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Michaels AM, Zoccarato A, Hoare Z, Firth G, Chung YJ, Kuchel PW, Shah AM, Shattock MJ, Southworth R, Eykyn TR. Disrupting Na + ion homeostasis and Na +/K + ATPase activity in breast cancer cells directly modulates glycolysis in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Metab 2024; 12:15. [PMID: 38783368 PMCID: PMC11119389 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-024-00343-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycolytic flux is regulated by the energy demands of the cell. Upregulated glycolysis in cancer cells may therefore result from increased demand for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), however it is unknown what this extra ATP turnover is used for. We hypothesise that an important contribution to the increased glycolytic flux in cancer cells results from the ATP demand of Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) due to altered sodium ion homeostasis in cancer cells. METHODS Live whole-cell measurements of intracellular sodium [Na+]i were performed in three human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, HCC1954, MCF-7), in murine breast cancer cells (4T1), and control human epithelial cells MCF-10A using triple quantum filtered 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Glycolytic flux was measured by 2H NMR to monitor conversion of [6,6-2H2]D-glucose to [2H]-labelled L-lactate at baseline and in response to NKA inhibition with ouabain. Intracellular [Na+]i was titrated using isotonic buffers with varying [Na+] and [K+] and introducing an artificial Na+ plasma membrane leak using the ionophore gramicidin-A. Experiments were carried out in parallel with cell viability assays, 1H NMR metabolomics of intracellular and extracellular metabolites, extracellular flux analyses and in vivo measurements in a MDA-MB-231 human-xenograft mouse model using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoroglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). RESULTS Intracellular [Na+]i was elevated in human and murine breast cancer cells compared to control MCF-10A cells. Acute inhibition of NKA by ouabain resulted in elevated [Na+]i and inhibition of glycolytic flux in all three human cancer cells which are ouabain sensitive, but not in the murine cells which are ouabain resistant. Permeabilization of cell membranes with gramicidin-A led to a titratable increase of [Na+]i in MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells and a Na+-dependent increase in glycolytic flux. This was attenuated with ouabain in the human cells but not in the murine cells. 18FDG PET imaging in an MDA-MB-231 human-xenograft mouse model recorded lower 18FDG tumour uptake when treated with ouabain while murine tissue uptake was unaffected. CONCLUSIONS Glycolytic flux correlates with Na+-driven NKA activity in breast cancer cells, providing evidence for the 'centrality of the [Na+]i-NKA nexus' in the mechanistic basis of the Warburg effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan M Michaels
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Anna Zoccarato
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Zoe Hoare
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - George Firth
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Yu Jin Chung
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philip W Kuchel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Ajay M Shah
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Shattock
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Southworth
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Thomas R Eykyn
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
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Brackenbury WJ, Palmieri C. Blocking channels to metastasis: targeting sodium transport in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:140. [PMID: 37950273 PMCID: PMC10638823 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01741-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of therapies that can suppress invasion and prevent metastasis, 'anti-metastatic drugs', is an important area of unmet therapeutic need. The new results of a recent open-label, multicentre randomised trial published in J Clin Oncol showed a significant disease-free survival (DFS) benefit for breast cancer patients receiving presurgical, peritumoral injection of lidocaine, an amide local anaesthetic, which blocks voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). VGSCs are expressed on electrically excitable cells, including neurons and cardiomyocytes, where they sustain rapid membrane depolarisation during action potential firing. As a result of this key biophysical function, VGSCs are important drug targets for excitability-related disorders, including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, affective disorders and cardiac arrhythmia. A growing body of preclinical evidence highlights VGSCs as key protagonists in regulating altered sodium influx in breast cancer cells, thus driving invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, prescription of certain VGSC-inhibiting medications has been associated with reduced cancer incidence and improved survival in several observational studies. Thus, VGSC-inhibiting drugs already in clinical use may be ideal candidates for repurposing as possible anti-metastatic therapies. While these results are promising, further work is required to establish whether other VGSC inhibitors may afford superior metastasis suppression. Finally, increasing preclinical evidence suggests that several other ion channels are also key drivers of cancer hallmarks; thus, there are undoubtedly further opportunities to harness ion transport inhibition that should also be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Brackenbury
