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Powell RT, Rinkenbaugh AL, Guo L, Cai S, Shao J, Zhou X, Zhang X, Jeter-Jones S, Fu C, Qi Y, Baameur Hancock F, White JB, Stephan C, Davies PJ, Moulder S, Symmans WF, Chang JT, Piwnica-Worms H. Targeting neddylation and sumoylation in chemoresistant triple negative breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2024; 10:37. [PMID: 38802426 PMCID: PMC11130334 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-024-00644-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-20% of breast cancer cases in the United States. Systemic neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), with or without immunotherapy, is the current standard of care for patients with early-stage TNBC. However, up to 70% of TNBC patients have significant residual disease once NACT is completed, which is associated with a high risk of developing recurrence within two to three years of surgical resection. To identify targetable vulnerabilities in chemoresistant TNBC, we generated longitudinal patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from TNBC tumors before and after patients received NACT. We then compiled transcriptomes and drug response profiles for all models. Transcriptomic analysis identified the enrichment of aberrant protein homeostasis pathways in models from post-NACT tumors relative to pre-NACT tumors. This observation correlated with increased sensitivity in vitro to inhibitors targeting the proteasome, heat shock proteins, and neddylation pathways. Pevonedistat, a drug annotated as a NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor, was prioritized for validation in vivo and demonstrated efficacy as a single agent in multiple PDX models of TNBC. Pharmacotranscriptomic analysis identified a pathway-level correlation between pevonedistat activity and post-translational modification (PTM) machinery, particularly involving neddylation and sumoylation targets. Elevated levels of both NEDD8 and SUMO1 were observed in models exhibiting a favorable response to pevonedistat compared to those with a less favorable response in vivo. Moreover, a correlation emerged between the expression of neddylation-regulated pathways and tumor response to pevonedistat, indicating that targeting these PTM pathways may prove effective in combating chemoresistant TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid T Powell
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amanda L Rinkenbaugh
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lei Guo
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shirong Cai
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jiansu Shao
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xinhui Zhou
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sabrina Jeter-Jones
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chunxiao Fu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuan Qi
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Faiza Baameur Hancock
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jason B White
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Clifford Stephan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J Davies
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Bioscience and Technology Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stacy Moulder
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - W Fraser Symmans
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Chang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Helen Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Santourlidis S, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Erichsen L, Bendhack ML. Epigenetics Meets CAR-T-Cell Therapy to Fight Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1941. [PMID: 38792020 PMCID: PMC11119853 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101941] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Based on the impressive success of Car-T-cell therapy in the treatment of hematological malignancies, a broad application for solid tumors also appears promising. However, some important hurdles need to be overcome. One of these is certainly the identification of specific target antigens on cancer cells. Hypomethylation is a characteristic epigenetic aberration in many tumor entities. Genome-wide screenings for consistent DNA hypomethylations in tumors enable the identification of aberrantly upregulated transcripts, which might result in cell surface proteins. Thus, this approach provides a new perspective for the discovery of potential new Car-T-cell target antigens for almost every tumor entity. First, we focus on this approach as a possible treatment for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Santourlidis
- Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany;
| | - Marcos J. Araúzo-Bravo
- Group of Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain;
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Lars Erichsen
- Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany;
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Marcelo L. Bendhack
- Department of Urology, Red Cross University Hospital, Positivo University, Rua Mauá 1111, Curitiba 80030-200, Brazil;
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Hutarew G, Alinger-Scharinger B, Sotlar K, Kraus TFJ. Genome-Wide Methylation Analysis in Two Wild-Type Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subgroups with Negative and High PD-L1 Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1841. [PMID: 38791918 PMCID: PMC11119885 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101841] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a pilot study to analyze the differential methylation status of 20 primary acinar adenocarcinomas of the lungs. These adenocarcinomas had to be wild type in mutation analysis and had either high (TPS > 50%; n = 10) or negative (TPS < 1%; n = 10) PD-L1 status to be integrated into our study. To examine the methylation of 866,895 specific sites, we utilized the Illumina Infinium EPIC bead chip array. Both hypermethylation and hypomethylation play significant roles in tumor development, progression, and metastasis. They also impact the formation of the tumor microenvironment, which plays a decisive role in tumor differentiation, epigenetics, dissemination, and immune evasion. The gained methylation patterns were correlated with PD-L1 expression. Our analysis has identified distinct methylation patterns in lung adenocarcinomas with high and negative PD-L1 expression. After analyzing the correlation between the methylation results of genes and promoters with their pathobiology, we found that tumors with high expression of PD-L1 tend to exhibit oncogenic effects through hypermethylation. On the other hand, tumors with negative PD-L1 expression show loss of their suppressor functions through hypomethylation. The suppressor functions of hypermethylated genes and promoters are ineffective compared to simultaneously activated dominant oncogenic mechanisms. The tumor microenvironment supports tumor growth in both groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Hutarew
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstr. 48, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria; (B.A.-S.); (K.S.); (T.F.J.K.)
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4
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Trnkova L, Buocikova V, Mego M, Cumova A, Burikova M, Bohac M, Miklikova S, Cihova M, Smolkova B. Epigenetic deregulation in breast cancer microenvironment: Implications for tumor progression and therapeutic strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116559. [PMID: 38603889 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer comprises a substantial proportion of cancer diagnoses in women and is a primary cause of cancer-related mortality. While hormone-responsive cases generally have a favorable prognosis, the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer presents challenges, with intrinsic resistance to established treatments being a persistent issue. The complexity intensifies with the emergence of acquired resistance, further complicating the management of breast cancer. Epigenetic changes, encompassing DNA methylation, histone and RNA modifications, and non-coding RNAs, are acknowledged as crucial contributors to the heterogeneity of breast cancer. The unique epigenetic landscape harbored by each cellular component within the tumor microenvironment (TME) adds great diversity to the intricate regulations which influence therapeutic responses. The TME, a sophisticated ecosystem of cellular and non-cellular elements interacting with tumor cells, establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment and fuels processes such as tumor growth, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. These factors contribute to challenging conditions in cancer treatment by fostering a hypoxic environment, inducing metabolic stress, and creating physical barriers to drug delivery. This article delves into the complex connections between breast cancer treatment response, underlying epigenetic changes, and vital interactions within the TME. To restore sensitivity to treatment, it emphasizes the need for combination therapies considering epigenetic changes specific to individual members of the TME. Recognizing the pivotal role of epigenetics in drug resistance and comprehending the specificities of breast TME is essential for devising more effective therapeutic strategies. The development of reliable biomarkers for patient stratification will facilitate tailored and precise treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Trnkova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Verona Buocikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia; 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine & National Cancer Institute, Bratislava 83310, Slovakia
| | - Andrea Cumova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Monika Burikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Martin Bohac
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine & National Cancer Institute, Bratislava 83310, Slovakia; Regenmed Ltd., Medena 29, Bratislava 811 01, Slovakia; Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovakia
| | - Svetlana Miklikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Marina Cihova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia.
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Mustafa M, Habib S, Imtiyaz K, Tufail N, Ahmad R, Hamim B, Abbas K, Ahmad W, Khan S, Moinuddin, Rizvi MMA, Hassan MI, Siddiqui SA. Characterization of structural, genotoxic, and immunological effects of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) induced DNA modifications: Implications for inflammation-driven carcinogenesis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131743. [PMID: 38653426 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Genotoxic DNA damaging agents are the choice of chemicals for studying DNA repair pathways and the associated genome instability. One such preferred laboratory chemical is methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). MMS, an SN2-type alkylating agent known for its ability to alkylate adenine and guanine bases, causes strand breakage. Exploring the outcomes of MMS interaction with DNA and the associated cytotoxicity will pave the way to decipher how the cell confronts methylation-associated stress. This study focuses on an in-depth understanding of the structural instability, induced antigenicity on the DNA molecule, cross-reactive anti-DNA antibodies, and cytotoxic potential of MMS in peripheral lymphocytes and cancer cell lines. The findings are decisive in identifying the hazardous nature of MMS to alter the intricacies of DNA and morphology of the cell. Structural alterations were assessed through UV-Vis, fluorescence, liquid chromatography, and mass spectroscopy (LCMS). The thermal instability of DNA was analyzed using duplex melting temperature profiles. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed gross topographical and morphological changes. MMS-modified DNA exhibited increased antigenicity in animal subjects. MMS was quite toxic for the cancer cell lines (HCT116, A549, and HeLa). This research will offer insights into the potential role of MMS in inflammatory carcinogenesis and its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Safia Habib
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
| | - Khalid Imtiyaz
- Genome Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Neda Tufail
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Rizwan Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Bazigha Hamim
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Kashif Abbas
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Waleem Ahmad
- Department of Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Shifa Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Moinuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - M Moshahid A Rizvi
- Genome Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Md Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Shahid Ali Siddiqui
- Department of Radiation, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Rajasthan, India
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6
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Kim DY, Shin DY, Oh S, Kim I, Kim EJ. Gene Expression and DNA Methylation Profiling Suggest Potential Biomarkers for Azacitidine Resistance in Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4723. [PMID: 38731939 PMCID: PMC11083267 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094723] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndrome/neoplasm (MDS) comprises a group of heterogeneous hematopoietic disorders that present with genetic mutations and/or cytogenetic changes and, in the advanced stage, exhibit wide-ranging gene hypermethylation. Patients with higher-risk MDS are typically treated with repeated cycles of hypomethylating agents, such as azacitidine. However, some patients fail to respond to this therapy, and fewer than 50% show hematologic improvement. In this context, we focused on the potential use of epigenetic data in clinical management to aid in diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. First, we used the F-36P MDS cell line to establish an azacitidine-resistant F-36P cell line. We performed expression profiling of azacitidine-resistant and parental F-36P cells and used biological and bioinformatics approaches to analyze candidate azacitidine-resistance-related genes and pathways. Eighty candidate genes were identified and found to encode proteins previously linked to cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia, and transcriptional misregulation in cancer. Interestingly, 24 of the candidate genes had promoter methylation patterns that were inversely correlated with azacitidine resistance, suggesting that DNA methylation status may contribute to azacitidine resistance. In particular, the DNA methylation status and/or mRNA expression levels of the four genes (AMER1, HSPA2, NCX1, and TNFRSF10C) may contribute to the clinical effects of azacitidine in MDS. Our study provides information on azacitidine resistance diagnostic genes in MDS patients, which can be of great help in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment in progressing azacitidine treatment for newly diagnosed MDS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Yeon Kim
- Division of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Radiological and Medico-Oncological Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yeop Shin
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; (D.-Y.S.); (S.O.)
- Center for Medical Innovation, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Somi Oh
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; (D.-Y.S.); (S.O.)
| | - Inho Kim
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; (D.-Y.S.); (S.O.)
