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Ng MF, Simmons JL, Boyle GM. Heterogeneity in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14123030. [PMID: 35740696 PMCID: PMC9221188 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14123030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that tumour heterogeneity has an imperative role in cancer development, evolution and resistance to therapy. Continuing advancements in biomedical research enable tumour heterogeneity to be observed and studied more critically. As one of the most heterogeneous human cancers, melanoma displays a high level of biological complexity during disease progression. However, much is still unknown regarding melanoma tumour heterogeneity, as well as the role it plays in disease progression and treatment response. This review aims to provide a concise summary of the importance of tumour heterogeneity in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Fong Ng
- Cancer Drug Mechanisms Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (M.F.N.); (J.L.S.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Jacinta L. Simmons
- Cancer Drug Mechanisms Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (M.F.N.); (J.L.S.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Glen M. Boyle
- Cancer Drug Mechanisms Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (M.F.N.); (J.L.S.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Aleotti V, Catoni C, Poggiana C, Rosato A, Facchinetti A, Scaini MC. Methylation Markers in Cutaneous Melanoma: Unravelling the Potential Utility of Their Tracking by Liquid Biopsy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6217. [PMID: 34944843 PMCID: PMC8699653 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most serious, life-threatening form of all dermatologic diseases, with a poor prognosis in the presence of metastases and advanced disease. Despite recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, there is still a critical need for a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms behind melanoma progression and resistance onset. Recent advances in genome-wide methylation methods have revealed that aberrant changes in the pattern of DNA methylation play an important role in many aspects of cancer progression, including cell proliferation and migration, evasion of cell death, invasion, and metastasization. The purpose of the current review was to gather evidence regarding the usefulness of DNA methylation tracking in liquid biopsy as a potential biomarker in melanoma. We investigated the key genes and signal transduction pathways that have been found to be altered epigenetically in melanoma. We then highlighted the circulating tumor components present in blood, including circulating melanoma cells (CMC), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), as a valuable source for identifying relevant aberrations in DNA methylation. Finally, we focused on DNA methylation signatures as a marker for tracking response to therapy and resistance, thus facilitating personalized medicine and decision-making in the treatment of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Aleotti
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Cristina Catoni
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Cristina Poggiana
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Oncology and Immunology Section, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Antonella Facchinetti
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Oncology and Immunology Section, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Scaini
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy; (V.A.); (C.C.); (A.F.); (M.C.S.)
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Zhu C, Zhang M, Wang Q, Jen J, Liu B, Guo M. Intratumor Epigenetic Heterogeneity-A Panel Gene Methylation Study in Thyroid Cancer. Front Genet 2021; 12:714071. [PMID: 34539742 PMCID: PMC8446600 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.714071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, and the incidence is increasing very fast. Surgical resection and radioactive iodine ablation are major therapeutic methods, however, around 10% of differentiated thyroid cancer and all anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) are failed. Comprehensive understanding the molecular mechanisms may provide new therapeutic strategies for thyroid cancer. Even though genetic heterogeneity is rigorously studied in various cancers, epigenetic heterogeneity in human cancer remains unclear. Methods A total of 405 surgical resected thyroid cancer samples were employed (three spatially isolated specimens were obtained from different regions of the same tumor). Twenty-four genes were selected for methylation screening, and frequently methylated genes in thyroid cancer were used for further validation. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) approach was employed to detect the gene promoter region methylation. Results Five genes (AP2, CDH1, DACT2, HIN1, and RASSF1A) are found frequently methylated (>30%) in thyroid cancer. The five genes panel is used for further epigenetic heterogeneity analysis. AP2 methylation is associated with gender (P < 0.05), DACT2 methylation is associated with age, gender and tumor size (all P < 0.05), HIN1 methylation is associated to tumor size (P < 0.05) and extra-thyroidal extension (P < 0.01). RASSF1A methylation is associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). For heterogeneity analysis, AP2 methylation heterogeneity is associated with tumor size (P < 0.01), CDH1 methylation heterogeneity is associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), DACT2 methylation heterogeneity is associated with tumor size (P < 0.01), HIN1 methylation heterogeneity is associated with tumor size and extra-thyroidal extension (all P < 0.01). The multivariable analysis suggested that the risk of lymph node metastasis is 2.5 times in CDH1 heterogeneous methylation group (OR = 2.512, 95% CI 1.135, 5.557, P = 0.023). The risk of extra-thyroidal extension is almost 3 times in HIN1 heterogeneous methylation group (OR = 2.607, 95% CI 1.138, 5.971, P = 0.023). Conclusion Five of twenty-four genes were found frequently methylated in human thyroid cancer. Based on 5 genes panel analysis, epigenetic heterogeneity is an universal event. Epigenetic heterogeneity is associated with cancer development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofan Zhu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Meiying Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Jen
