Calcium-binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9 as novel diagnostic markers in human prostate cancer

S100A9 interacts with a dynamic region on CD14 to activate Toll-like receptor 4

S100A9 is a Damage Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMP) that activates inflammatory pathways via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). This activity plays important homeostatic roles in tissue repair, but can also contribute to inflammatory diseases. The mechanism of activation is unknown. Here, we follow up on a previous observation that the protein CD14 is an important co-receptor that enables S100A9 to activate TLR4. Using cell-based functional assays and a combination of mutations and pharmocological perturbations, we found that CD14 must be membrane bound to potentiate TLR4 activation by S100A9. Additionally, S100A9 is sensitive to inhibitors of pathways downstream of TLR4 internalization. Together, this suggests that S100A9 induces activity via CD14-dependent internalization of TLR4. We then used mutagenesis, structural modeling, and in vitro binding experiments to establish that S100A9 binds to CD14's N-terminus in a region that overlaps with, but is not identical to, the region where CD14 binds its canonical ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In molecular dynamics simulations, this region of the protein is dynamic, allowing it to reorganize to recognize both S100A9 (a soluble protein) and LPS (a small hydrophobic molecule). Our work is the first attempt at a molecular characterization of the S100A9/CD14 interaction, bringing us one step closer to unraveling the full mechanism by which S100A9 activates TLR4/MD-2.

S100A8/A9 as a risk factor for breast cancer negatively regulated by DACH1

BACKGROUND

S100A8 and S100A9 are members of Ca2+-binding EF-hand superfamily, mainly expressed by macrophages and neutrophils. Limited by the poor stability of homodimers, they commonly exist as heterodimers. Beyond acting as antibacterial cytokines, S100A8/A9 is also associated with metabolic and autoimmune diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. While the involvement of S100A8/A9 in breast cancer development has been documented, its prognostic significance and the precise regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.

METHODS

S100A8/A9 protein in breast cancer samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining with tumor tissue microarrays. The serum S100A8 concentration in patients was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The S100A8 secreted by breast cancer cells was detected by ELISA as well. Pooled analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between S100A8/A9 mRNA level and clinicopathological features of breast cancer patients. Besides, the effects of S100A8/A9 and DACH1 on patient outcomes were analyzed by tissue assays. Finally, xenograft tumor assays were adopted to validate the effects of DACH1 on tumor growth and S100A8/A9 expression.

RESULTS

The level of S100A8/A9 was higher in breast cancer, relative to normal tissue. Increased S100A8/A9 was related to poor differentiation grade, loss of hormone receptors, and Her2 positive. Moreover, elevated S100A8/A9 predicted a worse prognosis for breast cancer patients. Meanwhile, serum S100A8 concentration was upregulated in Grade 3, basal-like, and Her2-overexpressed subtypes. Additionally, the results of public databases showed S100A8/A9 mRNA level was negatively correlated to DACH1. Stable overexpressing DACH1 in breast cancer cells significantly decreased the generation of S100A8. The survival analysis demonstrated that patients with high S100A8/A9 and low DACH1 achieved the shortest overall survival. The xenograft models indicated that DACH1 expression significantly retarded tumor growth and downregulated S100A8/A9 protein abundance.

CONCLUSION

S100A8/A9 is remarkedly increased in basal-like and Her2-overexpressed subtypes, predicting poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. Tumor suppressor DACH1 inhibits S100A8/A9 expression. The combination of S100A8/A9 and DACH1 predicted the overall survival of breast cancer patients more preciously.

Tissue S100/calgranulin expression and blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in prostatic disorders in dogs

BACKGROUND

Prostatic carcinoma (PCA) is a rare but severe condition in dogs that is similar to the androgen-independent form of PCA in men. In contrast to humans, PCA is difficult to diagnose in dogs as reliable biomarkers, available for PCA screening in human medicine, are currently lacking in small animal oncology. Calprotectin (S100A8/A9) and S100A12 are Ca2+-binding proteins of the innate immune system with promising potential to distinguish malignant from benign urogenital tract conditions, similar to the blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-ratio (NLR). However, both have not yet been extensively investigated in dogs with PCA. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of the S100/calgranulins (calprotectin, S100A12, and their ratio [Cal-ratio]) in prostatic biopsies from nine dogs with PCA and compare them to those in dogs with benign prostatic lesions (eight dogs with prostatitis and ten dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH]) as well as five healthy controls. In addition, blood NLRs were investigated in twelve dogs with PCA and 22 dogs with benign prostatic conditions.

RESULTS

Tissue S100A8/A9+ cell counts did not differ significantly between tissue from PCA and prostatitis cases (P = 0.0659) but were significantly higher in dogs with prostatitis than BPH (P = 0.0013) or controls (P = 0.0033). S100A12+ cell counts were significantly lower in PCA tissues than in prostatitis tissue (P = 0.0458) but did not differ compared to BPH tissue (P = 0.6499) or tissue from controls (P = 0.0622). Cal-ratios did not differ significantly among the groups but were highest in prostatitis tissues and significantly higher in those dogs with poor prostatitis outcomes than in patients that were still alive at the end of the study (P = 0.0455). Blood NLR strongly correlated with prostatic tissue S100A8/A9+ cell counts in dogs with PCA (ρ = 0.81, P = 0.0499) but did not differ among the disease groups of dogs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the S100/calgranulins play a role in malignant (PCA) and benign (prostatic inflammation) prostatic conditions and supports previous results in lower urinary tract conditions in dogs. These molecules might be linked to the inflammatory environment with potential effects on the inflammasome. The blood NLR does not appear to aid in distinguishing prostatic conditions in dogs. Further investigation of the S100/calgranulin pathways and their role in modulation of tumor development, progression, and metastasis in PCA is warranted.

RAGE as a Novel Biomarker for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) has been implicated in driving prostate cancer (PCa) growth, aggression, and metastasis through the fueling of chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes and analyzes the current clinical and preclinical data to provide insight into the relationships among RAGE levels and PCa, cancer grade, and molecular effects. A multi-database search was used to identify original clinical and preclinical research articles examining RAGE expression in PCa. After screening and review, nine clinical and six preclinical articles were included. The associations of RAGE differentiating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or normal prostate from PCa and between tumor grades were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effect models due to study heterogeneity. The clinical meta-analysis found that RAGE expression was highly likely to be increased in PCa when compared to BPH or normal prostate (OR: 11.3; 95% CI: 4.4-29.1) and that RAGE was overexpressed in high-grade PCa when compared to low-grade PCa (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8-3.4). In addition, meta-analysis estimates of preclinical studies performed by albatross plot generation found robustly positive associations among RAGE expression/activation and PCa growth and metastatic potential. This review demonstrates that RAGE expression is strongly tied to PCa progression and can serve as an effective diagnostic target to differentiate between healthy prostate, low-grade PCa, and high-grade PCa, with potential theragnostic applications.

The Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) and Its Ligands S100A8/A9 and High Mobility Group Box Protein 1 (HMGB1) Are Key Regulators of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells

Immunotherapies including checkpoint blockade immunotherapy (CBI) and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) have revolutionized cancer treatment for patients with certain cancers. However, these treatments are not effective for all cancers, and even for those cancers that do respond, not all patients benefit. Most cancer patients have elevated levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that are potent inhibitors of antitumor immunity, and clinical and animal studies have demonstrated that neutralization of MDSCs may restore immune reactivity and enhance CBI and CAR-T immunotherapies. MDSCs are homeostatically regulated in that elimination of mature circulating and intratumoral MDSCs results in increased production of MDSCs from bone marrow progenitor cells. Therefore, targeting MDSC development may provide therapeutic benefit. The pro-inflammatory molecules S100A8/A9 and high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and their receptor RAGE are strongly associated with the initiation and progression of most cancers. This article summarizes the literature demonstrating that these molecules are integrally involved in the early development, accumulation, and suppressive activity of MDSCs, and postulates that S100A8/A9 and HMGB1 serve as early biomarkers of disease and in conjunction with RAGE are potential targets for reducing MDSC levels and enhancing CBI and CAR-T immunotherapies.

Tissue S100/calgranulin expression and blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in dogs with lower urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common neoplasm of the canine lower urinary tract, affecting approximately 2% of dogs. Elderly female patients of certain breeds are predisposed, and clinical signs of UC can easily be confused with urinary tract infection or urolithiasis. Diagnosis and treatment are challenging given the lack of disease-specific markers and treatments. The S100A8/A9 complex and S100A12 protein are Ca²⁺-binding proteins expressed by cells of the innate immune system and have shown promise as urinary screening markers for UC. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can also aid in distinguishing certain neoplastic from inflammatory conditions. Our study aimed to evaluate the tissue expression of S100/calgranulins and the blood NLR in dogs with UC. Urinary bladder and/or urethral tissue samples from dogs with UC (n = 10), non-neoplastic inflammatory lesions (NNUTD; n = 6), and no histologic changes (n = 11) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Blood NLRs were analyzed in dogs with UC (n = 22) or NNUTD (n = 26).

RESULTS

Tissue S100A12-positive cell counts were significantly higher in dogs with lower urinary tract disease than healthy controls (P = 0.0267 for UC, P = 0.0049 for NNUTD), with no significant difference between UC and NNUTD patients. Tissue S100A8/A9-positivity appeared to be higher with NNUTD than UC, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. The S100A8/A9⁺-to-S100A12⁺ ratio was significantly decreased in neoplastic and inflamed lower urinary tract tissue compared to histologically normal specimens (P = 0.0062 for UC, P = 0.0030 for NNUTD). NLRs were significantly higher in dogs with UC than in dogs with NNUTD, and a cut-off NLR of ≤ 2.83 distinguished UC from NNUTD with 41% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Higher NLRs were also associated with a poor overall survival time (P = 0.0417).

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm that the S100/calgranulins play a role in the immune response to inflammatory and neoplastic lower urinary tract diseases in dogs, but the tissue expression of these proteins appears to differ from their concentrations reported in urine samples. Further investigations of the S100/calgranulin pathways in UC and their potential as diagnostic or prognostic tools and potential therapeutic targets are warranted. The NLR as a routinely available marker might be a useful surrogate to distinguish UC from inflammatory conditions.

Differential plasma proteomes of the patients with Opisthorchiasis viverrini and cholangiocarcinoma identify a polymeric immunoglobulin receptor as a potential biomarker

In Southeast Asian countries, nitrosamine compounds and the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini have long been identified as carcinogens for cholangiocarcinoma (CHCA). In order to effectively treat O. viverrini infections and prevent the development of CHCA, methods for disease detection are needed. This study aims to identify biomarkers for O. viverrini infection and CHCA. In the discovery phase, technical triplicates of five pooled plasma pools (10 plasma each) of healthy control subjects (noOVCCA), O. viverrini subjects (OV), and cholangiocarcinoma subjects (CCA), underwent solution-based digestion, with the label-free method, using a Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ HF hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer and UltiMate 300 LC systems. The noOVCCA, OV, and CCA groups demonstrated different profiles and were clustered, as illustrated by PCA and heat map analysis. The STRING and reactome analysis showed that both OV and CCA groups up-regulated proteins targeting immune system-related proteins. Differential proteomic profiles, S100A9, and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) were specifically expressed in the CCA group. During the validation phase, another 50 plasma samples were validated via the PIGR sandwich ELISA. Using PIGR >1.559 ng/ml as a cut-off point, 78.00% sensitivity, 71.00% specificity, and AUC = 0.8216, were obtained. It is sufficient to differentially diagnose cholangiocarcinoma patients from healthy patients and those with Opisthorchiasis viverrini. Hence, in this study, PIGR was identified and validated as a potential biomarker for CHCA. Plasma PIGR is suggested for screening CHCA, especially in an endemic region of O. viverrini infection.

Diagnosis Biomarkers of Cholangiocarcinoma in Human Bile: An Evidence-Based Study

Simple Summary

A liquid biopsy has the characteristics of low trauma and easy acquisition in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. Many researchers try to find diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers of CCA through blood, urine, bile and other body fluids. Due to the close proximity of bile to the lesion and the stable nature, bile gradually comes into people’s view. The evaluation of human bile diagnostic biomarkers is not only to the benefit of screening more suitable clinical markers but also of exploring the pathological changes of the disease.

Abstract

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a multifactorial malignant tumor of the biliary tract, and the incidence of CCA is increasing in recent years. At present, the diagnosis of CCA mainly depends on imaging and invasive examination, with limited specificity and sensitivity and late detection. The early diagnosis of CCA always faces the dilemma of lacking specific diagnostic biomarkers. Non-invasive methods to assess the degree of CAA have been developed throughout the last decades. Among the many specimens looking for CCA biomarkers, bile has gotten a lot of attention lately. This paper mainly summarizes the recent developments in the current research on the diagnostic biomarkers for CCA in human bile at the levels of the gene, protein, metabolite, extracellular vesicles and volatile organic compounds.

S100A8/A9 Induced by Interaction with Macrophages in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Promotes the Migration and Invasion of Cancer Cells via Akt and p38 MAPK Pathways

Tumor-associated macrophages are associated with more malignant phenotypes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Previously, an indirect co-culture assay of ESCC cells and macrophages was used to identify several factors associated with ESCC progression. Herein, a direct co-culture assay of ESCC cells and macrophages was established, which more closely simulated the actual cancer microenvironment. Direct co-cultured ESCC cells had significantly increased migration and invasion abilities, and phosphorylation levels of Akt and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) compared with monocultured ESCC cells. According to a cDNA microarray analysis between monocultured and co-cultured ESCC cells, both the expression and release of S100 calcium binding protein A8 and A9 (S100A8 and S100A9), which commonly exist and function as a heterodimer (herein, S100A8/A9), were significantly enhanced in co-cultured ESCC cells. The addition of recombinant human S100A8/A9 protein induced migration and invasion of ESCC cells via Akt and p38 MAPK signaling. Both S100A8 and S100A9 silencing suppressed migration, invasion, and phosphorylation of Akt and p38 MAPK in co-cultured ESCC cells. Moreover, ESCC patients with high S100A8/A9 expression exhibited significantly shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.005) and cause-specific survival (P = 0.038). These results suggest that S100A8/A9 expression and release in ESCC cells are enhanced by direct co-culture with macrophages and that S100A8/A9 promotes ESCC progression via Akt and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.