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Kim
- Division of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Radiological and Medico-Oncological Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Carmody Rd., St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Genomics and Machine Learning Lab, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston Rd., Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
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Thakur D, Sengupta D, Mahapatra E, Das S, Sarkar R, Mukherjee S. Glucocorticoid receptor: a harmonizer of cellular plasticity in breast cancer-directs the road towards therapy resistance, metastatic progression and recurrence. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:481-499. [PMID: 38170347 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10163-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Recent therapeutic advances have significantly uplifted the quality of life in breast cancer patients, yet several impediments block the road to disease-free survival. This involves unresponsiveness towards administered therapy, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and metastatic progression with the eventual appearance of recurrent disease. Attainment of such characteristics is a huge adaptive challenge to which tumour cells respond by acquiring diverse phenotypically plastic states. Several signalling networks and mediators are involved in such a process. Glucocorticoid receptor being a mediator of stress response imparts prognostic significance in the context of breast carcinoma. Involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor in the signalling cascade of breast cancer phenotypic plasticity needs further elucidation. This review attempted to shed light on the inter-regulatory interactions of the glucocorticoid receptor with the mediators of the plasticity program in breast cancer; which may provide a hint for strategizing therapeutics against the glucocorticoid/glucocorticoid receptor axis so as to modulate phenotypic plasticity in breast carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debanjan Thakur
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Debomita Sengupta
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Elizabeth Mahapatra
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Salini Das
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India
| | - Ruma Sarkar
- B. D. Patel Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology, CHARUSAT Campus, Changa, Gujarat, 388421, India
| | - Sutapa Mukherjee
- Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India.
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Alaa Eldeen M, Mamdouh F, Abdulsahib WK, Eid RA, Alhanshani AA, Shati AA, Alqahtani YA, Alshehri MA, Samir A. Zaki M, Soltan MA, Noreldin AE. Oncogenic Potential of Replication Factor C Subunit 4: Correlations with Tumor Progression and Assessment of Potential Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:152. [PMID: 38399367 PMCID: PMC10891693 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Replication Factor C Subunit 4 (RFC4), an oncogene implicated in many human cancers, has yet to be extensively studied in many cancer types to determine its expression patterns and tumor tissue function. Various bioinformatics tools were used to analyze RFC4 as a potential oncogene and therapeutic target across many cancers. We first examined RFC4 expression levels in several human tumor types to determine relationships with tumor grade, stage, metastasis, and patient survival. We also examined RFC4's genetic changes, epigenetic methylation, and effect on tumor microenvironment (TME) immune cell infiltration. We also analyzed RFC4's connections with immunological checkpoints to identify potential molecular pathways involved in carcinogenesis. Our findings show that RFC4 is upregulated in several tumor types and associated with poor prognoses in many human cancers. This study shows that RFC4 significantly affects the tumor immunological microenvironment, specifically immune cell populations. Finally, we screened for RFC4-inhibiting pharmacological compounds with anti-cancer potential. This study fully elucidates RFC4's carcinogenic activities, emphasizing its potential as a prognostic biomarker and a target for anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Alaa Eldeen
- Cell Biology, Histology & Genetics Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Farag Mamdouh
- Biotechnology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Al Qalyubia Governorate, Banha 13511, Egypt;
| | - Waleed K. Abdulsahib
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Al Farahidi University, Baghdad 00965, Iraq
| | - Refaat A. Eid
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmad A. Alhanshani
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia (A.A.S.); (Y.A.A.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Ayed A. Shati
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia (A.A.S.); (Y.A.A.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Youssef A. Alqahtani
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia (A.A.S.); (Y.A.A.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Mohammed A. Alshehri
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia (A.A.S.); (Y.A.A.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Mohamed Samir A. Zaki
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Ismailia 41611, Egypt;
| | - Ahmed E. Noreldin
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt
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9
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Lumpp T, Stößer S, Fischer F, Hartwig A, Köberle B. Role of Epigenetics for the Efficacy of Cisplatin. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1130. [PMID: 38256203 PMCID: PMC10816946 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical utility of the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin is restricted by cancer drug resistance, which is either intrinsic to the tumor or acquired during therapy. Epigenetics is increasingly recognized as a factor contributing to cisplatin resistance and hence influences drug efficacy and clinical outcomes. In particular, epigenetics regulates gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Common types of epigenetic modifications linked to chemoresistance are DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. This review provides an overview of the current findings of various epigenetic modifications related to cisplatin efficacy in cell lines in vitro and in clinical tumor samples. Furthermore, it discusses whether epigenetic alterations might be used as predictors of the platinum agent response in order to prevent avoidable side effects in patients with resistant malignancies. In addition, epigenetic targeting therapies are described as a possible strategy to render cancer cells more susceptible to platinum drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Beate Köberle
- Department Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Adenauerring 20a, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (T.L.); (S.S.); (F.F.); (A.H.)
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10
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Sacdalan DB, Ul Haq S, Lok BH. Plasma Cell-Free Tumor Methylome as a Biomarker in Solid Tumors: Biology and Applications. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:482-500. [PMID: 38248118 PMCID: PMC10814449 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31010033] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a fundamental mechanism of epigenetic control in cells and its dysregulation is strongly implicated in cancer development. Cancers possess an extensively hypomethylated genome with focal regions of hypermethylation at CPG islands. Due to the highly conserved nature of cancer-specific methylation, its detection in cell-free DNA in plasma using liquid biopsies constitutes an area of interest in biomarker research. The advent of next-generation sequencing and newer computational technologies have allowed for the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that utilize methylation profiling to diagnose disease and stratify risk. Methylome-based predictive biomarkers can determine the response to anti-cancer therapy. An additional emerging application of these biomarkers is in minimal residual disease monitoring. Several key challenges need to be addressed before cfDNA-based methylation biomarkers become fully integrated into practice. The first relates to the biology and stability of cfDNA. The second concerns the clinical validity and generalizability of methylation-based assays, many of which are cancer type-specific. The third involves their practicability, which is a stumbling block for translating technologies from bench to clinic. Future work on developing pan-cancer assays with their respective validities confirmed using well-designed, prospective clinical trials is crucial in pushing for the greater use of these tools in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Benedict Sacdalan
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Sami Ul Haq
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Benjamin H. Lok
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Room 15-701, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
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11
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Albadari N, Xie Y, Li W. Deciphering treatment resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer: roles of drug transports, EGFR mutations, and HGF/c-MET signaling. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1340401. [PMID: 38269272 PMCID: PMC10806212 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1340401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2023, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. At the time of the initial visit, 20% of patients diagnosed with CRC have metastatic CRC (mCRC), and another 25% who present with localized disease will later develop metastases. Despite the improvement in response rates with various modulation strategies such as chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis of mCRC is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 14%, and the primary reason for treatment failure is believed to be the development of resistance to therapies. Herein, we provide an overview of the main mechanisms of resistance in mCRC and specifically highlight the role of drug transports, EGFR, and HGF/c-MET signaling pathway in mediating mCRC resistance, as well as discuss recent therapeutic approaches to reverse resistance caused by drug transports and resistance to anti-EGFR blockade caused by mutations in EGFR and alteration in HGF/c-MET signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wei Li
- College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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12
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Xie D, Wang S, Jiang B, Li G, Wu G. The potential value of the Purinergic pathway in the prognostic assessment and clinical application of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:246-266. [PMID: 38180750 PMCID: PMC10817410 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The Purinergic pathway is involved in a variety of important physiological processes in living organisms, and previous studies have shown that aberrant expression of the Purinergic pathway may contribute to the development of a variety of cancers, including kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). The aim of this study was to delve into the Purinergic pathway in KIRC and to investigate its potential significance in prognostic assessment and clinical treatment. 33 genes associated with the Purinergic pathway were selected for pan-cancer analysis. Cluster analysis, targeted drug sensitivity analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis were applied to explore the mechanism of Purinergic pathway in KIRC. Using the machine learning process, we found that combining the Lasso+survivalSVM algorithm worked well for predicting survival accuracy in KIRC. We used LASSO regression to pinpoint nine Purinergic genes closely linked to KIRC, using them to create a survival model for KIRC. ROC survival curve was analyzed, and this survival model could effectively predict the survival rate of KIRC patients in the next 5, 7 and 10 years. Further univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that age, grading, staging, and risk scores of KIRC patients were significantly associated with their prognostic survival and were identified as independent risk factors for prognosis. The nomogram tool developed through this study can help physicians accurately assess patient prognosis and provide guidance for developing treatment plans. The results of this study may bring new ideas for optimizing the prognostic assessment and therapeutic approaches for KIRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqian Xie
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, Liaoning, China
| | - Shijin Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, Liaoning, China
| | - Bowen Jiang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, Liaoning, China
| | - Guandu Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, Liaoning, China
| | - Guangzhen Wu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, Liaoning, China
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13
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Sadida HQ, Abdulla A, Marzooqi SA, Hashem S, Macha MA, Akil ASAS, Bhat AA. Epigenetic modifications: Key players in cancer heterogeneity and drug resistance. Transl Oncol 2024; 39:101821. [PMID: 37931371 PMCID: PMC10654239 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer heterogeneity and drug resistance remain pivotal obstacles in effective cancer treatment and management. One major contributor to these challenges is epigenetic modifications - gene regulation that does not involve changes to the DNA sequence itself but significantly impacts gene expression. As we elucidate these phenomena, we underscore the pivotal role of epigenetic modifications in regulating gene expression, contributing to cellular diversity, and driving adaptive changes that can instigate therapeutic resistance. This review dissects essential epigenetic modifications - DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling - illustrating their significant yet complex contributions to cancer biology. While these changes offer potential avenues for therapeutic intervention due to their reversible nature, the interplay of epigenetic and genetic changes in cancer cells presents unique challenges that must be addressed to harness their full potential. By critically analyzing the current research landscape, we identify knowledge gaps and propose future research directions, exploring the potential of epigenetic therapies and discussing the obstacles in translating these concepts into effective treatments. This comprehensive review aims to stimulate further research and aid in developing innovative, patient-centered cancer therapies. Understanding the role of epigenetic modifications in cancer heterogeneity and drug resistance is critical for scientific advancement and paves the way towards improving patient outcomes in the fight against this formidable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Q Sadida
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer, Department of Population Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Alanoud Abdulla
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer, Department of Population Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Sara Al Marzooqi
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer, Department of Population Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Laboratory of Genomic Medicine, Department of Population Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Ammira S Al-Shabeeb Akil
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer, Department of Population Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar.
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer, Department of Population Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar.
