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Rodriguez-Tirado C, Sosa MS. How much do we know about the metastatic process? Clin Exp Metastasis 2024; 41:275-299. [PMID: 38520475 PMCID: PMC11374507 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-023-10248-0] [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: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells can leave their primary sites and travel through the circulation to distant sites, where they lodge as disseminated cancer cells (DCCs), even during the early and asymptomatic stages of tumor progression. In experimental models and clinical samples, DCCs can be detected in a non-proliferative state, defined as cellular dormancy. This state can persist for extended periods until DCCs reawaken, usually in response to niche-derived reactivation signals. Therefore, their clinical detection in sites like lymph nodes and bone marrow is linked to poor survival. Current cancer therapy designs are based on the biology of the primary tumor and do not target the biology of the dormant DCC population and thus fail to eradicate the initial or subsequent waves of metastasis. In this brief review, we discuss the current methods for detecting DCCs and highlight new strategies that aim to target DCCs that constitute minimal residual disease to reduce or prevent metastasis formation. Furthermore, we present current evidence on the relevance of DCCs derived from early stages of tumor progression in metastatic disease and describe the animal models available for their study. We also discuss our current understanding of the dissemination mechanisms utilized by genetically less- and more-advanced cancer cells, which include the functional analysis of intermediate or hybrid states of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, we raise some intriguing questions regarding the clinical impact of studying the crosstalk between evolutionary waves of DCCs and the initiation of metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rodriguez-Tirado
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute/Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Maria Soledad Sosa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute/Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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Reginacova K, Pospisilova E, Kubecova M, Svobodova P, Bobek V, Kolostova K. Circulating tumor cells in patients with cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy combined with brachytherapy. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:3614-3625. [PMID: 39113856 PMCID: PMC11301293 DOI: 10.62347/qixj7103] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have significant potential to become an important tool for monitoring the effects of treatment in solid tumors. The present study reports the occurance of CTCs in cervical cancer (CC) patients during radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT), including brachytherapy (BRT), and during the follow-up period. Patients diagnosed with CC treated with radical CRT were included in the study (n=30). A total of 167 CTC-tests (MetaCell®) were provided at predefined testing time points during the study follow-up (e.g., before CRT, after CRT, every three months of follow-up). In parallel with CTC-testing, SCC-Ag were measured to compare their predictive values during treatment. CTCs were present in 96% (25/26) of patients at the time of diagnosis and in 61% (14/23) after treatment. Patients who relapsed during the 36-month follow-up (n=10) showed an elevation in pre-treatment CTC- numbers, similarly there was a significant increase in pre-treatment SCC-Ag. As next, an increased number of CTCs was observed approximately 12 weeks before relapse was diagnosed by standard imaging modalities (MRI, US, PET-CT) in 3 of 4 patients. In addition to standardized vital cytomorphology of enriched CTCs, quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to inform the nature of CTCs before treatment. Analysis revealed increased SOX2 and POUSF expression in CTCs in the group of patients with recurrence (P < 0.02). Disease aggressiveness may be related to increased expression of stem cell markers, as found in samples from relapsed patients. CTCs may be an aid to assess tumor burden and disease aggressiveness. An increase in CTCs precedes an increase in SCC-Ag and confirmation of relapse by imaging, as shown in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Reginacova
- Department of Oncology, The Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague and Faculty Hospital Kralovske VinohradySrobarova 50, 100 34 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Eliska Pospisilova
- Laboratory of Personalized Medicine, Oncology Clinic, Faculty Hospital Kralovske VinohradySrobarova 50, 100 34 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Kubecova
- Department of Oncology, The Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague and Faculty Hospital Kralovske VinohradySrobarova 50, 100 34 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Svobodova
- Department of Gynaecology, Military University Hospital and The Third Faculty of MedicineU Vojenske Nemocnice 1200, 169 02 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Bobek
- Laboratory of Personalized Medicine, Oncology Clinic, Faculty Hospital Kralovske VinohradySrobarova 50, 100 34 Prague 10, Czech Republic
