Decreased expression of CDH1 or CTNNB1 affects poor prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer

SNHG1 functions as a ceRNA in hypertrophic scar fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis through miR-320b/CTNNB1 axis

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a fibrotic disease caused by skin injury. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) has been demonstrated to implicate in the regulation of cell malignant phenotypes. This research aims to reveal the effect of catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) on the functions of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFBs) and its role in a ceRNA network. RNA expression level was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The proliferation and apoptosis of HSFB was detected via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis. Mechanism experiments included RNA pull down assay, luciferase reporter assay and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were applied to analyze the upstream molecular mechanism of CTNNB1. CTNNB1 was highly expressed in HSFB. CTNNB1 depletion repressed malignant growth of HSFB. Mechanically, CTNNB1 was targeted by microRNA-320b (miR-320b) in HSFB. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) aced as a ceRNA to upregulate CTNNB1 expression via sponging miR-320b in HSFB. CTNNB1 overexpression could reverse the impact of SNHG1 depletion on the proliferation and apoptosis of HSFB. SNHG1 acts as a ceRNA in modulating HSFB proliferation and apoptosis through miR-320b/CTNNB1 axis. SNHG1 act as a ceRNA to promote HSFB growth by sponging miR-320b to upregulate CTNNB1.

Association between CDH1 methylation and esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis and bioinformatics study

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to evaluate the association of CDH1 methylation with esophageal cancer (EC) risk.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched to identify relevant articles. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using the fixed- or random-effects models. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated to assess the diagnostic value of CDH1 methylation for EC. The results of the meta-analysis were validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies consisting of 1,633 samples were included. A high CDH1 methylation was significantly associated with an increased risk of EC (OR = 10.40, 95% CI = 6.29-17.18). Furthermore, CDH1 methylation status was related to tumor status, lymph node status, and metastasis. For the diagnosis of EC, the pooled sensitivity and specificity of CDH1 methylation were 0.57 (95% CI = 0.39-0.74) and 0.89 (95% CI = 0.81-0.94), respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that CDH1 methylation occurred more frequently in EC tissues than in normal controls, in good agreement with the results of the meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

A significant association was found between CDH1 methylation and EC risk. We therefore suggest that CDH1 methylation can serve as a promising diagnostic marker for EC.

LncRNA OIP5-AS1 Knockdown Facilitated the Ferroptosis and Immune Evasion by Modulating the GPX4 in Oesophageal Carcinoma

Objective

Oesophageal cancer (EC) is an extremely invasive malignancy, which has bad prognosis that requires safe and effective treatment modalities. Immunotherapy has provided new ideas for the treatment of EC in recent years. This project was conducted to probe into the role and mechanism of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 in ferroptosis and immunotherapy of EC.

Methods

Cell viability and multiplication were assessed through CCK-8, colony formation assays. Levels of Fe²⁺, MDA, and lipid ROS were applied to determine ferroptosis. GPX4 and OIP5-AS1 levels were examined through real-time PCR assay. The relationship between OIP5-AS1 and GPX4 was estimated through RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Flow cytometry was applied to examine the effect of OIP5-AS1 on CD8+ T cells.

Results

OIP5-AS1 inhibition significantly inhibited EC cell viability and proliferation, induced ferroptosis, and downregulated GPX4 levels, while GPX4 reversed these effects. OIP5-AS1/GPX4 induced CD8+ T cell interaction and induced apoptosis through PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoints of CD8+ T cells.

