tumor microenvironment. These alterations also play a pivotal role in cancer cells evasion from immune surveillance and in developing resistance to treatments. Here, we highlight emerging evidence showing that mechano-metabolic circuits in cancer and stromal cells regulate multiple processes crucial for tumor progression and discuss potential approaches to improve therapeutic treatments by interfering with these circuits.

Integration of Patient-Derived Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Systems: Investigating Colorectal Cancer Invasion within the Mechanical and GABAergic Tumor Microenvironment

Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models are essential in cancer research, but they often neglect physical forces. In our study, we combined patient-derived tumor organoids with a microfluidic organ-on-chip system to investigate colorectal cancer (CRC) invasion in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This allowed us to create patient-specific tumor models and assess the impact of physical forces on cancer biology. Our findings showed that the organoid-on-chip models more closely resembled patient tumors at the transcriptional level, surpassing organoids alone. Using 'omics' methods and live-cell imaging, we observed heightened responsiveness of KRAS mutant tumors to TME mechanical forces. These tumors also utilized the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter as an energy source, increasing their invasiveness. This bioengineered model holds promise for advancing our understanding of cancer progression and improving CRC treatments.

Arginine methylation of HSPA8 by PRMT9 inhibits ferroptosis to accelerate hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma progression

BACKGROUND

The hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein is an established cause of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether arginine methylation regulates ferroptosis involved in HBx-induced HCC progression has not been reported. This study aimed to explore whether HBx-regulated protein arginine methyltransferase 9 (PRMT9) mediates the involvement of ferroptosis in the development of HCC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

HBx inhibited ferroptosis through promoting PRMT9 expression in HCC cells. PRMT9 suppressed ferroptosis to accelerate HCC progression in vivo. PRMT9 targeted HSPA8 and enhanced arginine methylation of HSPA8 at R76 and R100 to regulate ferroptosis in HCC. HSPA8 overexpression altered the transcriptome profile of HepG2 cells, in particular, ferroptosis and immune-related pathways were significantly enriched by differentially expressed genes, including CD44. HSPA8 overexpression up-regulated CD44 expression and knockdown of CD44 significantly reversed the inhibition of ferroptosis caused by PRMT9 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, HBx/PRMT9/HSPA8/CD44 axis is a vital signal pathway regulating ferroptosis in HCC cells. This study provides new opportunities and targets for the treatment of HBV-induced HCC.

Reactive Oxygen Species: A Crosslink between Plant and Human Eukaryotic Cell Systems

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important regulating factors that play a dual role in plant and human cells. As the first messenger response in organisms, ROS coordinate signals in growth, development, and metabolic activity pathways. They also can act as an alarm mechanism, triggering cellular responses to harmful stimuli. However, excess ROS cause oxidative stress-related damage and oxidize organic substances, leading to cellular malfunctions. This review summarizes the current research status and mechanisms of ROS in plant and human eukaryotic cells, highlighting the differences and similarities between the two and elucidating their interactions with other reactive substances and ROS. Based on the similar regulatory and metabolic ROS pathways in the two kingdoms, this review proposes future developments that can provide opportunities to develop novel strategies for treating human diseases or creating greater agricultural value.

Ten-year distant-recurrence risk prediction in breast cancer by CanAssist Breast (CAB) in Dutch sub-cohort of the randomized TEAM trial

BACKGROUND

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2/neu-negative breast cancers have a sustained risk of recurrence up to 20 years from diagnosis. TEAM (Tamoxifen, Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational) is a large, multi-country, phase III trial that randomized 9776 women for the use of hormonal therapy. Of these 2754 were Dutch patients. The current study aims for the first time to correlate the ten-year clinical outcomes with predictions by CanAssist Breast (CAB)-a prognostic test developed in South East Asia, on a Dutch sub-cohort that participated in the TEAM. The total Dutch TEAM cohort and the current Dutch sub-cohort were almost similar with respect to patient age and tumor anatomical features.

METHODS

Of the 2754 patients from the Netherlands, which are part of the original TEAM trial, 592 patients' samples were available with Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The risk stratification of CAB was correlated with outcomes of patients using logistic regression approaches entailing Kaplan-Meier survival curves, univariate and multivariate cox-regression hazards model. We used hazard ratios (HRs), the cumulative incidence of distant metastasis/death due to breast cancer (DM), and distant recurrence-free interval (DRFi) for assessment.

RESULTS

Out of 433 patients finally included, the majority, 68.4% had lymph node-positive disease, while only a minority received chemotherapy (20.8%) in addition to endocrine therapy. CAB stratified 67.5% of the total cohort as low-risk [DM = 11.5% (95% CI, 7.6-15.2)] and 32.5% as high-risk [DM = 30.2% (95% CI, 21.9-37.6)] with an HR of 2.90 (95% CI, 1.75-4.80; P < 0.001) at ten years. CAB risk score was an independent prognostic factor in the consideration of clinical parameters in multivariate analysis. At ten years, CAB high-risk had the worst DRFi of 69.8%, CAB low-risk in the exemestane monotherapy arm had the best DRFi of 92.7% [vs CAB high-risk, HR, 0.21 (95% CI, 0.11-0.43), P < 0.001], and CAB low-risk in the sequential arm had a DRFi of 84.2% [vs CAB high-risk, HR, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.28-0.82), P = 0.009].