- Department of Gynaecology, Military University Hospital and The Third Faculty of MedicineU Vojenske Nemocnice 1200, 169 02 Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Krajská zdravotní a.s. Hospital41100 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
- 3 Department of Surgery, 1 Faculty of Medicine Charles UniversityV Uvalu 84, 150 06 Prague 5, Czech Republic
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center and Technical University WroclawPlac Ludwika Hirszfelda 12, 534 13 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Katarina Kolostova
- Laboratory of Personalized Medicine, Oncology Clinic, Faculty Hospital Kralovske VinohradySrobarova 50, 100 34 Prague 10, Czech Republic
- Department of Gynaecology, Military University Hospital and The Third Faculty of MedicineU Vojenske Nemocnice 1200, 169 02 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Liu R, Zhao Y, Su S, Kwabil A, Njoku PC, Yu H, Li X. Unveiling cancer dormancy: Intrinsic mechanisms and extrinsic forces. Cancer Lett 2024; 591:216899. [PMID: 38649107 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216899] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Tumor cells disseminate in various distant organs at early stages of cancer progression. These disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) can stay dormant/quiescent without causing patient symptoms for years or decades. These dormant tumor cells survive despite curative treatments by entering growth arrest, escaping immune surveillance, and/or developing drug resistance. However, these dormant cells can reactivate to proliferate, causing metastatic progression and/or relapse, posing a threat to patients' survival. It's unclear how cancer cells maintain dormancy and what triggers their reactivation. What are better approaches to prevent metastatic progression and relapse through harnessing cancer dormancy? To answer these remaining questions, we reviewed the studies of tumor dormancy and reactivation in various types of cancer using different model systems, including the brief history of dormancy studies, the intrinsic characteristics of dormant cells, and the external cues at the cellular and molecular levels. Furthermore, we discussed future directions in the field and the strategies for manipulating dormancy to prevent metastatic progression and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010070, China; Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Yawei Zhao
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Shang Su
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Augustine Kwabil
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Prisca Chinonso Njoku
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Haiquan Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010070, China.
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
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Li J, Gao P, Qin M, Wang J, Luo Y, Deng P, Hao R, Zhang L, He M, Chen C, Lu Y, Ma Q, Li M, Tan M, Wang L, Yue Y, Wang H, Tian L, Xie J, Chen M, Yu Z, Zhou Z, Pi H. Long-term cadmium exposure induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by activating CYP1B1-mediated glutamine metabolic reprogramming in BT474 cells and MMTV-Erbb2 mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170773. [PMID: 38336054 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) exposure is known to enhance breast cancer (BC) progression. Cd promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC cells, facilitating BC cell aggressiveness and invasion, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Hence, transgenic MMTV-Erbb2 mice (6 weeks) were orally administered Cd (3.6 mg/L, approximately equal to 19.64 μΜ) for 23 weeks, and BC cells (BT474 cells) were exposed to Cd (0, 0.1, 1 or 10 μΜ) for 72 h to investigate the effect of Cd exposure on EMT in BC cells. Chronic Cd exposure dramatically expedited tumor metastasis to multiple organs; decreased E-cadherin density; and increased Vimentin, N-cadherin, ZEB1, and Twist density in the tumor tissues of MMTV-Erbb2 mice. Notably, transcriptomic analysis of BC tumors revealed cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) as a key factor that regulates EMT progression in Cd-treated MMTV-Erbb2 mice. Moreover, Cd increased CYP1B1 expression in MMTV-Erbb2 mouse BC tumors and in BT474 cells, and CYP1B1 inhibition decreased Cd-induced BC cell malignancy and EMT in BT474 cells. Importantly, the promotion of EMT by CYP1B1 in Cd-treated BC cells was presumably controlled by glutamine metabolism. This study offers novel perspectives into the effect of environmental Cd exposure on driving BC progression and metastasis, and this study provides important guidance for comprehensively assessing the ecological and health risks of Cd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingdian Li
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Mingke Qin
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Junhua Wang
- Nuclear Medicine Department, General Hospital of Tibet Military Area Command, Lhasa 850000, Xizang, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Ping Deng
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Rongrong Hao
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Mindi He
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yonghui Lu
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qinlong Ma
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Miduo Tan
- Department of Breast Surgery, Central Hospital of Zhuzhou City, Central South University, Zhuzhou 412000, Hunan, China
| | - Liting Wang