S100A9-Targeted Cowpea Mosaic Virus as a Prophylactic and Therapeutic Immunotherapy against Metastatic Breast Cancer and Melanoma

Prognosis and treatment of metastatic cancer continues to be one of the most difficult and challenging areas of oncology. Treatment usually consists of chemotherapeutics, which may be ineffective due to drug resistance, adverse effects, and dose-limiting toxicity. Therefore, novel approaches such as immunotherapy have been investigated to improve patient outcomes and minimize side effects. S100A9 is a calcium-binding protein implicated in tumor metastasis, progression, and aggressiveness that modulates the tumor microenvironment into an immunosuppressive state. S100A9 is expressed in and secreted by immune cells in the pre-metastatic niche, as well as, post-tumor development, therefore making it a suitable targeted for prophylaxis and therapy. In previous work, it is demonstrated that cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) acts as an adjuvant when administered intratumorally. Here, it is demonstrated that systemically administered, S100A9-targeted CPMV homes to the lungs leading to recruitment of innate immune cells. This approach is efficacious both prophylactically and therapeutically against lung metastasis from melanoma and breast cancer. The current research will facilitate and accelerate the development of next-generation targeted immunotherapies administered as prophylaxis, that is, after surgery of a primary breast tumor to prevent outgrowth of metastasis, as well as, therapy to treat established metastatic disease.

Identification S100A9 as a potential biomarker in neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

More than half of Neuroblastoma (NB) patients presented with distant metastases and the relapse of metastatic patients was up to 90%. It is urgent to explore a biomarker that could facilitate the prediction of metastasis in NB patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the present study, we systematically analyzed Gene Expression Omnibus datasets and focused on identifying the critical molecular networks and novel key hub genes implicated in NB metastasis. In total, 176 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Based on these DEGs, a PPI network composed of 150 nodes and 452 interactions was established. Through PPI network identification combined with qRT-PCR, ELISA and IHC, S100A9 was screened as an outstanding gene. Furthermore, in vitro tumorigenesis assays demonstrated that S100A9 overexpression enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion of NB cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings suggested that S100A9 could participate in NB tumorigenesis and progression. In addition, S100A9 has the potential to be used as a promising clinical biomarker in the prediction of NB metastasis.

Effects of Cancer Presence and Therapy on the Platelet Proteome

Platelets are involved in tumor angiogenesis and cancer progression. Previous studies indicated that cancer could affect platelet content. In the current study, we investigated whether cancer-associated proteins can be discerned in the platelets of cancer patients, and whether antitumor treatment may affect the platelet proteome. Platelets were isolated from nine patients with different cancer types and ten healthy volunteers. From three patients, platelets were isolated before and after the start of antitumor treatment. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics of gel-fractionated platelet proteins were used to compare patients versus controls and before and after treatment initiation. A total of 4059 proteins were detected, of which 50 were significantly more abundant in patients, and 36 more in healthy volunteers. Eight of these proteins overlapped with our previous cancer platelet proteomics study. From these data, we selected potential biomarkers of cancer including six upregulated proteins (RNF213, CTSG, PGLYRP1, RPL8, S100A8, S100A9) and two downregulated proteins (GPX1, TNS1). Antitumor treatment resulted in increased levels of 432 proteins and decreased levels of 189 proteins. In conclusion, the platelet proteome may be affected in cancer patients and platelets are a potential source of cancer biomarkers. In addition, we found in a small group of patients that anticancer treatment significantly changes the platelet proteome.

Impact of Circulating and Tissue Biomarkers in Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Therapy for High-Risk Melanoma: Ready for Prime Time?

The prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma has substantially improved over the last years with the advent of novel treatment strategies, mainly immune checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Given the survival benefit provided in the metastatic setting and the evidence from prospective clinical trials in the early stages, these drugs have been introduced as adjuvant therapies for high-risk resected stage III disease. Several studies have also investigated immune checkpoint inhibitors, as well as BRAF and MEK inhibitors, for neoadjuvant treatment of high-risk stage III melanoma, with preliminary evidence suggesting this could be a very promising approach in this setting. However, even with new strategies, the risk of disease recurrence varies widely among stage III patients, and no available biomarkers for predicting disease recurrence have been established to date. Improved risk stratification is particularly relevant in this setting to avoid unnecessary treatment for patients who have minimum risk of disease recurrence and to reduce toxicities and costs. Research for predictive and prognostic biomarkers in this setting is ongoing to potentially shed light on the complex interplay between the tumor and the host immune system, and to further personalize treatment. This review provides an insight into available data on circulating and tissue biomarkers, including the tumor microenvironment and associated gene signatures, and their predictive and prognostic role during neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment for cutaneous high-risk melanoma patients.

Application of network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate the potential mechanism of Astragalus-Scorpion against prostate cancer

The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the Astragalus-Scorpion drug pair in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). We employed network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to retrieving the active ingredients and corresponding targets of Astragalus-Scorpion by using TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, TCMID and Swiss Target Prediction Databases. The targets related to PCa were retrieved through GeneCards. Cytoscape software was used to construct the 'active ingredient-target disease' network, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the common targets. Autodock software was used for molecular docking verification. In total, 26 active ingredients, 340 potential targets related to active ingredients and 122 common targets were screened from Astragalus-Scorpion drug pair. The core targets of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were JUN, AKT1, IL6, MAPK1 and RELA, whereas the core active ingredients were quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin, 7-o-methylisomucronulatol and calycosin. Nearly 762 GO entries and 154 pathways were obtained by using the pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking results revealed that quercetin and kaempferol bind to AKT1 and formononetin binds to RELA, all of which were found to be stable bounds.

Molecular Characteristics of RAGE and Advances in Small-Molecule Inhibitors

Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. RAGE binds and mediates cellular responses to a range of DAMPs (damage-associated molecular pattern molecules), such as AGEs, HMGB1, and S100/calgranulins, and as an innate immune sensor, can recognize microbial PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules), including bacterial LPS, bacterial DNA, and viral and parasitic proteins. RAGE and its ligands stimulate the activations of diverse pathways, such as p38MAPK, ERK1/2, Cdc42/Rac, and JNK, and trigger cascades of diverse signaling events that are involved in a wide spectrum of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, inflammatory, vascular and neurodegenerative diseases, atherothrombosis, and cancer. Thus, the targeted inhibition of RAGE or its ligands is considered an important strategy for the treatment of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.

High S100A9+ cell density predicts a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection

S100A9 is differentially expressed in various cell types and is associated with the development, progression and metastasis of various cancers. However, the expression, distribution, and clinical significance of S100A9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In the present study, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to examine S100A9 gene expression in HCC; we found that S100A9 expression was associated with HCC prognosis. In addition, S100A9 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry analysis of tissues from 382 HCC patients. We found that the infiltration of S100A9⁺ cells in both tumor and nontumor tissues could predict poor overall survival (P = 0.0329, tumor; P = 0.0003, nontumor) and a high recurrence risk (P = 0.0387, tumor; P = 0.0015, nontumor) in our tissue microarray analysis. Furthermore, immunofluorescence double staining revealed that the primary S100A9-expressing cells in adjacent nontumoral tissue were CD15⁺ neutrophils, and both CD68⁺ macrophages and CD15⁺ neutrophils expressed S100A9 in HCC tumor tissues. Taken together, the results suggest that high S100A9⁺ cell density predicts a poor prognosis in HCC patients, and S100A9 expression could potentially serve as an independent prognostic marker for HCC.