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14
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Turiello R, Nouwairi RL, Keller J, Cunha LL, Dignan LM, Landers JP. A rotationally-driven dynamic solid phase sodium bisulfite conversion disc for forensic epigenetic sample preparation. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 24:97-112. [PMID: 38019115 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00867c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The approaches to forensic human identification (HID) are largely comparative in nature, relying upon the comparison of short tandem repeat profiles to known reference materials and/or database profiles. However, many profiles are generated from evidence materials that either do not have a reference material for comparison or do not produce a database hit. As an alternative to individualizing analysis for HID, researchers of forensic DNA have demonstrated that the human epigenome can provide a wealth of information. However, epigenetic analysis requires sodium b̲is̲ulfite c̲onversion (BSC), a sample preparation method that is time-consuming, labor-intensive, prone to contamination, and characterized by DNA loss and fragmentation. To provide an alternative method for BSC that is more amenable to integration with the forensic DNA workflow, we describe a rotationally-driven, microfluidic method for dynamic solid phase-BSC (dSP-BSC) that streamlines the sample preparation process in an automated format, capable of preparing up to four samples in parallel. The method permitted decreased incubation intervals by ∼36% and was assessed for relative DNA recovery and conversion efficiency and compared to gold-standard and enzymatic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Turiello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - R L Nouwairi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - J Keller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - L L Cunha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - L M Dignan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - J P Landers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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15
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Tatsch JM, Furman DP, Nobre RM, Wurzer KM, da Silva LC, Picheth GF, Ramos EA, Acco A, Klassen G. Dulaglutide as a demethylating agent to improve the outcome of breast cancer. Epigenomics 2023; 15:1309-1322. [PMID: 38174426 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Dulaglutide emerged as a promising therapeutic option for diabetes mellitus Type 2 (DM2). Aims: Owing to epigenetic similarities between the pathophysiology of DM2 and breast cancer (BC), we investigated the antitumor effect of dulaglutide. Materials & methods: To investigate the effect of dulaglutide, we analyzed the expression of methylated gene promoter regions in BC (ESR1, CDH1 and ADAM33). Results: Dulaglutide increased the expression of ESR1, CDH1 and ADAM33 up to fourfold in the MDA-MB-231 lineage by demethylating the gene promoter regions. This effect was translated to in vivo antitumoral activity and revealed significant tumor inhibition by combining the half-dose of methotrexate with dulaglutide. Conclusion: This therapy may mitigate the severe side effects commonly associated with chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia M Tatsch
- Department of Basic Pathology, Laboratory of Epigenetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Diana P Furman
- Department of Basic Pathology, Laboratory of Epigenetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Mb Nobre
- Department of Basic Pathology, Laboratory of Epigenetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Karin M Wurzer
- Department of Basic Pathology, Laboratory of Epigenetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Liziane Cm da Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Guilherme F Picheth
- Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Edneia As Ramos
- Department of Basic Pathology, Laboratory of Epigenetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Acco
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Giseli Klassen
- Department of Basic Pathology, Laboratory of Epigenetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
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16
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Wei L, Huang K, Han H, Liu RY. Human Papillomavirus Infection in Penile Cancer: Multidimensional Mechanisms and Vaccine Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16808. [PMID: 38069131 PMCID: PMC10706305 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Penile cancer (PC) is a rare male malignant tumor, with early lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a key role in the carcinogenesis of PC. This review aims to summarize the association between HPV infection and PC in terms of virus-host genome integration patterns (the disrupted regions in the HPV and PC genome), genetic alterations, and epigenetic regulation (methylation and microRNA modification) occurring in HPV and PC DNA, as well as tumor immune microenvironment reprogramming. In addition, the potential of HPV vaccination strategies for PC prevention and treatment is discussed. Understanding of the HPV-related multidimensional mechanisms and the application of HPV vaccines will promote rational and novel management of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (L.W.); (K.H.)
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kangbo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (L.W.); (K.H.)
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Hui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (L.W.); (K.H.)
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Ran-yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (L.W.); (K.H.)
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17
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Łuczkowska K, Kulig P, Rusińska K, Baumert B, Machaliński B. 5-Aza-2'-Deoxycytidine Alters the Methylation Profile of Bortezomib-Resistant U266 Multiple Myeloma Cells and Affects Their Proliferative Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16780. [PMID: 38069103 PMCID: PMC10706146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy that accounts for 1% of all cancers and is the second-most-common hematological neoplasm. Bortezomib (BTZ) is a proteasome inhibitor widely implemented in the treatment of MM alone or in combination with other agents. The development of resistance to chemotherapy is one of the greatest challenges of modern oncology. Therefore, it is crucial to discover and implement new adjuvant therapies that can bypass therapeutic resistance. In this paper, we investigated the in vitro effect of methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine on the proliferative potential of MM cells and the development of resistance to BTZ. We demonstrate that alterations in the DNA methylation profile are associated with BTZ resistance. Moreover, the addition of methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine to BTZ-resistant MM cells led to a reduction in the proliferation of the BTZ-resistant phenotype, resulting in the restoration of sensitivity to BTZ. However, further in vitro and ex vivo studies are required before adjuvant therapy can be incorporated into existing treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Łuczkowska
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (K.Ł.); (P.K.); (K.R.)
| | - Piotr Kulig
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (K.Ł.); (P.K.); (K.R.)
| | - Klaudia Rusińska
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (K.Ł.); (P.K.); (K.R.)
| | - Bartłomiej Baumert
- Department of Hematology and Transplantology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Bogusław Machaliński
- Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (K.Ł.); (P.K.); (K.R.)
- Department of Hematology and Transplantology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
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18
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Yoo W, Kim S, Noh K. SAMD13 serves as a useful prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:514. [PMID: 37968735 PMCID: PMC10648382 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01347-5] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer and the 5-year relative overall survival (OS) rate is less than 20%. Since there are no specific symptoms, most patients with HCC are diagnosed in an advanced stage with poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying novel prognostic biomarkers to improve the survival of patients with HCC is urgently needed. In the present study, we attempted to identify SAMD13 (Sterile Alpha Motif Domain-Containing Protein 13) as a novel biomarker associated with the prognosis of HCC using various bioinformatics tools. SAMD13 was found to be highly expressed pan-cancer; however, the SAMD13 expression was significantly correlated with the worst prognosis in HCC. Clinicopathological analysis revealed that SAMD13 upregulation was significantly associated with advanced HCC stage and high-grade tumor type. Simultaneously, high SAMD13 expression resulted in association with various immune markers in the immune cell subsets by TIMER databases and efficacy of immunotherapy. Methylation analysis showed SAMD13 was remarkably associated with prognosis. Furthermore, a six-hub gene signature associated with poor prognosis was correlated with the cell cycle, transcription, and epigenetic regulation and this analysis may support the connection between SAMD13 expression and drug-resistance. Our study illustrated the characteristics of SAMD13 role in patients with HCC using various bioinformatics tools and highlights its potential role as a therapeutic target and promising biomarker for prognosis in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonbeak Yoo
- Personalized Genomic Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokho Kim
- Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Dong-A University, 37, Nakdong-daero 550 beon-gil, Saha-gu, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
| | - KyungHee Noh
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Ahmadpour ST, Orre C, Bertevello PS, Mirebeau-Prunier D, Dumas JF, Desquiret-Dumas V. Breast Cancer Chemoresistance: Insights into the Regulatory Role of lncRNA. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15897. [PMID: 37958880 PMCID: PMC10650504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115897] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a subclass of noncoding RNAs composed of more than 200 nucleotides without the ability to encode functional proteins. Given their involvement in critical cellular processes such as gene expression regulation, transcription, and translation, lncRNAs play a significant role in organism homeostasis. Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer worldwide and evidence has shown a relationship between aberrant lncRNA expression and BC development. One of the main obstacles in BC control is multidrug chemoresistance, which is associated with the deregulation of multiple mechanisms such as efflux transporter activity, mitochondrial metabolism reprogramming, and epigenetic regulation as well as apoptosis and autophagy. Studies have shown the involvement of a large number of lncRNAs in the regulation of such pathways. However, the underlying mechanism is not clearly elucidated. In this review, we present the principal mechanisms associated with BC chemoresistance that can be directly or indirectly regulated by lncRNA, highlighting the importance of lncRNA in controlling BC chemoresistance. Understanding these mechanisms in deep detail may interest the clinical outcome of BC patients and could be used as therapeutic targets to overcome BC therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Tayebeh Ahmadpour
- Nutrition, Croissance et Cancer, Inserm, UMR1069, Université de Tours, 37032 Tours, France; (P.S.B.); (J.-F.D.)
| | - Charlotte Orre
- Inserm U1083, UMR CNRS 6214, Angers University, 49933 Angers, France; (C.O.); (D.M.-P.)
| | - Priscila Silvana Bertevello
- Nutrition, Croissance et Cancer, Inserm, UMR1069, Université de Tours, 37032 Tours, France; (P.S.B.); (J.-F.D.)
| | | | - Jean-François Dumas
- Nutrition, Croissance et Cancer, Inserm, UMR1069, Université de Tours, 37032 Tours, France; (P.S.B.); (J.-F.D.)
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20
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Aghiorghiesei O, Irimie AI, Braicu C, Raduly L, Nutu A, Balint E, Mehterov N, Vladimirov B, Sarafian V, Lucaciu O, Campian R, Berindan-Neagoe I. Epigenetic methylation changes: implication as biomarkers in oral and maxillofacial area cancers. Med Pharm Rep 2023; 96:310-317. [PMID: 37577021 PMCID: PMC10419680 DOI: 10.15386/mpr-2570] [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: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequent cancer of the head and neck area in the oral cavity. Epigenetic alterations in oral and maxillofacial area cancers are urgently needed to be investigated, as the observed changes might have crucial diagnostic value for personalized medicine. Methods Our study aimed to identify the most frequently hypermethylated tumor suppressor gene promoters in OSCC, followed by correlation analysis with the patients' survival. We evaluated the methylation status of the promoters in a panel of 22 tumor suppressor genes in Romanian (n=9) and Bulgarian (n=12) patient groups suffering from oral and maxillofacial area cancers. The extracted DNA was further digested through EpiTect Methyl II PCR Array System containing methylation-sensitive and methylation-dependent restriction enzymes, followed by specific amplification of the products obtained by qPCR and data analysis using the online platform provided by the producer. Results Different methylation patterns were observed in the tumor suppressor genes' promoters. Among them, the methylation profile of Cccnd2, Chd1, Cdh13, Cdkn1c, Neurog1, Gstp1, and Runx3 genes further correlated with overall survival rates. Conclusions Our data emphasize that epigenetic alterations are responsible for the clinical heterogeneity of oral and maxillofacial area cancers and significantly impact on patient survival. Additional investigation on a larger patient cohort should validate these potential biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ovidiu Aghiorghiesei
- Department of Oral Health, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials, Division Dental Propaedeutics, Aesthetic, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandra Iulia Irimie
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials, Division Dental Propaedeutics, Aesthetic, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cornelia Braicu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lajos Raduly
- Research Center for Functional Genomics and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreea Nutu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Emilia Balint
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Nikolay Mehterov
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute, Medical University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Boyan Vladimirov
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital St. George, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Victoria Sarafian
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Institute, Medical University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Ondine Lucaciu
- Department of Preventive Dental Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Radu Campian
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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21
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Schwarzenbach H, Gahan PB. Interplay between LncRNAs and microRNAs in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098095. [PMID: 37175800 PMCID: PMC10179369 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to be precursors of microRNAs (miRNAs), they frequently act as competing endogoneous RNAs (ceRNAs), yet still their interplay with miRNA is not well known. However, their interaction with miRNAs may result in the modulation of miRNA action. (2) To determine the contribution of these RNA molecules in tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, it is essential to consider not only the oncogenic and tumor suppressive function of miRNAs but also the impact of lncRNAs on miRNAs. Therefore, we performed an extensive search in different databases including PubMed. (3) The present study concerns the interplay between lncRNAs and miRNAs in the regulatory post-transcriptional network and their impact on drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer. (4) Consideration of this interplay may improve the search for new drugs to circumvent chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Schwarzenbach
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter B Gahan
- Fondazione "Enrico Puccinelli" Onlus, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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22
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Magi A, Mattei G, Mingrino A, Caprioli C, Ronchini C, Frigè G, Semeraro R, Bolognini D, Rambaldi A, Candoni A, Colombo E, Mazzarella L, Pelicci PG. High-resolution Nanopore methylome-maps reveal random hyper-methylation at CpG-poor regions as driver of chemoresistance in leukemias. Commun Biol 2023; 6:382. [PMID: 37031307 PMCID: PMC10082806 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation at CpG dinucleotides is a cancer hallmark that is associated with the emergence of resistance to anti cancer treatment, though molecular mechanisms and biological significance remain elusive. Genome scale methylation maps by currently used methods are based on chemical modification of DNA and are best suited for analyses of methylation at CpG rich regions (CpG islands). We report the first high coverage whole-genome map in cancer using the long read nanopore technology, which allows simultaneous DNA-sequence and -methylation analyses on native DNA. We analyzed clonal epigenomic/genomic evolution in Acute Myeloid Leukemias (AMLs) at diagnosis and relapse, after chemotherapy. Long read sequencing coupled to a novel computational method allowed definition of differential methylation at unprecedented resolution, and showed that the relapse methylome is characterized by hypermethylation at both CpG islands and sparse CpGs regions. Most differentially methylated genes, however, were not differentially expressed nor enriched for chemoresistance genes. A small fraction of under-expressed and hyper-methylated genes at sparse CpGs, in the gene body, was significantly enriched in transcription factors (TFs). Remarkably, these few TFs supported large gene-regulatory networks including 50% of all differentially expressed genes in the relapsed AMLs and highly-enriched in chemoresistance genes. Notably, hypermethylated regions at sparse CpGs were poorly conserved in the relapsed AMLs, under-represented at their genomic positions and showed higher methylation entropy, as compared to CpG islands. Analyses of available datasets confirmed TF binding to their target genes and conservation of the same gene-regulatory networks in large patient cohorts. Relapsed AMLs carried few patient specific structural variants and DNA mutations, apparently not involved in drug resistance. Thus, drug resistance in AMLs can be mainly ascribed to the selection of random epigenetic alterations at sparse CpGs of a few transcription factors, which then induce reprogramming of the relapsing phenotype, independently of clonal genomic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Magi
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, Milano, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Mattei
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mingrino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Caprioli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Ronchini
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - GianMaria Frigè
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Semeraro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Bolognini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rambaldi
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Anna Candoni
- Clinica Ematologica, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Emanuela Colombo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Mazzarella
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Pier Giuseppe Pelicci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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23
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Jin J, Xie Y, Zhang JS, Wang JQ, Dai SJ, He WF, Li SY, Ashby CR, Chen ZS, He Q. Sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma: From molecular mechanisms to predictive biomarkers. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 67:100929. [PMID: 36739809 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.100929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Currently, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most prevalent type of kidney cancer. Targeted therapy has replaced radiation therapy and chemotherapy as the main treatment option for RCC due to the lack of significant efficacy with these conventional therapeutic regimens. Sunitinib, a drug used to treat gastrointestinal tumors and renal cell carcinoma, inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of a number of receptor tyrosine kinases, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), c-Kit, rearranged during transfection (RET) and fms-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3). Although sunitinib has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of patients with advanced RCC, a significant number of patients have primary resistance to sunitinib or acquired drug resistance within the 6-15 months of therapy. Thus, in order to develop more efficacious and long-lasting treatment strategies for patients with advanced RCC, it will be crucial to ascertain how to overcome sunitinib resistance that is produced by various drug resistance mechanisms. In this review, we discuss: 1) molecular mechanisms of sunitinib resistance; 2) strategies to overcome sunitinib resistance and 3) potential predictive biomarkers of sunitinib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jin
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Yuhao Xie
- Institute for Biotechnology, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Jin-Shi Zhang
- Urology & Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Jing-Quan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Shi-Jie Dai
- Zhejiang Eyoung Pharmaceutical Research and Development Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311258, China
| | - Wen-Fang He
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Shou-Ye Li
- Zhejiang Eyoung Pharmaceutical Research and Development Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311258, China
| | - Charles R Ashby
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Institute for Biotechnology, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
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24
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Roles of RNA Methylations in Cancer Progression, Autophagy, and Anticancer Drug Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044225. [PMID: 36835633 PMCID: PMC9959100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA methylations play critical roles in RNA processes, including RNA splicing, nuclear export, nonsense-mediated RNA decay, and translation. Regulators of RNA methylations have been shown to be differentially expressed between tumor tissues/cancer cells and adjacent tissues/normal cells. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification of RNAs in eukaryotes. m6A regulators include m6A writers, m6A demethylases, and m6A binding proteins. Since m6A regulators play important roles in regulating the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, targeting m6A regulators can be a strategy for developing anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs targeting m6A regulators are in clinical trials. m6A regulator-targeting drugs could enhance the anticancer effects of current chemotherapy drugs. This review summarizes the roles of m6A regulators in cancer initiation and progression, autophagy, and anticancer drug resistance. The review also discusses the relationship between autophagy and anticancer drug resistance, the effect of high levels of m6A on autophagy and the potential values of m6A regulators as diagnostic markers and anticancer therapeutic targets.
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25
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Shirani-Bidabadi S, Tabatabaee A, Tavazohi N, Hariri A, Aref AR, Zarrabi A, Casarcia N, Bishayee A, Mirian M. CRISPR technology: A versatile tool to model, screen, and reverse drug resistance in cancer. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151299. [PMID: 36809688 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug resistance is a serious challenge in cancer treatment that can render chemotherapy a failure. Understanding the mechanisms behind drug resistance and developing novel therapeutic approaches are cardinal steps in overcoming this issue. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPR) gene-editing technology has proven to be a useful tool to study cancer drug resistance mechanisms and target the responsible genes. In this review, we evaluated original research studies that used the CRISPR tool in three areas related to drug resistance, namely screening resistance-related genes, generating modified models of resistant cells and animals, and removing resistance by genetic manipulation. We reported the targeted genes, study models, and drug groups in these studies. In addition to discussing different applications of CRISPR technology in cancer drug resistance, we analyzed drug resistance mechanisms and provided examples of CRISPR's role in studying them. Although CRISPR is a powerful tool for examining drug resistance and sensitizing resistant cells to chemotherapy, more studies are required to overcome its disadvantages, such as off-target effects, immunotoxicity, and inefficient delivery of CRISPR/cas9 into the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Shirani-Bidabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran
| | - Aliye Tabatabaee
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran
| | - Nazita Tavazohi
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran
| | - Amirali Hariri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Translational Sciences, Xsphera Biosciences Inc., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Turkey
| | - Nicolette Casarcia
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA
| | - Anupam Bishayee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA.
| | - Mina Mirian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran.