- Genome Analysis Core, Medical Genome Facility, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Baoguo Liu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Mingzhou Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Wang L, Mohammadnejad A, Li W, Lund J, Li S, Clemmensen S, Timofeeva M, Soerensen M, Mengel-From J, Christensen K, Hjelmborg J, Tan Q. Genetic and environmental determinants of O 6-methylguanine DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene methylation: a 10-year longitudinal study of Danish twins. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:35. [PMID: 33588926 PMCID: PMC7885436 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01009-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic inactivation of O6-methylguanine DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) is associated with increased sensitivity to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents in glioblastoma patients. The genetic background underlying MGMT gene methylation may explain individual differences in treatment response and provide a clue to a personalized treatment strategy. Making use of the longitudinal twin design, we aimed, for the first time, to estimate the genetic contributions to MGMT methylation in a Danish twin cohort. METHODS DNA-methylation from whole blood (18 monozygotic (MZ) and 25 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs) repeated 10 years apart from the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins (LSADT) were used to search for genetic and environmental contributions to DNA-methylation at 170 CpG sites of across the MGMT gene. Both univariate and bivariate twin models were applied. The intraclass correlations, performed on cross-sectional data (246 MZ twin pairs) from an independent study population, the Middle-Aged Danish Twins (MADT), were used to assess the genetic influence at each CpG site of MGMT for replication. RESULTS Univariate twin model revealed twelve CpG sites showing significantly high heritability at intake (wave 1, h2 > 0.43), and seven CpG sites with significant heritability estimates at end of follow-up (wave 2, h2 > 0.5). There were six significant CpG sites, located at the gene body region, that overlapped among the two waves (h2 > 0.5), of which five remained significant in the bivariate twin model, which was applied to both waves. Within MZ pair correlation in these six CpGs from MADT demarks top level of genetic influence. There were 11 CpGs constantly have substantial common environmental component over the 10 years. CONCLUSIONS We have identified 6 CpG sites linked to the MGMT gene with strong and persistent genetic control based on their DNA methylation levels. The genetic basis of MGMT gene methylation could help to explain individual differences in glioblastoma treatment response and most importantly, provide references for mapping the methylation Quantitative Trait Loci (meQTL) underlying the genetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Wang
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Afsaneh Mohammadnejad
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Weilong Li
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Population Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jesper Lund
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Digital Health and Machine Learning Research Group, Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Shuxia Li
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Signe Clemmensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Maria Timofeeva
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Mette Soerensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Jonas Mengel-From
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark.,Unit of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jacob Hjelmborg
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Qihua Tan
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 B., 5000, Odense C, Denmark. .,Unit of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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Ramón Y Cajal S, Sesé M, Capdevila C, Aasen T, De Mattos-Arruda L, Diaz-Cano SJ, Hernández-Losa J, Castellví J. Clinical implications of intratumor heterogeneity: challenges and opportunities. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:161-177. [PMID: 31970428 PMCID: PMC7007907 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-01874-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we highlight the role of intratumoral heterogeneity, focusing on the clinical and biological ramifications this phenomenon poses. Intratumoral heterogeneity arises through complex genetic, epigenetic, and protein modifications that drive phenotypic selection in response to environmental pressures. Functionally, heterogeneity provides tumors with significant adaptability. This ranges from mutual beneficial cooperation between cells, which nurture features such as growth and metastasis, to the narrow escape and survival of clonal cell populations that have adapted to thrive under specific conditions such as hypoxia or chemotherapy. These dynamic intercellular interplays are guided by a Darwinian selection landscape between clonal tumor cell populations and the tumor microenvironment. Understanding the involved drivers and functional consequences of such tumor heterogeneity is challenging but also promises to provide novel insight needed to confront the problem of therapeutic resistance in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Ramón Y Cajal
- Translational Molecular Pathology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain. .,Pathology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain. .,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Pathology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Pg. Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marta Sesé
- Translational Molecular Pathology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Capdevila
- Translational Molecular Pathology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Trond Aasen
- Translational Molecular Pathology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leticia De Mattos-Arruda
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, c/Natzaret, 115-117, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador J Diaz-Cano
- Department of Histopathology, King's College Hospital and King's Health Partners, London, UK
| | - Javier Hernández-Losa
- Translational Molecular Pathology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Pathology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Castellví
- Translational Molecular Pathology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Pathology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
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Guo M, Peng Y, Gao A, Du C, Herman JG. Epigenetic heterogeneity in cancer. Biomark Res 2019; 7:23. [PMID: 31695915 PMCID: PMC6824025 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-019-0174-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity is one of the hallmarks of human cancers. Tumor genotype variations among tumors within different patients are known as interpatient heterogeneity, and variability among multiple tumors of the same type arising in the same patient is referred to as intra-patient heterogeneity. Subpopulations of cancer cells with distinct phenotypic and molecular features within a tumor are called intratumor heterogeneity (ITH). Since Nowell proposed the clonal evolution of tumor cell populations in 1976, tumor heterogeneity, especially ITH, was actively studied. Research has focused on the genetic basis of cancer, particularly mutational activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs). The phenomenon of ITH is commonly explained by Darwinian-like clonal evolution of a single tumor. Despite the monoclonal origin of most cancers, new clones arise during tumor progression due to the continuous acquisition of mutations. It is clear that disruption of the "epigenetic machinery" plays an important role in cancer development. Aberrant epigenetic changes occur more frequently than gene mutations in human cancers. The epigenome is at the intersection of the environment and genome. Epigenetic dysregulation occurs in the earliest stage of cancer. The current trend of epigenetic therapy is to use epigenetic drugs to reverse and/or delay future resistance to cancer therapies. A majority of cancer therapies fail to achieve durable responses, which is often attributed to ITH. Epigenetic therapy may reverse drug resistance in heterogeneous cancer. Complete understanding of genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity may assist in designing combinations of targeted therapies based on molecular information extracted from individual tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhou Guo