High Monocyte Count and Expression of S100A9 and S100A12 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Associated with Poor Outcome in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Increasing evidence indicates calcium-binding S100 protein involvement in inflammation and tumor progression. In this prospective study, we evaluated the mRNA levels of two members of this family, S100A9 and S100A12, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a cohort of 121 prostate cancer patients using RT-PCR. Furthermore, monocyte count was determined by flow cytometry. By stratifying patients into different risk groups, according to TNM stage, Gleason score and PSA concentration at diagnosis, expression of S100A9 and S100A12 was found to be significantly higher in patients with metastases compared to patients without clinically detectable metastases. In line with this, we observed that the protein levels of S100A9 and S100A12 in plasma were higher in patients with advanced disease. Importantly, in patients with metastases at diagnosis, high monocyte count and high levels of S100A9 and S100A12 were significantly associated with short progression free survival (PFS) after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). High monocyte count and S100A9 levels were also associated with short cancer-specific survival, with monocyte count providing independent prognostic information. These findings indicate that circulating levels of monocytes, as well as S100A9 and S100A12, could be biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer associated with particularly poor prognosis.

Predicting anti-PD-1 responders in malignant melanoma from the frequency of S100A9+ monocytes in the blood

Background

While programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) blockade treatment has revolutionized treatment of patients with melanoma, clinical outcomes are highly variable, and only a fraction of patients show durable responses. Therefore, there is a clear need for predictive biomarkers to select patients who will benefit from the treatment.

Method

To identify potential predictive markers for response to PD-1 checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (n=8), as well as an in-depth immune monitoring study (n=20) by flow cytometry in patients with advanced melanoma undergoing treatment with nivolumab at Karolinska University Hospital. Blood samples were collected before the start of treatment and at the time of the second dose.

Results

Unbiased single-cell RNA sequencing of PBMC in patients with melanoma uncovered that a higher frequency of monocytes and a lower ratio of CD4+ T cells to monocyte were inversely associated with overall survival. Similarly, S100A9 expression in the monocytic subset was correlated inversely with overall survival. These results were confirmed by a flow cytometry-based analysis in an independent patient cohort.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that monocytic cell populations can critically determine the outcome of PD-1 blockade, particularly the subset expressing S100A9, which should be further explored as a possible predictive biomarker. Detailed knowledge of the biological role of S100A9+ monocytes is of high translational relevance.

S100A9 and tumor growth

We have investigated the role of the Ca²⁺-binding protein S100A9 on tumor growth in prostate cancer and T-cell lymphoma models. We found that the expression of, S100A9 and its interaction with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is critical for tumor growth in these settings.

Characterization of the perioperative changes of exosomal immune-related cytokines induced by prostatectomy in early-stage prostate cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are relevant in prostate cancer microenvironment collaborating in tumor development. The main tumor marker used in this disease, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), does not provide information related to this tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells secrete exosomes carrying bioactive molecules contributing to MDSCs recruitment and induction. The aim of this study was to characterize the perioperative changes of exosomal cytokines relevant in MDSCs recruitment induced by prostatectomy in prostate cancer patients.

METHODS

Blood was drawn from 26 early-stage prostate cancer patients before and after radical prostatectomy and from 16 healthy volunteers. Serum exosomes were separated by precipitation. Cytokines related with MDSC cell recruitment and activation CCL2, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL12, MIF, S100A9 and TGF-ß were measured in serum and serum-derived exosomes using immunometric assays.

RESULTS

All cytokines were detected both in serum and exosomes, except for CXCL12, which was detected only in serum. Exosomes were enriched specially in MIF, TGF-ß and CXCL2. Presurgical MIF levels in exosomes correlated negatively with serum PSA. Also, presurgical TGF-ß decreased both in serum and exosomes as Gleason score rises. Patientś presurgical exosomes had increased CCL2, CXCL5 and TGF-ß levels than exosomes from healthy controls. These differences were not observed when cytokines were analyzed in serum, except for TGF-ß. Cytokine levels of CCL2, CXCL5 decreased in patients' postsurgical exosomes, while TGF-ß further increased. On the contrary, S100A9 levels were lower in patientś presurgical exosomes but increased after radical prostatectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood exosomal content in cytokines constitute an attractive source to evaluate MDSCs immunomodulators providing additional information related to tumor microenvironment in prostate cancer.

Tissue-specific Gene Expression Changes Are Associated with Aging in Mice

Aging is a complex process that can be characterized by functional and cognitive decline in an individual. Aging can be assessed based on the functional capacity of vital organs and their intricate interactions with one another. Thus, the nature of aging can be described by focusing on a specific organ and an individual itself. However, to fully understand the complexity of aging, one must investigate not only a single tissue or biological process but also its complex interplay and interdependencies with other biological processes. Here, using RNA-seq, we monitored changes in the transcriptome during aging in four tissues (including brain, blood, skin and liver) in mice at 9 months, 15 months, and 24 months, with a final evaluation at the very old age of 30 months. We identified several genes and processes that were differentially regulated during aging in both tissue-dependent and tissue-independent manners. Most importantly, we found that the electron transport chain (ETC) of mitochondria was similarly affected at the transcriptome level in the four tissues during the aging process. We also identified the liver as the tissue showing the largest variety of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) over time. Lcn2 (Lipocalin-2) was found to be similarly regulated among all tissues, and its effect on longevity and survival was validated using its orthologue in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our study demonstrated that the molecular processes of aging are relatively subtle in their progress, and the aging process of every tissue depends on the tissue’s specialized function and environment. Hence, individual gene or process alone cannot be described as the key of aging in the whole organism.

Intracellular and extracellular S100A9 trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promote the invasive phenotype of pituitary adenoma through activation of AKT1

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is mostly benign intracranial tumor, but it also displays invasive growth characteristics and provokes challenging clinical conditions. S100A9 protein enhances tumor progression. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that both intracellular and extracellular S100A9 promoted the expression of Vimentin and Intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), coupled with reduced E-cadherin in PA. As a result, PA acquired the phenotype of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), leading to proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion. In addition, we indicated S100A9-induced EMT was mediated by activation of AKT1. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed that S100A9 expression was higher in invasive PA than that in non-invasive PA. These data extended our understanding for the effects of S100A9 on PA invasion and contributed to further development of a promising therapeutic target for invasive PA.

Prognostic Role of S100A8 in Human Solid Cancers: A Systematic Review and Validation

Background

S100A8 plays a key role in many cellular processes and is highly expressed in various solid cancers. However, the prognostic role of S100A8 has not been well defined. Therefore, we conducted a quantitative meta-analysis to investigate whether or not S100A8 could be used as a prognostic biomarker in solid tumors.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched to acquire relevant studies that evaluated the association between expression of S100A8 and prognosis of cancer patients. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted to evaluate the association between S100A8 overexpression and Overall Survival (OS), Disease-Free Survival (DFS), Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS), and Progression-Free Survival (PFS). The expression of S100A8 was also validated by Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot.

Results

A total of 2,817 patients from 13 independent studies, ranging from 43 to 1,117 patients in size, were statistically analyzed. Our results indicated that a high level of S100A8 expression was significantly associated with poor OS, poor DFS, and poor PFS/RFS. In term of clinical pathological characteristics, a high expression level of S100A8 was significantly associated with differentiation grades, lymphatic metastasis, ER statue, and PR statue. The validation studies showed that the expression of S100A8 was at high levels in MDA-MB-231 (79.7%), MDA-MB-453 (89.2%), HTB-9 (70.2%), and T24 (53.3%) cells and it was higher in breast cancer tissue and bladder cancer tissue than their corresponding para-carcinoma tissue.

Conclusions

S100A8 overexpression was significantly associated with poor clinical prognosis in cancer patients. S100A8 is potential a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer and bladder cancer. More well-designed studies with adequate prognostic data are needed to confirm the prognostic role of S100A8 revealed in this study.