- Biomedical Analysis Center, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yang Yue
- Bioinformatics Center of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Nuclear Medicine Department, General Hospital of Tibet Military Area Command, Lhasa 850000, Xizang, China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jia Xie
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Mengyan Chen
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Zhengping Yu
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
| | - Huifeng Pi
- Department of Occupational Health (Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation Protection, Ministry of Education), Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China; State key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
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5
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Kadamb R, Anton ML, Purwin TJ, Chua V, Seeneevassen L, Teh J, Angela Nieto M, Sato T, Terai M, Roman SR, De Koning L, Zheng D, Aplin AE, Aguirre-Ghiso J. Lineage commitment pathways epigenetically oppose oncogenic Gαq/11-YAP signaling in dormant disseminated uveal melanoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.05.583565. [PMID: 38496663 PMCID: PMC10942354 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.05.583565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The mechanisms driving late relapse in uveal melanoma (UM) patients remains a medical mystery and major challenge. Clinically it is inferred that UM disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) persist asymptomatic for years-to-decades mainly in the liver before they manifest as symptomatic metastasis. Here we reveal using Gαq/11 mut /BAP wt human uveal melanoma models and human UM metastatic samples, that the neural crest lineage commitment nuclear receptor NR2F1 is a key regulator of spontaneous UM DCC dormancy in the liver. Using a quiescence reporter, RNA-seq and multiplex imaging we revealed that rare dormant UM DCCs upregulate NR2F1 expression and genes related to neural crest programs while repressing gene related to cell cycle progression. Gain and loss of function assays showed that NR2F1 silences YAP1/TEAD1 transcription downstream of Gαq/11 signaling and that NR2F1 expression can also be repressed by YAP1. YAP1 expression is repressed by NR2F1 binding to its promoter and changing the histone H3 tail activation marks to repress YAP1 transcription. In vivo CRISPR KO of NR2F1 led dormant UM DCCs to awaken and initiate relentless liver metastatic growth. Cut&Run and bulk RNA sequencing further confirmed that NR2F1 epigenetically stimulates neuron axon guidance and neural lineage programs, and it globally represses gene expression linked to G-protein signaling to drive dormancy. Pharmacological inhibition of Gαq/11 mut signaling resulted in NR2F1 upregulation and robust UM growth arrest, which was also achieved using a novel NR2F1 agonist. Our work sheds light on the molecular underpinnings of UM dormancy revealing that transcriptional programs driven by NR2F1 epigenetically short-circuit Gαq/11 signaling to its downstream target YAP1. Highlights Quiescent solitary uveal melanoma (UM) DCCs in the liver up- and down-regulate neural crest and cell cycle progression programs, respectively.NR2F1 drives solitary UM DCC dormancy by antagonizing the Gαq/11-YAP1 pathway; small molecule Gαq/11 inhibition restores NR2F1 expression and quiescence. NR2F1 short-circuits oncogenic YAP1 and G-protein signaling via a chromatin remodeling program. Loss of function of NR2F1 in dormant UM DCCs leads to aggressive liver metastasis. Graphical abstract
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Ha SY, Kim JY, Choi JH. Transcriptional regulation of genetic variants in the SLC40A1 promoter. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 28:113-120. [PMID: 38414394 PMCID: PMC10902591 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2024.28.2.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Solute carrier 40A1 (SLC40A1) encodes ferroportin, which is the only known transmembrane protein that exports elemental iron from mammalian cells and is essential for iron homeostasis. Mutations in SLC40A1 are associated with iron-overload disorders. In addition to ferroportin diseases, SLC40A1 expression is downregulated in various cancer types. Despite the clinical significance of the SLC40A1 transporter, only a few studies have investigated genetic variants in SLC40A1. The present study was performed to identify genetic variations in the SLC40A1 promoter and functionally characterize each variant using in vitro assays. We investigated four haplotypes and five variants in the SLC40A1 promoter. We observed that haplotype 3 (H3) had significantly lower promoter activity than H1, whereas the activity of H4 was significantly higher than that of H1. Luciferase activity of H2 was comparable to that of H1. In addition, four variants of SLC40A1, c.-1355G>C, c.-662C>T, c.-98G>C, and c.-8C>G, showed significantly increased luciferase activity compared to the wild type (WT), whereas c.-750G>A showed significantly decreased luciferase activity compared to the WT. Three transcription factors, cAMP response element-binding protein-1 (CREB-1), chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 1, and hepatic leukemia factor (HLF), were predicted to bind to the promoter regions of SLC40A1 near c.-662C>T, c.-98G>C, and c.-8C>G, respectively. Among these, CREB-1 and HLF bound more strongly to the variant sequences than to the WT and functioned as activators of SLC40A1 transcription. Collectively, our findings indicate that the two SLC40A1 promoter haplotypes affect SLC40A1 transcription, which is regulated by CREB-1 and HLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Yeon Ha
