A peptide encoded by the circular form of the SHPRH gene induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and their derived peptides represent largely unchartered areas in cellular biology, with many potential roles yet to be discovered. This study aimed to elucidate the role and molecular interactions of circSHPRH and its peptide derivative SHPRH-146aa in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma (NB).

Methods

NB samples in the GSE102285 dataset were analyzed to measure circSHPRH expression, followed by in vitro experiments for validation. The role of SHPRH-146aa in NB cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was then examined, and luciferase activity assay was performed after SHPRH-146aa and RUNX1 transfection. Finally, the regulation of NB cell apoptosis by SHPRH-146aa combined with NFKBIA was tested.

Results

The GSE102285 dataset indicated overexpression of circSHPRH in NB samples, further supported by in vitro findings. Overexpression of circ-SHPRH and SHPRH-146aa inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of NB cells. A significant increase in apoptosis was observed, with upregulation of Caspase-3 and downregulation of Bcl-2. Furthermore, the peptide derivative SHPRH-146aa, derived from circSHPRH, suppressed NB cell malignancy traits, suggesting its role as a therapeutic target. A direct interaction between SHPRH-146aa and the transcription factor RUNX1 was identified, subsequently leading to increased NFKBIA expression. Notably, NFKBIA knockdown inhibited the pro-apoptotic effect of SHPRH-146aa on NB cells.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that circ-SHPRH and SHPRH-146aa play significant roles in inhibiting the malignant progression of NB. They induce apoptosis primarily by modulating key apoptotic proteins Caspase-3 and Bcl-2, a process that appears to be regulated by NFKBIA. The SHPRH-146aa-RUNX1 interaction further elucidates a novel pathway in the regulation of apoptosis in NB. These findings indicate that circ-SHPRH and its derived peptide SHPRH-146aa could be potential therapeutic targets for NB treatment.

Late effects and treatment related morbidity associated with treatment of neuroblastoma patients in a tertiary paediatric centre

BACKGROUND

Survival of neuroblastoma patients has improved over recent decades, but chronic health issues and treatment related late effects cause significant morbidity in survivors.

AIMS

We aimed to describe late effects and long-term toxicity in neuroblastoma patients treated at a tertiary, paediatric institution in Australia.

METHODS & RESULTS

Patients with neuroblastoma treated primarily at The Children's hospital at Westmead were eligible for inclusion. Retrospective analysis of 65 (45 with high-risk and 20 with non-high-risk disease) neuroblastoma patients were performed via medical record review. Approximately 60% of patients were >5 years from diagnosis and termed the "full effects cohort" who had a range of medical and psychosocial late effects analysed through descriptive means. The remaining 26 patients who had not yet reached 5 years post treatment had audiometry analysis only. Of the 65 patients, 72% were alive at last follow-up. The median length of follow-up was 7 years from diagnosis amongst survivors. Therapy was according to contemporary protocols for neuroblastoma and ranged from standard cytotoxic therapies to intensive multimodal regimens and/or experimental therapy depending on risk group/relapse status. Of the 39 full effects cohort, 85% suffered from at least one late effect. Late effects were common in the endocrine, dental and audiometry domains with 38%, 49% and 72% of patients affected in these areas, respectively. Neuro-cognitive domains were also notably affected with 46% of patients suffering a deficit. Two thirds of survivors were disease free at last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma suffer from a range of chronic illnesses, which lead to morbidity and affect quality of life of survivors.

High-Risk and Relapsed Neuroblastoma: Toward More Cures and Better Outcomes

Approximately half of the patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma are classified as having high-risk disease. This group continues to have inadequate cure rates despite multiagent chemotherapy, surgery, high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue, and immunotherapy directed against GD2. We review current efforts to try to improve outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed disease by integrating novel targeted therapies earlier in the course of the disease. We further examine a growing list of options available for patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk disease, with an eye toward graduating successful strategies from a relapsed/refractory setting to the frontline setting. Last, we review efforts to study and potentially mitigate the array of late effects faced by survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma.