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O'Shaughnessy RFL. Why are squamous cancers so aggressive in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa? Can we find new therapeutic approaches? Br J Dermatol 2023; 190:7-8. [PMID: 37831585 DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljad392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan F L O'Shaughnessy
- Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
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2
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Cazzola A, Calzón Lozano D, Menne DH, Dávila Pedrera R, Liu J, Peña-Jiménez D, Fontenete S, Halin C, Perez-Moreno M. Lymph Vessels Associate with Cancer Stem Cells from Initiation to Malignant Stages of Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13615. [PMID: 37686421 PMCID: PMC10488284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated lymph vessels and lymph node involvement are critical staging criteria in several cancers. In skin squamous cell carcinoma, lymph vessels play a role in cancer development and metastatic spread. However, their relationship with the cancer stem cell niche at early tumor stages remains unclear. To address this gap, we studied the lymph vessel localization at the cancer stem cell niche and observed an association from benign skin lesions to malignant stages of skin squamous cell carcinoma. By co-culturing lymphatic endothelial cells with cancer cell lines representing the initiation and promotion stages, and conducting RNA profiling, we observed a reciprocal induction of cell adhesion, immunity regulation, and vessel remodeling genes, suggesting dynamic interactions between lymphatic and cancer cells. Additionally, imaging analyses of the cultured cells revealed the establishment of heterotypic contacts between cancer cells and lymph endothelial cells, potentially contributing to the observed distribution and maintenance at the cancer stem cell niche, inducing downstream cellular responses. Our data provide evidence for an association of lymph vessels from the early stages of skin squamous cell carcinoma development, opening new avenues for better comprehending their involvement in cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Cazzola
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Calzón Lozano
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dennis Hirsch Menne
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raquel Dávila Pedrera
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jingcheng Liu
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Peña-Jiménez
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (UAX), Avenida de la Universidad 1, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28691 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Fontenete
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cornelia Halin
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Mirna Perez-Moreno
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Chen X, Adhikary G, Newland JJ, Xu W, Keillor JW, Weber DJ, Eckert RL. Transglutaminase 2 Binds to the CD44v6 Cytoplasmic Domain to Stimulate CD44v6/ERK1/2 Signaling and Maintain an Aggressive Cancer Phenotype. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:922-932. [PMID: 37227250 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-23-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a key cancer cell survival protein in many cancer types. As such, efforts are underway to characterize the mechanism of TG2 action. In this study, we report that TG2 stimulates CD44v6 activity to enhance cancer cell survival via a mechanism that involves formation of a TG2/CD44v6/ERK1/2 complex that activates ERK1/2 signaling to drive an aggressive cancer phenotype. TG2 and ERK1/2 bind to the CD44v6 C-terminal intracellular cytoplasmic domain to activate ERK1/2 and stimulate cell proliferation and invasion. This is the same region that binds to ERM proteins and ankyrin to activate CD44v6-dependent cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. We further show that treatment with hyaluronan (HA), the physiologic CD44v6 ligand, stimulates CD44v6 activity, as measured by ERK1/2 activation, but that this response is severely attenuated in TG2 or CD44v6 knockdown or knockout cells. Moreover, treatment with TG2 inhibitor reduces tumor growth and that is associated with reduced CD44v6 level and ERK1/2 activity, and reduced stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These changes are replicated in CD44v6 knockout cells. These findings suggest that a unique TG2/CD44v6/ERK1/2 complex leads to increased ERK1/2 activity to stimulate an aggressive cancer phenotype and stimulate tumor growth. These findings have important implications for cancer stem cell maintenance and suggest that cotargeting of TG2 and CD44v6 with specific inhibitors may be an effective anticancer treatment strategy. IMPLICATIONS TG2 and CD44v6 are important procancer proteins. TG2 and ERK1/2 bind to the CD44v6 C-terminal domain to form a TG2/CD44v6/ERK1/2 complex that activates ERK1/2 to stimulate the cancer phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gautam Adhikary
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - John J Newland
- Department of Surgery Division of Thoracic Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey W Keillor
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David J Weber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Richard L Eckert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
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Bialves TS, Bastos Junior CLQ, Cordeiro MF, Boyle RT. Snake venom, a potential treatment for melanoma. A systematic review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 231:123367. [PMID: 36690229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in treating patients with melanoma, there are still many treatment challenges to overcome. Studies with snake venom-derived proteins/peptides describe their binding potential, and inhibition of some proliferative mechanisms in melanoma. The combined use of these compounds with current therapies could be the strategic gap that will help us discover more effective treatments for melanoma. The present study aimed to carry out a systematic review identifying snake venom proteins and peptides described in the literature with antitumor, antimetastatic, or antiangiogenic effects on melanoma and determine the mechanisms of action that lead to these anti-tumor effects. Snake venoms contain proteins and peptides which are antiaggregant, antimetastatic, and antiangiogenic. The in vivo results are encouraging, considering the reduction of metastases and tumor size after treatment. In addition to these results, it was reported that these venom compounds could act in combination with chemotherapeutics (Acurhagin-C; Macrovipecetin), sensitizing and preparing tumor cells for treatment. There is a consensus that snake venom is a promising strategy for the improvement of antimelanoma therapies, but it has been little explored in the current context, combined with inhibitors, immunotherapy or tumor microenvironment, for example. We suggest Lebein as a candidate for combination therapy with BRAF inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiane Senna Bialves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, s/n - km 8 - Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Claudio L Q Bastos Junior
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, s/n - km 8 - Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcos Freitas Cordeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Saúde (PPGBS), Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina - UNOESC, Rua Roberto Trompovski 224, Joaçaba, Santa Catarina, CEP 89600-000, Brazil.