- Department of Pharmacology, Inflammation-Cancer Microenvironment Research Center, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea
| | - Jin-Young Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Inflammation-Cancer Microenvironment Research Center, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea
| | - Ji Ha Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Inflammation-Cancer Microenvironment Research Center, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea
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Aleksandrova KV, Vorobev ML, Suvorova II. mTOR pathway occupies a central role in the emergence of latent cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:176. [PMID: 38418814 PMCID: PMC10902345 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06547-3] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The current focus in oncology research is the translational control of cancer cells as a major mechanism of cellular plasticity. Recent evidence has prompted a reevaluation of the role of the mTOR pathway in cancer development leading to new conclusions. The mechanistic mTOR inhibition is well known to be a tool for generating quiescent stem cells and cancer cells. In response to mTOR suppression, quiescent cancer cells dynamically change their proteome, triggering alternative non-canonical translation mechanisms. The shift to selective translation may have clinical relevance, since quiescent tumor cells can acquire new phenotypical features. This review provides new insights into the patterns of mTOR functioning in quiescent cancer cells, enhancing our current understanding of the biology of latent metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mikhail L Vorobev
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Irina I Suvorova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
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Li H, Cui J, Hu C, Li H, Luo X, Hao Y. Identification and Analysis of ZIC-Related Genes in Cerebellum of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:325-339. [PMID: 38410689 PMCID: PMC10895985 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s444138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with significant genetic heterogeneity. The ZIC gene family can regulate neurodevelopment, especially in the cerebellum, and has been implicated in ASD-like behaviors in mice. We performed bioinformatic analysis to identify the ZIC gene family in the ASD cerebellum. Methods We explored the roles of ZIC family genes in ASD by investigating (i) the association of ZIC genes with ASD risk genes from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) database and ZIC genes in the brain regions of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database; (ii) co-expressed gene networks of genes positively and negatively correlated with ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of genes in these networks; and (iii) the relationship between ZIC1, ZIC2, ZIC3, and their related genes with cerebellar immune cells and stromal cells in ASD patients. Results (i) ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 were associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and risk genes related to ASD in the human cerebellum and (ii) ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 were highly expressed in the cerebellum, which may play a pathogenic role by affecting neuronal development and the cerebellar internal environment in patients with ASD, including immune cells, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. (iii) OLFM3, SLC27A4, GRB2, TMED1, NR2F1, and STRBP are closely related to ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 in ASD cerebellum and have good diagnostic accuracy. (iv) ASD mice in the maternal immune activation model demonstrated that Zic3 and Nr2f1 levels were decreased in the immune-activated cerebellum. Conclusion Our study supports the role of ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 in ASD pathogenesis and provides potential targets for early and accurate prediction of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Li
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinru Cui
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Hu
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Li
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Luo
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Hao
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
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9
