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Dasgupta A, Prensner JR. Upstream open reading frames: new players in the landscape of cancer gene regulation. NAR Cancer 2024; 6:zcae023. [PMID: 38774471 PMCID: PMC11106035 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The translation of RNA by ribosomes represents a central biological process and one of the most dysregulated processes in cancer. While translation is traditionally thought to occur exclusively in the protein-coding regions of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), recent transcriptome-wide approaches have shown abundant ribosome activity across diverse stretches of RNA transcripts. The most common type of this kind of ribosome activity occurs in gene leader sequences, also known as 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the mRNA, that precede the main coding sequence. Translation of these upstream open reading frames (uORFs) is now known to occur in upwards of 25% of all protein-coding genes. With diverse functions from RNA regulation to microprotein generation, uORFs are rapidly igniting a new arena of cancer biology, where they are linked to cancer genetics, cancer signaling, and tumor-immune interactions. This review focuses on the contributions of uORFs and their associated 5'UTR sequences to cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Dasgupta
- Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John R Prensner
- Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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2
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Ng YB, Akincilar SC. Shaping DNA damage responses: Therapeutic potential of targeting telomeric proteins and DNA repair factors in cancer. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2024; 76:102460. [PMID: 38776747 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2024.102460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Shelterin proteins regulate genomic stability by preventing inappropriate DNA damage responses (DDRs) at telomeres. Unprotected telomeres lead to persistent DDR causing cell cycle inhibition, growth arrest, and apoptosis. Cancer cells rely on DDR to protect themselves from DNA lesions and exogenous DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, targeting DDR machinery is a promising strategy to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to existing cancer therapies. However, the success of these DDR inhibitors depends on other mutations, and over time, patients develop resistance to these therapies. This suggests the need for alternative approaches. One promising strategy is co-inhibiting shelterin proteins with DDR molecules, which would offset cellular fitness in DNA repair in a mutation-independent manner. This review highlights the associations and dependencies of the shelterin complex with the DDR proteins and discusses potential co-inhibition strategies that might improve the therapeutic potential of current inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Bin Ng
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Semih Can Akincilar
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore.
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3
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Coltoff A, Kuykendall A. Emerging drug profile: JAK inhibitors. Leuk Lymphoma 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38739701 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2024.2353434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulated JAK/STAT hyperactivity is essential to the pathogenesis of myelofibrosis, and JAK inhibitors are the first-line treatment option for many patients. There are four FDA-approved JAK inhibitors for patients with myelofibrosis. Single-agent JAK inhibition can improve splenomegaly, symptom burden, cytopenias, and possibly survival in patients with myelofibrosis. Despite their efficacy, JAK inhibitors produce variable or short-lived responses, in part due to the large network of cooperating signaling pathways and downstream targets of JAK/STAT, which mediates upfront or acquired resistance to JAK inhibitors. Synergistic inhibition of JAK/STAT accessory pathways can increase the rates and duration of response for patients with myelofibrosis. Two recently reported, placebo-controlled phase III trials of novel agents added to JAK inhibition met their primary endpoint, and additional late-stage studies are ongoing. This paper will review role of dysregulated JAK/STAT signaling, biological plausible additional therapeutic targets and the recent advancements in combination strategies with JAK inhibitors for myelofibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Coltoff
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Andrew Kuykendall
- Department of Malignant Hematology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
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4
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Karimian K, Groot A, Huso V, Kahidi R, Tan KT, Sholes S, Keener R, McDyer JF, Alder JK, Li H, Rechtsteiner A, Greider CW. Human telomere length is chromosome end-specific and conserved across individuals. Science 2024; 384:533-539. [PMID: 38603523 DOI: 10.1126/science.ado0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Short telomeres cause age-related disease, and long telomeres contribute to cancer; however, the mechanisms regulating telomere length are unclear. We developed a nanopore-based method, which we call Telomere Profiling, to determine telomere length at nearly single-nucleotide resolution. Mapping telomere reads to chromosome ends showed chromosome end-specific length distributions that could differ by more than six kilobases. Examination of telomere lengths in 147 individuals revealed that certain chromosome ends were consistently longer or shorter. The same rank order was found in newborn cord blood, suggesting that telomere length is determined at birth and that chromosome end-specific telomere length differences are maintained as telomeres shorten with age. Telomere Profiling makes precision investigation of telomere length widely accessible for laboratory, clinical, and drug discovery efforts and will allow deeper insights into telomere biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayarash Karimian
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aljona Groot
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Vienna Huso
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ramin Kahidi
- Health Sciences Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kar-Tong Tan
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, The Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samantha Sholes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca Keener
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John F McDyer
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan K Alder
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Heng Li
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andreas Rechtsteiner
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Carol W Greider
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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5
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Bennett DC. Review: Are moles senescent? Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2024; 37:391-402. [PMID: 38361107 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13163] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Melanocytic nevi (skin moles) have been regarded as a valuable example of cell senescence occurring in vivo. However, a study of induced nevi in a mouse model reported that the nevi were arrested by cell interactions rather than a cell-autonomous process like senescence, and that size distributions of cell nests within nevi could not be accounted for by a stochastic model of oncogene-induced senescence. Moreover, others reported that some molecular markers used to identify cell senescence in human nevi are also found in melanoma cells-not senescent. It has thus been questioned whether nevi really are senescent, with potential implications for melanoma diagnosis and therapy. Here I review these areas, along with the genetic, biological, and molecular evidence supporting senescence in nevi. In conclusion, there is strong evidence that cells of acquired human benign (banal) nevi are very largely senescent, though some must contain a minor non-senescent cell subpopulation. There is also persuasive evidence that this senescence is primarily induced by dysfunctional telomeres rather than directly oncogene-induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy C Bennett
- Molecular & Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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6
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Manrique-Silva E, David ME, Maider AM, García-Casado Z, Moro R, Requena C, Través V, Virós A, Kumar R, Nagore E. Clinical, histological, and molecular differences in melanoma due to different TERT promoter mutations subtypes. A retrospective cross-sectional study in 684 melanoma patients. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2024; 37:343-351. [PMID: 38153178 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13155] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Differences in survival according to the pTERT mutation subtypes (-124C > T, -146C > T, and tandem -138_139CC > TT) have been observed. The present study aimed to describe the clinical as the histopathological and molecular cutaneous melanoma features according to the presence of the three most prevalent pTERT mutation subtypes (-124C > T, -146C > T, and tandem -138_139CC > TT). A retrospective cross-sectional study including 684 patients was designed, and a Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) was performed. After the PSL-DA, it was observed that the tandem -138_139CC > TT subtype differs from the other subtypes. The model demonstrated that the -124C > T and the -138_139 CC > TT subtypes were associated with fast-growing melanomas (OR 0.5, CI 0.29-0.86, p = .012) and with Breslow >2 mm (OR 0.6, CI 0.37-0.97, p = .037), compared to the -146C > T mutation. Finally, the -124C > T appeared to be more associated with the presence of TILs (non-brisk) than the -146C > T (OR 0.6, CI 0.40-1.01, p = .05). These findings confirmed that the -124C > T and the tandem -138_139 CC > TT subtypes are both highly associated with the presence of features of aggressiveness; however, only the -124C > T was highly associated with TILs. This difference could explain the worse survival rate associated with the tandem -138_139CC > TT mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Manrique-Silva
- Escuela de Doctorado, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", València, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
| | - Millán-Esteban David
- Department of Dermatology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", València, Spain
| | - Aguerralde-Martin Maider
- Máster de Ingeniería de Análisis de Datos, Toma de Decisiones y Mejora de Procesos, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Zaida García-Casado
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ruggero Moro
- Instituto Dermatológico Dr. Alonso, Hospital Vithas Valencia 9 de Octubre, Spain
| | - Celia Requena
- Department of Dermatology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
| | - Victor Través
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
| | - Amaya Virós
- Skin Cancer and Aging Lab, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rajiv Kumar
- Division of Functional Genome Analysis, Deutsches Krebsforschüngzentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eduardo Nagore
- Escuela de Doctorado, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", València, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", València, Spain
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7
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Chen B, Weng Y, Li M, Bian Z, Tao Y, Zhou W, Lu H, He S, Liao R, Huang J, Wang Q, Xu M, Ge Y, Cao W, Lei M, Zhang Y. LINC02454-CCT complex interaction is essential for telomerase activity and cell proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216734. [PMID: 38401886 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216734] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase activity is upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identified a cancer-specific lncRNA (LINC02454) associated with poor prognosis by using LncRNA chip of our HNSCC cohorts and external datasets. Through employing negative-stain transmission electron microscopy (NS-TEM), we discovered an interaction between LINC02454 and CCT complex which would augment telomerase activity for maintaining telomere homeostasis. Supporting this, in the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) analysis, LINC02454 depletion significantly reduced telomerase activity and shortened telomere length. Consistently, pathways related to telomerase, mitosis, and apoptosis were significantly impacted upon LINC02454 knockdown in RNAseq analysis. Functionally, LINC02454-deficient cells exhibited a more significant senescence phenotype in β-galactosidase staining, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays. We further confirmed the role of LINC02454 in HNSCC proliferation through a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The therapeutic potential of targeting LINC02454 was verified by adenovirus-shRNA approach in HNSCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In summary, our findings provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC tumorigenesis and potential targets for future treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biying Chen
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Yue Weng
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Mingyue Li
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhouliang Bian
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Ye Tao
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wenkai Zhou
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hong Lu
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shufang He
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Rijing Liao
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Yunhui Ge
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Ming Lei
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China.