Overexpression of LINC00852 promotes prostate cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

AIM

Long noncoding RNAs play a key role in the development and progression of various human cancers. Recently, LINC00852 has been reported to be associated with spinal metastasis lung adenocarcinoma. However, the role and potential mechanisms of LINC00852 in prostate cancer cells remain largely unknown.

METHODS

LINC00852 expression in prostate cancer cells was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting was used to detect protein expressions in prostate cancer cells. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis. Cell proliferation was measured by cck-8 assay. The migration and invasion capabilities were determined using transwell assays.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that LINC00852 was highly expressed in prostate cancer tissues based on the TCGA database. Overexpression of LINC00852 mediated by lentivirus significantly reinforced the proliferation and colony formation abilities of prostate cancer cell linePC3. The migration and invasion capabilities were also augmented by overexpression of LINC00852. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that LINC00852 overexpression resulted in a decrease of cells in G0/G1 phase. Moreover, overexpression of LINC00852 affected the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data collectively demonstrate that LINC00852 contributes to prostate cancer proliferation and metastasis, indicating that LINC00852is a new promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for treatment of prostate cancer.

Identification of Novel Prognosis and Prediction Markers in Advanced Prostate Cancer Tissues Based on Quantitative Proteomics

BACKGROUND/AIM

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequent cancer found in males worldwide, and its mortality rate is increasing every year. However, there are no known molecular markers for advanced or aggressive PCa, and there is an urgent clinical need for biomarkers that can be used for prognosis and prediction of PCa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics was used to identify new biomarkers in tissues obtained from patients with PCa who were diagnosed with T2, T3, or metastatic PCa in regional lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Among 1,904 proteins identified in the prostate tissues, 344 differentially expressed proteins were defined, of which 124 were up-regulated and 216 were down-regulated. Subsequently, based on the results of partial least squares discriminant analysis and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses, we proposed that spermidine synthase (SRM), nucleolar and coiled-body phosphoprotein 1 (NOLC1), and prostacyclin synthase (PTGIS) represent new protein biomarkers for diagnosis of advanced PCa. These proteomics results were verified by immunoblot assays in metastatic PCa cell lines and by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in prostate specimens.

CONCLUSION

SRM was significantly increased depending on the cancer stage, confirming the possibility of using SRM as a biomarker for prognosis and prediction of advanced PCa.

Friend or Foe: S100 Proteins in Cancer

S100 proteins are widely expressed small molecular EF-hand calcium-binding proteins of vertebrates, which are involved in numerous cellular processes, such as Ca²⁺ homeostasis, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and inflammation. Although the complex network of S100 signalling is by far not fully deciphered, several S100 family members could be linked to a variety of diseases, such as inflammatory disorders, neurological diseases, and also cancer. The research of the past decades revealed that S100 proteins play a crucial role in the development and progression of many cancer types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma. Hence, S100 family members have also been shown to be promising diagnostic markers and possible novel targets for therapy. However, the current knowledge of S100 proteins is limited and more attention to this unique group of proteins is needed. Therefore, this review article summarises S100 proteins and their relation in different cancer types, while also providing an overview of novel therapeutic strategies for targeting S100 proteins for cancer treatment.

S100A9 promotes prostate cancer cell invasion by activating TLR4/NF-κB/integrin β1/FAK signaling

Background

S100A9, which is expressed in prostate cancer, has been reported in association with prostate cancer progression. However, the role of S100A9 in prostate cancer metastasis is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of S100A9 on prostate cancer cell invasion and the involved mechanisms.

Materials and methods

Integrin β1 expression in PC-3 and DU-145 cells was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Cellular invasion was measured by transwell invasion assay. Western blot was used to determine protein expression. Concentrations of S100A9 and fibronectin were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein interaction was detected by immunoprecipitation. The NF-κB activity was measured by luciferase reporter assay. The DU-145 cells metastasis in vivo was determined in mice xenograft models after S100A9 overexpression.

Results

S100A9 promoted prostate cancer cells invasion, integrin β1 expression and fibronectin secretion. Further investigation evidenced that S100A9 interacted with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and activated NF-κB, which was responsible for tumor cell invasion, integrin β1 up-regulation and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation. Furthermore, integrin β1 inhibition led to decreased FAK phosphorylation and reduced tumor cell invasion. Overexpression of S100A9 increased xenograft tumor micro-metastases, integrin β1 expression and induced NF-κB and FAK activation in vivo.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that S100A9 promotes prostate cancer cell invasion, and one of the underlying molecular mechanisms is that S100A9 activates integrin β1/FAK through TLR4/NF-κB signaling leading to metastasis of prostate cancer cell.

Corpora amylacea in benign prostatic acini are associated with concurrent, predominantly low-grade cancer

BACKGROUND

Corpora amylacea (CAM), in benign prostatic acini, contain acute-phase proteins. Do CAM coincide with carcinoma?

METHODS

Within 270 biopsies, 83 prostatectomies, and 33 transurethral resections (TURs), CAM absence was designated CAM 0; corpora in less than 5% of benign acini: CAM 1; in 5% to 25%: CAM 2; in more than 25%: CAM 3. CAM were compared against carcinoma presence, clinicopathologic findings, and grade groups (GG) 1 to 2 vs 3 to 5. The frequency of CAM according to anatomic zone was counted. A pilot study was conducted using paired initial benign and repeat biopsies (33 benign, 24 carcinoma).

RESULTS

A total of 68.9% of biopsies, 96.4% of prostatectomies, and 66.7% of TURs disclosed CAM. CAM ≥1 was common at an older age (P = .019). In biopsies, 204 cases (75%) had carcinoma; and CAM of 2 to 3 (compared to 0-1) were recorded in 25.0% of carcinomas but only 7.4% of benign biopsies (P = .005; odds ratio [OR] = 5.1). CAM correlated with high percent Gleason pattern 3, low GG (P = .035), and chronic inflammation (CI). CI correlated inversely with carcinoma (P = .003). CAM disclosed no association with race, body mass index, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), acute inflammation (in biopsies), atrophy, or carcinoma volume. With CAM 1, the odds of GG 3 to 5 carcinoma, by comparison to CAM 0, decreased more than 2× (OR = 0.48; P = .032), with CAM 2, more than 3× (OR = 0.33; P = .005), and with CAM 3, almost 3× (OR = 0.39, P = .086). For men aged less than 65, carcinoma predictive model was: Score = (2 × age) + (5 × PSA) - (20 × degree of CAM); using our data, area under the ROC curve was 78.17%. When the transition zone was involved by cancer, it showed more CAM than in cases where it was uninvolved (P = .012); otherwise zonal distributions were similar. In the pilot study, CAM ≥1 predicted carcinoma on repeat biopsy (P < .05; OR = 8), as did CAM 2 to 3 (P < .0001; OR = 30). CI was not significant, and CAM retained significance after adjusting for CI.

CONCLUSION

CAM correlate with carcinoma. Whether abundant CAM in benign biopsies adds value amidst high clinical suspicion, warrants further study.