- 1Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, #28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853 China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052 China
| | - Yaojun Peng
- 1Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, #28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Aiai Gao
- 1Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, #28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Chen Du
- 1Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, #28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - James G Herman
- 3The Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
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Rare Stochastic Expression of O6-Methylguanine- DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) in MGMT-Negative Melanoma Cells Determines Immediate Emergence of Drug-Resistant Populations upon Treatment with Temozolomide In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10100362. [PMID: 30274152 PMCID: PMC6209933 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10100362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ) kills tumor cells preferentially via alkylation of the O6-position of guanine. However, cells that express the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), or harbor deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR) function, are profoundly resistant to this drug. TMZ is in clinical use for melanoma, but objective response rates are low, even when TMZ is combined with O6-benzylguanine (O6BG), a potent MGMT inhibitor. We used in vitro and in vivo models of melanoma to characterize the early events leading to cellular TMZ resistance. Melanoma cell lines were exposed to a single treatment with TMZ, at physiologically relevant concentrations, in the absence or presence of O6BG. Surviving clones and mass cultures were analyzed by Western blot, colony formation assays, and DNA methylation studies. Mice with melanoma xenografts received TMZ treatment, and tumor tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We found that MGMT-negative melanoma cell cultures, before any drug treatment, already harbored a small fraction of MGMT-positive cells, which survived TMZ treatment and promptly became the dominant cell type within the surviving population. The MGMT-negative status in individual cells was not stable, as clonal selection of MGMT-negative cells again resulted in a mixed population harboring MGMT-positive, TMZ-resistant cells. Blocking the survival advantage of MGMT via the addition of O6BG still resulted in surviving clones, although at much lower frequency and independent of MGMT, and the resistance mechanism of these clones was based on a common lack of expression of MSH6, a key MMR enzyme. TMZ treatment of mice implanted with MGMT-negative melanoma cells resulted in effective tumor growth delay, but eventually tumor growth resumed, with tumor tissue having become MGMT positive. Altogether, these data reveal stochastic expression of MGMT as a pre-existing, key determinant of TMZ resistance in melanoma cell lines. Although MGMT activity can effectively be eliminated by pharmacologic intervention with O6BG, additional layers of TMZ resistance, although considerably rarer, are present as well and minimize the cytotoxic impact of TMZ/O6BG combination treatment. Our results provide rational explanations regarding clinical observations, where the TMZ/O6BG regimen has yielded mostly disappointing outcomes in melanoma patients.
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Yi M, Wang W, Chen S, Peng Y, Li J, Cai J, Zhou Y, Peng Q, Ban Y, Zeng Z, Li X, Xiong W, Li G, Xiang B. Dual-functionality of RASSF1A overexpression in A375 cells is mediated by activation of IL-6/STAT3 regulatory loop. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:1277-1287. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4288-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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9
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De Summa S, Guida M, Tommasi S, Strippoli S, Pellegrini C, Fargnoli MC, Pilato B, Natalicchio I, Guida G, Pinto R. Genetic profiling of a rare condition: co-occurrence of albinism and multiple primary melanoma in a Caucasian family. Oncotarget 2018; 8:29751-29759. [PMID: 27776349 PMCID: PMC5444700 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple primary melanoma (MPM) is a rare condition, whose genetic basis has not yet been clarified. Only 8-12% of MPM are due to germline mutations of CDKN2A. However, other genes (POT1, BRCA1/2, MC1R, MGMT) have been demonstrated to be involved in predisposition to this pathology. To our knowledge, this is the first family study based on two siblings with the rare coexistence of MPM and oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the absence or decrease in pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. In this study, we evaluated genes involved in melanoma predisposition (CDKN2A, CDK4, MC1R, MITF, POT1, RB1, MGMT, BRCA1, BRCA2), pathogenesis (BRAF, NRAS, PIK3CA, KIT, PTEN), skin/hair pigmentation (MC1R, MITF) and in immune pathways (CTLA4) to individuate alterations able to explain the rare onset of MPM and OCA in indexes and the transmission in their pedigree. From the analysis of the pedigree, we were able to identify a “protective” haplotype with respect to MPM, including MGMT p.I174V alteration. The second generation offspring is under strict follow up as some of them have a higher risk of developing MPM according to our model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona De Summa
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Guida
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Oncology Unit, Bari, Italy
| | - Stefania Tommasi
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Bari, Italy
| | - Sabino Strippoli
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Oncology Unit, Bari, Italy
| | - Cristina Pellegrini
- University of L'Aquila, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Fargnoli
- University of L'Aquila, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Brunella Pilato
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Guida