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8
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Maloberti T, De Leo A, Coluccelli S, Sanza V, Gruppioni E, Altimari A, Comito F, Melotti B, Marchese PV, Dika E, Venturi F, Corti B, Ciccimarra G, Ciceu CA, Tallini G, de Biase D. Molecular Characterization of Advanced-Stage Melanomas in Clinical Practice Using a Laboratory-Developed Next-Generation Sequencing Panel. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:800. [PMID: 38667446 PMCID: PMC11048853 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14080800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most lethal tumors among skin cancers, characterized by complex genetic and molecular alterations that result in uncontrolled cell proliferation and metastatic spread. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables the simultaneous examination of numerous genes, making this molecular technique essential for melanoma diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and therapy planning. Herein, we present the experience with our laboratory-designed NGS panel for the routine assessment of advanced-stage melanoma. A total of 260 specimens of advanced-stage melanomas were evaluated utilizing a laboratory-developed multi-gene NGS panel, which allowed the investigation of 229 amplicons in 25 oncogene/oncosuppressor genes. The NGS panel proved to be a reliable tool, failing to produce results in only 1.2% of the samples tested. BRAF and TERT were the two more commonly altered genes in 44.0% and 59.9% of samples, respectively. In 59.3% of the mutated cases, at least two concomitant variants were detected. In eight cases, both primary lesion and metastatic disease were analyzed by NGS. In all specimens (8/8, 100%), a perfect concordance in variants harbored by the primary and recurrence lesions was observed. Finally, this study described the validity of a laboratory-developed multi-gene NGS panel built specifically for advanced-stage melanomas in ordinary clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Maloberti
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Antonio De Leo
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
| | - Sara Coluccelli
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Viviana Sanza
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Elisa Gruppioni
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Annalisa Altimari
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
| | - Francesca Comito
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy (B.M.); (P.V.M.)
| | - Barbara Melotti
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy (B.M.); (P.V.M.)
| | - Paola Valeria Marchese
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy (B.M.); (P.V.M.)
| | - Emi Dika
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Venturi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
- Oncologic Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Corti
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Giulia Ciccimarra
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (C.A.C.)
| | - Crina Adriana Ciceu
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (C.A.C.)
| | - Giovanni Tallini
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.D.); (F.V.)
| | - Dario de Biase
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (T.M.); (A.D.L.); (S.C.); (V.S.); (E.G.); (A.A.); (G.T.)
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (C.A.C.)
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9
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Raghav A, Jeong GB. Nanoquercetin and Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cells 2024; 13:638. [PMID: 38607076 PMCID: PMC11011524 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070638] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite world-class sophisticated technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning approaches, cancer-associated mortalities and morbidities have shown continuous increments posing a healthcare burden. Drug-based interventions were associated with systemic toxicities and several limitations. Natural bioactive compounds derived nanoformulations, especially nanoquercetin (nQ), are alternative options to overcome drug-associated limitations. Moreover, the EVs-based cargo targeted delivery of nQ can have enormous potential in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EVs-based nQ delivery synergistically regulates and dysregulates several pathways, including NF-κB, p53, JAK/STAT, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, and PI3K/AKT, along with PBX3/ERK1/2/CDK2, and miRNAs intonation. Furthermore, discoveries on possible checkpoints of anticancer signaling pathways were studied, which might lead to the development of modified EVs infused with nQ for the development of innovative treatments for HCC. In this work, we abridged the control of such signaling systems using a synergetic strategy with EVs and nQ. The governing roles of extracellular vesicles controlling the expression of miRNAs were investigated, particularly in relation to HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Goo Bo Jeong
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, 155 Getbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea;
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10
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Zheng L, Wang Y, Liu Z, Wang Z, Tao C, Wu A, Li H, Xiao T, Li Z, Rong W. Identification of molecular characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion based on deep targeted sequencing. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7043. [PMID: 38572921 PMCID: PMC10993708 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7043] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an indicator of tumor invasiveness, microvascular invasion (MVI) is a crucial risk factor for postoperative relapse, metastasis, and unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the genetic mechanisms underlying MVI, particularly for Chinese patients, remain mostly uncharted. METHODS We applied deep targeted sequencing on 66 Chinese HCC samples. Focusing on the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter (TERTp) and TP53 co-mutation (TERTp+/TP53+) group, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of the TERTp+/TP53+ group on tumor progression and metastasis. Additionally, we evaluated the tumor immune microenvironment of the TERTp+/TP53+ group in HCC using multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining. RESULTS Among the 66 HCC samples, the mutated genes that mostly appeared were TERT, TP53, and CTNNB1. Of note, we found 10 cases with TERTp+/TP53+, of which nine were MVI-positive and one was MVI-negative, and there was a co-occurrence of TERTp and TP53 (p < 0.05). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with the TERTp+/TP53+ group had lower the disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.028). GSEA results indicated that telomere organization, telomere maintenance, DNA replication, positive regulation of cell cycle, and negative regulation of immune response were significantly enriched in the TERTp+/TP53+ group (all adjusted p-values (p.adj) < 0.05). mIF revealed that the TERTp+/TP53+ group decreased CD8+ T cells infiltration (p = 0.25) and enhanced PDL1 expression (p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS TERTp+/TP53+ was significantly enriched in MVI-positive patients, leading to poor prognosis for HCC patients by promoting proliferation of HCC cell and inhibiting infiltration of immune cell surrounding HCC. TERTp+/TP53+ can be utilized as a potential indicator for predicting MVI-positive patients and poor prognosis, laying a preliminary foundation for further exploration of co-mutation in HCC with MVI and clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yaru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Zhenrong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Zhihao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Hernia SurgeryLiaocheng Dongcangfu People's HospitalLiaochengChina
| | - Changcheng Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Anke Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Haiyang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Ting Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Zhuo Li
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Weiqi Rong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
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11
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Cheng YHH, Bohaczuk SC, Stergachis AB. Functional categorization of gene regulatory variants that cause Mendelian conditions. Hum Genet 2024; 143:559-605. [PMID: 38436667 PMCID: PMC11078748 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02639-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Much of our current understanding of rare human diseases is driven by coding genetic variants. However, non-coding genetic variants play a pivotal role in numerous rare human diseases, resulting in diverse functional impacts ranging from altered gene regulation, splicing, and/or transcript stability. With the increasing use of genome sequencing in clinical practice, it is paramount to have a clear framework for understanding how non-coding genetic variants cause disease. To this end, we have synthesized the literature on hundreds of non-coding genetic variants that cause rare Mendelian conditions via the disruption of gene regulatory patterns and propose a functional classification system. Specifically, we have adapted the functional classification framework used for coding variants (i.e., loss-of-function, gain-of-function, and dominant-negative) to account for features unique to non-coding gene regulatory variants. We identify that non-coding gene regulatory variants can be split into three distinct categories by functional impact: (1) non-modular loss-of-expression (LOE) variants; (2) modular loss-of-expression (mLOE) variants; and (3) gain-of-ectopic-expression (GOE) variants. Whereas LOE variants have a direct corollary with coding loss-of-function variants, mLOE and GOE variants represent disease mechanisms that are largely unique to non-coding variants. These functional classifications aim to provide a unified terminology for categorizing the functional impact of non-coding variants that disrupt gene regulatory patterns in Mendelian conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y H Hank Cheng
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie C Bohaczuk
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew B Stergachis
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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12
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Bertrand A, Ba I, Kermasson L, Pirabakaran V, Chable N, Lainey E, Ménard C, Kallel F, Picard C, Hadiji S, Coolen-Allou N, Blanchard E, de Villartay JP, Moshous D, Roelens M, Callebaut I, Kannengiesser C, Revy P. Characterization of novel mutations in the TEL-patch domain of the telomeric factor TPP1 associated with telomere biology disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:612-623. [PMID: 38176734 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad210] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that protect the chromosome ends from degradation and fusion. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex essential to maintain the length of telomeres. Germline defects that lead to short and/or dysfunctional telomeres cause telomere biology disorders (TBDs), a group of rare and heterogeneous Mendelian diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, dyskeratosis congenita, and Høyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome. TPP1, a telomeric factor encoded by the gene ACD, recruits telomerase at telomere and stimulates its activity via its TEL-patch domain that directly interacts with TERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase. TBDs due to TPP1 deficiency have been reported only in 11 individuals. We here report four unrelated individuals with a wide spectrum of TBD manifestations carrying either heterozygous or homozygous ACD variants consisting in the recurrent and previously described in-frame deletion of K170 (K170∆) and three novel missense mutations G179D, L184R, and E215V. Structural and functional analyses demonstrated that the four variants affect the TEL-patch domain of TPP1 and impair telomerase activity. In addition, we identified in the ACD gene several motifs associated with small deletion hotspots that could explain the recurrence of the K170∆ mutation. Finally, we detected in a subset of blood cells from one patient, a somatic TERT promoter-activating mutation that likely provides a selective advantage over non-modified cells, a phenomenon known as indirect somatic genetic rescue. Together, our results broaden the genetic and clinical spectrum of TPP1 deficiency and specify new residues in the TEL-patch domain that are crucial for length maintenance and stability of human telomeres in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Bertrand
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ibrahima Ba
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Laëtitia Kermasson
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Vithura Pirabakaran
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Noémie Chable
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Elodie Lainey
- Hematology Laboratory, Robert Debré Hospital-AssistancePublique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), INSERM UMR 1131-Hematology University Institute-Denis Diderot School of Medicine, Paris 75019, France
| | - Christelle Ménard
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Faten Kallel
- Hematology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Capucine Picard
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, (APHP), Paris 75015, France
- Centre de références des déficits immunitaires Héréditaires (CEREDIH), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital APHP, Paris 75015, France
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Activation and Susceptibility to EBV infection, Inserm UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris 75015, France
| | - Sondes Hadiji
- Hematology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nathalie Coolen-Allou
- Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Félix Guyon, CHU Réunion, Saint-Denis de la Réunion 97400, France
| | - Elodie Blanchard
- Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33604, France
| | - Jean-Pierre de Villartay
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Despina Moshous
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, (APHP), Paris 75015, France
| | - Marie Roelens
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Centre de références des déficits immunitaires Héréditaires (CEREDIH), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital APHP, Paris 75015, France
| | - Isabelle Callebaut
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Paris 75005, France
| | - Caroline Kannengiesser
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Patrick Revy
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
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13
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Hu Y, Xu S, Dong L, Pan Z, Zhang L, Zhan W. Clinical features combined with ultrasound characteristics to predict TERT promoter mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a single-center study over the past 5 years. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1322731. [PMID: 38562417 PMCID: PMC10982409 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1322731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been reported in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study aimed to investigate the correlation of TERT promoter mutations with clinical and ultrasound (US) features in PTC and to develop a model to predict TERT promoter mutations. Methods Preoperative US images, postoperative pathological features, and TERT promoter mutation information were evaluated in 365 PTC patients confirmed by surgery. Univariate and multivariate factor analyses were performed to identify risk factors for TERT promoter mutations. A predictive model was established to assess the clinical predictive value. Results Of the 365 patients with PTC (498 nodules), the number of those with TERT promoter mutations was 67 cases (75 nodules), and the number of those without mutations was 298 cases (423 nodules). The median age was 40 years in the wild-type group and 60 years in the mutant group. Male patients made up 35.82% of the mutant group and 22.82% of the wild-type group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factors associated with the occurrence of TERT promoter mutation in PTC were as follows: older age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.07; p = 0.002), maximum diameter of ≥ 10 mm (OR = 3.94; p < 0.0001), unilateral (OR = 4.15; p < 0.0001), multifocal (OR = 7.69; p < 0.0001), adjacent to the thyroid capsule (OR = 1.94; p = 0.044), and accompanied by other benign nodules (OR = 1.94, p = 0.039). A predictive model was established, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic was 0.839. TERT promoter mutations were associated with high-risk US and clinical features compared with the wild-type group. Conclusion TERT promoter mutations were associated with older ages. They were also found to be multifocal, with a maximum diameter of ≥ 10 mm, unilateral, adjacent to the thyroid capsule, and accompanied by other benign nodules. The predictive model was of high diagnostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hu
