Investigation of RIP140 and LCoR as independent markers for poor prognosis in cervical cancer

Expression of Progesterone Receptor A as an Independent Negative Prognosticator for Cervical Cancer

The role of progesterone receptor A (PRA) for the survival outcome of cervical cancer patients is ambiguous. In mouse models, it has been shown that PRA plays a rather protective role in cancer development. The aim of this study was to assess its expression by immunohistochemistry in 250 cervical cancer tissue samples and to correlate the results with clinicopathological parameters including patient survival. PRA expression was positively correlated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification scores. PRA was significantly overexpressed in adenocarcinomas compared to squamous epithelial carcinoma subtypes. Correlation analyses revealed a trend association with the HPV virus protein E6, a negative correlation with p16 and a positive correlation with EP3. PRA expression was also associated with the expression of RIP140, a transcriptional coregulator that we previously identified as a negative prognostic factor for survival in cervical cancer patients. Univariate survival analyses revealed PRA as a negative prognosticator for survival in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma. Multivariate analyses showed that simultaneous expression of RIP140 and PRA was associated with the worst survival, whereas with negative RIP140, PRA expression alone was associated with the best survival. We can therefore assume that the effect of nuclear PRA on overall survival is dependent upon nuclear RIP140 expression.

NRIP1 is activated by C-JUN/C-FOS and activates the expression of PGR, ESR1 and CCND1 in luminal A breast cancer

Using chip array assays, we identified differentially expressed genes via a comparison between luminal A breast cancer subtype and normal mammary ductal cells from healthy donors. In silico analysis confirmed by western blot and immunohistochemistry revealed that C-JUN and C-FOS transcription factors are activated in luminal A patients as potential upstream regulators of these differentially expressed genes. Using a chip-on-chip assay, we identified potential C-JUN and C-FOS targets. Among these genes, the NRIP1 gene was revealed to be targeted by C-JUN and C-FOS. This was confirmed after identification and validation with transfection assays specific binding of C-JUN and C-FOS at consensus binding sites. NRIP1 is not only upregulated in luminal A patients and cell lines but also regulates breast cancer-related genes, including PR, ESR1 and CCND1. These results were confirmed by NRIP1 siRNA knockdown and chip array assays, thus highlighting the putative role of NRIP1 in PGR, ESR1 and CCND1 transcriptional regulation and suggesting that NRIP1 could play an important role in breast cancer ductal cell initiation.

The Expression of NRIP1 and LCOR in Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) and its partner ligand-dependent nuclear receptor co-repressor (LCOR) in endometrioid endometrial cancer and to investigate their association with estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Ki-67, clinicopathological parameters and patient survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immunohistochemical evaluation was carried out to investigate the subcellular expression of NRIP1 and LCOR in endometrioid endometrial cancer samples. Statistical analysis was used to identify the correlations of NRIP1 and LCOR expression with clinicopathological variables and to estimate the survival rates.

RESULTS

Endometrial cancer tissues exhibited higher expression of NRIP1 and LCOR in comparison with the normal tissues. Cytoplasmic LCOR expression was positively associated with ER and PR expression, while cytoplasmic NRIP1 expression was positively associated with ER expression. Moreover, cytoplasmic expression of NRIP1 was positively associated with Ki-67.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that high cytoplasmic expression of LCOR may predict a longer overall survival of patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer. Patients with tumors expressing low levels of LCOR showed a worse survival compared to those expressing high levels.

Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) is a positive prognosticator for cervical cancer

Purpose

Enzymes with epigenetic functions play an essential part in development of cancer. However, the significance of epigenetic changes in cervical carcinoma as a prognostic factor has not been fully investigated. Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) presents itself as a potentially important element for epigenetic modification and as a potential prognostic aspect in cervical cancer.

Methods

By immunohistochemical staining of 250 tumor samples, the expression strength of NCoR was measured and evaluated by immunoreactive score (IRS) in the nucleus and cytoplasm.