- University of Bari, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Pinto
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Bari, Italy
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10
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Qi F, Yin Z, Wang G, Zeng S. Clinical and Prognostic Significance of O 6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Promoter Methylation in Patients with Melanoma: A Systematic Meta-Analysis. Ann Dermatol 2018; 30:129-135. [PMID: 29606808 PMCID: PMC5839882 DOI: 10.5021/ad.2018.30.2.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor gene O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation has been reported in melanoma. However, the clinical and prognostic significance of MGMT promoter methylation in patients with melanoma remained to be determined. A systematic search was performed to identify eligible papers published. The overall odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Final 12 eligible publications involving Caucasian population were performed in this study, including 1,071 metastatic melanoma patients, 154 primary melanoma patients, and 211 normal controls. MGMT promoter methylation was significantly higher in primary or metastatic melanoma than in normal controls (p<0.05). No difference of MGMT promoter methylation was found in primary and metastatic melanoma (p=0.432). When metastatic melanoma was compared to normal controls, subgroup analysis showed the correlation between MGMT promoter methylation and different sample materials (tissue: OR=7.01, p<0.001 and blood: OR=12.04, p=0.005). MGMT promoter methylation was not associated with response to drug therapy and the prognosis in overall survival and progression-free survival for multivariate analysis. Our results show that MGMT promoter methylation may be correlated with the increased risk of primary or metastatic melanoma. Based on blood samples, MGMT promoter methylation may become a noninvasive biomarker for the detection of metastatic melanoma. Further additional clinical studies are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Qi
- Department of Dermatology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiqi Yin
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangping Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Sanwu Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Grzywa TM, Paskal W, Włodarski PK. Intratumor and Intertumor Heterogeneity in Melanoma. Transl Oncol 2017; 10:956-975. [PMID: 29078205 PMCID: PMC5671412 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a cancer that exhibits one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous features. The incidence rate escalates. A high number of clones harboring various mutations contribute to an exceptional level of intratumor heterogeneity of melanoma. It also refers to metastases which may originate from different subclones of primary lesion. Such component of the neoplasm biology is termed intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity. These levels of tumor heterogeneity hinder accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. The increasing number of research on the topic reflects the need for understanding limitation or failure of contemporary therapies. Majority of analyses concentrate on mutations in cancer-related genes. Novel high-throughput techniques reveal even higher degree of variations within a lesion. Consolidation of theories and researches indicates new routes for treatment options such as targets for immunotherapy. The demand for personalized approach in melanoma treatment requires extensive knowledge on intratumor and intertumor heterogeneity on the level of genome, transcriptome/proteome, and epigenome. Thus, achievements in exploration of melanoma variety are described in details. Particularly, the issue of tumor heterogeneity or homogeneity given BRAF mutations is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz M Grzywa
- The Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiktor Paskal
- The Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł K Włodarski
- The Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
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Impact of Natural Compounds on DNA Methylation Levels of the Tumor Suppressor Gene RASSF1A in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102160. [PMID: 29039788 PMCID: PMC5666841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) is a fundamental event in the pathogenesis of human cancer. This silencing is accomplished by aberrant chromatin modifications including DNA hypermethylation of the gene promoter. One of the most frequently hypermethylated TSG in human cancer is the Ras Association Domain Family 1A (RASSF1A) gene. Aberrant methylation of RASSF1A has been reported in melanoma, sarcoma and carcinoma of different tissues. RASSF1A hypermethylation has been correlated with tumor progression and poor prognosis. Reactivation of epigenetically silenced TSG has been suggested as a therapy in cancer treatment. In particular, natural compounds isolated from herbal extracts have been tested for their capacity to induce RASSF1A in cancer cells, through demethylation. Here, we review the treatment of cancer cells with natural supplements (e.g., methyl donors, vitamins and polyphenols) that have been utilized to revert or prevent the epigenetic silencing of RASSF1A. Moreover, we specify pathways that were involved in RASSF1A reactivation. Several of these compounds (e.g., reseveratol and curcumin) act by inhibiting the activity or expression of DNA methyltransferases and reactive RASSF1A in cancer. Thus natural compounds could serve as important agents in tumor prevention or cancer therapy. However, the exact epigenetic reactivation mechanism is still under investigation.
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Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes and is considered to be the most aggressive cancer among all skin diseases. The pathogenesis of melanoma has not been well documented, which may restrict the research and development of biomarkers and therapies. To date, several genetic and epigenetic factors have been identified as contributing to the development and progression of melanoma. Besides the findings on genetic susceptibilities, the recent progress in epigenetic studies has revealed that loss of the DNA hydroxymethylation mark, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), along with high levels of DNA methylation at promoter regions of several tumor suppressor genes in melanoma, may serve as biomarkers for melanoma. Moreover, 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine, an epigenetic modifier causing DNA demethylation, and ten-eleven translocation family dioxygenase (TET), which catalyzes the generation of 5-hmC, demonstrate therapeutic potential in melanoma treatment. In this review, we will summarize the latest progress in research on DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation in melanoma, and we will discuss and provide insight for epigenetic biomarkers and therapies for melanoma. Particularly, we will discuss the role of DNA hydroxymethylation in melanoma infiltrating immune cells, which may also serve as a potential target for melanoma treatment.