- Department of Ultrasound, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shangyan Xu
- Department of Ultrasound, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zuxian Pan
- Department of Ultrasound, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiwei Zhan
- Department of Ultrasound, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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14
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Phillips GS, Mengden-Koon S, Dhossche J, LeBoit PE, Goldstein AM, Lee I, Raffeld M, Papanicolau-Sengos A, Sargen MR, Chung J. Atypical Spitz tumor with SQSTM1::NTRK2 fusion: Report of a case with unique spindled cell features. J Cutan Pathol 2024; 51:198-204. [PMID: 38031352 DOI: 10.1111/cup.14565] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
A host of signature genetic alterations have been demonstrated in Spitz neoplasms, most notably fusions of kinase genes (including BRAF, ALK, ROS1, NTRK1, NTRK3, RET, MET, MAP3K8) or variants in HRAS. While there are multiple reports of rearrangements involving NTRK1 and NTRK3 in Spitz tumors, there are very few reports of NTRK2-rearranged Spitz nevi in the literature. This report presents an NTRK2-rearranged atypical Spitz tumor with spindled cell features. The patient was a 6-year-old female with a growing pigmented papule on the back. Histopathological evaluation revealed an asymmetric, biphasic, compound proliferation of melanocytes featuring an epithelioid cell population arranged as variably sized nests and single cells along the basal layer with extension down adnexa, as well as a population of spindled melanocytes with desmoplastic features and loss of Melan-A expression in the dermis. There was partial loss of p16 expression in the epidermal component and diffuse loss in the dermal component. Immunohistochemistry for PRAME, ALK, NTRK1, HRAS Q61R, p53, and BRAF V600E were negative. A SQSTM1::NTRK2 fusion was identified by RNA sequencing. No TERT promoter hotspot variants were detected. This case report expands the known histopathologic spectrum of genetic alterations in Spitz neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory S Phillips
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Julie Dhossche
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Philip E LeBoit
- Dermatopathology and Oral Pathology Service, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Alisa M Goldstein
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ina Lee
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark Raffeld
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Antonios Papanicolau-Sengos
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael R Sargen
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Jina Chung
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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15
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Marrapodi R, Bellei B. The Keratinocyte in the Picture Cutaneous Melanoma Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:913. [PMID: 38473275 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050913] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma progression is a multistep evolution from a common melanocytic nevus through a radial superficial growth phase, the invasive vertical growth phase finally leading to metastatic dissemination into distant organs. Melanoma aggressiveness largely depends on the propensity to metastasize, which means the capacity to escape from the physiological microenvironment since tissue damage due to primary melanoma lesions is generally modest. Physiologically, epidermal melanocytes are attached to the basement membrane, and their adhesion/migration is under the control of surrounding keratinocytes. Thus, the epidermal compartment represents the first microenvironment responsible for melanoma spread. This complex process involves cell-cell contact and a broad range of secreted bioactive molecules. Invasion, or at the beginning of the microinvasion, implies the breakdown of the dermo-epidermal basement membrane followed by the migration of neoplastic melanocytic cells in the superficial papillary dermis. Correspondingly, several experimental evidences documented the structural and functional rearrangement of the entire tissue surrounding neoplasm that in some way reflects the atypia of tumor cells. Lastly, the microenvironment must support the proliferation and survival of melanocytes outside the normal epidermal-melanin units. This task presumably is mostly delegated to fibroblasts and ultimately to the self-autonomous capacity of melanoma cells. This review will discuss remodeling that occurs in the epidermis during melanoma formation as well as skin changes that occur independently of melanocytic hyperproliferation having possible pro-tumoral features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Marrapodi
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Bellei
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
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16
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Koca DS, Kolpakov V, Ihlow J, von Laffert M, Erb-Eigner K, Herbst H, Kriese K, Schweizer L, Bertelmann E. Prevalence of TERT Promoter Mutations in Orbital Solitary Fibrous Tumors. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:1467-1484. [PMID: 38392213 PMCID: PMC10887834 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46020095] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The orbital manifestation of a solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is exceptionally rare and poses specific challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Its rather exceptional behavior among all SFTs comprises a high tendency towards local recurrence, but it rarely culminates in metastatic disease. This raises the question of prognostic factors in orbital SFTs (oSFTs). Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-promoter mutations have previously been linked to an unfavorable prognosis in SFTs of other locations. We analyzed the prevalence of TERT promoter mutations of SFTs in the orbital compartment. We performed a retrospective, descriptive clinico-histopathological analysis of nine cases of oSFTs between the years of 2017 and 2021. A TERT promoter mutation was present in one case, which was classified with intermediate metastatic risk. Local recurrence or progress occurred in six cases after primary resection; no distant metastases were reported. Multimodal imaging repeatedly showed particular morphologic patterns, including tubular vascular structures and ADC reduction. The prevalence of the TERT promoter mutation in oSFT was 11%, which is similar to the prevalence of extra-meningeal SFTs of the head and neck and lower than that in other extra-meningeal compartments. In the present study, the TERT promoter mutation in oSFT manifested in a case with an unfavorable prognosis, comprising aggressive local tumor growth, local recurrence, and eye loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sinan Koca
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vladimir Kolpakov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Ihlow
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Charité Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health Biomedical Innovation Academy, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str., 210178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian von Laffert
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Diagnostics, Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Liebigstraße 26, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katharina Erb-Eigner
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hermann Herbst
- Department of Pathology, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH Berlin, Rudower Straße 48, 12351 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karen Kriese
- Department of Pathology, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH Berlin, Rudower Straße 48, 12351 Berlin, Germany
| | - Leonille Schweizer
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Edinger Institute, Institute of Neurology, University of Frankfurt am Main, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt-Mainz, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eckart Bertelmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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17
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Huber R, Lee J, Borretta L, Tessier-Cloutier B, Lum A, Yip S, Horst BA. TERT promoter mutations in atypical melanocytic lesions: A series of seven cases with adverse melanoma-specific outcome. Hum Pathol 2024; 144:34-39. [PMID: 38224873 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
The majority of melanocytic proliferations can be readily categorized as benign or malignant based on histologic assessment under the microscope by a trained dermatopathologist. However, a subset of lesions, termed Atypical Melanocytic Proliferations (AMPs), are histologically ambiguous, leading to possible diagnostic error and suboptimal treatment. Mutations in the promoter region of the catalytic subunit of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), are commonly found in melanomas but are rare in melanocytic nevi. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hot spot TERT promoter (TERT-p) mutations in AMPs with adverse melanoma-specific outcome. Studies were approved by respective institutional review boards. Using a multi-center database, we identified seven cases of melanocytic proliferations with a clinical follow-up period of at least 4 years, which were initially diagnosed as AMPs, and which recurred either as melanoma at site of prior biopsy or as metastatic melanoma. Sequencing of the TERT-p region showed hotspot mutations in three cases (43 %), suggesting that TERT-p mutations are enriched and could aid in the identification of AMPs with adverse outcome. In comparison with existing ancillary techniques for prognostication of AMPs, TERT-p mutation analysis may have advantages in terms of cost effectiveness and turnaround time, and is a promising diagnostic parameter with potential widespread utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed Huber
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Jonathan Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Lisa Borretta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | | | - Amy Lum
- Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Stephen Yip
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Basil A Horst
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
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Lorbeer FK, Rieser G, Goel A, Wang M, Oh A, Yeh I, Bastian BC, Hockemeyer D. Distinct senescence mechanisms restrain progression of dysplastic nevi. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae041. [PMID: 38371417 PMCID: PMC10873501 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations (TPMs) are frequently found in different cancer types, including ∼70% of sun-exposed skin melanomas. In melanoma, TPMs are among the earliest mutations and can be present during the transition from nevus to melanoma. However, the specific factors that contribute to the selection of TPMs in certain nevi subsets are not well understood. To investigate this, we analyzed a group of dysplastic nevi (DN) by sequencing genes commonly mutated in melanocytic neoplasms. We examined the relationship between the identified mutations, patient age, telomere length, histological features, and the expression of p16. Our findings reveal that TPMs are more prevalent in DN from older patients and are associated with shorter telomeres. Importantly, these TPMs were not found in nevi with BRAF V600E mutations. Conversely, DN with BRAF V600E mutations were observed in younger patients, had longer telomeres and a higher proportion of p16-positive cells. This suggests that these nevi arrest growth independently of telomere shortening through a mechanism known as oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). These characteristics extend to melanoma-sequencing datasets, where melanomas with BRAF V600E mutations were more likely to have a CDKN2A inactivation, overriding OIS. In contrast, melanomas without BRAF V600E mutations showed a higher frequency of TPMs. Our data imply that TPMs are selected to bypass replicative senescence (RS) in cells that were not arrested by OIS. Overall, our results indicate that a subset of melanocytic neoplasms face constraints from RS, while others encounter OIS and RS. The order in which these barriers are overcome during progression to melanoma depends on the mutational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska K Lorbeer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rieser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Aditya Goel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Areum Oh
- Rebus Biosystems, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
| | - Iwei Yeh
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Boris C Bastian
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Dirk Hockemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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19
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Hipólito A, Xavier R, Brito C, Tomás A, Lemos I, Cabaço LC, Silva F, Oliva A, Barral DC, Vicente JB, Gonçalves LG, Pojo M, Serpa J. BRD9 status is a major contributor for cysteine metabolic remodeling through MST and EAAT3 modulation in malignant melanoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:166983. [PMID: 38070581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166983] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most aggressive skin cancer, showing globally increasing incidence. Hereditary CM accounts for a significant percentage (5-15 %) of all CM cases. However, most familial cases remain without a known genetic cause. Even though, BRD9 has been associated to CM as a susceptibility gene. The molecular events following BRD9 mutagenesis are still not completely understood. In this study, we disclosed BRD9 as a key regulator in cysteine metabolism and associated altered BRD9 to increased cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness, as well as to altered melanin levels, inducing higher susceptibility to melanomagenesis. It is evident that BRD9 WT and mutated BRD9 (c.183G>C) have a different impact on cysteine metabolism, respectively by inhibiting and activating MPST expression in the metastatic A375 cell line. The effect of the mutated BRD9 variant was more evident in A375 cells than in the less invasive WM115 line. Our data point out novel molecular and metabolic mechanisms dependent on BRD9 status that potentially account for the increased risk of developing CM and enhancing CM aggressiveness. Moreover, our findings emphasize the role of cysteine metabolism remodeling in melanoma progression and open new queues to follow to explore the role of BRD9 as a melanoma susceptibility or cancer-related gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Hipólito
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Renato Xavier
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cheila Brito
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Tomás
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lemos
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Tecnológica (ITQB) António Xavier da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Luís C Cabaço
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Silva
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Abel Oliva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Tecnológica (ITQB) António Xavier da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Duarte C Barral
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João B Vicente
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Tecnológica (ITQB) António Xavier da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Luís G Gonçalves
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Tecnológica (ITQB) António Xavier da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marta Pojo
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jacinta Serpa
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Rua Prof Lima Basto, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal.