S100A9 as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in human gastric cancer

Objective: The morbidity and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) is high, but there are lack of the biomarkers for early diagnosis and progression of GC. We aimed to identify a novel biomarker for the growth and progression of GC.Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database including 352 eligible patients was used to screen candidate genes related to the prognosis of GC. A proteomics analysis of Chinese Human Proteome Sketches (CHPS) including 84 eligible sample tissues was conducted to further identify candidate biomarkers. A series of in vitro assays were performed to investigate the functions of candidate proteins in GC. Next, to verify whether the candidate oncogene was associated with gastric carcinogenesis, we screened its expression levels using samples from 200 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia, or GC and healthy controls.Results: According to the analyses of the TCGA database and CHPS, we found that S100A9 may be associated with the prognosis of GC. The results of proliferation, wound-healing and invasion assays, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot showed that high levels of S100A9 in tissues were significantly associated with GC aggressiveness and a poor prognosis (p < .05). Furthermore, we found that the expression of S100A9 increased gradually during the process of gastric carcinogenesis (p < .05). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of S100A9 as a biomarker for early GC were 61.4% and 81.3%, respectively.Conclusions: This study reveals that S100A9 may be a novel biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of GC patients.

S100A12 is a promising biomarker in papillary thyroid cancer

S100A12 belongs to the S100 family and acts as a vital regulator in different types of tumors. However, the function of S100A12 in thyroid carcinoma has not yet been investigated. In this study, we analyzed the expression of S100A12 in human papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) samples and two PTC cell lines. In addition, we explored the effects of S100A12 on PTC cell progression in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that S100A12 was significantly upregulated in PTC specimens. Moreover, silencing S100A12 markedly inhibited PTC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle progression. In addition, knockdown of S100A12 significantly reduced the expression of CyclinD1, CDK4 and p-ERK in PTC cells. An in vivo study also showed that silencing S100A12 dramatically suppressed tumor cell growth and decreased Ki67 expression in a xenograft mouse model. This study provides novel evidence that S100A12 serves as an oncogene in PTC. Knockdown of S100A12 suppressed PTC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced G0/G1 phase arrest via the inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway. Therefore, S100A12 may be a potent therapeutic target for PTC.

High expression of ID1 in monocytes is strongly associated with phenotypic and functional MDSC markers in advanced melanoma

The efficacy of immunotherapies for malignant melanoma is severely hampered by local and systemic immunosuppression mediated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Inhibitor of differentiation 1 (ID1) is a transcriptional regulator that was shown to be centrally involved in the induction of immunosuppressive properties in myeloid cells in mice, while it was overexpressed in CD11b⁺ cells in the blood of late-stage melanoma patients. Therefore, we comprehensively assessed ID1 expression in PBMC from stage III and IV melanoma patients, and studied ID1 regulation in models for human monocyte differentiation towards monocyte-derived dendritic cells. A highly significant elevation of ID1 was observed in CD33⁺CD11b⁺CD14⁺HLA-DR^low monocytic MDSC in the blood of melanoma patients compared to their HLA-DR^high counterparts, while expression of ID1 correlated positively with established MDSC markers S100A8/9 and iNOS. Moreover, expression of ID1 in monocytes significantly decreased in PBMC samples taken after surgical removal of melanoma metastases, compared to those taken before surgery. Finally, maturation of monocyte-derived DC coincided with a significant downregulation of ID1. Together, these data indicate that increased ID1 expression is strongly associated with expression of phenotypic and immunosuppressive markers of monocytic MDSC, while downregulation is associated with a more immunogenic myeloid phenotype. As such, ID1 may be an additional phenotypic marker for monocytic MDSC. Investigation of ID1 as a pharmacodynamic biomarker or its use as a target for modulating MDSC is warranted.

Tumor microenvironment-derived S100A8/A9 is a novel prognostic biomarker for advanced melanoma patients and during immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 antibodies

BACKGROUND

Predicting metastasis in melanoma patients is important for disease management and could help to identify those who might benefit from adjuvant treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the tumor microenvironment-derived protein S100A8/A9 qualifies as prognostic marker for melanoma patients, also in the setting of immunotherapy.

METHODS

S100A8/A9 gene and protein expression were analyzed on melanocytic nevi, primary melanomas and metastases using a cDNA library and three independent tissue-microarrays (TMA). Serum levels of S100A8/A9 were measured using a specific ELISA in two independent cohorts of 354 stage III and stage IV melanoma patients as well as in two independent cohorts of patients treated with the PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab.

RESULTS

cDNA analysis revealed an upregulation of S100A8 and S100A9 gene expression in melanoma metastases compared to primary melanomas. Significantly higher numbers of infiltrating S100A8/A9 positive cells were found in tissue samples of metastasizing primary melanomas compared to non-metastasizing melanomas (P < .0001) and in melanomas of short-term survivors compared to long-term survivors (P < .0001). Serum S100A8/A9 levels > 5.5 mg/l were associated with impaired overall survival in two independent cohorts (both P < .0001). Importantly, patients with serum elevated S100A8/A9 treated with pembrolizumab showed significantly impaired survival compared to patients with lower S100A8/A9 levels (cohort 1: P = .0051; cohort 2: P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The tumor microenvironment-associated protein S100A8/A9 serves as a novel prognostic marker for metastasis and survival of metastatic melanoma patients and predicts response to immunotherapy with pembrolizumab. These data underscore the significance of tumor microenvironment-derived factors as suitable biomarkers for melanoma.

Development of Predictive Models for Identifying Potential S100A9 Inhibitors Based on Machine Learning Methods

S100A9 is a potential therapeutic target for various disease including prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the sparsity of atomic level data, such as protein-protein interaction of S100A9 with RAGE, TLR4/MD2, or CD147 (EMMPRIN) hinders the rational drug design of S100A9 inhibitors. Herein we first report predictive models of S100A9 inhibitory effect by applying machine learning classifiers on 2D-molecular descriptors. The models were optimized through feature selectors as well as classifiers to produce the top eight random forest models with robust predictability and high cost-effectiveness. Notably, optimal feature sets were obtained after the reduction of 2,798 features into dozens of features with the chopping of fingerprint bits. Moreover, the high efficiency of compact feature sets allowed us to further screen a large-scale dataset (over 6,000,000 compounds) within a week. Through a consensus vote of the top models, 46 hits (hit rate = 0.000713%) were identified as potential S100A9 inhibitors. We expect that our models will facilitate the drug discovery process by providing high predictive power as well as cost-reduction ability and give insights into designing novel drugs targeting S100A9.

Comprehensive RNA-Sequencing Analysis in Peripheral Blood Cells Reveals Differential Expression Signatures with Biomarker Potential for Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

To date, the clinical course of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) remains unclear and lacks direct and effective diagnostic methods. To better understand the host gene expression changes involved in the iMN process and identify the potential signatures for clinical diagnosis, we performed a whole genome-wide transcriptome profile of peripheral blood cells (PBC) from patients with iMN and healthy controls (HCs). A total of 188 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in patients with iMN versus HCs. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly correlated with protein targeting, ion homeostasis GO terms, and ribosome and phagosome pathways. The top 10 differentially expressed protein-coding genes with >2-fold changes and high expression levels were validated using quantitative real-time PCR, and showed high consistency with the high-throughput sequencing results. HLA-C, S100A8, and FTH1 genes were selected for further validation and showed the most significant difference between the iMN and HC group, indicating that they could be used as potential clinical diagnostic biomarkers. Our results provide novel potential diagnostic signatures for iMN and have important implications for better understanding the pathogenesis of iMN.