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Melchers LJ, Clausen MJAM, Mastik MF, Slagter-Menkema L, van der Wal JE, Wisman GBA, Roodenburg JLN, Schuuring E. Identification of methylation markers for the prediction of nodal metastasis in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Epigenetics 2016. [PMID: 26213212 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1075689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypermethylation is an important mechanism for the dynamic regulation of gene expression, necessary for metastasizing tumour cells. Our aim is to identify methylation tumour markers that have a predictive value for the presence of regional lymph node metastases in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOSCC). Significantly differentially expressed genes were retrieved from four reported microarray expression profiles comparing pN0 and pN+ head-neck tumours, and one expression array identifying functionally hypermethylated genes. Additional metastasis-associated genes were included from the literature. Thus genes were selected that influence the development of nodal metastases and might be regulated by methylation. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) primers were designed and tested on 8 head-neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and technically validated on 10 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) OOSCC cases. Predictive value was assessed in a clinical series of 70 FFPE OOSCC with pathologically determined nodal status. Five out of 28 methylation markers (OCLN, CDKN2A, MGMT, MLH1 and DAPK1) were frequently differentially methylated in OOSCC. Of these, MGMT methylation was associated with pN0 status (P = 0.02) and with lower immunoexpression (P = 0.02). DAPK1 methylation was associated with pN+ status (P = 0.008) but did not associate with protein expression. In conclusion, out of 28 candidate genes, two (7%) showed a predictive value for the pN status. Both genes, DAPK1 and MGMT, have predictive value for nodal metastasis in a clinical group of OOSCC. Therefore DNA methylation markers are capable of contributing to diagnosis and treatment selection in OOSCC. To efficiently identify additional new methylation markers, genome-wide methods are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Melchers
- a Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery ; University of Groningen; University Medical Center Groningen ; Groningen , The Netherlands
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Claudin11 Promoter Hypermethylation Is Frequent in Malignant Melanoma of the Skin, but Uncommon in Nevus Cell Nevi. Cancers (Basel) 2015. [PMID: 26198249 PMCID: PMC4586767 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7030834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic inactivation of tumor-related genes is an important characteristic in the pathology of human cancers, including melanomagenesis. We analyzed the epigenetic inactivation of Claudin 11 (CLDN11) in malignant melanoma (MM) of the skin, including six melanoma cell lines, 39 primary melanoma, 41 metastases of MM and 52 nevus cell nevi (NCN). CLDN11 promoter hypermethylation was found in 19 out of 39 (49%) of the primary MM and in 21 out of 41 (51%) of the MM metastases, but only in eight out of 52 (15%) of NCN (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0003, respectively). Moreover, a significant increase in the methylation level of CLDN11 from primary melanomas to MM metastases was revealed (p = 0.003). Methylation of CLDN11 was significantly more frequent in skin metastases (79%) compared to brain metastases (31%; p = 0.007). CLDN11 methylation was also found in five out of six MM cell lines (83%) and its promoter hypermethylation correlated with a reduced expression. Treatment of MM cell lines with a DNA methylation inhibitor reactivated CLDN11 transcription by its promoter demethylation. In summary, CLDN11 proved to be an epigenetically inactivated tumor related gene in melanomagenesis, and analysis of CLDN11 methylation level represents a potential tool for assisting in the discrimination between malignant melanoma and nevus cell nevi.
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DNA Methylation Levels of Melanoma Risk Genes Are Associated with Clinical Characteristics of Melanoma Patients. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:376423. [PMID: 26106605 PMCID: PMC4461735 DOI: 10.1155/2015/376423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In melanoma development, oncogenic process is mediated by genetic and epigenetic mutations, and few studies have so far explored the role of DNA methylation either as predisposition factor or biomarker. We tested patient samples for germline CDKN2A methylation status and found no evidence of inactivation by promoter hypermethylation. We have also investigated the association of clinical characteristics of samples with the DNA methylation pattern of twelve genes relevant for melanomagenesis. Five genes (BAP1, MGMT, MITF, PALB2, and POT1) presented statistical association between blood DNA methylation levels and either CDKN2A-mutation status, number of lesions, or Breslow thickness. In tumors, five genes (KIT, MGMT, MITF, TERT, and TNF) exhibited methylation levels significantly different between tumor groups including acral compared to nonacral melanomas and matched primary lesions and metastases. Our data pinpoint that the methylation level of eight melanoma-associated genes could potentially represent markers for this disease both in peripheral blood and in tumor samples.