Conclusion

OIP5-AS1/GPX4 promotes EC development and relieved ferroptosis; furthermore, OIP5-AS1/GPX4 facilitated immune evasion via modulation of PD-1/PD-L1, suggesting aiming at OIP5-AS1 is a possible route which might enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Prognostic Characteristics of Immune-Related Genes and the Related Regulatory Axis in Patients With Stage N+M0 Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BRCA) has the highest incidence rate among female tumours. The function of the immune system affects treatment efficacy and prognosis in patients with BRCA. However, the exact role of immune-related genes (IRGs) in stage N+M0 BRCA is unknown. We constructed a predictive risk scoring model with five IRGs (CDH1, FGFR3, INHBA, S100B, and SCG2) based on the clinical, mutation, and RNA sequencing data of individuals with stage N+M0 BRCA sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results from the Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute validation cohort suggested that regardless of clinical stage, tumour size, or the number of lymph node metastases, this model was able to reliably discriminate low-risk patients from high-risk ones and assess the prognosis of patients with stage N+M0 BRCA, and low-risk patients could benefit more from immunotherapy than high-risk patients. In addition, significant inter-group variations in immunocyte infiltration and the tumour microenvironment were observed. Moreover, risk score and age were found to be independent factors in multivariate COX regression analysis, which influenced the outcome of patients with stage N+M0 BRCA. Based on the above findings, we plotted a prognostic nomogram. Finally, we constructed a lncRNA KCNQ1OT1-LINC00665-TUG1/miR-9-5p/CDH1 regulatory axis of the ceRNA network to explore the mechanism of BRCA progression. In summary, we conducted a systemic and extensive bioinformatics investigation and established an IRG-based prognostic scoring model. Finally, we constructed a ceRNA regulatory axis that might play a significant role in BRCA development. More research is required to confirm this result. Scoring system-based patient grouping can help predict the outcome of patients with stage N+M0 BRCA more effectively and determine their sensitivity to immunotherapies, which will aid the development of personalised therapeutic strategies and inspire the research and development of novel medications.

Prognostic significance of AP-2α/γ targets as cancer therapeutics

Identifying genes with prognostic importance could improve cancer treatment. An increasing number of reports suggest the existence of successful strategies based on seemingly "untargetable" transcription factors. In addition to embryogenesis, AP-2 transcription factors are known to play crucial roles in cancer development. Members of this family can be used as prognostic factors in oncological patients, and AP-2α/γ transcription factors were previously investigated in our pan-cancer comparative study using their target genes. The present study investigates tumors that were previously found similar with an emphasis on the possible role of AP-2 factors in specific cancer types. The RData workspace was loaded back to R environment and 3D trajectories were built via Monocle3. The genes that met the requirement of specificity were listed using top_markers(), separately for mutual and unique targets. Furthermore, the candidate genes had to meet the following requirements: correlation with AP-2 factor (through Correlation AnalyzeR) and validated prognostic importance (using GEPIA2 and subsequently KM-plotter or LOGpc). Eventually, the ROC analysis was applied to confirm their predictive value; co-dependence of expression was visualized via BoxPlotR. Some similar tumors were differentiated by AP-2α/γ targets with prognostic value. Requirements were met by only fifteen genes (EMX2, COL7A1, GRIA1, KRT1, KRT14, SLC12A5, SEZ6L, PTPRN, SCG5, DPP6, NTSR1, ARX, COL4A3, PPEF1 and TMEM59L); of these, the last four were excluded based on ROC curves. All the above genes were confronted with the literature, with an emphasis on the possible role played by AP-2 factors in specific cancers. Following ROC analysis, the genes were verified using immunohistochemistry data and progression-related signatures. Staining differences were observed, as well as co-dependence on the expression of e.g. CTNNB1, ERBB2, KRAS, SMAD4, EGFR or MKI67. In conclusion, prognostic value of targets suggested AP-2α/γ as candidates for novel cancer treatment. It was also revealed that AP-2 targets are related to tumor progression and that some mutual target genes could be inversely regulated.

Characterization of E-cadherin expression in normal mucosa, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia and its influence on prognosis

BACKGROUND

Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA), which has been classified as type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction in western countries, is of similar geographic distribution with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China, and even referred as "sister cancer" by Chinese oncologists. The molecular mechanism for GCA is largely unknown. Recent studies have shown that decreased expression of E-cadherin is associated with the invasion and metastasis of multiple cancers. However, the E-cadherin expression has not been well characterized in gastric cardia carcinogenesis and its effect on GCA prognosis.