A Pathway-Based Kernel Boosting Method for Sample Classification Using Genomic Data

The analysis of cancer genomic data has long suffered "the curse of dimensionality." Sample sizes for most cancer genomic studies are a few hundreds at most while there are tens of thousands of genomic features studied. Various methods have been proposed to leverage prior biological knowledge, such as pathways, to more effectively analyze cancer genomic data. Most of the methods focus on testing marginal significance of the associations between pathways and clinical phenotypes. They can identify informative pathways but do not involve predictive modeling. In this article, we propose a Pathway-based Kernel Boosting (PKB) method for integrating gene pathway information for sample classification, where we use kernel functions calculated from each pathway as base learners and learn the weights through iterative optimization of the classification loss function. We apply PKB and several competing methods to three cancer studies with pathological and clinical information, including tumor grade, stage, tumor sites and metastasis status. Our results show that PKB outperforms other methods and identifies pathways relevant to the outcome variables.

Down-Regulation of S100A8 is an Independent Predictor of PSA Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Treated by Radical Prostatectomy

Dysregulation of S100A8 is described in many different human tumor types, but its role in prostate cancer is unknown. To evaluate the clinical relevance of S100A8 expression in prostate cancer, a tissue microarray containing 13,665 tumors was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Cytoplasmic S100A8 staining was compared to prostate cancer phenotype, patient prognosis and molecular features including TMPRSS2:ERG fusion status and deletions of PTEN, 3p, 5q and 6q. S100A8 immunostaining was typically seen in normal prostate tissue but lost in 60% of 9786 interpretable prostate cancers. In the remaining tumors, S100A8 was considered weak in 17.9%, moderate in 17.8% and strong in 5.4% of cases. Loss of S100A8 expression was linked to advanced tumor stage, high Gleason grade, positive nodal status, positive surgical margin and high preoperative PSA (P < .0001 each). In addition, loss of S100A8 expression was associated with TMPRSS2:ERG fusions (P < .0001), deletions of PTEN, 3p, and 6q (P < .005), and a high number of genomic deletions per tumor (P = .0009). Absence of S100A8 immunostaining was also linked to an elevated risk for early PSA recurrence (P < .0001). In a multivariate analysis limited to features that are preoperatively available, the prognostic impact of S100A8 expression (P < .0001) was independent of clinical stage, Gleason grade, and serum PSA level (P < .0001). Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate that complete loss of S100A8 expression is linked to adverse tumor features and predicts early biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer. S100A8 measurement, either alone or in combination might be of clinical utility in prostate cancers.

Combined serum biomarkers in the noninvasive diagnosis of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyema

Background

We previously demonstrated that the pleural levels of proteins (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/NGAL, calprotectin, bactericidal permeability-increasing/BPI, azurocidin 1/AZU-1) were valuable markers for identifying complicated PPE (CPPE). Herein, this study was performed to evaluate whether these proteins are useful as serological markers for identifying CPPE and empyema.

Methods

A total of 137 participates were enrolled in this study. The levels of NGAL, calprotectin, BPI and AZU-1 were measured in serum and pleural fluid by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also characterized the diagnostic values of these markers between different groups.

Results

The serum levels of NGAL, calprotectin, and BPI in PPE patients were significantly higher than those in transudates, noninfectious exudates, and healthy controls. The area under the curve (AUC) values of NGAL, calprotectin, and BPI for distinguishing PPE from transudates or noninfectious exudates were around 0.861 to 0.953. In PPE group, serum NGAL and calprotectin levels were significantly elevated in patients with CPPE and empyema than in those with UPPE, whereas the serum BPI levels were similar between these two groups. In CPPE and empyema patients, the serum NGAL showed a positive correlation with the pleural fluid NGAL (r = 0.417, p <  0.01). When combined with serum CRP, the sensitivity and specificity of serum calprotectin for identifying CPPE and empyema were the highest at 73.52% and 80.55%, respectively.

Conclusions

We concluded that serum calprotectin and NGAL were adjuvant serological markers for CPPE and empyema diagnosis. Patients present with pneumonia and pleural effusion signs in the chest x-ray and the combination of serum calprotectin and CRP constitutes a more highly sensitive and specific assay for identifying CPPE and empyema.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12890-019-0877-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Identification of Important Invasion-Related Genes in Non-functional Pituitary Adenomas

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are locally invasive with high morbidity. The objective of this study was to diagnose important genes and pathways related to the invasiveness of NFPAs and gain more insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of NFPAs. The gene expression profiles of GSE51618 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database with 4 non-invasive NFPA samples, 3 invasive NFPA samples, and 3 normal pituitary gland samples. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are screened between invasive NFPA samples and normal pituitary gland samples, followed by pathway and ontology (GO) enrichment analyses. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analyzed for these DEGs, and module analysis was performed. In addition, a target gene-miRNA network and target gene-TF (transcription factor) network were analyzed for these DEGs. A total of 879 DEGs were obtained. Among them, 439 genes were upregulated and 440 genes were downregulated. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the upregulated genes were significantly enriched in cysteine biosynthesis/homocysteine degradation (trans-sulfuration) and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, while the downregulated genes were mainly associated with docosahexaenoate biosynthesis III (mammals) and chemokine signaling pathway. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the upregulated genes were significantly enriched in animal organ morphogenesis, extracellular matrix, and hormone activity, while the downregulated genes were mainly associated with leukocyte chemotaxis, dendrites, and RAGE receptor binding. Subsequently, ESR1, SOX2, TTN, GFAP, WIF1, TTR, XIST, SPAG5, PPBP, AR, IL1R2, and HIST1H1C were diagnosed as the top hub genes in the upregulated and downregulated PPI networks and modules. In addition, HS3ST1, GPC4, CCND2, and SCD were diagnosed as the top hub genes in the upregulated and downregulated target gene-miRNA networks, while CISH, ISLR, UBE2E3, and CCNG2 were diagnosed as the top hub genes in the upregulated and downregulated target gene-TF networks. The new important DEGs and pathways diagnosed in this study may serve key roles in the invasiveness of NFPAs and indicate more molecular targets for the treatment of NFPAs.

Urinary biomarkers for the diagnosis of cervical cancer by quantitative label-free mass spectrometry analysis

Due to the invasive procedure associated with Pap smears for diagnosing cervical cancer and the conservative culture of developing countries, identifying less invasive biomarkers is of great interest. Quantitative label-free mass spectrometry was performed to identify potential biomarkers in the urine samples of patients with cervical cancer. This technique was used to study the differential expression of urinary proteomes between normal individuals and cancer patients. The alterations in the levels of urinary proteomes in normal and cancer patients were analyzed by Progenesis label-free software and the results revealed that 60 proteins were upregulated while 73 proteins were downregulated in patients with cervical cancer. This method could enrich high molecular weight proteins from 100 kDa. The protein-protein interactions were obtained by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins analysis and predicted the biological pathways involving various functions including cell-cell adhesion, blood coagulation, metabolic processes, stress response and the regulation of morphogenesis. Two notable upregulated urinary proteins were leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein (LRG1) and isoform-1 of multimerin-1 (MMRN1), while the 3 notable downregulated proteins were S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8), serpin B3 (SERPINB3) and cluster of differentiation-44 antigen (CD44). The validation of these 5 proteins was performed by western blot analysis and the biomarker sensitivity of these proteins was analyzed individually and in combination with receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis may allow for the identification of urinary proteins of high molecular weight. The proteins MMRN1 and LRG1 were presented, for the first time, to be highly expressed urinary proteins in cervical cancer. ROC analysis revealed that LRG1 and SERPINB3 could be individually used, and these 5 proteins could also be combined, to detect the occurrence of cervical cancer.