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Carlo Palmieri
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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3
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Gast LV, Platt T, Nagel AM, Gerhalter T. Recent technical developments and clinical research applications of sodium ( 23Na) MRI. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 138-139:1-51. [PMID: 38065665 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Sodium is an essential ion that plays a central role in many physiological processes including the transmembrane electrochemical gradient and the maintenance of the body's homeostasis. Due to the crucial role of sodium in the human body, the sodium nucleus is a promising candidate for non-invasively assessing (patho-)physiological changes. Almost 10 years ago, Madelin et al. provided a comprehensive review of methods and applications of sodium (23Na) MRI (Madelin et al., 2014) [1]. More recent review articles have focused mainly on specific applications of 23Na MRI. For example, several articles covered 23Na MRI applications for diseases such as osteoarthritis (Zbyn et al., 2016, Zaric et al., 2020) [2,3], multiple sclerosis (Petracca et al., 2016, Huhn et al., 2019) [4,5] and brain tumors (Schepkin, 2016) [6], or for imaging certain organs such as the kidneys (Zollner et al., 2016) [7], the brain (Shah et al., 2016, Thulborn et al., 2018) [8,9], and the heart (Bottomley, 2016) [10]. Other articles have reviewed technical developments such as radiofrequency (RF) coils for 23Na MRI (Wiggins et al., 2016, Bangerter et al., 2016) [11,12], pulse sequences (Konstandin et al., 2014) [13], image reconstruction methods (Chen et al., 2021) [14], and interleaved/simultaneous imaging techniques (Lopez Kolkovsky et al., 2022) [15]. In addition, 23Na MRI topics have been covered in review articles with broader topics such as multinuclear MRI or ultra-high-field MRI (Niesporek et al., 2019, Hu et al., 2019, Ladd et al., 2018) [16-18]. During the past decade, various research groups have continued working on technical improvements to sodium MRI and have investigated its potential to serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. Clinical research applications of 23Na MRI have covered a broad spectrum of diseases, mainly focusing on the brain, cartilage, and skeletal muscle (see Fig. 1). In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of methodological and hardware developments, as well as a review of various clinical research applications of sodium (23Na) MRI in the last decade (i.e., published from the beginning of 2013 to the end of 2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena V Gast
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Tanja Platt
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Teresa Gerhalter
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
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Folz J, Wasserman JH, Jo J, Wang X, Kopelman R. Photoacoustic Chemical Imaging Sodium Nano-Sensor Utilizing a Solvatochromic Dye Transducer for In Vivo Application. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:923. [PMID: 37887116 PMCID: PMC10605089 DOI: 10.3390/bios13100923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Sodium has many vital and diverse roles in the human body, including maintaining the cellular pH, generating action potential, and regulating osmotic pressure. In cancer, sodium dysregulation has been correlated with tumor growth, metastasis, and immune cell inhibition. However, most in vivo sodium measurements are performed via Na23 NMR, which is handicapped by slow acquisition times, a low spatial resolution (in mm), and low signal-to-noise ratios. We present here a plasticizer-free, ionophore-based sodium-sensing nanoparticle that utilizes a solvatochromic dye transducer to circumvent the pH cross-sensitivity of most previously reported sodium nano-sensors. We demonstrate that this nano-sensor is non-toxic, boasts a 200 μM detection limit, and is over 1000 times more selective for sodium than potassium. Further, the in vitro photoacoustic calibration curve presented demonstrates the potential of this nano-sensor for performing the in vivo chemical imaging of sodium over the entire physiologically relevant concentration range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Folz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | | | - Janggun Jo
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.J.); (X.W.)
| | - Xueding Wang
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.J.); (X.W.)