AIM

To characterize E-cadherin expression in normal gastric cardia mucosa, dysplasia and GCA tissues, and its influence on prognosis for GCA.

METHODS

A total of 4561 patients with GCA were enrolled from our previously established GCA and esophageal cancer databases. The enrollment criteria included radical surgery for GCA, but without any radio- or chemo-therapy before operation. The GCA tissue from 4561 patients and matched adjacent normal epithelial tissue (n = 208) and dysplasia lesions (n = 156) were collected, and processed as tissue microarray for immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological characteristics were retrieved from the medical records in hospital and follow-up was carried out through letter, telephone or home interview. E-cadherin protein expression was determined by two step immunohistochemistry. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to correlate E-cadherin protein expression with survival of GCA patients.

RESULTS

Of the 4561 GCA patients, there were 3607 males with a mean age of 61.6 ± 8.8 and 954 females with a mean age of 61.9 ± 8.6 years, respectively. With the lesions progressed from normal gastric cardia mucosa to dysplasia and GCA, the positive immunostaining rates for E-cadherin decreased significantly from 100% to 93.0% and 84.1%, respectively (R² = 0.9948). Furthermore, E-cadherin positive immunostaining rate was significantly higher in patients at early stage (0 and I) than in those at late stage (II and III) (92.7% vs 83.7%, P = 0.001). E-cadherin positive expression rate was significantly associated with degree of differentiation (P = 0.001) and invasion depth (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the GCA patients with positive E-cadherin immunostaining had better survival than those with negative (P = 0.026). It was noteworthy that E-cadherin positive expression rate was similar in patients with positive and negative lymph node metastasis. However, in patients with negative lymph node metastasis, those with positive expression of E-cadherin had better survival than those with negative expression (P = 0.036). Similarly, in patients with late stage GCA, those with positive expression of E-cadherin had better survival than those with negative expression (P = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

E-cadherin expression may be involved in gastric cardia carcinogenesis and low expression of E-cadherin may be a promising early biomarker and overall survival predictor for GCA.

lncRNA SNHG11 promotes lung cancer cell proliferation and migration via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Lung cancer ranks topmost among the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Despite increasing research, there are still unresolved mysteries in the molecular mechanism of lung cancer. Long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 11 (SNHG11) was found to be upregulated in lung cancer and facilitated lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition progression while suppressed cell apoptosis. Moreover, the high expression of SNHG11 was correlated with poor prognosis of lung cancer patients, TNM stage, and tumor size. Further assays demonstrated that SNHG11 functioned in lung cancer cells via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Subsequently, Wnt/β-catenin pathway was found to be activated through SNHG11/miR-4436a/CTNNB1 ceRNA axis. As inhibiting miR-4436 could only partly rescue the suppression of cell function induced by silencing SNHG11, it was suspected that β-catenin might enter cell nucleus through other pathways. Mechanism investigation proved that SNHG11 would directly bind with β-catenin to activate classic Wnt pathway. Subsequently, in vivo tumorigenesis was also demonstrated to be enhanced by SNHG11. Hence, SNHG11 was found to promote lung cancer progression by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway in two different patterns, implying that SNHG11 might contribute to lung cancer treatment by acting as a therapeutic target.