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20
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Zhang J, Zhang F, Porter KI, Dakup PP, Wang S, Robertson GP, Gaddameedhi S, Zhu J. Telomere dysfunction in Tert knockout mice delays Braf V600E -induced melanoma development. Int J Cancer 2024; 154:548-560. [PMID: 37727982 PMCID: PMC10840707 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34713] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase activation is a crucial step in melanomagenesis, often occurring because of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced mutations at the telomerase gene (TERT) promoter and rendering TERT transcription in response to the activated Raf-MAP kinase pathway by BRAFV600E mutation. Due to the excessively long telomeres in mice, this process does not occur during melanomagenesis in mouse models. To investigate the impact of telomere dysfunction on melanomagenesis, BrafV600E was induced in generations 1 and 4 (G1 and G4) of Tert-/- mice. Our findings revealed that, regardless of UVR exposure, melanoma development was delayed in G4 mice, which had shorter telomeres compared to G1 and wild-type C57BL/6J (G0) mice. Moreover, many G4 tumors displayed an accumulation of excessive DNA damage, as evidenced by increased γH2A.X staining. Tumors from UVR-exposed mice exhibited elevated p53 protein expression. Cultured tumor cells isolated from G4 mice displayed abundant chromosomal fusions and rearrangements, indicative of telomere dysfunction in these cells. Additionally, tumor cells derived from UVB-exposed mice exhibited constitutively elevated expression of mutant p53 proteins, suggesting that p53 was a target of UVB-induced mutagenesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that telomere dysfunction hampers melanomagenesis, and targeting telomere crisis-mediated genomic instability may hold promise for the prevention and treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Kenneth I. Porter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Panshak P. Dakup
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Shuwen Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Gavin P. Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Shobhan Gaddameedhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Jiyue Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
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21
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Landa I, Cabanillas ME. Genomic alterations in thyroid cancer: biological and clinical insights. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024; 20:93-110. [PMID: 38049644 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00920-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Tumours can arise from thyroid follicular cells if they acquire driver mutations that constitutively activate the MAPK signalling pathway. In addition, a limited set of additional mutations in key genes drive tumour progression towards more aggressive and less differentiated disease. Unprecedented insights into thyroid tumour biology have come from the breadth of thyroid tumour sequencing data from patients and the wide range of mutation-specific mechanisms identified in experimental models, in combination with the genomic simplicity of thyroid cancers. This knowledge is gradually being translated into refined strategies to stratify, manage and treat patients with thyroid cancer. This Review summarizes the biological underpinnings of the genetic alterations involved in thyroid cancer initiation and progression. We also provide a rationale for and discuss specific examples of how to implement genomic information to inform both recommended and investigational approaches to improve thyroid cancer prognosis, redifferentiation strategies and targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Landa
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Maria E Cabanillas
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia & Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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22
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Liu M, Zhang Y, Jian Y, Gu L, Zhang D, Zhou H, Wang Y, Xu ZX. The regulations of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:90. [PMID: 38278800 PMCID: PMC10817947 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06454-7] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal activation of telomerase occurs in most cancer types, which facilitates escaping from cell senescence. As the key component of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regulated by various regulation pathways. TERT gene changing in its promoter and phosphorylation respectively leads to TERT ectopic expression at the transcription and protein levels. The co-interacting factors play an important role in the regulation of TERT in different cancer types. In this review, we focus on the regulators of TERT and these downstream functions in cancer regulation. Determining the specific regulatory mechanism will help to facilitate the development of a cancer treatment strategy that targets telomerase and cancer cell senescence. As the most important catalytic subunit component of telomerase, TERT is rapidly regulated by transcriptional factors and PTM-related activation. These changes directly influence TERT-related telomere maintenance by regulating telomerase activity in telomerase-positive cancer cells, telomerase assembly with telomere-binding proteins, and recruiting telomerase to the telomere. Besides, there are also non-canonical functions that are influenced by TERT, including the basic biological functions of cancer cells, such as proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, initiating cell formation, EMT, and cell invasion. Other downstream effects are the results of the influence of transcriptional factors by TERT. Currently, some small molecular inhibitors of TERT and TERT vaccine are under research as a clinical therapeutic target. Purposeful work is in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingdi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yuning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yongping Jian
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Liting Gu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Honglan Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Yishu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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23
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Karimian K, Groot A, Huso V, Kahidi R, Tan KT, Sholes S, Keener R, McDyer JF, Alder JK, Li H, Rechtsteiner A, Greider CW. Human telomere length is chromosome specific and conserved across individuals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.21.572870. [PMID: 38187739 PMCID: PMC10769321 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.21.572870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Short telomeres cause age-related disease and long telomeres predispose to cancer; however, the mechanisms regulating telomere length are unclear. To probe these mechanisms, we developed a nanopore sequencing method, Telomere Profiling, that is easy to implement, precise, and cost effective with broad applications in research and the clinic. We sequenced telomeres from individuals with short telomere syndromes and found similar telomere lengths to the clinical FlowFISH assay. We mapped telomere reads to specific chromosome end and identified both chromosome end-specific and haplotype-specific telomere length distributions. In the T2T HG002 genome, where the average telomere length is 5kb, we found a remarkable 6kb difference in lengths between some telomeres. Further, we found that specific chromosome ends were consistently shorter or longer than the average length across 147 individuals. The presence of conserved chromosome end-specific telomere lengths suggests there are new paradigms in telomere biology that are yet to be explored. Understanding the mechanisms regulating length will allow deeper insights into telomere biology that can lead to new approaches to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayarash Karimian
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Aljona Groot
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
| | - Vienna Huso
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Kar-Tong Tan
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Genetics, Boston, MA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute, Cancer Program, Cambridge, MA
| | - Samantha Sholes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Present address Merck & Co., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486
| | - Rebecca Keener
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - John F. McDyer
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Jonathan K. Alder
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Heng Li
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Data Sciences, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Boston, MA
| | - Andreas Rechtsteiner
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
| | - Carol W. Greider
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
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24
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Xiao H, Shiu J, Chen CF, Wu J, Zhou P, Telang SS, Ruiz-Vega R, Nie Q, Lander AD, Ganesan AK. Uncovering Minimal Pathways in Melanoma Initiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.08.570336. [PMID: 38106189 PMCID: PMC10723457 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.08.570336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanomas are clinically and histologically heterogeneous. Most display activating mutations in Braf or Nras and complete loss of function of one or more tumor suppressor genes. Mouse models that replicate such mutations produce fast-growing, pigmented tumors. However, mice that combine Braf activation with only heterozygous loss of Pten also produce tumors and, as we show here, in an Albino background this occurs even with Braf activation alone. Such tumors arise rarely, grow slowly, and express low levels of pigmentation genes. The timing of their appearance was consistent with a single step stochastic event, but no evidence could be found that it required de novo mutation, suggesting instead the involvement of an epigenetic transition. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed such tumors to be heterogeneous, including a minor cell type we term LNM ( L ow-pigment, N eural- and extracellular M atrix-signature) that displays gene expression resembling "neural crest"-like cell subsets detected in the fast-growing tumors of more heavily-mutated mice, as well as in human biopsy and xenograft samples. We provide evidence that LNM cells pre-exist in normal skin, are expanded by Braf activation, can transition into malignant cells, and persist with malignant cells through multiple rounds of transplantation. We discuss the possibility that LNM cells not only serve as a pre-malignant state in the production of some melanomas, but also as an important intermediate in the development of drug resistance.
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25
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El Zarif T, Machaalani M, Nawfal R, Nassar AH, Xie W, Choueiri TK, Pomerantz M. TERT Promoter Mutations Frequency Across Race, Sex, and Cancer Type. Oncologist 2024; 29:8-14. [PMID: 37462445 PMCID: PMC10769781 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene promoter mutations have been explored, as biomarkers of improved survival for patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. We sought to investigate their prevalence by race and sex across different cancer types to inform patient selection in clinical trials. RESULTS In this observational study, 31 925 patients with cancer underwent next-generation sequencing of their tumors with 88% (27 970) patients self-reported being Whites, 7.1% (2273) Asians, and 5.3% (1682) Blacks. Examining the distribution of TERT promoter mutations by race, White patients with melanoma harbored more TERT promoter mutations than Asian and Black patients (OR = 25.83; 95%CI, 6.84-217.42; P < .001). In contrast, Asian patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) harbored more TERT promoter mutations compared to White patients (OR = 2.47; 95%CI, 1.39-4.37; P = .004). In addition, the distribution of TERT promoter mutations differed by sex. Males were enriched for TERT gene promoter mutations compared to females with melanoma (OR = 1.82; 95%CI, 1.53-2.16; P < .001), cancer of unknown primary (OR = 1.96; 95%CI, 1.43-2.69; P < .001), hepatobiliary (OR = 3.89; 95%CI, 2.65-5.69; P < .001), and thyroid cancers (OR = 1.42; 95%CI, 1.10-1.84; P = .0087), while females were more enriched for TERT promoter mutations compared to males for HNC (OR = 0.56; 95%CI, 0.39-0.81; P = .0021). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of TERT gene promoter mutations varies among patients with cancer based on race and sex. These findings inform our understanding of cancer biology and can assist in the design of future clinical trials that leverage drugs targeting TERT promoter dependencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talal El Zarif
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marc Machaalani
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rashad Nawfal
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amin H Nassar
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wanling Xie
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Toni K Choueiri
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Pomerantz
- Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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26
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Fiorentino V, Pizzimenti C, Franchina M, Pepe L, Russotto F, Tralongo P, Micali MG, Militi GB, Lentini M. Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Immunohistochemical Expression and Cutaneous Melanoma: A Controversial Relationship. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:676. [PMID: 38203846 PMCID: PMC10779806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010676] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is traditionally considered one of the most "immunogenic" tumors, eliciting a high immune response. However, despite the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), melanoma cells use strategies to suppress antitumor immunity and avoid being eliminated by immune surveillance. The PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) axis is a well-known immune escape system adopted by neoplastic cells. Therefore, immunotherapy with PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors is quickly becoming the main treatment approach for metastatic melanoma patients. However, the clinical utility of PD-L1 expression assessment in CM is controversial, and the interpretation of PD-L1 scores in clinical practice is still a matter of debate. Nonetheless, the recent literature data show that by adopting specific PD-L1 assessment methods in melanoma samples, a correlation between the expression of such a biomarker and a positive response to PD-1-based immunotherapy can be seen. Our review aims to describe the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the prognostic and predictive role of PD-L1 expression in CM while also referring to possible biological explanations for the variability in its expressions and related treatment responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Fiorentino
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (M.F.); (L.P.); (F.R.); (M.G.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Cristina Pizzimenti
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Mariausilia Franchina
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (M.F.); (L.P.); (F.R.); (M.G.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Ludovica Pepe
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (M.F.); (L.P.); (F.R.); (M.G.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Fernanda Russotto
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (M.F.); (L.P.); (F.R.); (M.G.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Pietro Tralongo
- Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Hospital Foundation, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marina Gloria Micali
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (M.F.); (L.P.); (F.R.); (M.G.M.); (M.L.)
| | - Gaetano Basilio Militi
- Department of Sciences for Promotion of Health and Mother and Child Care, Anatomic Pathology, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Maria Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (M.F.); (L.P.); (F.R.); (M.G.M.); (M.L.)