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Verlinden I, van den Hurk K, Clarijs R, Willig AP, Stallinga CMHA, Roemen GMJM, van den Oord JJ, Zur Hausen A, Speel EJM, Winnepenninckx VJL. BRAFV600E immunopositive melanomas show low frequency of heterogeneity and association with epithelioid tumor cells: a STROBE-compliant article. Medicine (Baltimore) 2014; 93:e285. [PMID: 25526463 PMCID: PMC4603111 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000000285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of BRAFV600E-mutant melanoma by small molecule inhibitors that target BRAFV600E or MEK kinases is increasingly used in clinical practice and significantly improve patient outcome. However, patients eventually become resistant and therapeutic improvement is required. Molecular diversity within individual tumors (intratumor heterogeneity) and between tumors within a single patient (intrapatient heterogeneity) poses a significant challenge to precision medicine. Using immunohistochemistry, we determined the extent of BRAFV600E intratumor and intrapatient heterogeneity and the influence of morphological heterogeneity in a large series of 171 melanomas of 81 patients. The BRAFV600E mutation rate found in our melanoma series is 44%, with none of 22 (0%) melanoma in situ, 23 of 56 (41%) primary tumors, 28 of 59 (48%) regional metastases, and 24 of 34 (71%) distant metastases harboring the mutation. In general, a diffuse homogeneous immunostaining was seen, even in tumors consisting of more than one cell type, that is, epithelioid, spindle, and/or small cell types. Nevertheless, BRAFV600E-mutant melanomas more often had a purely epithelioid cell population (P=0.063), that is more evident among distant metastases (P=0.014). Only two of 75 (3%) mutated specimens (one primary and one metastasis) displayed heterogeneous BRAFV600E expression. The primary tumor was also morphologically heterogeneous and exclusively displayed BRAFV600E in the epithelioid component, confirming an association between BRAFV600E and epithelioid cells. Twenty-eight of 30 patients (93%) had concordant BRAFV600E mutation status between their tumors. Taken together, BRAFV600E intratumor and intrapatient heterogeneity in melanoma is diminutive, nevertheless, the identified exceptions will have important implications for the clinical management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Verlinden
- From the Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands (IV, KvdH, CMHAS, GMJMR, AzH, E-JMS, VJLW); GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands (KvdH, AzH, E-JMS, VJLW); Department of Clinical Pathology, Atrium Medical Centre Parkstad, Heerlen, The Netherlands (RC); Department of Pathology, St. Laurentius ziekenhuis, Roermond, The Netherlands (APW); and Laboratory of Translational Cell & Tissue Research and Department of Pathology, University Hospital, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium (JJvdO)
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18
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Haag T, Herkt CE, Walesch SK, Richter AM, Dammann RH. The apoptosis associated tyrosine kinase gene is frequently hypermethylated in human cancer and is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Genes Cancer 2014; 5:365-74. [PMID: 25352953 PMCID: PMC4209602 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic gene inactivation through promoter hypermethylation is an important aberration involved in the silencing of tumor-associated genes in cancer. Here we identified the apoptosis associated tyrosine kinase (AATK) as an epigenetically downregulated tumor related gene. We analyzed the epigenetic regulation of AATK in several human cancer cell lines and normal tissues by methylation and expression analysis. Hypermethylation of AATK was also analyzed in 25 primary lung tumors, 30 breast cancers and 24 matching breast tissues. In normal tissues the AATK CpG island promoter was unmethylated and AATK was expressed. Hypermethylation of AATK occurred frequently in 13 out of 14 (93%) human cancer cell lines. Methylation was reversed by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment leading to re-expression of AATK in cancer cell lines. Aberrant methylation of AATK was also revealed in primary lung (40%) and breast (53%) cancers, but was found to be significantly less methylated in matching normal breast tissues (17%; p<0.01). In addition, we observed that AATK is epigenetically reactivated through the chromatin regulator CTCF. We further show that overexpression of Aatk significantly suppresses colony formation in cancer cell lines. Our findings suggest that the apoptosis associated tyrosine kinase is frequently inactivated in human cancers and acts as a tumor suppressive gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Haag
- Institute for Genetics; Justus-Liebig-University; Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research; Giessen, Germany
| | - Christina E Herkt
- Institute for Genetics; Justus-Liebig-University; Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research; Giessen, Germany
| | - Sara K Walesch
- Institute for Genetics; Justus-Liebig-University; Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research; Giessen, Germany
| | - Antje M Richter
- Institute for Genetics; Justus-Liebig-University; Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research; Giessen, Germany
| | - Reinhard H Dammann
- Institute for Genetics; Justus-Liebig-University; Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research; Giessen, Germany
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19
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Yi M, Yang J, Chen X, Li J, Li X, Wang L, Tan Y, Xiong W, Zhou M, McCarthy JB, Li G, Xiang B, Xie H. RASSF1A suppresses melanoma development by modulating apoptosis and cell-cycle progression. J Cell Physiol 2011; 226:2360-9. [PMID: 21660959 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The tumor suppressor candidate gene Ras association domain family 1, isoform A (RASSF1A) encodes a microtubule-associated protein that is implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Several studies indicate that down-regulation of RASSF1A resulting from promoter hypermethylation is a frequent epigenetic abnormality in malignant melanoma. In this study, we report that compared with melanocytes in normal skins or benign skin lesions, RASSF1A is down-regulated in melanoma tissues as well as cell lines, and its expression negatively correlates with lymph node metastasis. Following ectopic expression in RASSF1A-deficient melanoma A375 cell line, RASSF1A reduces cell viability, suppresses cell-cycle progression but enhances apoptotic cell death. In vivo, RASSF1A expression inhibits the tumorigenic potential of A375 cells in nude mice, which also correlates with decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. On the molecular level, ectopic RASSF1A expression leads to differential expression of 209 genes, including 26 down-regulated and 183 up-regulated ones. Among different signaling pathways, activation of the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/p38 MAP kinase signaling is essential for RASSF1A-induced mitochondrial apoptosis, and the inhibition of the Akt/p70S6 kinase/eIF4E signaling is also important for RASSF1A-mediated apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. This is the first study exploring the biological functions and the underlying mechanisms of RASSF1A during melanoma development. It also identifies potential targets for further diagnosis and clinical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yi