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26
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Mehdi A, Attias M, Arakelian A, Szyf M, Piccirillo CA, Rabbani SA. S-adenosylmethionine blocks tumorigenesis and with immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances anti-cancer efficacy against BRAF mutant and wildtype melanomas. Neoplasia 2023; 36:100874. [PMID: 36638586 PMCID: PMC9840362 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite marked success in treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI), only a third of patients are responsive. Thus, melanoma still has one of the highest prevalence and mortality rates; which has led to a search for novel combination therapies that might complement CPI. Aberrant methylomes are one of the mechanisms of resistance to CPI therapy. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), methyl donor of important epigenetic processes, has significant anti-cancer effects in several malignancies; however, SAM's effect has never been extensively investigated in melanoma. We demonstrate that SAM modulates phenotype switching of melanoma cells and directs the cells towards differentiation indicated by increased melanogenesis (melanin and melanosome synthesis), melanocyte-like morphology, elevated Mitf and Mitf activators' expression, increased antigen expression, reduced proliferation, and reduced stemness genes' expression. Consistently, providing SAM orally, reduced tumor growth and progression, and metastasis of syngeneic BRAF mutant and wild-type (WT) melanoma mouse models. Of note, SAM and anti-PD-1 antibody combination treatment had enhanced anti-cancer efficacy compared to monotherapies, showed significant reduction in tumor growth and progression, and increased survival. Furthermore, SAM and anti-PD-1 antibody combination triggered significantly higher immune cell infiltration, higher CD8+ T cells infiltration and effector functions, and polyfunctionality of CD8+ T cells in YUMMER1.7 tumors. Therefore, SAM combined with CPI provides a novel therapeutic strategy against BRAF mutant and WT melanomas and provides potential to be translated into clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mehdi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Program in Metabolic Disorders and Complications (MeDiC), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Blvd. (Glen site), Room EM1.3232, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - M Attias
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - A Arakelian
- Program in Metabolic Disorders and Complications (MeDiC), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Blvd. (Glen site), Room EM1.3232, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - M Szyf
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - C A Piccirillo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - S A Rabbani
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Program in Metabolic Disorders and Complications (MeDiC), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Blvd. (Glen site), Room EM1.3232, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
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27
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Bianchi A, von Deimling M, Pallauf M, Yanagisawa T, Kawada T, Mostafaei H, Quhal F, Laukhtina E, Rajwa P, Majdoub M, Motlagh RS, Pradere B, Karakiewicz PI, Cerruto MA, Antonelli A, Shariat SF. Perspectives on the future of urothelial carcinoma therapy: chemotherapy and beyond. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:177-195. [PMID: 36440477 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2150966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite recent developments in the landscape of urothelial carcinoma (UC) treatment, platinum combination chemotherapy still remains a milestone. Recently immunotherapeutic agents have gained ever-growing attractivity, particularly in the metastatic setting. Novel chemotherapeutic strategies and agents, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and powerful combination regimens have been developed to overcome the resistance of most UC to current therapies. AREAS COVERED Herein, we review the current standard-of-care chemotherapy, the development of ADCs, the rationale for combining therapy regimens with chemotherapy in current trials, and future directions in UC management. EXPERT OPINION Immunotherapy has prompted a revolution in the treatment paradigm of UC. However, only a few patients experience a long-term response when treated with single-agent immunotherapies. Combination treatments are necessary to bypass resistance mechanisms and broaden the clinical utility of current options. Current evidence supports the intensification of standard-of-care chemotherapy with maintenance immunotherapy. However, the optimal sequence, combination, and duration must be determined to achieve individual longevity with acceptable health-related quality of life. In that regard, ADCs appear as a promising alternative for single and combination strategies in UC, as they specifically target the tumor cells, thereby, theoretically improving treatment efficacy and avoiding extensive off-target toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Bianchi
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Markus von Deimling
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Pallauf
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, University Hospital Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Takafumi Yanagisawa
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Kawada
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hadi Mostafaei
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Research Center for Evidence Based Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fahad Quhal
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ekaterina Laukhtina
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pawel Rajwa
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Muhammad Majdoub
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
| | - Reza Sari Motlagh
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Benjamin Pradere
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Urology, La Croix Du Sud Hospital, Quint Fonsegrives, France
| | - Pierre I Karakiewicz
- Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, University of Montreal Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Maria Angela Cerruto
- Department of Urology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Urology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Shahrokh F Shariat
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.,Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Karl Landsteiner Institute of Urology and Andrology, Vienna, Austria
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28
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Kumar U, Castellanos-Uribe M, May ST, Yagüe E. Adaptive resistance is not responsible for long-term drug resistance in a cellular model of triple negative breast cancer. Gene 2023; 850:146930. [PMID: 36195266 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to cancer therapeutics represents a leading cause of mortality and is particularly important in cancers, such as triple negative breast cancer, for which no targeted therapy is available, as these are only treated with traditional chemotherapeutics. Cancer, as well as bacterial, drug resistance can be intrinsic, acquired or adaptive. Adaptive cancer drug resistance is gaining attention as a mechanism for the generation of long-term drug resistance as is the case with bacterial antibiotic resistance. We have used a cellular model of triple negative breast cancer (CAL51) and its drug resistance derivative (CALDOX) to gain insight into genome-wide expression changes associated with long-term doxorubicin (a widely used anthracycline for cancer treatment) resistance and doxorubicin-induced stress. Previous work indicates that both naïve and resistance cells have a functional p53-p21 axis controlling cell cycle at G1, although this is not a driver for drug resistance, but down-regulation of TOP2A (topoisomerase IIα). As expected, CALDOX cells have a signature characterized, in addition to down-regulation of TOP2A, by genes and pathways associated with drug resistance, metastasis and stemness. Both CAL51 and CALDOX stress signatures share 12 common genes (TRIM22, FAS, SPATA18, SULF2, CDKN1A, GDF15, MYO6, CXCL5, CROT, EPPK1, ZMAT3 and CD44), with roles in the above-mentioned pathways, indicating that these cells have similar functional responses to doxorubicin relaying on the p53 control of apoptosis. Eight genes are shared by both drug stress signatures (in CAL51 and CALDOX cells) and CALDOX resistant cells (FAS, SULF2, CDKN1A, CXCL5, CD44, SPATA18, TRIM22 and CROT), many of them targets of p53. This corroborates experimental data indicating that CALDOX cells, even in the absence of drug, have activated, at least partially, the p53-p21 axis and DNA damage response. Although this eight-gene signature might be an indicator of adaptive resistance, as this transient phenomenon due to short-term stress may not revert to its original state upon withdrawal of the stressor, previous experimental data indicates that the p53-p21 axis is not responsible for doxorubicin resistance. Importantly, TOP2A is not responsive to doxorubicin treatment and thus absent in both drug stress signatures. This indicates that during the generation of doxorubicin resistance, cells acquire genetic changes likely to be random, leading to down regulation of TOP2A, but selected during the generation of cells due to the presence of drug in the culture medium. This poses a considerable constraint for the development of strategies aimed at avoiding the emergence of drug resistance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttom Kumar
- Division of Cancer, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Marcos Castellanos-Uribe
- Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Sean T May
- Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Ernesto Yagüe
- Division of Cancer, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
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29
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Eid RA, Eldeen MA, Soltan MA, Al-Shraim M, Aldehri M, Alqahtani LS, Alsharif G, Albogami S, Jafri I, Fayad E, Park MN, Bibi S, Behairy MY, Kim B, Zaki MSA. Integrative analysis of WDR12 as a potential prognostic and immunological biomarker in multiple human tumors. Front Genet 2023; 13:1008502. [PMID: 36726716 PMCID: PMC9885372 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1008502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Mammalian WD-repeat protein 12 (WDR12), a family member of proteins containing repeats of tryptophan-aspartic acid (WD), is a potential homolog of yeast Ytm1p and consists of seven repeats of WD. Aim of the study: This study aims to investigate the potential oncogenic effects of WDR12 in various human malignancies throughout a pan-cancer analysis that has been carried out to examine the various patterns in which this gene is expressed and behaves in tumor tissues. Methods: Herein, we used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and various computational tools to explore expression profiles, prognostic relevance, genetic mutations, immune cell infiltration, as well as the functional characteristics of WDR12 in multiple human cancers. Results: We found that WDR12 was inconsistently expressed in various cancers and that variations in WDR12 expression predicted survival consequences for cancer patients. Furthermore, we observed a significant correlation between WDR12 gene mutation levels and the prognosis of some tumors. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between WDR12 expression patterns and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) infiltration, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability and immunoregulators. Ultimately, pathway enrichment analysis revealed that WDR12-related pathways are involved in carcinogenesis. Conclusions: The findings of our study are stisfactory, demonstrating that WDR12 could serve as a promising reliable prognostic biomarker, as well as a therapeutic target for novel cancer therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Refaat A. Eid
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Alaa Eldeen
- Cell Biology, Histology & Genetics Division, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt,*Correspondence: Muhammad Alaa Eldeen, ; Bonglee Kim,
| | - Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mubarak Al-Shraim
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed Aldehri
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena S. Alqahtani
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghadi Alsharif
- College of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Albogami
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Jafri
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman Fayad
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Moon Nyeo Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Shabana Bibi
- Department of Biosciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan,Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Mohammed Y. Behairy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea,*Correspondence: Muhammad Alaa Eldeen, ; Bonglee Kim,
| | - Mohamed Samir A. Zaki
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia,Department of Histology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
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Zhou Z, Jin H, Xu J. A gene signature driven by abnormally methylated DEGs was developed for TP53 wild-type ovarian cancer samples by integrative omics analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression data. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2023; 11:20. [PMID: 36760264 PMCID: PMC9906212 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-5764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Integrated omics analysis based on transcriptome and DNA methylation data combined with machine learning methods is very promising for the diagnosis, prognosis, and classification of cancer. In this study, the DNA methylation and gene expression data of ovarian cancer (OC) were analyzed to identify abnormally methylated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), screen potential therapeutic agents for OC, and construct a risk model based on the abnormally methylated DEGs to predict patient prognosis. Methods The gene expression and DNA methylation data of primary OC samples with tumor protein 53 (TP53) wild-type and normal samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. DEGs with aberrant methylation were analyzed by screening the intersection between DEGs and differentially methylated genes (DMGs). We attempted to search for potential drugs targeting DEGs with aberrant methylation by employing a network medicine framework. A gene signature based on the DEGs with aberrant methylation was constructed by regularized least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Results A total of 440 aberrant methylated DEGs were screened. Based on their gene expression profiles and methylation data from different regions, the results of both discriminative pattern recognition analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) showed a significant separation between tumor tissue and healthy ovarian tissue. In total, 126 potential therapeutic drugs were identified for OC by network-based proximity analysis. Five genes were identified in 440 aberrant methylated DEGs, which formed an aberrant methylated DEGs-driven gene signature. This signature could significantly distinguish the different overall survivals (OS) of OC patients and showed better predictive performance in both the training and validation sets. Conclusions In this study, the DNA methylation and gene expression data of OC were analyzed to identify abnormally methylated DEGs and potential therapeutic drugs, and a gene signature based on five aberrant methylation DEGs was constructed, which could better predict the risk of death in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zhou
- Gynaecology Department, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Hang Jin
- Gynaecology Department, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Reproductive Center, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
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Intraovarian condensed platelet cytokines for infertility and menopause-Mirage or miracle? Biochimie 2023; 204:41-47. [PMID: 36075561 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
On a therapeutic landscape unchanged since the 1980's, oocyte donation with IVF still stands as the solitary medical answer to diminished reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency. In 2016, intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) crossed the horizon as a hopeful reply to these intertwined problems. The once remote mirage of platelet cytokine effects on gene regulation or telomere stabilization has been brought into sharper focus, with current work clarifying how PRP corrects oxidative stress, rectifies tissue hypoxia, downregulates apoptosis, and enhances cellular metabolism. Not yet ready for routine use, this innovative treatment has already offered at least one point of early consensus: How intraovarian PRP results should be classified-Patients are either responders or non-responders. From this it is intriguing that no published PRP protocol has ever reported a supranormal ovarian rebound or hyperstimulation effect. This might be explained by baseline age-related ovarian conditions prevalent among poor responders, but since dysregulated or malignant transformations are also missing in other tissue contexts following autologous PRP treatment, the contribution of some platelet product which intrinsically delimits regenerative action cannot be discounted. Here we summarize results with recent experimental and clinical platelet research, framing those most likely to help advance reproductive endocrinology practice.
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Fabrizio FP, Sparaneo A, Muscarella LA. Monitoring EGFR-lung cancer evolution: a possible beginning of a "methylation era" in TKI resistance prediction. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1137384. [PMID: 37152062 PMCID: PMC10157092 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1137384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The advances in scientific knowledge on biological therapies of the last two decades have impressively oriented the clinical management of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients harboring Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations is dramatically associated with an improvement in disease control. Anyhow, the prognosis for this selected group of patients remains unfavorable, due to the innate and/or acquired resistance to biological therapies. The methylome analysis of many tumors revealed multiple patterns of methylation at single/multiple cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites that are linked to the modulation of several cellular pathways involved in cancer onset and progression. In lung cancer patients, ever increasing evidences also suggest that the association between DNA methylation changes at promoter/intergenic regions and the consequent alteration of gene-expression signatures could be related to the acquisition of resistance to biological therapies. Despite this intriguing hypothesis, large confirmatory studies are demanded to consolidate and finalize many preliminary observations made in this field. In this review, we will summarize the available knowledge about the dynamic role of DNA methylation in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.