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Muyas F, Rodriguez MJG, Cascão R, Afonso A, Sauer CM, Faria CC, Cortés-Ciriano I, Flores I. The ALT pathway generates telomere fusions that can be detected in the blood of cancer patients. Nat Commun 2024; 15:82. [PMID: 38167290 PMCID: PMC10762111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44287-8] [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: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere fusions (TFs) can trigger the accumulation of oncogenic alterations leading to malignant transformation and drug resistance. Despite their relevance in tumour evolution, our understanding of the patterns and consequences of TFs in human cancers remains limited. Here, we characterize the rates and spectrum of somatic TFs across >30 cancer types using whole-genome sequencing data. TFs are pervasive in human tumours with rates varying markedly across and within cancer types. In addition to end-to-end fusions, we find patterns of TFs that we mechanistically link to the activity of the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. We show that TFs can be detected in the blood of cancer patients, which enables cancer detection with high specificity and sensitivity even for early-stage tumours and cancers of high unmet clinical need. Overall, we report a genomic footprint that enables characterization of the telomere maintenance mechanism of tumours and liquid biopsy analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Muyas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Rita Cascão
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Angela Afonso
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolin M Sauer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Claudia C Faria
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (CHULN), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isidro Cortés-Ciriano
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Ignacio Flores
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
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Alimohamadi M, Larijani A, Pour-Rashidi A, Farzin M, Ebrahimi H, Rahmani M, Hendi K, Yarandi KK, Aghajanian S, Shirani M. Comparative Analysis of the Prognostic Significance of IDH,TERT, EGFR and MGMT Status in Patients with Adult Non-H3-Altered Grade 4 Gliomas: A Prospective Cohort Study. World Neurosurg 2024; 181:e628-e639. [PMID: 37914076 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.10.102] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gliomas continue to have a dismal prognosis. A myriad of genetic alterations has been described in this subset of tumors over the last decades. The integrative interpretation of the biomarker constellation for individual patients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of some known genetic factors as prognostic biomarkers in grade 4 gliomas. METHODS Adult non-H3-altered grade 4 gliomas who underwent maximal safe resection accompanied by adjuvant therapy were successively enrolled since January 2019 till January 2021. Patient data were documented preoperatively and during the follow-up visits. The genetic profiling of the tumors included Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH)-1 and IDH-2 mutation, MGMT promoter methylation rate, EGFR gene amplification and telomerase reverse transcriptase gene promoter (TERTp) mutation. RESULTS Mean Overall survival (OS) and Progression-free survival (PFS) were 14.45 ± 5.13 months (3-24 months) and 10.66 ± 4.87 months respectively. TERTp-mutant group had a significantly lower OS (10.9 vs. 15.9) and PFS (6.9 vs. 12.3) than TERTp wildtype group. In the TERT-mutant group, those with concomitant IDH wildtype tumor had higher OS and PFS, comparable to those with both TERTp and IDH wildtype tumors. In multivariate analysis, IDH mutation and TERTp wildtype status were predictive of longer OS and PFS. While IDH and absence of TERTp mutation were associated with KPS > 80 across the follow-ups, their predictive values were inferior to preoperative KPS scores. CONCLUSIONS TERTp mutation and IDH-wildtype status were associated with worse OS and PFS and lower follow-up KPS score in surgically resected gliomas, while MGMT and EGFR status did not have considerable prognostic value in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maysam Alimohamadi
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Larijani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Pour-Rashidi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Farzin
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Radio-Oncology Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hannan Ebrahimi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohamad Rahmani
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kasra Hendi
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kourosh Karimi Yarandi
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepehr Aghajanian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shirani
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Helgadottir H, Schultz K, Lapins J, Höiom V. Familial features affecting the melanoma risk in CDKN2A-negative melanoma families: a study based on the Swedish Cancer Registry. Acta Oncol 2023; 62:1967-1972. [PMID: 37801364 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2023.2265052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hildur Helgadottir
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karina Schultz
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Lapins
- Department of Dermatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
- Dermatology and Venereology Unit, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Veronica Höiom
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Pellegrini C, Cardelli L, Ghiorzo P, Pastorino L, Potrony M, García-Casado Z, Elefanti L, Stefanaki I, Mastrangelo M, Necozione S, Aguilera P, Rodríguez-Hernández A, Di Nardo L, Rocco T, Del Regno L, Badenas C, Carrera C, Malvehy J, Requena C, Bañuls J, Stratigos AJ, Peris K, Menin C, Calista D, Nagore E, Puig S, Landi MT, Fargnoli MC. High- and intermediate-risk susceptibility variants in melanoma families from the Mediterranean area: A multicentre cohort from the MelaNostrum Consortium. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2023; 37:2498-2508. [PMID: 37611275 PMCID: PMC10842987 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most of large epidemiological studies on melanoma susceptibility have been conducted on fair skinned individuals (US, Australia and Northern Europe), while Southern European populations, characterized by high UV exposure and dark-skinned individuals, are underrepresented. OBJECTIVES We report a comprehensive pooled analysis of established high- and intermediate-penetrance genetic variants and clinical characteristics of Mediterranean melanoma families from the MelaNostrum Consortium. METHODS Pooled epidemiological, clinical and genetic (CDKN2A, CDK4, ACD, BAP1, POT1, TERT, and TERF2IP and MC1R genes) retrospective data of melanoma families, collected within the MelaNostrum Consortium in Greece, Italy and Spain, were analysed. Univariate methods and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of variants with characteristics of families and of affected and unaffected family members. Subgroup analysis was performed for each country. RESULTS We included 839 families (1365 affected members and 2123 unaffected individuals). Pathogenic/likely pathogenic CDKN2A variants were identified in 13.8% of families. The strongest predictors of melanoma were ≥2 multiple primary melanoma cases (OR 8.1; 95% CI 3.3-19.7), >3 affected members (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.3-5.2) and occurrence of pancreatic cancer (OR 4.8; 95% CI 2.4-9.4) in the family (AUC 0.76, 95% CI 0.71-0.82). We observed low frequency variants in POT1 (3.8%), TERF2IP (2.5%), ACD (0.8%) and BAP1 (0.3%). MC1R common variants (≥2 variants and ≥2 RHC variants) were associated with melanoma risk (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-2.0 and OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.2-14.6, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Variants in known high-penetrance genes explain nearly 20% of melanoma familial aggregation in Mediterranean areas. CDKN2A melanoma predictors were identified with potential clinical relevance for cancer risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Pellegrini
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - L Cardelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - P Ghiorzo
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genetica dei Tumori rari, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - L Pastorino
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genetica dei Tumori rari, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Potrony
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Z García-Casado
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, València, Spain
| | - L Elefanti
- Immunology and Diagnostic Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - I Stefanaki
- 1st Department of Dermatology-Venereology, Andreas Sygros Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - M Mastrangelo
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - S Necozione
- Epidemiology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - P Aguilera
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - L Di Nardo
- UOC Dermatologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dermatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - T Rocco
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Dermatology Unit, Ospedale San Salvatore, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - L Del Regno
- UOC Dermatologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dermatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - C Badenas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Carrera
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Malvehy
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Requena
- Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, València, Spain
| | - J Bañuls
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - A J Stratigos
- 1st Department of Dermatology-Venereology, Andreas Sygros Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - K Peris
- UOC Dermatologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dermatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - C Menin
- Immunology and Diagnostic Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - D Calista
- Department of Dermatology, Maurizio Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - E Nagore
- Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, València, Spain
| | - S Puig
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M T Landi
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - M C Fargnoli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Dermatology Unit, Ospedale San Salvatore, L'Aquila, Italy
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Godoy PM, Oyedeji A, Mudd JL, Morikis VA, Zarov AP, Longmore GD, Fields RC, Kaufman CK. Functional analysis of recurrent CDC20 promoter variants in human melanoma. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1216. [PMID: 38030698 PMCID: PMC10686982 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05526-2] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Small nucleotide variants in non-coding regions of the genome can alter transcriptional regulation, leading to changes in gene expression which can activate oncogenic gene regulatory networks. Melanoma is heavily burdened by non-coding variants, representing over 99% of total genetic variation, including the well-characterized TERT promoter mutation. However, the compendium of regulatory non-coding variants is likely still functionally under-characterized. We developed a pipeline to identify hotspots, i.e. recurrently mutated regions, in melanoma containing putatively functional non-coding somatic variants that are located within predicted melanoma-specific regulatory regions. We identified hundreds of statistically significant hotspots, including the hotspot containing the TERT promoter variants, and focused on a hotspot in the promoter of CDC20. We found that variants in the promoter of CDC20, which putatively disrupt an ETS motif, lead to lower transcriptional activity in reporter assays. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated an indel in the CDC20 promoter in human A375 melanoma cell lines and observed decreased expression of CDC20, changes in migration capabilities, increased growth of xenografts, and an altered transcriptional state previously associated with a more proliferative and less migratory state. Overall, our analysis prioritized several recurrent functional non-coding variants that, through downregulation of CDC20, led to perturbation of key melanoma phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula M Godoy
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abimbola Oyedeji
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Mudd
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Vasilios A Morikis
- Departments of Medicine (Oncology) and Cell Biology and Physiology and the ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Anna P Zarov
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gregory D Longmore
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Departments of Medicine (Oncology) and Cell Biology and Physiology and the ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ryan C Fields
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Charles K Kaufman