Results

A low expression of NCoR in our patients was a disadvantage in overall survival. Expression of NCoR was negatively correlated with viral oncoprotein E6, acetylated histone H3 acetyl K9 and FIGO status, and positively correlated to p53.

Conclusions

Our study has identified epigenetic modification of tumor cells thus seems to be of relevance in cervical cancer as well for diagnosis, as a marker or as a potential therapeutic target in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma.

Differential gene expression profile between progressive and de novo muscle invasive bladder cancer and its prognostic implication

This study aimed to ascertain gene expression profile differences between progressive muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and de novo MIBC, and to identify prognostic biomarkers to improve patients’ treatment. Retrospective multicenter study in which 212 MIBC patients who underwent radical cystectomy between 2000 and 2019 were included. Gene expression profiles were determined in 26 samples using Illumina microarrays. The expression levels of 94 genes were studied by quantitative PCR in an independent set of 186 MIBC patients. In a median follow-up of 16 months, 46.7% patients developed tumor progression after cystectomy. In our series, progressive MIBC patients show a worse tumor progression (p = 0.024) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (p = 0.049) than the de novo group. A total of 480 genes were found to be differently expressed between both groups. Differential expression of 24 out of the 94 selected genes was found in an independent cohort. RBPMC2 and DSC3 were found as independent prognostic biomarkers of tumor progression and CALD1 and LCOR were identified as prognostic biomarkers of CSS between both groups. In conclusion, progressive and de novo MIBC patients show different clinical outcome and gene expression profiles. Gene expression patterns may contribute to predict high-risk of progression to distant metastasis or CSS.

Circular RNA circNTRK2 facilitates the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through up-regulating NRIP1 expression via miR-140-3p

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal malignancies with high mortality. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) have become a research hotspot in recent years for their vital roles in cancer development and progression. This study aims to clarify the roles of circNTRK2 and its underlying molecular mechanisms in ESCC.

Methods

The levels of circNTRK2, miR-140-3p, and nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) mRNA were examined by qRT-PCR. The cell proliferation ability was detected via CCK-8, EdU and colony formation assays. The invasion capacity was tested by using transwell assay. The apoptotic rate was evaluated through flow cytometry. The protein levels of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, E-cadherin, vimentin, and NRIP1 were measured by western blot assay. The validation of circular structure was performed by Sanger sequencing, divergent primer PCR, and RNase R treatments. The ceRNA regulatory mechanism of circNTRK2 was observed via dual-luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull-down assays. The mice xenograft models were constructed to confirm the oncogenicity of circNTRK2 in ESCC in vivo.

Results

CircNTRK2 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cells. High expression of circNTRK2 was correlated with advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and short survival. Knockdown of circNTRK2 inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and accelerated apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistic assays disclosed that circNTRK2 could act as a sponge for miR-140-3p to abate its suppression on target NRIP1 expression. Moreover, miR-140-3p-induced inhibitory effects on ESCC cell malignant phenotypes were attenuated by the overexpression of circNTRK2. In addition, depletion of NRIP1 impeded cell proliferation, invasion and EMT, while enhanced apoptosis. Furthermore, silencing of circNTRK2 suppressed cell proliferation and invasion through regulating NRIP1 expression. Also, knockdown of circNTRK2 slowed ESCC tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

CircNTRK2 promoted ESCC progression by regulating miR-140-3p/NRIP1 pathway. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of circRNAs as miRNA sponges and highlight a promising therapy target in ESCC.

Regulation of LCoR and RIP140 expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and correlation with CIN progression and dedifferentiation

Purpose

Ligand-dependent corepressor (LCoR) and receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140/NRIP1) play an important role in the regulation of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways and the development of cancer. LCoR and RIP140 form a nuclear complex in breast cancer cells and are of prognostic value in further prostate and cervical cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the regulation of these proteins in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I–III).