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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20
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Rother J, Jones D. Molecular markers of tumor progression in melanoma. Curr Genomics 2011; 10:231-9. [PMID: 19949544 PMCID: PMC2709934 DOI: 10.2174/138920209788488526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Revised: 03/28/2009] [Accepted: 03/29/2009] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma represents one of the most aggressive malignancies but outcome is highly variable with early tumor lesions having an excellent prognosis following resection. We review here the data on identification of genes involved in the progression of melanoma as a result of expression array studies, genomic profiling, and genetic models. We focus on the role of tumor suppressors involved in cell cycle function, DNA repair, and genome maintenance. Highlighted are the roles of loss of p16 in promoting neoplasia in cooperation with deregulated MAPK signaling, and the role of loss of the RASSF1A protein in promoting chromosomal instability. The interactions between point mutation in growth signaling molecules and epigenetic changes in genes involved in DNA repair and cell division are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Rother
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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21
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Hassel JC, Sucker A, Edler L, Kurzen H, Moll I, Stresemann C, Spieth K, Mauch C, Rass K, Dummer R, Schadendorf D. MGMT gene promoter methylation correlates with tolerance of temozolomide treatment in melanoma but not with clinical outcome. Br J Cancer 2010; 103:820-6. [PMID: 20736948 PMCID: PMC2966614 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite limited clinical efficacy, treatment with dacarbazine or temozolomide (TMZ) remains the standard therapy for metastatic melanoma. In glioblastoma, promoter methylation of the counteracting DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) correlates with survival of patients exposed to TMZ in combination with radiotherapy. For melanoma, data are limited and controversial. Methods: Biopsy samples from 122 patients with metastatic melanoma being treated with TMZ in two multicenter studies of the Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group were investigated for MGMT promoter methylation. We used the COBRA (combined bisulphite restriction analysis) technique to determine aberrant methylation of CpG islands in small amounts of genomic DNA isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue sections. To detect aberrant methylation, bisulphite-treated DNA was amplified by PCR, enzyme restricted, and visualised by gel electrophoresis. Results: Correlation with clinical data from 117 evaluable patients in a best-response evaluation indicated no statistically significant association between MGMT promoter methylation status and response. A methylated MGMT promoter was observed in 34.8% of responders and 23.4% of non-responders (P=0.29). In addition, no survival advantage for patients with a methylated MGMT promoter was detectable (P=0.79). Interestingly, we found a significant correlation between MGMT methylation and tolerance of therapy. Patients with a methylated MGMT promoter had more severe adverse events, requiring more TMZ dose reductions or discontinuations (P=0.007; OR 2.7 (95% CI: 1.32–5.7)). Analysis of MGMT promoter methylation comparing primaries and different metastases over the clinical course revealed no statistical difference (P=0.49). Conclusions: In advanced melanoma MGMT promoter, methylation correlates with tolerance of therapy, but not with clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Hassel
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
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22
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Varley KE, Mutch DG, Edmonston TB, Goodfellow PJ, Mitra RD. Intra-tumor heterogeneity of MLH1 promoter methylation revealed by deep single molecule bisulfite sequencing. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 37:4603-12. [PMID: 19494183 PMCID: PMC2724279 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A single tumor may contain cells with different somatic mutations. By characterizing this genetic heterogeneity within tumors, advances have been made in the prognosis, treatment and understanding of tumorigenesis. In contrast, the extent of epigenetic intra-tumor heterogeneity and how it influences tumor biology is under-explored. We have characterized epigenetic heterogeneity within individual tumors using next-generation sequencing. We used deep single molecule bisulfite sequencing and sample-specific DNA barcodes to determine the spectrum of MLH1 promoter methylation across an average of 1000 molecules in each of 33 individual samples in parallel, including endometrial cancer, matched blood and normal endometrium. This first glimpse, deep into each tumor, revealed unexpectedly heterogeneous patterns of methylation at the MLH1 promoter within a subset of endometrial tumors. This high-resolution analysis allowed us to measure the clonality of methylation in individual tumors and gain insight into the accumulation of aberrant promoter methylation on both alleles during tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Varley
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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23