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Tan IL, Perez AR, Lew RJ, Sun X, Baldwin A, Zhu YK, Shah MM, Berger MS, Doudna JA, Fellmann C. Targeting the non-coding genome and temozolomide signature enables CRISPR-mediated glioma oncolysis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113339. [PMID: 37917583 PMCID: PMC10725516 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113339] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common lethal primary brain cancer in adults. Despite treatment regimens including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, growth of residual tumor leads to therapy resistance and death. At recurrence, a quarter to a third of all gliomas have hypermutated genomes, with mutational burdens orders of magnitude greater than in normal tissue. Here, we quantified the mutational landscape progression in a patient's primary and recurrent GBM, and we uncovered Cas9-targetable repeat elements. We show that CRISPR-mediated targeting of highly repetitive loci enables rapid elimination of GBM cells, an approach we term "genome shredding." Importantly, in the patient's recurrent GBM, we identified unique repeat sequences with TMZ mutational signature and demonstrated that their CRISPR targeting enables cancer-specific cell ablation. "Cancer shredding" leverages the non-coding genome and therapy-induced mutational signatures for targeted GBM cell depletion and provides an innovative paradigm to develop treatments for hypermutated glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Li Tan
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Alexendar R Perez
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA; Silico Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
| | - Rachel J Lew
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Sun
- Silico Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
| | - Alisha Baldwin
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yong K Zhu
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mihir M Shah
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mitchel S Berger
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Christof Fellmann
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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Kouroukli AG, Rajaram N, Bashtrykov P, Kretzmer H, Siebert R, Jeltsch A, Bens S. Targeting oncogenic TERT promoter variants by allele-specific epigenome editing. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:183. [PMID: 37993930 PMCID: PMC10666398 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01599-2] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activation of dominant oncogenes by small or structural genomic alterations is a common driver mechanism in many cancers. Silencing of such dominantly activated oncogenic alleles, thus, is a promising strategy to treat cancer. Recently, allele-specific epigenome editing (ASEE) has been described as a means to reduce transcription of genes in an allele-specific manner. In cancer, specificity to an oncogenic allele can be reached by either targeting directly a pathogenic single-nucleotide variant or a polymorphic single-nucleotide variant linked to the oncogenic allele. To investigate the potential of ASEE in cancer, we here explored this approach by targeting variants at the TERT promoter region. The TERT promoter region has been described as one of the most frequently mutated non-coding cancer drivers. RESULTS Sequencing of the TERT promoter in cancer cell lines showed 53% (41/77) to contain at least one heterozygous sequence variant allowing allele distinction. We chose the hepatoblastoma cell line Hep-G2 and the lung cancer cell line A-549 for this proof-of-principle study, as they contained two different kinds of variants, namely the activating mutation C228T in the TERT core promoter and the common SNP rs2853669 in the THOR region, respectively. These variants were targeted in an allele-specific manner using sgRNA-guided dCas9-DNMT3A-3L complexes. In both cell lines, we successfully introduced DNA methylation specifically to the on-target allele of the TERT promoter with limited background methylation on the off-target allele or an off-target locus (VEGFA), respectively. We observed a maximum CpG methylation gain of 39% and 76% on the target allele when targeting the activating mutation and the common SNP, respectively. The epigenome editing translated into reduced TERT RNA expression in Hep-G2. CONCLUSIONS We applied an ASEE-mediated approach to silence TERT allele specifically. Our results show that the concept of dominant oncogene inactivation by allele-specific epigenome editing can be successfully translated into cancer models. This new strategy may have important advantages in comparison with existing therapeutic approaches, e.g., targeting telomerase, especially with regard to reducing adverse side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra G Kouroukli
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Nivethika Rajaram
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Pavel Bashtrykov
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Computational Genomics, Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Susanne Bens
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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Wang Y, Armendariz D, Wang L, Zhao H, Xie S, Hon GC. Enhancer regulatory networks globally connect non-coding breast cancer loci to cancer genes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.20.567880. [PMID: 38045327 PMCID: PMC10690208 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Genetic studies have associated thousands of enhancers with breast cancer. However, the vast majority have not been functionally characterized. Thus, it remains unclear how variant-associated enhancers contribute to cancer. Here, we perform single-cell CRISPRi screens of 3,512 regulatory elements associated with breast cancer to measure the impact of these regions on transcriptional phenotypes. Analysis of >500,000 single-cell transcriptomes in two breast cancer cell lines shows that perturbation of variant-associated enhancers disrupts breast cancer gene programs. We observe variant-associated enhancers that directly or indirectly regulate the expression of cancer genes. We also find one-to-multiple and multiple-to-one network motifs where enhancers indirectly regulate cancer genes. Notably, multiple variant-associated enhancers indirectly regulate TP53. Comparative studies illustrate sub-type specific functions between enhancers in ER+ and ER- cells. Finally, we developed the pySpade package to facilitate analysis of single-cell enhancer screens. Overall, we demonstrate that enhancers form regulatory networks that link cancer genes in the genome, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the contribution of enhancers to breast cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Wang
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
| | | | - Lei Wang
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
| | - Huan Zhao
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
| | - Shiqi Xie
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
- Current address: Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Gary C Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
- Division of Basic Reproductive Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
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Tora R, Welch J, Sun J, Agarwal SK, Bell DA, Merino M, Weinstein LS, Simonds WF, Jha S. Phenotypic Profiling and Molecular Mechanisms in Hyperparathyroidism-jaw Tumor Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:3165-3177. [PMID: 37339334 PMCID: PMC10655532 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT) syndrome is a heritable form of primary hyperparathyroidism caused by germline inactivating mutations in CDC73 encoding parafibromin and is associated with an increased risk of parathyroid cancer. There is little evidence to guide the management of patients with the disease. OBJECTIVE (1) Characterize the natural history of HPT-JT, (2) correlate genotype and histology of parathyroid tumors with parafibromin immunostaining, (3) understand molecular changes downstream to CDC73 loss. DESIGN Retrospective study of patients with HPT-JT syndrome (genetically confirmed or affected first-degree relatives). Independent review of uterine tumor from 2 patients and staining for parafibromin on parathyroid tumors from 19 patients (13 adenomas, 6 carcinomas) was performed. RNA-sequencing was performed in 21 parathyroid samples (8 HPT-JT-related adenomas, 6 HPT-JT-related carcinomas, and 7 sporadic carcinomas with wild-type CDC73). RESULTS We identified 68 patients from 29 kindreds with HPT-JT with median age at last follow-up of 39 [interquartile range, 29-53] years. A total of 55/68 (81%) developed primary hyperparathyroidism; 17/55 (31%) had parathyroid carcinoma. Twelve of 32 (38%) females developed uterine tumors. Of the 11 patients who had surgical resection for uterine tumors, 12/24 (50%) tumors were rare mixed epithelial mesenchymal polypoid lesions. Four of 68 patients (6%) developed solid kidney tumors; 3/4 had a CDC73 variant at p.M1 residue. Parafibromin staining of parathyroid tumors did not correlate with tumor histology or genotype. RNA-sequencing showed a significant association of HPT-JT-related parathyroid tumors with transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, mesodermal commitment pathway, and cell-cell adhesion. CONCLUSIONS Multiple, recurrent atypical adenomyomatous uterine polyps appear to be enriched in women with HPT-JT and appear characteristic of the disease. Patients with CDC73 variants at p.M1 residue appear predisposed to kidney tumors. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER NCT04969926.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Tora
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - James Welch
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jian Sun
- NIAID Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource (NCBR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sunita K Agarwal
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Debra A Bell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Maria Merino
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lee S Weinstein
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - William F Simonds
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Smita Jha
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Tornesello ML, Cerasuolo A, Starita N, Amiranda S, Bonelli P, Tuccillo FM, Buonaguro FM, Buonaguro L, Tornesello AL. Reactivation of telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in cancer: the role of TERT promoter mutations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1286683. [PMID: 38033865 PMCID: PMC10684755 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1286683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity and telomere elongation are essential conditions for the unlimited proliferation of neoplastic cells. Point mutations in the core promoter region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene have been found to occur at high frequencies in several tumour types and considered a primary cause of telomerase reactivation in cancer cells. These mutations promote TERT gene expression by multiple mechanisms, including the generation of novel binding sites for nuclear transcription factors, displacement of negative regulators from DNA G-quadruplexes, recruitment of epigenetic activators and disruption of long-range interactions between TERT locus and telomeres. Furthermore, TERT promoter mutations cooperate with TPP1 promoter nucleotide changes to lengthen telomeres and with mutated BRAF and FGFR3 oncoproteins to enhance oncogenic signalling in cancer cells. TERT promoter mutations have been recognized as an early marker of tumour development or a major indicator of poor outcome and reduced patients survival in several cancer types. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of TERT promoter mutations, telomerase expression and telomeres elongation in cancer development, their clinical significance and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Sara Amiranda
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Patrizia Bonelli
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franca Maria Tuccillo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Innovative Immunological Models Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
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Heo J, Lee S, Park J, Yang H, Park H, Ki CS, Oh YL, Kim HI, Kim SW, Chung JH, Kim K, Kim TH. Age-associated mortality is partially mediated by TERT promoter mutation status in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294145. [PMID: 37948420 PMCID: PMC10637683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age at diagnosis (AAD) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), and the prevalence of the mutations increases with AAD. Considering this correlation, we investigated whether an interaction between AAD and the mutations is present and whether the mutation mediates the effect of AAD on the mortality rate in DTC. METHODS The study included 393 patients with DTC who were followed-up after thyroidectomy at a single medical center in Korea from 1994 to 2004. Multivariable Cox regression was used to investigate the interaction of AAD and TERT promoter mutation. Mediation analysis was conducted using a regression-based causal mediation model. RESULTS The age-associated mortality rate increased progressively in all DTC patients and wild-type TERT group (WT-TERT) with a linear trend (p < 0.001) contrary to mutant TERT group (M-TERT) (p = 0.301). Kaplan-Meier curves declined progressively with increasing AAD in the entire group, but the change was without significance in M-TERT. The effect of AAD on mortality was not significant (adjusted HR: 1.07, 95% CI 0.38-3.05) in M-TERT. An interaction between AAD and TERT promoter mutation (p = 0.005) was found in a multivariable Cox regression. TERT promoter mutations mediated the effect of AAD on the mortality rate by 36% in DTC in a mediation analysis. CONCLUSIONS Considering the mediation of TERT promoter mutation on the effect of AAD on mortality, inclusion of TERT promoter mutation in a stage classification to achieve further individualized prediction in DTC is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Heo
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Sungjoo Lee
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun Park
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Sahmyook Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Heera Yang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunju Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | | | - Young Lyun Oh
- Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye In Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea
| | - Sun Wook Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Chung
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyunga Kim
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
- Biomedical Statistics Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Data Convergence and Future Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Hyuk Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Chua BH, Zaal Anuar N, Ferry L, Domrane C, Wittek A, Mukundan VT, Jha S, Butter F, Tenen DG, Defossez PA, Kappei D. E4F1 and ZNF148 are transcriptional activators of the -57A > C and wild-type TERT promoter. Genome Res 2023; 33:gr.277724.123. [PMID: 37918959 PMCID: PMC10760450 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277724.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Point mutations within the TERT promoter are the most recurrent somatic noncoding mutations identified across different cancer types, including glioblastoma, melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and bladder cancer. They are most abundant at -146C > T and -124C > T, and rarer at -57A > C, with the latter originally described as a familial case, but subsequently shown also to occur somatically. All three mutations create de novo E26-specific (ETS) binding sites and result in activation of the TERT gene, allowing cancer cells to achieve replicative immortality. Here, we used a systematic proteomics screen to identify transcription factors preferentially binding to the -146C > T, -124C > T, and -57A > C mutations. Although we confirmed binding of multiple ETS factors to the mutant -146C > T and -124C > T sequences, we identified E4F1 as a -57A > C-specific binder and ZNF148 as a TERT wild-type (WT) promoter binder that showed reduced interaction with the -124C > T allele. Both proteins are activating transcription factors that bind specifically to the -57A > C and WT (at position 124) TERT promoter sequence in corresponding cell lines, and up-regulate TERT transcription and telomerase activity. Our work describes new regulators of TERT gene expression with possible roles in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boon Haow Chua
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117596 Singapore
| | - Nurkaiyisah Zaal Anuar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
| | - Laure Ferry
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Cecilia Domrane
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Anna Wittek
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
| | - Vineeth T Mukundan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
| | - Sudhakar Jha
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117596 Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology (IMVZ), Friedrich Loeffler Institute, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Daniel G Tenen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | | | - Dennis Kappei
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore;
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117596 Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599 Singapore
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Trivedi R, Bhat KP. Liquid biopsy: creating opportunities in brain space. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1727-1746. [PMID: 37752289 PMCID: PMC10667495 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02446-0] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, liquid biopsy has emerged as an alternative method to diagnose and monitor tumors. Compared to classical tissue biopsy procedures, liquid biopsy facilitates the repetitive collection of diverse cellular and acellular analytes from various biofluids in a non/minimally invasive manner. This strategy is of greater significance for high-grade brain malignancies such as glioblastoma as the quantity and accessibility of tumors are limited, and there are collateral risks of compromised life quality coupled with surgical interventions. Currently, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are the most common biofluids used to collect circulating cells and biomolecules of tumor origin. These liquid biopsy analytes have created opportunities for real-time investigations of distinct genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics alterations associated with brain tumors. This review describes different classes of liquid biopsy biomarkers present in the biofluids of brain tumor patients. Moreover, an overview of the liquid biopsy applications, challenges, recent technological advances, and clinical trials in the brain have also been provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Trivedi
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Krishna P Bhat
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
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Abstract
Background: Very little was known about the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer until the late 1980s. As part of the Centennial celebration of the American Thyroid Association, we review the historical discoveries that contributed to our current understanding of the genetic underpinnings of thyroid cancer. Summary: The pace of discovery was heavily dependent on scientific breakthroughs in nucleic acid sequencing technology, cancer biology, thyroid development, thyroid cell signaling, and growth regulation. Accordingly, we attempt to link the primary observations on thyroid cancer molecular genetics with the methodological and scientific advances that made them possible. Conclusions: The major genetic drivers of the common forms of thyroid cancer are now quite well established and contribute to a significant extent to how we diagnose and treat the disease. However, many challenges remain. Future work will need to unravel the complexity of thyroid cancer ecosystems, which is likely to be a major determinant of their biological behavior and on how they respond to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. Fagin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuri E. Nikiforov
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Todeschi J, Dannhoff G, Chibbaro S, Segbedji F, Spatola G, Mallereau CH, Noel G, Schott R, Lhermitte B, Cebula H, Ganau M. Second Cancer Affecting the Central Nervous System: Systematic Literature Review Exploring the Link Between Malignant Melanoma and Glioblastoma. World Neurosurg 2023; 179:178-184. [PMID: 37625631 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.08.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant primary brain cancer, among the most devastating and lethal diseases of the central nervous system. Similarly, malignant melanoma (MM) is responsible for most skin cancer-related deaths. A link between those 2 aggressive cancers has not yet been established. We present here a systematic review of the literature and an exemplificative case. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess possible commonalities between MM and GBM. An exemplificative surgical vignette of a 73-year-old patient with the occurrence of a frontobasal GBM after surgical removal of a metastasis of MM in the same location was then detailed. RESULTS Fifteen studies published in the English international literature support a link between MM and GBM, both based on epidemiologic and pathophysiologic/genetic aspects. This theory is reinforced by our surgical vignette of a collision tumor with the occurrence of both tumors in the same location several years apart. CONCLUSIONS The evidence reported in the literature, as well as our surgical vignette, support a likely link between the pathogenesis of GBM and MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Todeschi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Guillaume Dannhoff
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Salvatore Chibbaro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Felix Segbedji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Giorgio Spatola
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Georges Noel
- Department of Radiotherapy, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Roland Schott
- Department of Neuro-oncology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Benoit Lhermitte
- Histopathology Unit, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hélène Cebula
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mario Ganau
- Department of Neurosurgery, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
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Landa I, Thornton CEM, Xu B, Haase J, Krishnamoorthy GP, Hao J, Knauf JA, Herbert ZT, Martínez P, Blasco MA, Ghossein R, Fagin JA. Telomerase Upregulation Induces Progression of Mouse BrafV600E-Driven Thyroid Cancers and Triggers Nontelomeric Effects. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:1163-1175. [PMID: 37478162 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-23-0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the promoter of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene are the paradigm of a cross-cancer alteration in a noncoding region. TERT promoter mutations (TPM) are biomarkers of poor prognosis in cancer, including thyroid tumors. TPMs enhance TERT transcription, which is otherwise silenced in adult tissues, thus reactivating a bona fide oncoprotein. To study TERT deregulation and its downstream consequences, we generated a Tert mutant promoter mouse model via CRISPR/Cas9 engineering of the murine equivalent locus (Tert-123C>T) and crossed it with thyroid-specific BrafV600E-mutant mice. We also employed an alternative model of Tert overexpression (K5-Tert). Whereas all BrafV600E animals developed well-differentiated papillary thyroid tumors, 29% and 36% of BrafV600E+Tert-123C>T and BrafV600E+K5-Tert mice progressed to poorly differentiated cancers at week 20, respectively. Tert-upregulated tumors showed increased mitosis and necrosis in areas of solid growth, and older animals displayed anaplastic-like features, that is, spindle cells and macrophage infiltration. Murine TPM increased Tert transcription in vitro and in vivo, but temporal and intratumoral heterogeneity was observed. RNA-sequencing of thyroid tumor cells showed that processes other than the canonical Tert-mediated telomere maintenance role operate in these specimens. Pathway analysis showed that MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling, as well as processes not previously associated with this tumor etiology, involving cytokine, and chemokine signaling, were overactivated. These models constitute useful preclinical tools to understand the cell-autonomous and microenvironment-related consequences of Tert-mediated progression in advanced thyroid cancers and other aggressive tumors carrying TPMs. IMPLICATIONS Telomerase-driven cancer progression activates pathways that can be dissected and perhaps therapeutically exploited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Landa
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Caitlin E M Thornton
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jacob Haase
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gnana P Krishnamoorthy
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jingzhu Hao
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey A Knauf
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Zachary T Herbert
- Molecular Biology Core Facilities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paula Martínez
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - María A Blasco
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ronald Ghossein
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - James A Fagin
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Soares de Sá BC, Moredo LF, Torrezan GT, Fidalgo F, de Araújo ÉSS, Formiga MN, Duprat JP, Carraro DM. Characterization of Potential Melanoma Predisposition Genes in High-Risk Brazilian Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15830. [PMID: 37958811 PMCID: PMC10649559 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115830] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased genetic risk for melanoma can occur in the context of germline pathogenic variants in high-penetrance genes, such as CDKN2A and CDK4, risk variants in low- to moderate-penetrance genes (MC1R and MITF), and possibly due to variants in emerging genes, such as ACD, TERF2IP, and TERT. We aimed to identify germline variants in high- and low- to moderate-penetrance melanoma risk genes in Brazilian patients with clinical criteria for familial melanoma syndrome. We selected patients with three or more melanomas or melanoma patients from families with three tumors (melanoma and pancreatic cancer) in first- or second-degree relatives. Genetic testing was performed with a nine-gene panel (ACD, BAP1, CDK4, CDKN2A, POT1, TERT, TERF2IP, MC1R, and MITF). In 36 patients, we identified 2 (5.6%) with germline pathogenic variants in CDKN2A and BAP1 and 4 (11.1%) with variants of uncertain significance in the high-penetrance genes. MC1R variants were found in 86.5%, and both red hair color variants and unknown risk variants were enriched in patients compared to a control group. The low frequency of germline pathogenic variants in the high-penetrance genes and the high prevalence of MC1R variants found in our cohort show the importance of the MC1R genotype in determining the risk of melanoma in the Brazilian melanoma-prone families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Costa Soares de Sá
- Skin Cancer Department, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo 01529-001, Brazil; (B.C.S.d.S.); (L.F.M.); (J.P.D.)
| | - Luciana Facure Moredo
- Skin Cancer Department, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo 01529-001, Brazil; (B.C.S.d.S.); (L.F.M.); (J.P.D.)
| | - Giovana Tardin Torrezan
- Clinical and Functional Genomics Group, International Research Center/CIPE, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, 440 Taguá St., São Paulo 01508-010, Brazil; (G.T.T.); (F.F.); (É.S.S.d.A.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Oncogenomics and Therapeutic Innovation, 440 Taguá St., São Paulo 01508-010, Brazil
| | - Felipe Fidalgo
- Clinical and Functional Genomics Group, International Research Center/CIPE, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, 440 Taguá St., São Paulo 01508-010, Brazil; (G.T.T.); (F.F.); (É.S.S.d.A.)
