|
1
|
Nussinov R, Yavuz BR, Jang H. Tumors and their microenvironments: Learning from pediatric brain pathologies. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2025; 1880:189328. [PMID: 40254040 PMCID: PMC12124968 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2025] [Accepted: 04/16/2025] [Indexed: 04/22/2025]
Abstract
Early clues to tumors and their microenvironments come from embryonic development. Here we review the literature and consider whether the embryonic brain and its pathologies can serve as a better model. Among embryonic organs, the brain is the most heterogenous and complex, with multiple lineages leading to wide spectrum of cell states and types. Its dysregulation promotes neurodevelopmental brain pathologies and pediatric tumors. Embryonic brain pathologies point to the crucial importance of spatial heterogeneity over time, akin to the tumor microenvironment. Tumors dedifferentiate through genetic mutations and epigenetic modulations; embryonic brains differentiate through epigenetic modulations. Our innovative review proposes learning developmental brain pathologies to target tumor evolution-and vice versa. We describe ways through which tumor pharmacology can learn from embryonic brains and their pathologies, and how learning tumor, and its microenvironment, can benefit targeting neurodevelopmental pathologies. Examples include pediatric low-grade versus high-grade brain tumors as in rhabdomyosarcomas and gliomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Bengi Ruken Yavuz
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Zhou Z, Gu Y, Yi Z, Wang J, Xiong Z, Guo H, Du Y, Zhu X, He L, Ren W, Tian Y, Wang Y, Fan Z. SNORA74A Drives Self-Renewal of Liver Cancer Stem Cells and Hepatocarcinogenesis Through Activation of Notch3 Signaling. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025:e2504054. [PMID: 40270470 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202504054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 04/25/2025]
Abstract
Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) account for tumor initiation, heterogeneity and therapy resistance. However, the role of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) in the regulation of liver CSCs remains largely unclear. Here, this work identifies a conserved H/ACA box snoRNA SNORA74A which is highly expressed in liver CSCs. SNORA74A deletion impaired the self-renewal of liver CSCs and suppressed hepatocarcinogenesis. Mechanistically, highly expressed SNORA74A in liver CSCs bound DCAF13 to prevent K48 linked ubiquitination of E2F2 for degradation. E2F2 induced NOTCH3 transcription to initiate Notch3 signaling activation, leading to self-renewal of liver CSCs and hepatocarcinogenesis. Moreover, expression levels of SNORA74A and NOTCH3 are positively related with severity and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Of note, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) against SNORA74A showed effective efficacy for HCC tumors, suggesting SNORA74A might be a potential therapeutic target for HCC therapy by eliminating liver CSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Gu
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zhibin Yi
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jianyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhen Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ying Du
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Weizheng Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Yong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanying Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zusen Fan
- State Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Hovis G, Chandra N, Kejriwal N, Hsieh KJY, Chu A, Yang I, Wadehra M. Understanding the Role of Endothelial Cells in Glioblastoma: Mechanisms and Novel Treatments. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6118. [PMID: 38892305 PMCID: PMC11173095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive neoplasm and the most common primary malignant brain tumor. Endothelial tissue plays a critical role in glioblastoma growth and progression, facilitating angiogenesis, cellular communication, and tumorigenesis. In this review, we present an up-to-date and comprehensive summary of the role of endothelial cells in glioblastomas, along with an overview of recent developments in glioblastoma therapies and tumor endothelial marker identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Hovis
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Neha Chandra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (K.J.-Y.H.)
| | - Nidhi Kejriwal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (K.J.-Y.H.)
| | - Kaleb Jia-Yi Hsieh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (K.J.-Y.H.)
| | - Alison Chu
- Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Isaac Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Madhuri Wadehra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (K.J.-Y.H.)
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|