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Johnston L, Yu Z. A novel cost function for nuclei segmentation and classification in imbalanced histopathology data-sets. Comput Med Imaging Graph 2023; 109:102296. [PMID: 37797534 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2023.102296] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a major global health problem, causing millions of deaths yearly. Histopathological analysis plays a crucial role in detecting and diagnosing various types of cancer, enabling an accurate diagnosis to inform targeted treatment planning, allowing for better cancer staging, and ultimately improving prognosis. We aim to detect cancer earlier, which can ultimately help reduce mortality rates and enhance patients' quality of life. However, detecting and classifying rare cells is a key challenge for pathologists and researchers. Many histopathological data-sets contain imbalanced data, with only a few instances of rare cells whose unique morphological structures can impede early diagnosis efforts. Our model, SPNet, a spatially aware convolutional neural network, addresses this problem by employing a spatial data balancing technique, enhancing the classification of rare nuclei by 21.8 %. Since nuclei often cluster and exhibit patterns of the same class, SPNet's novel cost function targets spatial regions, resulting in a 1.9 % increase in the F1 classification of rare class types within the CoNSeP dataset. When integrated with a ResNet50-SE encoder, SPNet increases the mean F1 score for classifying all nuclei in the CoNSeP dataset by 4.3 %, compared to the benchmark set by the state-of-the-art HoVer-Net model. The potential integration of SPNet into existing medical devices could allow us to streamline diagnostic processes and minimise false negatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Johnston
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhangsheng Yu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics and Data Science Organization, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Center for Biomedical Data Science, Translational Science Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China.
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10
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Ring A, Nguyen-Sträuli BD, Wicki A, Aceto N. Biology, vulnerabilities and clinical applications of circulating tumour cells. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:95-111. [PMID: 36494603 PMCID: PMC9734934 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00536-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, exceptional technological advances have enabled the identification and interrogation of rare circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from blood samples of patients, leading to new fields of research and fostering the promise for paradigm-changing, liquid biopsy-based clinical applications. Analysis of CTCs has revealed distinct biological phenotypes, including the presence of CTC clusters and the interaction between CTCs and immune or stromal cells, impacting metastasis formation and providing new insights into cancer vulnerabilities. Here we review the progress made in understanding biological features of CTCs and provide insight into exploiting these developments to design future clinical tools for improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ring
- Department of Biology, Institute for Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bich Doan Nguyen-Sträuli
- Department of Biology, Institute for Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Wicki
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Aceto
- Department of Biology, Institute for Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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11
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Otálora-Otálora BA, López-Kleine L, Rojas A. Lung Cancer Gene Regulatory Network of Transcription Factors Related to the Hallmarks of Cancer. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:434-464. [PMID: 36661515 PMCID: PMC9857713 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcriptomic analysis of microarray and RNA-Seq datasets followed our own bioinformatic pipeline to identify a transcriptional regulatory network of lung cancer. Twenty-six transcription factors are dysregulated and co-expressed in most of the lung cancer and pulmonary arterial hypertension datasets, which makes them the most frequently dysregulated transcription factors. Co-expression, gene regulatory, coregulatory, and transcriptional regulatory networks, along with fibration symmetries, were constructed to identify common connection patterns, alignments, main regulators, and target genes in order to analyze transcription factor complex formation, as well as its synchronized co-expression patterns in every type of lung cancer. The regulatory function of the most frequently dysregulated transcription factors over lung cancer deregulated genes was validated with ChEA3 enrichment analysis. A Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis linked the dysregulation of the top transcription factors with lung cancer patients' survival. Our results indicate that lung cancer has unique and common deregulated genes and transcription factors with pulmonary arterial hypertension, co-expressed and regulated in a coordinated and cooperative manner by the transcriptional regulatory network that might be associated with critical biological processes and signaling pathways related to the acquisition of the hallmarks of cancer, making them potentially relevant tumor biomarkers for lung cancer early diagnosis and targets for the development of personalized therapies against lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Andrea Otálora-Otálora
- Grupo de Investigación INPAC, Unidad de Investigación, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá 110131, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 11001, Colombia
| | - Liliana López-Kleine
- Departamento de Estadística, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 11001, Colombia
- Correspondence: (L.L.-K.); (A.R.)