CONCLUSIONS

Cost-effective CAB is a statistically robust prognostic and predictive tool for ten-year DM for postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2-, early breast cancer. CAB low-risk patients who received exemestane monotherapy had an excellent ten-year DRFi.

Correlation between the Warburg effect and progression of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is ineligible for hormonal therapy and Her-2-targeted therapy due to the negative expression of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. Although targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been shown to attenuate the aggressiveness of TNBC partially, few patients have benefited from them. The conventional treatment for TNBC remains chemotherapy. Chemoresistance, however, impedes therapeutic progress over time, and chemotherapy toxicity increases the burden of cancer on patients. Therefore, introducing more advantageous TNBC treatment options is a necessity. Metabolic reprogramming centered on glucose metabolism is considered a hallmark of tumors. It is described as tumor cells tend to convert glucose to lactate even under normoxic conditions, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Similar to Darwinian evolution, its emergence is attributed to the selective pressures formed by the hypoxic microenvironment of pre-malignant lesions. Of note, the Warburg effect does not disappear with changes in the microenvironment after the formation of malignant tumor phenotypes. Instead, it forms a constitutive expression mediated by mutations or epigenetic modifications, providing a robust selective survival advantage for primary and metastatic lesions. Expanding evidence has demonstrated that the Warburg effect mediates multiple invasive behaviors in TNBC, including proliferation, metastasis, recurrence, immune escape, and multidrug resistance. Moreover, the Warburg effect-targeted therapy has been testified to be feasible in inhibiting TNBC progression. However, not all TNBCs are sensitive to glycolysis inhibitors because TNBC cells flexibly switch their metabolic patterns to cope with different survival pressures, namely metabolic plasticity. Between the Warburg effect-targeted medicines and the actual curative effect, metabolic plasticity creates a divide that must be continuously researched and bridged.

Identification of immune biomarkers associated with basement membranes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and their pan-cancer analysis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology, characterized by diffuse alveolitis and alveolar structural damage. Due to the short median survival time and poor prognosis of IPF, it is particularly urgent to find new IPF biomarkers. Previous studies have shown that basement membranes (BMs) are associated with the development of IPF and tumor metastasis. However, there is still a lack of research on BMs-related genes in IPF. Therefore, we investigated the expression level of BMs genes in IPF and control groups, and explored their potential as biomarkers for IPF diagnosis. In this study, the GSE32537 and GSE53845 datasets were used as training sets, while the GSE24206, GSE10667 and GSE101286 datasets were used as validation sets. In the training set, seven immune biomarkers related to BMs were selected by differential expression analysis, machine learning algorithm (LASSO, SVM-RFE, Randomforest) and ssGSEA analysis. Further ROC analysis confirmed that seven BMs-related genes played an important role in IPF. Finally, four immune-related Hub genes (COL14A1, COL17A1, ITGA10, MMP7) were screened out. Then we created a logistic regression model of immune-related hub genes (IHGs) and used a nomogram to predict IPF risk. The nomogram model was evaluated to have good reliability and validity, and ROC analysis showed that the AUC value of IHGs was 0.941 in the training set and 0.917 in the validation set. Pan-cancer analysis showed that IHGs were associated with prognosis, immune cell infiltration, TME, and drug sensitivity in 33 cancers, suggesting that IHGs may be potential targets for intervention in human diseases including IPF and cancer.

Expression profiles and functions of ferroptosis-related genes in intimal hyperplasia induced by carotid artery ligation in mice

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a prominent pathological event that occurs during in-stent restenosis and atherosclerosis. Ferroptosis, characterized by iron-dependent and lipid peroxidation, has become the recent focus of studies on the occurrence and progress of cardiovascular diseases. However, there are few studies on ferroptosis and IH. Therefore, we aimed to identify and validate ferroptosis-related markers in IH to explore new possibilities for IH diagnosis and treatment. The IH microarray dataset (GSE182291) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) were obtained from the FerrDb databases. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the GEO2R. Overlapping was performed to identify the ferroptosis-related DEGs among the DEGs and FRGs. Then, clustering, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses were performed. Subsequently, the hub genes were identified using Cytoscape and hub gene–transcription factors and hub gene–microRNA networks were constructed. Finally, real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to verify the mRNA and protein levels of the hub FRGs in IH. Thirty-four FRGs showing significantly different expression were identified from a total of 1,197 DEGs 2 days after ligation; 31 FRGs were selected from a total of 1,556 DEGs 14 days after ligation. The GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these 34 ferroptosis-related DEGs identified 2 days after ligation were mainly enriched in the basolateral plasma membrane, ferroptosis, lipid and atherosclerosis, and IL-17 signaling pathways. The 31 ferroptosis-related DEGs in endometrial hyperplasia identified 14 days after ligation were mainly enriched in response to oxidative stress, ferroptosis, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and lipid and atherosclerosis. Five hub FRGs (Il1b, Ptgs2, Cybb, Cd44, and Tfrc) were identified using PPI networks; four hub FRGs (Il1b, Ptgs2, Cybb, and Cd44) were validated to be upregulated 2 and 14 days after ligation using RT-qPCR and show significantly different expression 14 days after ligation via IHC. Our findings verify the expression of hub DEGs related to ferroptosis in IH and elucidate the potential relationship between ferroptosis and IH, providing more evidence about the vital role of ferroptosis in IH.