Methods

Immunohistochemical analysis was obtained to quantify RIP140 and LCoR expression in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia samples. Tissue (n = 94) was collected from patients treated in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany, between 2002 and 2014. Correlations of expression levels with clinical outcome were carried out to assess for prognostic relevance in patients with CIN2 progression. Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test were used for data analysis.

Results

Nuclear LCoR overexpression correlates significantly with CIN II progression. Nuclear RIP140 expression significantly increases and nuclear LCoR expression decreases with higher grading of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Cytoplasmic RIP140 expression is significantly higher in CIN III than in CIN I or CIN II.

Conclusion

A decrease of nuclear LCoR expression in line with an increase of dedifferentiation of CIN can be observed. Nuclear LCoR overexpression correlates with CIN II progression indicating a prognostic value of LCoR in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Nuclear and cytoplasmic RIP140 expression increases significantly with higher grading of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia underlining its potential role in the development of pre-cancerous lesions. These findings support the relevance of LCoR and RIP140 in the tumorigenesis indicating a possible role of LCoR and RIP140 as targets for novel therapeutic approaches in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer.

The prostaglandin receptor EP2 determines prognosis in EP3-negative and galectin-3-high cervical cancer cases

Recently our study identified EP3 receptor and galectin-3 as prognosticators of cervical cancer. The aim of the present study was the analysis of EP2 as a novel marker and its association to EP3, galectin-3, clinical pathological parameters and the overall survival rate of cervical cancer patients. Cervical cancer tissues (n = 250), as also used in our previous study, were stained with anti-EP2 antibodies employing a standardized immunohistochemistry protocol. Staining results were analyzed by the IRS scores and evaluated for its association with clinical-pathological parameters. H-test of EP2 percent-score showed significantly different expression in FIGO I-IV stages and tumor stages. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses indicated that EP3-negative/EP2-high staining patients (EP2 IRS score ≥2) had a significantly higher survival rate than the EP3-negative/EP2-low staining cases (p = 0.049). In the subgroup of high galectin-3 expressing patients, the group with high EP2 levels (IRS ≥2) had significantly better survival rates compared to EP2-low expressing group (IRS <2, p = 0.044). We demonstrated that the EP2 receptor is a prognostic factor for the overall survival in the subgroup of negative EP3 and high galectin-3 expressed cervical cancer patients. EP2 in combination with EP3 or galectin-3 might act as prognostic indicators of cervical cancer. EP2, EP3, and galectin-3 could be targeted for clinical diagnosis or endocrine treatment in cervical cancer patients, which demands future investigations.

Glucocorticoid receptor in cervical cancer: an immunhistochemical analysis

PURPOSE

Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in women worldwide. In most of all cases, a persistent HPV infection is the leading cause. HPV-specific sequences are able to bind glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Dexamethasone can increase the activity of early promoters in HPV16 and HPV18 interfering in transcription control of viral oncogenes. The aim of our study was to evaluate glucocorticoid receptor as transcriptional factor in its active form in the nucleus of in cervical cancer cells and to correlate the results with clinical patient specific parameters.

METHODS

A total of 250 paraffin-embedded cervical cancer samples obtained from patients having undergone surgery for cervical cancer were used for the study. The expression of GR was immunhistochemical examined and evaluated by a semi-quantitative scoring. SPSS software was used for the statistical evaluation of staining results and survival analysis of patients with cervical cancer.

RESULTS

GR is frequently expressed in cervical carcinoma tissue in favor of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). An enhanced expression is correlated with rather small clinical stages. The expression of the GR is correlated with better overall survival and progression-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The glucocorticoid receptor is frequently expressed in cervical carcinoma tissue in favor of squamous cell carcinoma. An enhanced expression is correlated with rather small clinical stages. The expression of the analyzed receptor is correlated with better overall survival. Further studies are needed to determine useful treatment targets for glucocorticoid receptor manipulation.