MicroRNA‑200a promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion through extensive target genes

Despite investigations into microRNA (miRNA) expression in esophageal cancer (EC) tissue, miRNAs that participate in EC pathogenesis and their subsequent mechanisms of action remain to be determined. The present study aimed to identify important miRNAs that contribute to EC development, and to assess miRNA biomarkers that could be used in EC diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to reanalyze EC tissue miRNA expression microarray dataset GSE113776, which was followed by in vitro verification of miRNA functions using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blot analysis and a dual‑luciferase reporter assay. Out of 93 miRNAs extracted, only miR‑200a was significantly increased in EC tissues. Transfection of KYSE150 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells with miR‑200a mimics significantly increased their proliferative, migratory and invasive ability, whereas the opposite cell behaviors were observed in ESCC cells transfected with a miR‑200a inhibitor. A total of six miR‑200a target genes [catenin β1 (CTNNB1), cadherin‑1 (CDH1), PTEN, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), catenin α1 (CTNNA1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2)] were selected for further analysis based on Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, protein‑protein interaction network map data and protein expression in esophageal tissue. These target genes were downregulated under miR‑200a expression and upregulated in the presence of the miR‑200a inhibitor. The association between miR‑200a and the 3'‑untranslated region of target genes in ESCC cells was confirmed using a dual‑luciferase reporter assay. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that miR‑200a may participate in the promotion of ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and provided novel evidence for the direct interaction between miR‑200a and CTNNB1, CDH1, PTEN, APC, CTNNA1 and SOD2, which may contribute to the observed altered cell behavior.

Precision medicine for gastrointestinal cancer: Recent progress and future perspective

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer has a high tumor incidence and mortality rate worldwide. Despite significant improvements in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy for GI cancer over the last decade, GI cancer is characterized by high recurrence rates and a dismal prognosis. There is an urgent need for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Recent technological advances and the accumulation of clinical data are moving toward the use of precision medicine in GI cancer. Here we review the application and status of precision medicine in GI cancer. Analyses of liquid biopsy specimens provide comprehensive real-time data of the tumor-associated changes in an individual GI cancer patient with malignancy. With the introduction of gene panels including next-generation sequencing, it has become possible to identify a variety of mutations and genetic biomarkers in GI cancer. Although the genomic aberration of GI cancer is apparently less actionable compared to other solid tumors, novel informative analyses derived from comprehensive gene profiling may lead to the discovery of precise molecular targeted drugs. These progressions will make it feasible to incorporate clinical, genome-based, and phenotype-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and apply them to individual GI cancer patients for precision medicine.

Impact of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for primary endocrine resistance in breast cancer patients

Multiple mechanisms have been detected to account for the acquired resistance to endocrine therapies in breast cancer. In this study we retrospectively studied the mechanism of primary endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor positive (ER⁺) breast cancer patients by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Tumor specimens and matched blood samples were obtained from 24 ER⁺ breast cancer patients. Fifteen of them displayed endocrine resistance, including recurrence and/or metastases within 24 months from the beginning of endocrine therapy, and 9 patients remained sensitive to endocrine therapy for more than 5 years. Genomic DNA of tumor tissue was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue blocks. Genomic DNA of normal tissue was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Sequencing libraries for each sample were prepared, followed by target capturing for 372 genes that are frequently rearranged in cancers. Massive parallel sequencing was then performed using Illumina NextSeq 500, and samples with a mean sequencing depth of 500× were analyzed. The analysis revealed that 8 (55%) of 15 patients showed phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase CA (PIK3CA) mutations, including 3 pathogenic variants in kinase domain, 3 pathogenic variants in helical domain, and 2 variants of unknown significance, in the endocrine-resistant group, while 3 (33%) of 9 patients displayed PIK3CA mutations, including 2 pathogenic variants in kinase domain and 1 pathogenic variant in helical domain, in the endocrine-sensitive group. In the endocrine-sensitive group, copy number gain of C11orf30 (EMSY) gene, copy number loss of CDH1 (E-cadherin) gene, and a missense mutation of splicing factor 3b (SF3B1) gene were also detected, which would probably decrease the expression of ESR1 and contribute to endocrine sensitivity. Collectively, the PIK3CA mutation rate in the resistance group is relatively higher than that in the sensitive group and thus PIK3CA mutations may contribute the primary endocrine resistance of breast cancer.