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Soltan MA, Eldeen MA, Eid RA, Alyamani NM, Alqahtani LS, Albogami S, Jafri I, Park MN, Alsharif G, Fayad E, Mohamed G, Osman R, Kim B, Zaki MSA. A pan-cancer analysis reveals CHD1L as a prognostic and immunological biomarker in several human cancers. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1017148. [PMID: 37033447 PMCID: PMC10076660 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1017148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Several recent studies pointed out that chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1-like (CHD1L) is a putative oncogene in many human tumors. However, up to date, there is no pan-cancer analysis performed to study the different aspects of this gene expression and behavior in tumor tissues. Methods: Here, we applied several bioinformatics tools to make a comprehensive analysis for CHD1L. Firstly we assessed the expression of CHD1L in several types of human tumors and tried to correlate that with the stage and grade of the analyzed tumors. Following that, we performed a survival analysis to study the correlation between CHD1L upregulation in tumors and the clinical outcome. Additionally, we investigated the mutation forms, the correlation with several immune cell infiltration, and the potential molecular mechanisms of CHD1L in the tumor tissue. Result and discussion: The results demonstrated that CHD1L is a highly expressed gene across several types of tumors and that was correlated with a poor prognosis for most cancer patients. Moreover, it was found that CHD1L affects the tumor immune microenvironment by influencing the infiltration level of several immune cells. Collectively, the current study provides a comprehensive overview of the oncogenic roles of CHD1L where our results nominate CHD1L as a potential prognostic biomarker and target for antitumor therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Ismailia, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Mohamed A. Soltan, ; Bonglee Kim,
| | - Muhammad Alaa Eldeen
- Cell Biology, Histology and Genetics Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Refaat A. Eid
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najiah M. Alyamani
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena S. Alqahtani
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Albogami
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Jafri
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Moon Nyeo Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ghadi Alsharif
- College of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman Fayad
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gamal Mohamed
- Department of Human Anatomy, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saydi Arabia
| | - Rihab Osman
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Mohamed A. Soltan, ; Bonglee Kim,
| | - Mohamed Samir A. Zaki
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
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Maksimova VP, Usalka OG, Makus YV, Popova VG, Trapeznikova ES, Khayrieva GI, Sagitova GR, Zhidkova EM, Prus AY, Yakubovskaya MG, Kirsanov KI. Aberrations of DNA methylation in cancer. ADVANCES IN MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.17650/2313-805x-2022-9-4-24-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a chromatin modification that plays an important role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Changes in DNA methylation patterns are characteristic of many malignant neoplasms. DNA methylation is occurred by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), while demethylation is mediated by TET family proteins. Mutations and changes in the expression profile of these enzymes lead to DNA hypo- and hypermethylation and have a strong impact on carcinogenesis. In this review, we considered the key aspects of the mechanisms of regulation of DNA methylation and demethylation, and also analyzed the role of DNA methyltransferases and TET family proteins in the pathogenesis of various malignant neoplasms.During the preparation of the review, we used the following biomedical literature information bases: Scopus (504), PubMed (553), Web of Science (1568), eLibrary (190). To obtain full-text documents, the electronic resources of PubMed Central (PMC), Science Direct, Research Gate, CyberLeninka were used. To analyze the mutational profile of epigenetic regulatory enzymes, we used the cBioportal portal (https://www.cbioportal.org / ), data from The AACR Project GENIE Consortium (https://www.mycancergenome.org / ), COSMIC, Clinvar, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).
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Affiliation(s)
- V. P. Maksimova
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - O. G. Usalka
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - Yu. V. Makus
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia
| | - V. G. Popova
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia; Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
| | - E. S. Trapeznikova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - G. I. Khayrieva
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - G. R. Sagitova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - E. M. Zhidkova
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - A. Yu. Prus
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia; MIREA – Russian Technological University
| | - M. G. Yakubovskaya
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - K. I. Kirsanov
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia
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Nirgude S, Desai S, Choudhary B. Genome-wide differential DNA methylation analysis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells treated with curcumin derivatives, ST08 and ST09. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:807. [PMID: 36474139 PMCID: PMC9727864 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09041-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
ST08 and ST09 are potent curcumin derivatives with antiproliferative, apoptotic, and migrastatic properties. Both ST08 and ST09 exhibit in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties. As reported earlier, these derivatives were highly cytotoxic towards MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells with IC50 values in the nanomolar (40-80nM) range.In this study,we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing(WGBS) of untreated (control), ST08 and ST09 (treated) triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 to unravel epigenetic changes induced by the drug. We identified differentially methylated sites (DMSs) enriched in promoter regions across the genome. Analysis of the CpG island promoter methylation identified 12 genes common to both drugs, and 50% of them are known to be methylated in patient samples that were hypomethylated by drugs belonging to the homeobox family transcription factors.Methylation analysis of the gene body revealed 910 and 952 genes to be hypermethylatedin ST08 and ST09 treated MDA-MB-231 cells respectively. Correlation of the gene body hypermethylation with expression revealed CACNAH1 to be upregulated in ST08 treatment and CDH23 upregulation in ST09.Further, integrated analysis of the WGBS with RNA-seq identified uniquely altered pathways - ST08 altered ECM pathway, and ST09 cell cycle, indicating drug-specific signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehal Nirgude
- grid.418831.70000 0004 0500 991XInstitute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Electronic city phase 1, 560100 Bangalore, India ,grid.239552.a0000 0001 0680 8770Working at Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 19104 Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Sagar Desai
- grid.418831.70000 0004 0500 991XInstitute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Electronic city phase 1, 560100 Bangalore, India
| | - Bibha Choudhary
- grid.418831.70000 0004 0500 991XInstitute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Electronic city phase 1, 560100 Bangalore, India
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Eid RA, Soltan MA, Eldeen MA, Shati AA, Dawood SA, Eissa M, Zaki MSA, Algahtani M, Theyab A, Abdel-Daim MM, Kim B. Assessment of RACGAP1 as a Prognostic and Immunological Biomarker in Multiple Human Tumors: A Multiomics Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214102. [PMID: 36430577 PMCID: PMC9695706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Several recent studies have pointed out that arc GTPase activating protein 1 (RACGAP1) is a putative oncogene in many human tumors. However, to date, no pan-cancer analysis has been performed to study the different aspects of this gene expression and behavior in tumor tissues. Here, we applied several bioinformatics tools to perform a comprehensive analysis for RACGAP1. First, we assessed the expression of RACGAP1 in several types of human tumors and tried to correlate that with the stage of the tumors analyzed. We then performed a survival analysis to study the correlation between RACGAP1 upregulation in tumors and the clinical outcome. Additionally, we investigated the mutation forms, the correlation with several immune cell infiltration, the phosphorylation status of the interested protein in normal and tumor tissues, and the potential molecular mechanisms of RACGAP1 in cancerous tissue. The results demonstrated that RACGAP1, a highly expressed gene across several types of tumors, correlated with a poor prognosis in several types of human cancers. Moreover, it was found that RACGAP1 affects the tumor immune microenvironment by influencing the infiltration level of several immune cells. Collectively, the current study provides a comprehensive overview of the oncogenic roles of RACGAP1, where our results nominate it as a potential prognostic biomarker and a target for antitumor therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Refaat A. Eid
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Ismailia 41611, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Alaa Eldeen
- Cell Biology, Histology & Genetics Division, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
- Correspondence: (M.A.E.); (B.K.)
| | - Ayed A. Shati
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samy A. Dawood
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Eissa
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Samir A. Zaki
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 31527, Egypt
| | - Mohammad Algahtani
- Department of Laboratory & Blood Bank, Security Forces Hospital, Mecca P.O. Box 14799, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman Theyab
- Department of Laboratory & Blood Bank, Security Forces Hospital, Mecca P.O. Box 14799, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh P.O. Box 50927, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah P.O. Box 6231, Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (M.A.E.); (B.K.)
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Neary B, Lin S, Qiu P. Methylation of CpG Sites as Biomarkers Predictive of Drug-Specific
Patient Survival in Cancer. Cancer Inform 2022; 21:11769351221131124. [PMID: 36340286 PMCID: PMC9634212 DOI: 10.1177/11769351221131124] [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: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Though the development of targeted cancer drugs continues to accelerate,
doctors still lack reliable methods for predicting patient response to
standard-of-care therapies for most cancers. DNA methylation has been
implicated in tumor drug response and is a promising source of predictive
biomarkers of drug efficacy, yet the relationship between drug efficacy and
DNA methylation remains largely unexplored. Method: In this analysis, we performed log-rank survival analyses on patients grouped
by cancer and drug exposure to find CpG sites where binary methylation
status is associated with differential survival in patients treated with a
specific drug but not in patients with the same cancer who were not exposed
to that drug. We also clustered these drug-specific CpG sites based on
co-methylation among patients to identify broader methylation patterns that
may be related to drug efficacy, which we investigated for transcription
factor binding site enrichment using gene set enrichment analysis. Results: We identified CpG sites that were drug-specific predictors of survival in 38
cancer-drug patient groups across 15 cancers and 20 drugs. These included 11
CpG sites with similar drug-specific survival effects in multiple cancers.
We also identified 76 clusters of CpG sites with stronger associations with
patient drug response, many of which contained CpG sites in gene promoters
containing transcription factor binding sites. Conclusion: These findings are promising biomarkers of drug response for a variety of
drugs and contribute to our understanding of drug-methylation interactions
in cancer. Investigation and validation of these results could lead to the
development of targeted co-therapies aimed at manipulating methylation in
order to improve efficacy of commonly used therapies and could improve
patient survival and quality of life by furthering the effort toward drug
response prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Neary
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shuting Lin
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peng Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Peng Qiu, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic
Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA.