| | - Adriana Rojas
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Genética Humana, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110211, Colombia
- Correspondence: (L.L.-K.); (A.R.)
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12
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Elkholi IE, Lalonde A, Park M, Côté JF. Breast Cancer Metastatic Dormancy and Relapse: An Enigma of Microenvironment(s). Cancer Res 2022; 82:4497-4510. [PMID: 36214624 PMCID: PMC9755970 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-1902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Multiple factors act in concert to define the fate of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) to enter dormancy or develop overt metastases. Here, we review these factors in the context of three stages of the metastatic cascade that impact DTCs. First, cells can be programmed within the primary tumor microenvironment to promote or inhibit dissemination, and the primary tumor can condition a premetastatic niche. Then, cancer cells from the primary tumor spread through hematogenous and lymphatic routes, and the primary tumor sends cues systematically to regulate the fate of DTCs. Finally, DTCs home to their metastatic site, where they are influenced by various organ-specific aspects of the new microenvironment. We discuss these factors in the context of breast cancer, where about one-third of patients develop metastatic relapse. Finally, we discuss how the standard-of-care options for breast cancer might affect the fate of DTCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam E. Elkholi
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Corresponding Authors: Jean-François Côté, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal H2W 1R7, Québec, Canada. Phone: 514-987-5647; E-mail: ; and Islam E. Elkholi, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal (QC) Canada, H2W 1R7. Phone: 514-987-5656; E-mail:
| | - Andréane Lalonde
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Morag Park
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-François Côté
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Corresponding Authors: Jean-François Côté, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal H2W 1R7, Québec, Canada. Phone: 514-987-5647; E-mail: ; and Islam E. Elkholi, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal (QC) Canada, H2W 1R7. Phone: 514-987-5656; E-mail:
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13
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Nobre AR, Dalla E, Yang J, Huang X, Wullkopf L, Risson E, Razghandi P, Anton ML, Zheng W, Seoane JA, Curtis C, Kenigsberg E, Wang J, Aguirre-Ghiso JA. ZFP281 drives a mesenchymal-like dormancy program in early disseminated breast cancer cells that prevents metastatic outgrowth in the lung. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:1165-1180. [PMID: 36050483 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00424-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that cancer cells can disseminate from early evolved primary lesions much earlier than the classical metastasis models predicted. Here, we reveal at a single-cell resolution that mesenchymal-like (M-like) and pluripotency-like programs coordinate dissemination and a long-lived dormancy program of early disseminated cancer cells (DCCs). The transcription factor ZFP281 induces a permissive state for heterogeneous M-like transcriptional programs, which associate with a dormancy signature and phenotype in vivo. Downregulation of ZFP281 leads to a loss of an invasive, M-like dormancy phenotype and a switch to lung metastatic outgrowth. We also show that FGF2 and TWIST1 induce ZFP281 expression to induce the M-like state, which is linked to CDH1 downregulation and upregulation of CDH11. We found that ZFP281 not only controls the early dissemination of cancer cells but also locks early DCCs in a dormant state by preventing the acquisition of an epithelial-like proliferative program and consequent metastases outgrowth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Nobre
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Erica Dalla
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jihong Yang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Zhang Boli Intelligent Health Innovation Lab, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lena Wullkopf
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emma Risson
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pedram Razghandi
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Melisa Lopez Anton
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jose A Seoane
- Cancer Computational Biology Group, Vall d´Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christina Curtis
- Department of Medicine and Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ephraim Kenigsberg
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jianlong Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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