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Ingold B, Schraml P, Heppner FL, Moch H. Homogeneous MGMT immunoreactivity correlates with an unmethylated MGMT promoter status in brain metastases of various solid tumors. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4775. [PMID: 19274096 PMCID: PMC2652028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Accepted: 02/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The O(6)-methylguanine-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status is a predictive parameter for the response of malignant gliomas to alkylating agents such as temozolomide. First clinical reports on treating brain metastases with temozolomide describe varying effects. This may be due to the fact that MGMT promoter methylation of brain metastases has not yet been explored in depth. Therefore, we assessed MGMT promoter methylation of various brain metastases including those derived from lung (n = 91), breast (n = 72) kidney (n = 49) and from malignant melanomas (n = 113) by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) and MGMT immunoreactivity. Fifty-nine of 199 brain metastases (29.6%) revealed a methylated MGMT promoter. The methylation rate was the highest in brain metastases derived from lung carcinomas (46.5%) followed by those from breast carcinoma (28.8%), malignant melanoma (24.7%) and from renal carcinoma (20%). A significant correlation of homogeneous MGMT-immunoreactivity (>95% MGMT positive tumor cells) and an unmethylated MGMT promoter was found. Promoter methylation was detected in 26 of 61 (43%) tumors lacking MGMT immunoreactivity, in 17 of 63 (27%) metastases with heterogeneous MGMT expression, but only in 5 of 54 brain metastases (9%) showing a homogeneous MGMT immunoreactivity. Our results demonstrate that a significant number of brain metastases reveal a methylated MGMT-promoter. Based on an obvious correlation between homogeneous MGMT immunoreactivity and unmethylated MGMT promoter, we hypothesize that immunohistochemistry for MGMT may be a helpful diagnostic tool to identify those tumors that probably will not benefit from the use of alkylating agents. The discrepancy between promoter methylation and a lack of MGMT immunoreactivity argues for assessing MGMT promoter methylation both by immunohistochemical as well as by molecular approaches for diagnostic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ingold
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter Schraml
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frank L. Heppner
- Institute of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Holger Moch
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Woloszynska-Read A, Mhawech-Fauceglia P, Yu J, Odunsi K, Karpf AR. Intertumor and intratumor NY-ESO-1 expression heterogeneity is associated with promoter-specific and global DNA methylation status in ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:3283-90. [PMID: 18519754 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-5279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The cancer/germline antigen NY-ESO-1 is variably expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), with most tumors showing low or heterogeneous expression, which limits patient responses to NY-ESO-1 vaccine therapy. We tested the hypothesis that promoter and global genomic DNA methylation status correlates with intertumor and intratumor NY-ESO-1 expression status in EOC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We utilized 78 EOC tumors and 10 normal ovary controls for quantitative DNA methylation analyses and NY-ESO-1 expression analysis by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. A subset of EOC tumors were used to perform microdissections of NY-ESO-1 IHC-positive and NY-ESO-1 IHC-negative tissue regions, followed by DNA methylation analyses. EOC cell lines were treated in vitro with decitabine to determine the functional contribution of DNA methylation to NY-ESO-1 gene regulation in EOC. RESULTS Compared with normal ovary, bulk EOC tissues display increased NY-ESO-1 expression, reduced NY-ESO-1 promoter methylation, and reduced LINE-1 DNA methylation. However, NY-ESO-1 expression is not significantly associated with NY-ESO-1 promoter methylation status in bulk tumors. We hypothesized that this resulted from heterogeneous intratumor NY-ESO-1 expression. Supporting this idea, experiments using microdissected material revealed that intertumor and intratumor NY-ESO-1 expression heterogeneity is significantly correlated with promoter and global DNA methylation status in EOC. Moreover, decitabine treatment functionally restored NY-ESO-1 expression in nonexpressing EOC cell lines. CONCLUSION DNA methylation status is associated with both intertumor and intratumor NY-ESO-1 expression status in EOC. These findings support a novel chemoimmunotherapy approach using decitabine to augment NY-ESO-1 vaccine therapy for treatment of recurrent EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Woloszynska-Read
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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25
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Parkinson JF, Wheeler HR, Clarkson A, McKenzie CA, Biggs MT, Little NS, Cook RJ, Messina M, Robinson BG, McDonald KL. Variation of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation in serial samples in glioblastoma. J Neurooncol 2007; 87:71-8. [PMID: 18004504 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-007-9486-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2007] [Accepted: 10/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Methylation of the promoter region of the O ( 6 ) -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene is known to be predictive of response to temozolomide treatment in patients with glioblastoma. Contrastingly, little is known about variation in the methylation status of the MGMT promoter after treatment or across different regions of the same tumor. About 22 samples from 10 patients who had undergone multiple resections of a glioblastoma were examined with promoter sequencing. Of these, 20 were also analyzed using Methylation Specific PCR (MSP). The methylation status of the MGMT promoter was altered in the specimens obtained pre and post treatment in 2 of 9 samples as assessed by MSP and 7 out of 10 patients as assessed by promoter sequencing. In four patients, the MGMT promoter was unmethylated at primary surgery, but displayed some methylation (32, 44, 12, and 4%) on post-treatment sampling. Alteration in MSP status from unmethylated to methylated was also observed in 2 of these 4 patients. In another patient, methylation increased from 40% on initial sampling to 68% on the second sample. The remaining two patients initially demonstrated some degree of methylation (72% and 12%); subsequent sampling showed no methylation of the MGMT promoter. To ensure variable methylation status was not due to intra-tumoral variability, three to four specimens were sampled from different regions of large glioblastomas (n = 7). Promoter sequencing revealed minimal variation in methylation in all but two sites examined. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated minimal change in MGMT expression across the tumors. This suggests that variation in MGMT promoter methylation can occur within the same tumor after treatment, necessitating caution in clinical decision-making based on this analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon F Parkinson
- Cancer Genetics Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.
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