| | - Érica Sara Souza de Araújo
- Clinical and Functional Genomics Group, International Research Center/CIPE, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, 440 Taguá St., São Paulo 01508-010, Brazil; (G.T.T.); (F.F.); (É.S.S.d.A.)
| | | | - João Pereira Duprat
- Skin Cancer Department, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo 01529-001, Brazil; (B.C.S.d.S.); (L.F.M.); (J.P.D.)
| | - Dirce Maria Carraro
- Clinical and Functional Genomics Group, International Research Center/CIPE, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, 440 Taguá St., São Paulo 01508-010, Brazil; (G.T.T.); (F.F.); (É.S.S.d.A.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Oncogenomics and Therapeutic Innovation, 440 Taguá St., São Paulo 01508-010, Brazil
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Tu KJ, Stewart CE, Hendrickson PG, Regal JA, Kim SY, Ashley DM, Waitkus MS, Reitman ZJ. Pooled genetic screens to identify vulnerabilities in TERT-promoter-mutant glioblastoma. Oncogene 2023; 42:3274-3286. [PMID: 37741952 PMCID: PMC10615780 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02845-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Pooled genetic screens represent a powerful approach to identify vulnerabilities in cancer. Here we used pooled CRISPR/Cas9-based approaches to identify vulnerabilities associated with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations (TPMs) found in >80% of glioblastomas. We first developed a platform to detect perturbations that cause long-term growth defects in a TPM-mutated glioblastoma cell line. However, we could not detect dependencies on either TERT itself or on an E-twenty six transcription (ETS) factor known to activate TPMs. To explore this finding, we cataloged TPM status for 441 cell lines and correlated this with genome-wide screening data. We found that TPM status was not associated with differential dependency on TERT, but that E-twenty six (ETS) transcription factors represent key dependencies in both TPM+ and TPM- lines. Further, we found that TPMs are associated with expression of gene programs regulated by a wide array of ETS-factors in both cell lines and primary glioblastoma tissues. This work contributes a unique TPM cell line reagent, establishes TPM status for many deeply-profiled cell lines, and catalogs TPM-associated vulnerabilities. The results highlight challenges in executing genetic screens to detect TPM-specific vulnerabilities, and suggest redundancy in the genetic network that regulates TPM function with therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Tu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 21044, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Connor E Stewart
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Peter G Hendrickson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Joshua A Regal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - So Young Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - David M Ashley
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Matthew S Waitkus
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Zachary J Reitman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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Valeeva LR, Abdulkina LR, Agabekian IA, Shakirov EV. Telomere biology and ribosome biogenesis: structural and functional interconnections. Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 101:394-409. [PMID: 36989538 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2022-0383] [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] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that play a pivotal role in the protection and maintenance of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomeres and the enzyme telomerase, which replenishes telomeric DNA lost during replication, are important factors necessary to ensure continued cell proliferation. Cell proliferation is also dependent on proper and efficient protein synthesis, which is carried out by ribosomes. Mutations in genes involved in either ribosome biogenesis or telomere biology result in cellular abnormalities and can cause human genetic diseases, defined as ribosomopathies and telomeropathies, respectively. Interestingly, recent discoveries indicate that many of the ribosome assembly and rRNA maturation factors have additional noncanonical functions in telomere biology. Similarly, several key proteins and enzymes involved in telomere biology, including telomerase, have unexpected roles in rRNA transcription and maturation. These observations point to an intriguing cross-talk mechanism potentially explaining the multiple pleiotropic symptoms of mutations in many causal genes identified in various telomeropathy and ribosomopathy diseases. In this review, we provide a brief summary of eukaryotic telomere and rDNA loci structures, highlight several universal features of rRNA and telomerase biogenesis, evaluate intriguing interconnections between telomere biology and ribosome assembly, and conclude with an assessment of overlapping features of human diseases of telomeropathies and ribosomopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liia R Valeeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA
| | - Liliia R Abdulkina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | - Inna A Agabekian
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | - Eugene V Shakirov
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USA
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Chen L, Chen R, Li T, Tang C, Li Y, Zeng Z. Multi-parameter MRI based radiomics nomogram for predicting telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation and prognosis in glioblastoma. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1266658. [PMID: 37830090 PMCID: PMC10565857 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1266658] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the clinical utility of multi-parameter MRI-based radiomics nomogram for predicting telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutation status and prognosis in adult glioblastoma (GBM). Methods We retrospectively analyzed MRI and pathological data of 152 GBM patients. A total of 2,832 radiomics features were extracted and filtered from preoperative MRI images. A radiomics nomogram was created on the basis of radiomics signature (rad-score) and clinical traits. The performance of the nomogram in TERT mutation identification was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curves, and clinical decision curves. Pathologically confirmed TERT mutations and risk score-based TERT mutations were employed to assess patient prognosis, respectively. Results The random forest (RF) algorithm outperformed the other two algorithms, yielding the best diagnostic efficacy in differentiating TERT mutations, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.892 (95% CI: 0.828-0.956) and 0.824 (95% CI: 0.677-0.971) in the training set and validation sets, respectively. Furthermore, the predictive power of the radiomics nomogram constructed with the rad-score and clinical variables reached 0.916 (95%CI: 0.864, 0.968) in the training set and 0.880 (95%CI: 0.743, 1) in the validation set. Calibration curve and decision curve analysis findings further uphold the clinical application value of the radiomics nomogram. The overall survival of the high-risk subgroup was significantly shorter than that of the low-risk subgroup, which was consistent with the results of the pathologically confirmed TERT mutation group. Conclusion The radiomics nomogram could non-invasively provide promising insights for predicting TERT mutations and prognosis in GBM patients with excellent identification and calibration abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Department of Radiology, Liuzhou Workers Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Runrong Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Radiology, Liuzhou Workers Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Chuyun Tang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Liuzhou Workers Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Zisan Zeng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Takasugi T, Gu P, Liang F, Staco I, Chang S. Pot1b -/- tumors activate G-quadruplex-induced DNA damage to promote telomere hyper-elongation. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9227-9247. [PMID: 37560909 PMCID: PMC10516629 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant cancers must activate telomere maintenance mechanisms to achieve replicative immortality. Mutations in the human Protection of Telomeres 1 (POT1) gene are frequently detected in cancers with abnormally long telomeres, suggesting that the loss of POT1 function disrupts the regulation of telomere length homeostasis to promote telomere elongation. However, our understanding of the mechanisms leading to elongated telomeres remains incomplete. The mouse genome encodes two POT1 proteins, POT1a and POT1b possessing separation of hPOT1 functions. We performed serial transplantation of Pot1b-/- sarcomas to better understand the role of POT1b in regulating telomere length maintenance. While early-generation Pot1b-/- sarcomas initially possessed shortened telomeres, late-generation Pot1b-/- cells display markedly hyper-elongated telomeres that were recognized as damaged DNA by the Replication Protein A (RPA) complex. The RPA-ATR-dependent DNA damage response at telomeres promotes telomerase recruitment to facilitate telomere hyper-elongation. POT1b, but not POT1a, was able to unfold G-quadruplex present in hyper-elongated telomeres to repress the DNA damage response. Our findings demonstrate that the repression of the RPA-ATR DDR is conserved between POT1b and human POT1, suggesting that similar mechanisms may underly the phenotypes observed in human cancers harboring human POT1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Takasugi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Peili Gu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Fengshan Liang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Isabelle Staco
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Sandy Chang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Kuras M. Exploring the Complex and Multifaceted Interplay between Melanoma Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14403. [PMID: 37762707 PMCID: PMC10531837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814403] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a very aggressive skin cancer, characterized by a heterogeneous nature and high metastatic potential. The incidence of melanoma is continuously increasing worldwide, and it is one of the most common cancers in young adults. In the past twenty years, our understanding of melanoma biology has increased profoundly, and disease management for patients with disseminated disease has improved due to the emergence of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, a significant fraction of patients relapse or do not respond adequately to treatment. This can partly be explained by the complex signaling between the tumor and its microenvironment, giving rise to melanoma phenotypes with different patterns of disease progression. This review focuses on the key aspects and complex relationship between pathogenesis, genetic abnormalities, tumor microenvironment, cellular plasticity, and metabolic reprogramming in melanoma. By acquiring a deeper understanding of the multifaceted features of melanomagenesis, we can reach a point of more individualized and patient-centered disease management and reduced costs of ineffective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kuras
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden;
- Section for Clinical Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
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Chen F, Zhang Y, Chandrashekar DS, Varambally S, Creighton CJ. Global impact of somatic structural variation on the cancer proteome. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5637. [PMID: 37704602 PMCID: PMC10499989 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41374-8] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Both proteome and transcriptome data can help assess the relevance of non-coding somatic mutations in cancer. Here, we combine mass spectrometry-based proteomics data with whole genome sequencing data across 1307 human tumors spanning various tissues to determine the extent somatic structural variant (SV) breakpoint patterns impact protein expression of nearby genes. We find that about 25% of the hundreds of genes with SV-associated cis-regulatory alterations at the mRNA level are similarly associated at the protein level. SVs associated with enhancer hijacking, retrotransposon translocation, altered DNA methylation, or fusion transcripts are implicated in protein over-expression. SVs combined with altered protein levels considerably extend the numbers of patients with tumors somatically altered for critical pathways. We catalog both SV breakpoint patterns involving patient survival and genes with nearby SV breakpoints associated with increased cell dependency in cancer cell lines. Pan-cancer proteogenomics identifies targetable non-coding alterations, by virtue of the associated deregulated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengju Chen
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yiqun Zhang
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Darshan S Chandrashekar
- Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Sooryanarayana Varambally
- Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- The Informatics Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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50
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Ali JH, Walter M. Combining old and new concepts in targeting telomerase for cancer therapy: transient, immediate, complete and combinatory attack (TICCA). Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:197. [PMID: 37679807 PMCID: PMC10483736 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03041-2] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase can overcome replicative senescence by elongation of telomeres but is also a specific element in most cancer cells. It is expressed more vastly than any other tumor marker. Telomerase as a tumor target inducing replicative immortality can be overcome by only one other mechanism: alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). This limits the probability to develop resistance to treatments. Moreover, telomerase inhibition offers some degree of specificity with a low risk of toxicity in normal cells. Nevertheless, only one telomerase antagonist reached late preclinical studies. The underlying causes, the pitfalls of telomerase-based therapies, and future chances based on recent technical advancements are summarized in this review. Based on new findings and approaches, we propose a concept how long-term survival in telomerase-based cancer therapies can be significantly improved: the TICCA (Transient Immediate Complete and Combinatory Attack) strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Haj Ali
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Walter
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
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