Pan-cancer analysis of forkhead box Q1 as a potential prognostic and immunological biomarker

Prognostic and clinicopathological roles of circular RNA expression in chemoresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Background

Characterized by a poor prognosis and survivability, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive neoplastic condition with a propensity for recurrence where the development of chemoresistance adversely affects the prognostic outcome. Recently, it was shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) augment the cellular survivability and chemoresistance of malignant cells. Hence, biomarkers for early detection of chemoresistance in these patients can significantly aid in preventing a poor prognostic outcome.

Objective

The present study aimed to systematically identify circRNAs that play a vital role in the development of chemoresistance in HNSCC and understand their mechanisms of action in HNSCC chemoresistance.

Methods

The protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO with protocol no. CRD42024532291. A six-stage methodological and PRISMA recommendations were followed for the review.

Results and Discussion

13 studies were identified which yielded 13 circRNAs which have been investigated for their role in the chemoresistance in HNSCC. Of these, 11 circRNAs were reported to be upregulated while only 2 circRNAs were found to be downregulated. Moreover, we found that circRNAs can modulate autophagy (circPARD3, circPKD2, circAP1M2 and circPGAM1), apoptosis (circ-ILF2, circANKS1B, circTPST2, circPUM1 and circ_0001971), drug efflux (circ-ILF2, has_circ_0005033 and circTPST2), EMT (circANKS1B, circCRIM1, circ_0001971), tumor microenvironment (circ-ILF2. circ-ILF2, circCRIM1 and circTPST2), DNA damage (circTPST2) and malignant potential (hsa_circ_0000190 and hg19_ circ_0005033).

Conclusion

The present study identified 13 circRNAs which may serve as biomarkers for prognosis as well as response to chemotherapy in HNSCC.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024532291.

The transcription factor FOXQ1 in cancer

FOXQ1 is a member of the large forkhead box (FOX) family of transcription factors that is involved in all aspects of mammalian development, physiology, and pathobiology. FOXQ1 has emerged as a major regulator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and tumour metastasis in cancers, especially carcinomas of the digestive tract. Accordingly, FOXQ1 induction is recognised as an independent prognostic factor for worse overall survival in several types of cancer, including gastric and colorectal cancer. In this review article, I summarise new evidence on the role of FOXQ1 in cancer, with a focus on molecular mechanisms that control FOXQ1 levels and the regulation of FOXQ1 target genes. Unravelling the functions of FOXQ1 has the potential to facilitate the development of targeted treatments for metastatic cancers.

FOXQ1 inhibits the progression of osteoarthritis by regulating pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related joint disease, and the NLRP3-induced pyroptosis has been demonstrated in its progression. The upstream molecules or specific mechanisms controlling NLRP3 and pyroptosis in OA remain unclear.

METHODS

Transcriptome sequencing was performed in the OA mice model, and the expression levels of differentially expressed genes were assessed by qRT-PCR. The cell model was constructed by IL-1β-induced ATDC5 cells. The cell proliferation was examined using CCK-8 assay, and apoptosis was tested using flow cytometry. Western blot was used in protein inspection, and ELISA was used in inflammatory response evaluation.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, there were 229 up-regulated and 32 down-regulated genes in model group. We detected that FOXQ1 was down-regulated in the OA mice model, improved proliferation, and restrained apoptosis of chondrocytes. Over-expression of FOXQ1 could inhibit pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammatory cytokines, containing NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and in contrast, FOXQ1 silencing exerted the opposite trend.

CONCLUSIONS

FOXQ1 may inhibit OA progression via down-regulating NLRP3-induced pyroptosis in the present study.

PARP1-stabilised FOXQ1 promotes ovarian cancer progression by activating the LAMB3/WNT/β-catenin signalling pathway

Metastasis is an important factor that causes ovarian cancer (OC) to become the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system, but its molecular mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, through bioinformatics analysis, as well as analysis of tissue samples and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients in our centre, it was found that Forkhead box Q1 (FOXQ1) was correlated with metastasis and prognosis of OC. Through cell function experiments and animal experiments, the results show that FOXQ1 can promote the progression of ovarian cancer in vivo and in vitro. Through RNA-seq, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), luciferase assay, and ChIP-PCR, it was demonstrated that FOXQ1 can mediate the WNT/β-catenin pathway by targeting the LAMB promoter region. Through coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), mass spectrometry (MS), ubiquitination experiments, and immunofluorescence (IF), the results showed that PARP1 could stabilise FOXQ1 expression via the E3 ubiquitin ligase Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP). Finally, the whole mechanism pathway was verified by animal drug combination experiments and clinical specimen prognosis analysis. In summary, our results suggest that PARP1 can promote ovarian cancer progression through the LAMB3/WNT/β-catenin pathway by stabilising FOXQ1 expression.

FOXQ1 promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, tumor stemness, invasion and metastasis through regulation of LDHA-mediated aerobic glycolysis

Pancreatic cancer (PC), a gastrointestinal tract malignant tumor, has a poor prognosis due to early metastasis and limited response to chemotherapy. Therefore, identifying novel therapeutic approaches for PC is critical. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known as the vital progress in PC development, we constructed the EMT-related prognosis model to screen out that FOXQ1 probably involving in the EMT regulation. FOXQ1 has been linked to the malignant process in a number of cancers. However, its function in PC is unknown. In our work, the expression of FOXQ1 was elevated in PC tissues, and a high level of FOXQ1 in PC was linked to patients' poor prognosis. FOXQ1 overexpression promoted aerobic glycolysis and enhanced PC cell proliferation, tumor stemness, invasion, and metastasis. Whereas, FOXQ1 silencing showed the reverse effect. Furthermore, mechanistic studies indicated that FOXQ1 promotes LDHA transcription, and thus modulates aerobic glycolysis to enhance PC cell proliferation, tumor stemness, invasion, and metastasis by increasing LDHA expression. Therefore, these novel data suggest that FOXQ1 may be a possible therapeutic target in PC.

FOXQ1 inhibits breast cancer ferroptosis and progression via the circ_0000643/miR-153/SLC7A11 axis

Dysregulation of ferroptosis is involved in breast cancer progression and therapeutic responses. Inducing ferroptosis can be a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment. Forkhead box Q1 (FOXQ1) is an oncogenic transcription factor that highly expressed and related with poor outcomes in various tumors. However, the specific effects of FOXQ1 on ferroptosis in breast cancer is unclear. In this study, we intended to explore the functions and potential mechanisms of FOXQ1 in breast cancer ferroptosis. By CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, transwell and ferroptosis related assays, we explored the functions of FOXQ1 in breast cancer ferroptosis and progression. Through bioinformatics analysis of public database, luciferase reporter assay, RIP and ChIP assay, we investigated the potential mechanisms of FOXQ1 in breast cancer ferroptosis and progression. We found that FOXQ1 was overexpressed in breast cancer and associated with worse survival. Additionally, inhibition of FOXQ1 suppressed breast cancer ferroptosis and progression. Mechanically, we confirmed that FOXQ1 could bind to the promoter of circ_0000643 host gene to increase the levels of circ_0000643, which could sponge miR-153 and enhance the expression of SLC7A11, leading to reduced cell ferroptosis in breast cancer cells. Targeting the FOXQ1/circ_0000643/miR-153/SLC7A11 axis could be a promising strategy in breast cancer treatment.