[Value of S100A8 in evaluating the prognosis of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the association between S100A8 expression and prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODS

The clinical data of 377 children with ALL who were treated with the CCLG-2008-ALL regimen were retrospectively reviewed. ELISA and PCR were used to measure serum protein levels and mRNA expression of S100A8. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and a Cox regression analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

The children were followed up for 56 months, and the overall survival rate of the 377 children was 89.1%. The prednisone good response group had significantly lower S100A8 protein and mRNA levels than the prednisone poor response group (P<0.01). In the children with standard or median risk, both S100A8 protein and mRNA levels were associated with event-free survival rate (P<0.05). There were significant differences in S100A8 protein and mRNA levels between the children with different risk stratifications (P<0.01). The children who experienced events had significantly higher S100A8 protein and mRNA levels than those who did not (P<0.01). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox regression model suggested that S100A8 overexpression was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of children with ALL.

CONCLUSIONS

High S100A8 expression may be associated with the poor prognosis of children with ALL and is promising as a new marker for individualized precise treatment of children with ALL.

Neuroplastin-β mediates S100A8/A9-induced lung cancer disseminative progression

Compiling evidence indicates an unusual role of extracellular S100A8/A9 in cancer metastasis. S100A8/A9 secreted from either cancer cells or normal cells including epithelial and inflammatory cells stimulates cancer cells through S100A8/A9 sensor receptors in an autocrine or paracrine manner, leading to cancer cell metastatic progression. We previously reported a novel S100A8/A9 receptor, neuroplastin-β (NPTNβ), which plays a critical role in atopic dermatitis when it is highly activated in keratinocytes by an excess amount of extracellular S100A8/A9 in the inflammatory skin lesion. Interestingly, our expression profiling of NPTNβ showed significantly high expression levels in lung cancer cell lines in a consistent manner. We hence aimed to determine the significance of NPTNβ as an S100A8/A9 receptor in lung cancer. Our results showed that NPTNβ has strong ability to induce cancer-related cellular events, including anchorage-independent growth, motility and invasiveness, in lung cancer cells in response to extracellular S100A8/A9, eventually leading to the expression of a cancer disseminative phenotype in lung tissue in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that binding of S100A8/A9 to NPTNβ mediates activation of NFIA and NFIB and following SPDEF transcription factors through orchestrated upstream signals from TRAF2 and RAS, which is linked to anchorage-independent growth, motility and invasiveness. Overall, our results indicate the importance of the S100A8/A9-NPTNβ axis in lung cancer disseminative progression and reveal a pivotal role of its newly identified downstream signaling, TRAF2/RAS-NFIA/NFIB-SPDEF, in linking to the aggressive development of lung cancers.

Serum biomarkers identification by iTRAQ and verification by MRM: S100A8/S100A9 levels predict tumor-stroma involvement and prognosis in Glioblastoma

Despite advances in biology and treatment modalities, the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) remains poor. Serum reflects disease macroenvironment and thus provides a less invasive means to diagnose and monitor a diseased condition. By employing 4-plex iTRAQ methodology, we identified 40 proteins with differential abundance in GBM sera. The high abundance of serum S100A8/S100A9 was verified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). ELISA and MRM-based quantitation showed a significant positive correlation. Further, an integrated investigation using stromal, tumor purity and cell type scores demonstrated an enrichment of myeloid cell lineage in the GBM tumor microenvironment. Transcript levels of S100A8/S100A9 were found to be independent poor prognostic indicators in GBM. Medium levels of pre-operative and three-month post-operative follow-up serum S100A8 levels predicted poor prognosis in GBM patients who lived beyond median survival. In vitro experiments showed that recombinant S100A8/S100A9 proteins promoted integrin signalling dependent glioma cell migration and invasion up to a threshold level of concentrations. Thus, we have discovered GBM serum marker by iTRAQ and verified by MRM. We also demonstrate interplay between tumor micro and macroenvironment and identified S100A8 as a potential marker with diagnostic and prognostic value in GBM.

Association of RAGE gene four single nucleotide polymorphisms with the risk, invasion, metastasis and overall survival of gastric cancer in Chinese

Objectives: The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is an oncogenic trans-membranous receptor expressed in many cells. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between RAGE gene 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk, invasion, metastasis and overall survival of gastric cancer.

Methods and Results: We performed a hospital-based case-control study involving 369 gastric cancer patients and 493 cancer free controls. Four widely-studied SNPs, rs1800625 (T-429C), rs1800624 (T-374A), rs2070600 (Gly82Ser) and rs184003 (G1704T) in RAGE gene, were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction - ligase detection reaction method. The RAGE gene rs1800625 TT genotype and T allele were significantly associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer (TT vs. CC: adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.55-0.95, p=0.021; T vs. C: adjusted OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46-0.97, p=0.032). No hints of significance were detected for the other three SNPs in association with gastric cancer risk. Moreover, rs1800625 and rs184003 were significantly associated with tumor clinical stage (p=0.010 and 0.032, respectively). Survival curves differed significantly between the genotypes of rs1800625.

Conclusions:RAGE gene SNP rs1800625 was significantly associated with gastric cancer risk, and rs1800625 and rs184003 were related to tumor clinical stage, indicating that RAGE gene may be a gastric cancer-susceptibility gene.

Network analysis based on low-rank method for mining information on integrated data of multi-cancers

The noise problem of cancer sequencing data has been a problem that can't be ignored. Utilizing considerable way to reduce noise of these cancer data is an important issue in the analysis of gene co-expression network. In this paper, we apply a sparse and low-rank method which is Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) to solve the noise problem for integrated data of multi-cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). And then we build the gene co-expression network based on the integrated data after noise reduction. Finally, we perform nodes and pathways mining on the denoising networks. Experiments in this paper show that after denoising by RPCA, the gene expression data tend to be orderly and neat than before, and the constructed networks contain more pathway enrichment information than unprocessed data. Moreover, learning from the betweenness centrality of the nodes in the network, we find some abnormally expressed genes and pathways proven that are associated with many cancers from the denoised network. The experimental results indicate that our method is reasonable and effective, and we also find some candidate suspicious genes that may be linked to multi-cancers.

Prognostic Role of S100A8 and S100A9 Protein Expressions in Non-small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Background

S100A8 and S100A9 have been gaining recognition for modulating tumor growthand metastasis. This study aimed at evaluating the clinical significance of S100A8 and S100A9 innon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We analyzed the relationship between S100A8and S100A9 expressions, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognostic significance in tumorcells and peritumoral inflammatory cells.

Results

The positive staining of S100A8 in tumorcells was significantly increased in male (p < .001), smoker (p = .034), surgical method other thanlobectomy (p = .024), squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) (p < .001) and higher TNM stage (p = .022)compared with female, non-smoker, lobectomy, adenocarcinoma (ADC), and lower stage. Theproportion of tumor cells stained for S100A8 was related to histologic type (p < .001) and patientsex (p = .027). The proportion of inflammatory cells stained for S100A8 was correlated with patientage (p = .022), whereas the proportion of inflammatory cells stained for S100A9 was correlatedwith patient sex (p < .001) and smoking history (p = .031). Moreover, positive staining in tumorcells, more than 50% of the tumor cells stained and less than 30% of the inflammatory cellsstained for S100A8 and S100A9 suggested a tendency towards increased survivability in SQCCbut towards decreased survivability in ADC.

Conclusions

S100A8 and S100A9 expressions might be potential prognostic markers in patients with NSCLC.