Integrated Analysis of ECT2 and COL17A1 as Potential Biomarkers for Pancreatic Cancer

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract. It presents with atypical clinical symptoms and lacks specific diagnostic indicators. This study is aimed at exploring the potential biomarkers of PC.

Methods

TCGA database pancreatic cancer dataset was normalized and used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Survival, independent prognostic, and clinical correlation analyses were performed on DEGs to screen for key genes. DNA methylation, mutation, and copy number variation (CNV) analyses were used to analyze genetic variants in key genes. GSEA was performed to explore the functional enrichment of the key genes. Based on the expression of key genes, construction of a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and prediction of chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity were performed. Furthermore, the GEO database was used to validate the reliability of key genes.

Results

Two key genes (ECT2 and COL17A1) were identified, which were highly expressed in PC. The mRNA expression of ECT2 and COL17A1 was associated with DNA methylation and CNV. The cell cycle, proteasome, and pathways in cancer were enriched in the high-COL17A1 and ECT2 groups. The TME results showed that immune scores were decreased in the high-ECT2 group. CeRNA network results showed that there were eleven miRNAs were involved in the regulation of ECT2 and COL17A1. Moreover, pRRophetic analysis showed that 20 chemotherapeutic drugs were associated with ECT2 and COL17A1 expression.

Conclusions

Collectively, ECT2 and COL17A1 may be potential biomarkers for PC, providing a new direction for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

COL17A1 germline variant p.Ser1029Ala and mucosal malignant melanoma: An autopsy study

Collagen type XVII α1 (COL17A1) encodes a hemidesmosomal protein at the epidermal-dermal junction and its variants are implicated in blistering skin diseases. Recent experiments in rodents revealed that Col17a1 has critical roles in stem cells of epidermal origin and in melanoma carcinogenesis. In the present study, it was investigated whether germline variants in COL17A1 are associated with skin cancer and other cancer types using indexed consecutive autopsy cases from the Japanese Geriatric Single Nucleotide Polymorphism database (n=2,343; mean age, 80 years). The database included 12 patients with skin cancer. A total of 53 COL17A1 missense variants on an exome chip were analyzed. One variant, p.Ser1029Ala (rs118166857), which had a minor allele frequency of 1.0%, exhibited a nominal positive sign of association with skin cancer [Fisher's exact P=0.002, odds ratio (OR)=16.93, 95% CI: 4.44-64.64]. This variant was detected in 2/2 patients with mucosal malignant melanoma (mMM) and 1/3 patients with extramammary Paget's disease, and in none of the patients with non-melanoma cancer, e.g., squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma. Other cancer types were searched in the database and the p.Ser1029Ala variant was indicated to be nominally associated with breast cancer (P=0.006, OR=4.17, 95% CI: 1.72-10.11). In the two mMM cases, targeted exome sequencing of 55 cancer-predisposing genes (including tumor protein 53, BRCA1/2 and mismatch repair genes) detected no apparent pathogenic variants, but revealed variants of unknown significance in axin 2, DNA directed polymerase ζ catalytic subunit and contactin 6. Since COL17A1 provides a niche for melanocyte stem cells, it was hypothesized that the p.Ser1029Ala variant in the COL17A1 ectodomain may affect the microenvironment, e.g., the cell competition. This is a working hypothesis generated from human autopsy cases and warrants further epidemiological and molecular biological validation.

BP180/Collagen XVII: A Molecular View

BP180 is a type II collagenous transmembrane protein and is best known as the major autoantigen in the blistering skin disease bullous pemphigoid (BP). The BP180 trimer is a central component in type I hemidesmosomes (HD), which cause the adhesion between epidermal keratinocytes and the basal lamina, but BP180 is also expressed in several non-HD locations, where its functions are poorly characterized. The immunological roles of intact and proteolytically processed BP180, relevant in BP, have been subject to intensive research, but novel functions in cell proliferation, differentiation, and aging have also recently been described. To better understand the multiple physiological functions of BP180, the focus should return to the protein itself. Here, we comprehensively review the properties of the BP180 molecule, present new data on the biochemical features of its intracellular domain, and discuss their significance with regard to BP180 folding and protein-protein interactions.