| | - Raoul Kopelman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
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Sanchez-Sandoval AL, Hernández-Plata E, Gomora JC. Voltage-gated sodium channels: from roles and mechanisms in the metastatic cell behavior to clinical potential as therapeutic targets. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1206136. [PMID: 37456756 PMCID: PMC10348687 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1206136] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
During the second half of the last century, the prevalent knowledge recognized the voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) as the proteins responsible for the generation and propagation of action potentials in excitable cells. However, over the last 25 years, new non-canonical roles of VGSCs in cancer hallmarks have been uncovered. Their dysregulated expression and activity have been associated with aggressive features and cancer progression towards metastatic stages, suggesting the potential use of VGSCs as cancer markers and prognostic factors. Recent work has elicited essential information about the signalling pathways modulated by these channels: coupling membrane activity to transcriptional regulation pathways, intracellular and extracellular pH regulation, invadopodia maturation, and proteolytic activity. In a promising scenario, the inhibition of VGSCs with FDA-approved drugs as well as with new synthetic compounds, reduces cancer cell invasion in vitro and cancer progression in vivo. The purpose of this review is to present an update regarding recent advances and ongoing efforts to have a better understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms on the involvement of both pore-forming α and auxiliary β subunits of VGSCs in the metastatic processes, with the aim at proposing VGSCs as new oncological markers and targets for anticancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Sanchez-Sandoval
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Medicina Genómica, Hospital General de México “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Everardo Hernández-Plata
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías and Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos Gomora
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Clemente N, Baroni S, Fiorilla S, Tasso F, Reano S, Borsotti C, Ruggiero MR, Alchera E, Corrazzari M, Walker G, Follenzi A, Crich SG, Carini R. Boosting intracellular sodium selectively kills hepatocarcinoma cells and induces hepatocellular carcinoma tumor shrinkage in mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:574. [PMID: 37248274 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04946-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a partial efficacy. Augmented Na+ content and water retention are observed in human cancers and offer unexplored targets for anticancer therapies. Na+ levels are evaluated upon treatments with the antibiotic cation ionophore Monensin by fluorimetry, ICP-MS, 23Na-MRI, NMR relaxometry, confocal or time-lapse analysis related to energy production, water fluxes and cell death, employing both murine and human HCC cell lines, primary murine hepatocytes, or HCC allografts in NSG mice. Na+ levels of HCC cells and tissue are 8-10 times higher than that of healthy hepatocytes and livers. Monensin further increases Na+ levels in HCC cells and in HCC allografts but not in primary hepatocytes and in normal hepatic and extrahepatic tissue. The Na+ increase is associated with energy depletion, mitochondrial Na+ load and inhibition of O2 consumption. The Na+ increase causes an enhancement of the intracellular water lifetime and death of HCC cells, and a regression and necrosis of allograft tumors, without affecting the proliferating activity of either HCCs or healthy tissues. These observations indicate that HCC cells are, unlike healthy cells, energetically incapable of compensating and surviving a pharmacologically induced Na+ load, highlighting Na+ homeostasis as druggable target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nausicaa Clemente
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Simona Baroni
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza, 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Simone Fiorilla
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Tasso
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Simone Reano
- Department of Department of Translational Medicine, Unit of Muscle Biology, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Chiara Borsotti
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ruggiero
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza, 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisa Alchera
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Corrazzari
- Department of Health Science and Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Disease (IRCAD), Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Gillian Walker
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Simonetta Geninatti Crich
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza, 52, 10126, Torino, Italy.
| | - Rita Carini
- Department of Health Science Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli, 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
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Pukkanasut P, Whitt J, Guenter R, Lynch SE, Gallegos C, Rosendo-Pineda MJ, Gomora JC, Chen H, Lin D, Sorace A, Jaskula-Sztul R, Velu SE. Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Na V1.7 Inhibitors with Potent Anticancer Activities in Medullary Thyroid Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2806. [PMID: 37345144 PMCID: PMC10216335 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Our results from quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and the tissue microarray of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) cell lines and patient specimens confirm that VGSC subtype NaV1.7 is uniquely expressed in aggressive MTC and not expressed in normal thyroid cells and tissues. We establish the druggability of NaV1.7 in MTC by identifying a novel inhibitor (SV188) and investigate its mode of binding and ability to inhibit INa current in NaV1.7. The whole-cell patch-clamp studies of the SV188 in the NaV1.7 channels expressed in HEK-293 cells show that SV188 inhibited the INa current in NaV1.7 with an IC50 value of 3.6 µM by a voltage- and use-dependent blockade mechanism, and the maximum inhibitory effect is observed when the channel is open. SV188 inhibited the viability of MTC cell lines, MZ-CRC-1 and TT, with IC50 values of 8.47 μM and 9.32 μM, respectively, and significantly inhibited the invasion of MZ-CRC-1 cells by 35% and 52% at 3 μM and 6 μM, respectively. In contrast, SV188 had no effect on the invasion of TT cells derived from primary tumor, which have lower basal expression of NaV1.7. In addition, SV188 at 3 μM significantly inhibited the migration of MZ-CRC-1 and TT cells by 27% and 57%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyasuda Pukkanasut
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Jason Whitt
- Department of Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.W.); (R.G.); (H.C.)
| | - Rachael Guenter
- Department of Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.W.); (R.G.); (H.C.)
| | - Shannon E. Lynch
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (C.G.)
| | - Carlos Gallegos
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (C.G.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Margarita Jacaranda Rosendo-Pineda
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (M.J.R.-P.); (J.C.G.)
| | - Juan Carlos Gomora
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (M.J.R.-P.); (J.C.G.)
| | - Herbert Chen
- Department of Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.W.); (R.G.); (H.C.)
- Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Diana Lin
- Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Anna Sorace
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (C.G.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Renata Jaskula-Sztul
- Department of Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.W.); (R.G.); (H.C.)
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Sadanandan E. Velu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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Leslie TK, Brackenbury WJ. Sodium channels and the ionic microenvironment of breast tumours. J Physiol 2023; 601:1543-1553. [PMID: 36183245 PMCID: PMC10953337 DOI: 10.1113/jp282306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers of epithelial origin such as breast, prostate, cervical, gastric, colon and lung cancer account for a large proportion of deaths worldwide. Better treatment of metastasis, the main cause of cancer deaths, is therefore urgently required. Several of these tumours have been shown to have an abnormally high concentration of Na+ ([Na+ ]) and emerging evidence points to this accumulation being due to elevated intracellular [Na+ ]. This poses intriguing questions about the cellular mechanisms underlying Na+ dysregulation in cancer, and its pathophysiological significance. Elevated intracellular [Na+ ] may be due to alterations in activity of the Na+ /K+ -ATPase, and/or increased influx via Na+ channels and Na+ -linked transporters. Maintenance of the electrochemical Na+ gradient across the plasma membrane is vital to power many cellular processes that are highly active in cancer cells, including glucose and glutamine import. Na+ channels are also upregulated in cancer cells, which in turn promotes tumour growth and metastasis. For example, ENaC and ASICs are overexpressed in cancers, increasing invasion and proliferation. In addition, voltage-gated Na+ channels are also upregulated in a range of tumour types, where they promote metastatic cell behaviours via various mechanisms, including membrane potential depolarisation and altered pH regulation. Together, recent findings relating to elevated Na+ in the tumour microenvironment and how this may be regulated by several classes of Na+ channels provide a link between altered Na+ handling and poor clinical outcome. There are new opportunities to leverage this altered Na+ microenvironment for therapeutic benefit, as exemplified by several ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa K. Leslie
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkUK
- York Biomedical Research InstituteUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkUK
| | - William J. Brackenbury
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkUK
- York Biomedical Research InstituteUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkUK
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Zong S, Xu PP, Xu YH, Guo Y. A bioinformatics analysis: ZFHX4 is associated with metastasis and poor survival in ovarian cancer. J Ovarian Res 2022; 15:90. [PMID: 35915456 PMCID: PMC9344679 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-01024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metastasis was the major cause of the high mortality in ovarian cancer. Although some mechanisms of metastasis in ovarian cancer were proposed, few have been targeted in the clinical practice. In the study, we aimed to identify novel genes contributing to metastasis and poor clinical outcome in ovarian cancer from bioinformatics databases. Methods Studies collecting matched primary tumors and metastases from ovarian cancer patients were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by software R language. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis for the DEGs were implemented by Metascape. Venn diagram was plotted to present overlapping DEGs. The associations between the overlapping DEGs and prognosis were tested by Cox proportional hazard regression model using a cohort of ovarian cancer patients from the TCGA database. Genes affecting patients’ outcomes significantly were served as hub genes. The mechanisms of the hub genes in promoting ovarian cancer metastasis were then predicted by R software. Results Two gene expression profiles (GSE30587 and GSE73168) met the inclusion criteria and were finally analyzed. A total of 259 genes were significantly differentially expressed in GSE30587, whereas 712 genes were in GSE73168. In GSE30587, DEGs were mainly involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization; For GSE73168, most of DEGs showed ion trans-membrane transport activity. There were 9 overlapping genes between the two datasets (RUNX2, FABP4, CLDN20, SVEP1, FAM169A, PGM5, ZFHX4, DCN and TAS2R50). ZFHX4 was proved to be an independent adverse prognostic factor for ovarian cancer patients (HR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.13–1.83, p = 0.003). Mechanistically, ZFHX4 was positively significantly correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (r = 0.54, p = 2.59 × 10−29) and ECM-related genes (r = 0.52, p = 2.86 × 10−27). Conclusions ZFHX4 might promote metastasis in ovarian cancer by regulating EMT and reprogramming ECM. For clinical applications, ZFHX4 was expected to be a prognostic biomarker for ovarian cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping-Ping Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, 221006, China
| | - Yin-Hai Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 99 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, People's Republic of China.
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