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Santos RDS, Hirth CG, Pinheiro DP, Bezerra MJB, Silva-Fernandes IJDL, Paula DSD, Alves APNN, Moraes Filho MOD, Moura ADAA, Lima MVA, Pessoa CDÓ, Furtado CLM. HPV infection and 5mC/5hmC epigenetic markers in penile squamous cell carcinoma: new insights into prognostics. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:133. [PMID: 36284309 PMCID: PMC9597985 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01360-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Penile cancer is one of the most aggressive male tumors. Although it is preventable, the main etiologic causes are lifestyle behaviors and viral infection, such as human papillomavirus (HPV). Long-term epigenetic changes due to environmental factors change cell fate and promote carcinogenesis, being an important marker of prognosis. We evaluated epidemiological aspects of penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the prevalence of HPV infection using high-risk HPV (hrHPV) and p16INK4A expression of 224 participants. Global DNA methylation was evaluated through 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). RESULTS The incidence of HPV was 53.2% for hrHPV and 22.32% for p16INK4a. hrHPV was not related to systemic or lymph node metastasis and locoregional recurrence, nor influenced the survival rate. P16INK4a seems to be a protective factor for death, which does not affect metastasis or tumor recurrence. Lymph node and systemic metastases and locoregional recurrence increase the risk of death. An increased 5mC mark was observed in penile SCC regardless of HPV infection. However, there is a reduction of the 5hmC mark for p16INK4a + (P = 0.024). Increased 5mC/5hmC ratio (> 1) was observed in 94.2% of penile SCC, irrespective of HPV infection. Despite the increase in 5mC, it seems not to affect the survival rate (HR = 1.06; 95% CI 0.33-3.38). CONCLUSIONS P16INK4a seems to be a good prognosis marker for penile SCC and the increase in 5mC, an epigenetic mark of genomic stability, may support tumor progression leading to poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan da Silva Santos
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Pascoalino Pinheiro
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | | | - Dayrine Silveira de Paula
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes Alves
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil ,grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Department of Dental Clinic, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Manoel Odorico de Moraes Filho
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil ,grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Venício Alves Lima
- Laboratory of Pathology, Cancer Institute of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil ,Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cancer Institute of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Claudia do Ó Pessoa
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Cristiana Libardi Miranda Furtado
- grid.8395.70000 0001 2160 0329Drug Research and Development Center, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil ,grid.412275.70000 0004 4687 5259Experimental Biology Center, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, Brazil
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de Almeida BC, dos Anjos LG, Dobroff AS, Baracat EC, Yang Q, Al-Hendy A, Carvalho KC. Epigenetic Features in Uterine Leiomyosarcoma and Endometrial Stromal Sarcomas: An Overview of the Literature. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102567. [PMID: 36289829 PMCID: PMC9599831 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102567] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a consensus that epigenetic alterations play a key role in cancer initiation and its biology. Studies evaluating the modification in the DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling patterns, as well as gene regulation profile by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have led to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to treat several tumor types. Indeed, despite clinical and translational challenges, combinatorial therapies employing agents targeting epigenetic modifications with conventional approaches have shown encouraging results. However, for rare neoplasia such as uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS) and endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS), treatment options are still limited. LMS has high chromosomal instability and molecular derangements, while ESS can present a specific gene fusion signature. Although they are the most frequent types of “pure” uterine sarcomas, these tumors are difficult to diagnose, have high rates of recurrence, and frequently develop resistance to current treatment options. The challenges involving the management of these tumors arise from the fact that the molecular mechanisms governing their progression have not been entirely elucidated. Hence, to fill this gap and highlight the importance of ongoing and future studies, we have cross-referenced the literature on uterine LMS and ESS and compiled the most relevant epigenetic studies, published between 2009 and 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Cristine de Almeida
- Laboratório de Ginecologia Estrutural e Molecular (LIM 58), Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Laura Gonzalez dos Anjos
- Laboratório de Ginecologia Estrutural e Molecular (LIM 58), Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Andrey Senos Dobroff
- UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, (UNM) School of Medicine, UNM Health Sciences Center, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Edmund Chada Baracat
- Laboratório de Ginecologia Estrutural e Molecular (LIM 58), Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Qiwei Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ayman Al-Hendy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Katia Candido Carvalho
- Laboratório de Ginecologia Estrutural e Molecular (LIM 58), Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-011-3061-7486
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High DNAJA4 expression correlates with poor survival outcomes in breast cancer. REV ROMANA MED LAB 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/rrlm-2022-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: DNAJA4 (PRO1472) is a heat shock protein that has been associated with several types of cancers, including breast cancer. We aimed to reveal the protein expression, clinical outcomes, and regulatory mechanisms of DNAJA4 gene in breast cancer by employing tissue microarrays, transcriptomic datasets, and in-silico tools.
Methods: DNAJA4 protein expression and its clinical implications were evaluated by immunohistochemistry assay (normals = 32; tumors = 121). RNA-seq and DNA microarray datasets were analyzed by using breast cancer gene-expression miner (Bc-GenExMiner v4.8) to estimate the survival probabilities of breast cancer patients. DNAJA4 promoter methylation level was analyzed in clinical samples by UALCAN in-silico tool (normals = 97; tumors = 793).
Results: DNAJA4 protein expression is significantly high in clinical breast cancer samples compared to the normal samples (P = 0.016). High DNAJA4 mRNA expression is correlated with poor overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). Mutations or copy number variations of DNAJA4 are uncommon in clinical samples. Reduced promoter methylation was observed in clinical breast cancer samples.
Conclusion: We suggest DNAJA4 expression as a new biomarker candidate for breast cancer. Promoter hypomethylation could be an important epigenetic factor in the upregulation of DNAJA4 expression in breast cancer.
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Shen Y, Nussbaum YI, Manjunath Y, Hummel JJ, Ciorba MA, Warren WC, Kaifi JT, Papageorgiou C, Cortese R, Shyu CR, Mitchem JB. TBX21 Methylation as a Potential Regulator of Immune Suppression in CMS1 Subtype Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194594. [PMID: 36230517 PMCID: PMC9558549 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration is associated with survival, recurrence, and therapeutic response in colorectal cancer (CRC). Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, which requires CTLs for response, does not work for most CRC patients. Therefore, it is critical to improve our understanding of immune resistance in this disease. We utilized 2391 CRC patients and 7 omics datasets, integrating clinical and genomic data to determine how DNA methylation may impact survival and CTL function in CRC. Using comprehensive molecular subtype (CMS) 1 patients as reference, we found TBX21 to be the only gene with altered expression and methylation that was associated with CTL infiltration. We found that CMS1 patients with high TBX21 expression and low methylation had a significant survival advantage. To confirm the role of Tbx21 in CTL function, we utilized scRNAseq data, demonstrating the association of TBX21 with markers of enhanced CTL function. Further analysis using pathway enrichment found that the genes TBX21, MX1, and SP140 had altered expression and methylation, suggesting that the TP53/P53 pathway may modify TBX21 methylation to upregulate TBX21 expression. Together, this suggests that targeting epigenetic modification more specifically for therapy and patient stratification may provide improved outcomes in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Shen
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yulia I. Nussbaum
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yariswamy Manjunath
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Justin J. Hummel
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Matthew A. Ciorba
- School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Wesley C. Warren
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jussuf T. Kaifi
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Christos Papageorgiou
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Rene Cortese
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Chi-Ren Shyu
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jonathan B. Mitchem
- Institute for Data Science & Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence:
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Novel epigenetic therapeutic strategies and targets in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166552. [PMID: 36126898 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The critical role of dysregulated epigenetic pathways in cancer genesis, development, and therapy has typically been established as a result of scientific and technical innovations in next generation sequencing. RNA interference, histone modification, DNA methylation and chromatin remodelling are epigenetic processes that control gene expression without causing mutations in the DNA. Although epigenetic abnormalities are thought to be a symptom of cell tumorigenesis and malignant events that impact tumor growth and drug resistance, physicians believe that related processes might be a key therapeutic target for cancer treatment and prevention due to the reversible nature of these processes. A plethora of novel strategies for addressing epigenetics in cancer therapy for immuno-oncological complications are currently available - ranging from basic treatment to epigenetic editing. - and they will be the subject of this comprehensive review. In this review, we cover most of the advancements made in the field of targeting epigenetics with special emphasis on microbiology, plasma science, biophysics, pharmacology, molecular biology, phytochemistry, and nanoscience.
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Tetrahydrocurcumin Chemosensitizes Breast Cancer to Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel by Enhancing SPARC Expression through Demethylation. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:7961537. [PMID: 36157225 PMCID: PMC9507704 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7961537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Paclitaxel is an effective chemotherapy drug for breast cancer (BC); however, drug resistance affects long-term clinical applications. In this study, we aimed to explore whether a natural compound, tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), could sensitize BC to albumin-bound paclitaxel (ab-PTX). The in vitro sensitization effect of THC to ab-PTX was evaluated in human BC cell lines, and in vivo chemosensitivity was measured using a xenograft BC tumor model. The expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), a speculated protein interacting with ab-PTX, was measured. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to further explore whether demethylation of SPARC by THC contributed to its chemosensitivity capabilities. Higher SPARC expression was correlated with a better prognosis in patients with BC. In vitro analysis showed THC enhanced the inhibitory effect of ab-PTX on BC cells and xenograft tumors and showed significant chemosensitivity. This enhancement mainly relied on upregulating the expression of SPARC through downregulating methylation of the SPARC gene. The demethylating agent, 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-Cdr), decreased THC's chemosensitivity effect, further confirming this molecular mechanism. THC enhanced the inhibitory effect of ab-PTX in BC by downregulating methylation of the SPARC gene. Further, upregulated SPARC increased the efficacy of ab-PTX.