| | - Robert Tew Boyle
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, s/n - km 8 - Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul 96203-900, Brazil
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5
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Microbiota, Oxidative Stress, and Skin Cancer: An Unexpected Triangle. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030546. [PMID: 36978794 PMCID: PMC10045429 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that the microbiota, the unique combination of micro-organisms residing in a specific environment, plays an essential role in the development of a wide range of human diseases, including skin cancer. Moreover, a persistent imbalance of microbial community, named dysbiosis, can also be associated with oxidative stress, a well-known emerging force involved in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including cutaneous malignancies. Although their interplay has been somewhat suggested, the connection between microbiota, oxidative stress, and skin cancer is a largely unexplored field. In the present review, we discuss the current knowledge on these topics, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies.
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Tong D, Tanaka M, Eguchi H, Okazaki Y, Muramatsu M, Arai T. COL17A1 germline variant p.Ser1029Ala and mucosal malignant melanoma: An autopsy study. Mol Clin Oncol 2022; 16:32. [PMID: 34987801 PMCID: PMC8719258 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2021.2465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagen type XVII α1 (COL17A1) encodes a hemidesmosomal protein at the epidermal-dermal junction and its variants are implicated in blistering skin diseases. Recent experiments in rodents revealed that Col17a1 has critical roles in stem cells of epidermal origin and in melanoma carcinogenesis. In the present study, it was investigated whether germline variants in COL17A1 are associated with skin cancer and other cancer types using indexed consecutive autopsy cases from the Japanese Geriatric Single Nucleotide Polymorphism database (n=2,343; mean age, 80 years). The database included 12 patients with skin cancer. A total of 53 COL17A1 missense variants on an exome chip were analyzed. One variant, p.Ser1029Ala (rs118166857), which had a minor allele frequency of 1.0%, exhibited a nominal positive sign of association with skin cancer [Fisher's exact P=0.002, odds ratio (OR)=16.93, 95% CI: 4.44-64.64]. This variant was detected in 2/2 patients with mucosal malignant melanoma (mMM) and 1/3 patients with extramammary Paget's disease, and in none of the patients with non-melanoma cancer, e.g., squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma. Other cancer types were searched in the database and the p.Ser1029Ala variant was indicated to be nominally associated with breast cancer (P=0.006, OR=4.17, 95% CI: 1.72-10.11). In the two mMM cases, targeted exome sequencing of 55 cancer-predisposing genes (including tumor protein 53, BRCA1/2 and mismatch repair genes) detected no apparent pathogenic variants, but revealed variants of unknown significance in axin 2, DNA directed polymerase ζ catalytic subunit and contactin 6. Since COL17A1 provides a niche for melanocyte stem cells, it was hypothesized that the p.Ser1029Ala variant in the COL17A1 ectodomain may affect the microenvironment, e.g., the cell competition. This is a working hypothesis generated from human autopsy cases and warrants further epidemiological and molecular biological validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daike Tong
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Masashi Tanaka
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Eguchi
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases, Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yasushi Okazaki
- Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases, Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Masaaki Muramatsu
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Tomio Arai
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
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Shi Z, Li X, Zhang L, Luo Y, Shrestha B, Hu X. Potential Novel Modules and Hub Genes as Prognostic Candidates of Thyroid Cancer by Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:9433-9444. [PMID: 34908870 PMCID: PMC8665846 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s329128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although thyroid cancer (THCA) is one of the most common type of endocrine malignancy, its highly complex molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis are not completely known. Materials and Methods In this study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to construct gene co-expression networks and evaluate the relations between modules and clinical traits to identify potential prognostic biomarkers for THCA patients. RNA-seq data and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Other independent datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the Human Protein Atlas database were performed to validate findings. Results Finally, 11 co-expression modules were constructed and four hub genes, CCDC146, SLC4A4, TDRD9 and MUM1L1, were identified and validated statistically, which were considerably interrelated to worse survival of THCA patients. Conclusion This research study revealed four hub genes may be considered candidate prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for THCA patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Shi
- Department of Stomatology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinghui Li
- Department of Dermatology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilang Luo
- Department of Stomatology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, People's Republic of China
| | - Bikal Shrestha
- Department of Conservative and Endodontics, Nepal Police Hospital, Kathmandu, 44600, Nepal
| | - Xuegang Hu
- Department of Stomatology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, People's Republic of China
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