Up-regulation of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 in gastrointestinal cancer and its clinical relevance

Microbial metabolite ammonia disrupts TGF-β signaling to promote colon cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising alarmingly in younger populations, potentially arising from factors such as obesity, pro-inflammatory gut microbiome and the accumulation of toxic metabolites. However, how metabolites such as ammonia impact key signaling pathways to promote CRC remains unclear. Our study investigates a critical link between gut microbiome alterations, ammonia, and their toxic effects on the TGF-β signaling pathway, driving CRC progression. We observe altered microbial populations in an obesity-induced mouse model of cancer, where ammonia promotes caspase-3-mediated cleavage of the SMAD3 adaptor βII-spectrin (SPTBN1). Cleaved SPTBN1 fragments form adducts with ammonia that induce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and disrupt TGF-β signaling. Extending from AlphaFold docking simulations, we identified that ammonia interacts with N-terminal SPTBN1 potentially through residues D81, Y556, S663, Y666, N986, and D1177 to form hydrogen bonds that disrupt downstream SMAD3 signaling, altering TGF-β signaling to a protumorigenic phenotype. Blocking SPTBN1, through an SPTBN1-specific siRNA blocks ammonia toxicity and restores normal SMAD3/TGF-β signaling by reducing the abundance of SPTBN1 cleaved fragments in SW480 and Caco-2 (CRC) cell lines. In addition, our research establishes crosstalk between TGF-β signaling and a microbial sensor, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), which is significantly overexpressed in CRC patients. We identified CEACAM1-SPTBN1 interactions at specific residues (E517 and Y520) within the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) of CEACAM1 cytoplasmic domain, identifying distinguishing a potential axis that is harnessed by the altered microbiome. Our study identifies mechanistic insights into how microbial metabolites target TGF-β as a major signaling pathway to promote CRC.

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 in cancer: Blessing or curse?

The Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1, also CD66a), a transmembrane glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is a pivotal mediator of various physiological and pathological processes, including oncologic disorders. However, its precise role in tumorigenicity is contradictory discussed by several clinical studies. This review aims to elucidate the clinical significance of CEACAM1 in different cancer entities focusing on tumour formation, progression and metastasis as well as on CEACAM1-mediated treatment resistance. Furthermore, we discuss the contribution of CEACAM1 to cancer immunity and modulation of the inflammatory microenvironment and finally provide a comprehensive review of treatment regimens targeting this molecule.

Identifying CEACAM1 as a potential prognostic biomarker for basal-like breast cancer by bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen related cell adhesion molecule-1 (CEACAM1) is a very important intercellular adhesion molecule, and its prognostic relevance to breast cancer (BC), especially basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), remains poorly understood. Methods: CEACAM1 mRNA expression data for BC were sourced from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic relationship between CEACAM1 expression and BC. Signaling pathways associated with CEACAM1 were analysed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Moreover, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, transwell and wound-healing assays were employed to identify the biological functions of CEACAM1 in BLBC. Results: CEACAM1 was correlated with overall survival (OS) of BLBC patients. Compared with the subgroup with better prognosis, the levels of CEACAM1 mRNA expression were significantly lower in the subgroup of BLBC with poorer prognosis. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that down-regulation of CEACAM1 expression may be an independent factor for poor prognosis in BLBC patients. GSEA and KEGG analysis revealed that CEACAM1 was negatively related with signaling pathways including extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and cell adhesion. The results of in vitro experiments indicated that CEACAM1 not only induced apoptosis of BLBC cells, but also inhibited the invasive and metastatic ability of cancer cells. Conclusions: CEACAM1 may contribute to improving the OS of BLBC patients due to its ability to inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. Therefore, CEACAM1 could be used as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in BLBC.

Characteristics of Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules and Their Relationship to Cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAM), such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the oncofetal glycoprotein family, are tumor markers. The CEACAMs consist of 12 different human CEACAMs and 5 different murine CEACAMs. The CEACAM family of proteins participates in multiple biological processes that include the immune response, angiogenesis, and cancer. CEACAMs play a significant role in cancer initiation and development. Increasing evidence suggests that family members may be new cancer biomarkers and targets in that CEACEAMs tend to be aberrantly expressed and therefore may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic importance. This review systematically summarizes the biogenesis, biological properties, and functions of CEACAMs, with a focus on their relationship with cancer and potential clinical application. As our knowledge of the relationships among CEACAMs and cancer increases, and as our understanding of the involved molecular mechanisms improves, new therapeutic strategies will evolve for cancer prevention and treatment of patients with cancer.

The role of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 in cancer

The Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), also known as CD66a, is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. CEACAM1 was shown to be a prognostic marker in patients suffering from cancer. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical and clinical evidence linking CEACAM1 to tumorigenicity and cancer progression. Furthermore, we discuss potential CEACAM1-based mechanisms that may affect cancer biology.