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Palazzolo S, Canzonieri V, Rizzolio F. The history of small extracellular vesicles and their implication in cancer drug resistance. Front Oncol 2022; 12:948843. [PMID: 36091133 PMCID: PMC9451101 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.948843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the last 20 years are demonstrated to possess promising properties as potential new drug delivery systems, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Moreover, EVs are described to be involved in the most important steps of tumor development and progression including drug resistance. The acquired or intrinsic capacity of cancer cells to resist chemotherapies is one of the greatest obstacles to overcome to improve the prognosis of many patients. EVs are involved in this mechanism by exporting the drugs outside the cells and transferring the drug efflux pumps and miRNAs in recipient cells, in turn inducing drug resistance. In this mini-review, the main mechanisms by which EVs are involved in drug resistance are described, giving a rapid and clear overview of the field to the readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Palazzolo
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Canzonieri
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
- Department of Molecular Science and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscary University, Venice, Italy
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45
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Fabrizio FP, Castellana S, Centra F, Sparaneo A, Mastroianno M, Mazza T, Coco M, Trombetta D, Cingolani N, Centonza A, Graziano P, Maiello E, Fazio VM, Muscarella LA. Design and experimental validation of OPERA_MET-A panel for deep methylation analysis by next generation sequencing. Front Oncol 2022; 12:968804. [PMID: 36033501 PMCID: PMC9404304 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.968804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is the most recognized epigenetic mark that leads to a massive distortion in cancer cells. It has been observed that a large number of DNA aberrant methylation events occur simultaneously in a group of genes, thus providing a growth advantage to the cell in promoting cell differentiation and neoplastic transformation. Due to this reason, methylation profiles have been suggested as promising cancer biomarkers. Here, we designed and performed a first step of validation of a novel targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) panel for methylation analysis, which can simultaneously evaluate the methylation levels at CpG sites of multiple cancer-related genes. The OPERA_MET-A methylation panel was designed using the Ion AmpliSeq™ technology to amplify 155 regions with 125-175 bp mean length and covers a total of 1107 CpGs of 18 cancer-related genes. The performance of the panel was assessed by running commercially available fully methylated and unmethylated control human genomic DNA (gDNA) samples and a variable mixture of them. The libraries were run on Ion Torrent platform and the sequencing output was analyzed using the “methylation_analysis” plugin. DNA methylation calls on both Watson (W) and Crick (C) strands and methylated:unmethylated ratio for each CpG site were obtained. Cell lines, fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung cancer tissues were tested. The OPERA_MET-A panel allows to run a minimum of 6 samples/530 chip to reach an observed mean target depth ≥2,500X (W and C strands) and an average number of mapped reads >750,000/sample. The conversion efficiency, determined by spiking-in unmethylated Lambda DNA into each sample before the bisulfite conversion process, was >97% for all samples. The observed percentage of global methylation for all CpGs was >95% and <5% for fully methylated and unmethylated gDNA samples, respectively, and the observed results for the variable mixtures were in agreement with what was expected. Methylation-specific NGS analysis represents a feasible method for a fast and multiplexed screening of cancer patients by a high-throughput approach. Moreover, it offers the opportunity to construct a more robust algorithm for disease prediction in cancer patients having a low quantity of biological material available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Pio Fabrizio
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- *Correspondence: Federico Pio Fabrizio, ; Lucia Anna Muscarella,
| | - Stefano Castellana
- Unit of Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Flavia Centra
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Angelo Sparaneo
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Mario Mastroianno
- Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Unit of Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Michelina Coco
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Domenico Trombetta
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Nicola Cingolani
- Unit of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Antonella Centonza
- Unit of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Paolo Graziano
- Unit of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Evaristo Maiello
- Unit of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Vito Michele Fazio
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Anna Muscarella
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS, Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- *Correspondence: Federico Pio Fabrizio, ; Lucia Anna Muscarella,
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Kaehler M, Litterst M, Kolarova J, Böhm R, Bruckmueller H, Ammerpohl O, Cascorbi I, Nagel I. Genome‑wide expression and methylation analyses reveal aberrant cell adhesion signaling in tyrosine kinase inhibitor‑resistant CML cells. Oncol Rep 2022; 48:144. [PMID: 35730629 PMCID: PMC9245083 DOI: 10.3892/or.2022.8355] [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: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can be effectively treated using BCR-ABL1 kinase inhibitors, resistance due to kinase alterations or to BCR-ABL1 independent mechanisms remain a therapeutic challenge. For the latter, the underlying mechanisms are widely discussed; for instance, gene expression changes, epigenetic factors and alternative signaling pathway activation. In the present study, in vitro-CML cell models of resistance against the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) imatinib (0.5 and 2 µM) and nilotinib (0.1 µM) with biological replicates were generated to identify novel mechanisms of resistance. Subsequently, genome-wide mRNA expression and DNA methylation were analyzed. While mRNA expression patterns differed largely between biological replicates, there was an overlap of 71 genes differentially expressed between cells resistant against imatinib or nilotinib. Moreover, all TKI resistant cell lines demonstrated a slight hypermethylation compared with native cells. In a combined analysis of 151 genes differentially expressed in the biological replicates of imatinib resistance, cell adhesion signaling, in particular the cellular matrix protein fibronectin 1 (FN1), was significantly dysregulated. This gene was also downregulated in nilotinib resistance. Further analyses showed significant FN1-downregulation in imatinib resistance on mRNA (P<0.001) and protein level (P<0.001). SiRNA-mediated FN1-knockdown in native cells reduced cell adhesion (P=0.02), decreased imatinib susceptibility visible by higher Ki-67 expression (1.5-fold, P=0.04) and increased cell number (1.5-fold, P=0.03). Vice versa, recovery of FN1-expression in imatinib resistant cells was sufficient to partially restore the response to imatinib. Overall, these results suggested a role of cell adhesion signaling and fibronectin 1 in TKI resistant CML and a potential target for novel strategies in treatment of resistant CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Kaehler
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Schleswig‑Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Merit Litterst
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Schleswig‑Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Julia Kolarova
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm Medical Center, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ruwen Böhm
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Schleswig‑Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Henrike Bruckmueller
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Schleswig‑Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Ole Ammerpohl
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm Medical Center, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ingolf Cascorbi
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Schleswig‑Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Inga Nagel
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Schleswig‑Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
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Pokorna Z, Hrabal V, Tichy V, Vojtesek B, Coates PJ. DNA Demethylation Switches Oncogenic ΔNp63 to Tumor Suppressive TAp63 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:924354. [PMID: 35912167 PMCID: PMC9331744 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.924354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The TP63 gene encodes two major protein variants; TAp63 contains a p53-like transcription domain and consequently has tumor suppressor activities whereas ΔNp63 lacks this domain and acts as an oncogene. The two variants show distinct expression patterns in normal tissues and tumors, with lymphocytes and lymphomas/leukemias expressing TAp63, and basal epithelial cells and some carcinomas expressing high levels of ΔNp63, most notably squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Whilst the transcriptional functions of TAp63 and ΔNp63 isoforms are known, the mechanisms involved in their regulation are poorly understood. Using squamous epithelial cells that contain high levels of ΔNp63 and low/undetectable TAp63, the DNA demethylating agent decitabine (5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine, 5-dAza) caused a dose-dependent increase in TAp63, with a simultaneous reduction in ΔNp63, indicating DNA methylation-dependent regulation at the isoform-specific promoters. The basal cytokeratin KRT5, a direct ΔNp63 transcriptional target, was also reduced, confirming functional alteration of p63 activity after DNA demethylation. We also showed high level methylation of three CpG sites in the TAP63 promoter in these cells, which was reduced by decitabine. DNMT1 depletion using inducible shRNAs partially replicated these effects, including an increase in the ratio of TAP63:ΔNP63 mRNAs, a reduction in ΔNp63 protein and reduced KRT5 mRNA levels. Finally, high DNA methylation levels were found at the TAP63 promoter in clinical SCC samples and matched normal tissues. We conclude that DNA methylation at the TAP63 promoter normally silences transcription in squamous epithelial cells, indicating DNA methylation as a therapeutic approach to induce this tumor suppressor in cancer. That decitabine simultaneously reduced the oncogenic activity of ΔNp63 provides a “double whammy” for SCC and other p63-positive carcinomas. Whilst a variety of mechanisms may be involved in producing the opposite effects of DNA demethylation on TAp63 and ΔNp63, we propose an “either or” mechanism in which TAP63 transcription physically interferes with the ability to initiate transcription from the downstream ΔNP63 promoter on the same DNA strand. This mechanism can explain the observed inverse expression of p63 isoforms in normal cells and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Pokorna
- Research Center of Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czechia
| | - Vaclav Hrabal
- Research Center of Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Vlastimil Tichy
- Research Center of Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czechia
| | - Borivoj Vojtesek
- Research Center of Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czechia
| | - Philip J. Coates
- Research Center of Applied Molecular Oncology (RECAMO), Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Philip J. Coates,
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Abstract
Progesterone receptor membrane component (PGRMC) proteins play important roles in tumor growth, progression, and chemoresistance, of which PGRMC1 is the best characterized. The ancestral member predates the evolution of metazoans, so it is perhaps not surprising that many of the purported actions of PGRMC proteins are rooted in fundamental metabolic processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage responses. Despite mediating some of the actions of progesterone (P4) and being fundamentally required for female fertility, PGRMC1 and PGRMC2 are broadly expressed in most tissues. As such, these proteins likely have both progesterone-dependent and progesterone-independent functions. It has been proposed that PGRMC1 acquired the ability to mediate P4 actions over evolutionary time through acquisition of its cytochrome b5-like heme/sterol-binding domain. Diverse reproductive and nonreproductive diseases associate with altered PGRMC1 expression, epigenetic regulation, or gene silencing mechanisms, some of which include polycystic ovarian disease, premature ovarian insufficiency, endometriosis, Alzheimer disease, and cancer. Although many studies have been completed using transformed cell lines in culture or in xenograft tumor approaches, recently developed transgenic model organisms are offering new insights in the physiological actions of PGRMC proteins, as well as pathophysiological and oncogenic consequences when PGRMC expression is altered. The purpose of this mini-review is to provide an overview of PGRMC proteins in cancer and to offer discussion of where this field must go to solidify PGRMC proteins as central contributors to the oncogenic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Pru
- Correspondence: James K. Pru, PhD, Program in Reproductive Biology, Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
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Alagia A, Gullerova M. The Methylation Game: Epigenetic and Epitranscriptomic Dynamics of 5-Methylcytosine. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:915685. [PMID: 35721489 PMCID: PMC9204050 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.915685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA and RNA methylation dynamics have been linked to a variety of cellular processes such as development, differentiation, and the maintenance of genome integrity. The correct deposition and removal of methylated cytosine and its oxidized analogues is pivotal for cellular homeostasis, rapid responses to exogenous stimuli, and regulated gene expression. Uncoordinated expression of DNA/RNA methyltransferases and demethylase enzymes has been linked to genome instability and consequently to cancer progression. Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that post-transcriptional DNA/RNA modifications are important features in DNA/RNA function, regulating the timely recruitment of modification-specific reader proteins. Understanding the biological processes that lead to tumorigenesis or somatic reprogramming has attracted a lot of attention from the scientific community. This work has revealed extensive crosstalk between epigenetic and epitranscriptomic pathways, adding a new layer of complexity to our understanding of cellular programming and responses to environmental cues. One of the key modifications, m5C, has been identified as a contributor to regulation of the DNA damage response (DDR). However, the various mechanisms of dynamic m5C deposition and removal, and the role m5C plays within the cell, remains to be fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Gullerova
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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50
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Integrated computational analysis reveals HOX genes cluster as oncogenic drivers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7952. [PMID: 35562533 PMCID: PMC9106698 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11590-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in homeobox (HOX) gene expression are involved in the progression of several cancer types including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, regulation of the entire HOX cluster in the pathophysiology of HNSCC is still elusive. By using different comprehensive databases, we have identified the significance of differentially expressed HOX genes (DEHGs) in stage stratification and HPV status in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA)-HNSCC datasets. The genetic and epigenetic alterations, druggable genes, their associated functional pathways and their possible association with cancer hallmarks were identified. We have performed extensive analysis to identify the target genes of DEHGs driving HNSCC. The differentially expressed HOX cluster-embedded microRNAs (DEHMs) in HNSCC and their association with HOX-target genes were evaluated to construct a regulatory network of the HOX cluster in HNSCC. Our analysis identified sixteen DEHGs in HNSCC and determined their importance in stage stratification and HPV infection. We found a total of 55 HNSCC driver genes that were identified as targets of DEHGs. The involvement of DEHGs and their targets in cancer-associated signaling mechanisms have confirmed their role in pathophysiology. Further, we found that their oncogenic nature could be targeted by using the novel and approved anti-neoplastic drugs in HNSCC. Construction of the regulatory network depicted the interaction between DEHGs, DEHMs and their targets genes in HNSCC. Hence, aberrantly expressed HOX cluster genes function in a coordinated manner to drive HNSCC. It could provide a broad perspective to carry out the experimental investigation, to understand the underlying oncogenic mechanism and allow the discovery of new clinical biomarkers for HNSCC.
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