NUF2 overexpression contributes to epithelial ovarian cancer progression via ERBB3-mediated PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling axes

Expression of NUF2 and CD52 and Their Correlation With Chemotherapy Resistance and Prognosis in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors. This study aim to investigate the expression of cell division related gene cell division cycle related protein 2 (NUF2) and immune-related gene CD52 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their correlation with chemotherapy resistance and clinical prognosis. The cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of 72 patients with NSCLC were collected. According to the staining results, the patients were divided into NUF2 positive and negative expression groups, and CD52 positive and negative expression groups. The relationship of NUF2 and CD52 with clinicopathological features and chemoresistance was analyzed. The patients were followed up for 5 years, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the relationship. COX regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors. The positive expression rate of NUF2 in NSCLC tissues was 66.67% (48/72), which was significantly higher than 38.89% (28/72) in adjacent tissues (p < 0.05). The positive expression rate of CD52 in NSCLC tissues was also higher than the adjacent tissues (p < 0.05). NUF2 expression was related to the degree of differentiation, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and pleural invasion in NSCLC patients (p < 0.05). The expression of CD52 was related to TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, vascular tumor thrombus and pleural invasion (p < 0.05). The median survival time of patients with positive CD52 and NUF2 expression was lower than patients with negative expression (p < 0.05). Platinum-resistance, lymph node metastasis, pleural invasion, NUF2 and CD52 positive expression were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of NSCLC (p < 0.05). In conclusion, NUF2 and CD52 are independent risk factors for poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC. They may be used as one of the indicators to evaluate drug resistance and prognosis of patients.

NUF2 activated by YY1 promotes prostate cancer malignancy via p38/MAPK signaling axis and serves as a therapeutic target

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the male urogenital system. Despite extensive research into its mechanisms of initiation and progression, the full scope of its pathophysiology remains insufficiently understood. This study demonstrated that NUF2 was significantly overexpressed in PCa, with its elevated levels correlating with poor patient survival outcomes. Silencing NUF2 notably impaired PCa cell proliferation and metastasis in both in vitro and in vivo models, whereas its overexpression promoted these processes. Additionally, YY1 was identified as a direct transcriptional activator of NUF2, binding to its promoter and enhancing its oncogenic effects through activation of downstream targets. Moreover, NUF2 promoted PCa progression by recruiting p38, accelerating its phosphorylation, and activating the p38/MAPK signaling pathway. Through the PubChem database, fisetin was identified as a small molecule inhibitor of NUF2. Fisetin effectively inhibited PCa cell proliferation, and NUF2 overexpression reversed this inhibitory effect. In conclusion, our results suggest that NUF2 overexpression accelerated PCa progression via the p38/MAPK pathway, regulated by YY1. The identification of fisetin as a NUF2 inhibitor offers a promising therapeutic strategy for targeting NUF2 to impede PCa growth. NUF2 may thus serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for PCa.

Expression Profile of Twelve Transcripts as a Supporting Tool for the Molecular Characterization of Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors at Diagnosis: Association with Histological Grading and Clinical Staging

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the second most common malignant neoplasms in dogs. Histopathological grading and clinical staging are the main tools for estimating biological behavior and disease extent; thus, both are essential for therapeutic decision-making and prognostication. However, the biological behavior of MCTs in dogs is variable, and it sometimes deviates from expectations. In a previous study, we identified 12 transcripts whose expression profile allowed a clear distinction between Kiupel low-grade and high-grade cutaneous MCTs (cMCTs) and was associated with prognosis. Building on these findings, this study evaluated the predictive potential of these transcripts' expression profiles in classifying cMCTs into low-grade and high-grade.

METHODS

A logistic regression classifier based on the expression profiles of the identified transcripts and able to classify cMCTs as low- or high-grade was developed and subsequently tested on a novel dataset of 50 cMCTs whose expression profiles have been determined in this study through qPCR.

RESULTS

The developed logistic regression classifier reaches an accuracy of 67% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.76. Interestingly, the molecular classification clearly identifies stage-IV disease (90% true positive rate).

CONCLUSIONS

qPCR analysis of these biomarkers combined with the machine learning-based classifier might serve as a tool to support cMCT clinical management at diagnosis.

A new strategy for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer: utilizing nanotechnology to regulate the tumor microenvironment

Advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) is prone to recurrence, which can be attributed to drug resistance. Drug resistance may be related to the tumor microenvironment (TME), including the immune and non-immune TME. In the immune TME, the immune effector cells such as dendritic cells (DCs), M1-like tumor-associated macrophages (M1-TAMs), and T cells are inhibited. In contrast, immunosuppressive cells such as M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are activated. These changes make it difficult to produce immune effects and affect the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy. In the non-immune TME, mechanisms such as apoptosis inhibition, DNA damage response (DDR), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can promote tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. Despite the challenges posed by the TME in the treatment of AOC, the unique biological advantages of nanoparticles (NPs) make it possible to regulate the TME. NPs can stimulate the immune responses of M1-TAMs, DCs, and T cells while reducing the infiltration of immune suppressive cells such as M2-TAMs and Tregs, thereby regulating the AOC immune TME. In addition, NPs can regulate the non-immune TME by reducing apoptosis in AOC cells, inhibiting homologous recombination (HR) repair, reversing EMT, and achieving the effect of reversing drug resistance. In summary, the application of NPs provides some new venues for clinical treatment in AOC.

Predictive value of NUF2 for prognosis and immunotherapy responses in pan-cancer

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association of NUF2 expression with tumor prognosis and its regulatory role in tumor microenvironment.

METHODS

We analyzed NUF2 expression, its prognostic value, and is immune-related functions across different cancer types using datasets from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), TCGA, GTEx, CCLE, and TIMER. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect NUF2 expression in liver cancer cell lines and tissue and blood samples from patients with liver cancer. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms of NUF2 and its related genes, and a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network for NUF2 in liver cancer was constructed.

RESULTS

NUF2 expression was upregulated in the tumor tissues of 27 cancers and was associated with clinical stages in several cancers. High NUF2 expressions were correlated with poor overall survival, disease-specific survival, progression-free survival, and disease-free survival of cancer patients. NUF2 expression levels were positively correlated with tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, infiltrating immune cells, immune cell marker genes and immune checkpoint genes in different cancers. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry confirmed that NUF2 expression was upregulated in liver cancer cell lines and tumor tissues and blood samples of liver cancer patients, and was decreased significantly after operation. GO, KEGG and GSEA analyses indicated that NUF2 was involved in chromosome segregation and cell cycle and was associated with glycine, serine and threonine metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

NUF2 expression is upregulated in 27 cancers and is associated with clinical stage and poor prognosis in some malignancies. NUF2 expression is closely correlated with immune cell infiltration in different cancers, suggesting its potential value for predicting immunotherapy response in these cancers.

Berberine restrains non-small cell lung cancer cell growth, invasion and glycolysis via inactivating the SPC25/NUF2 pathway

Berberine (BBR) has been proved to inhibit the malignant progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the underlying molecular mechanism still needs to be further revealed. NSCLC cells (A549 and H1299) were treated with BBR. CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, TUNEL staining and transwell assay were used to examine cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. The levels of spindle pole body component 25 (SPC25) and NDC80 kinetochore complex component (NUF2) were detected by qRT-PCR or western blot. The interaction between SPC25 and NUF2 was confirmed by Co-IP assay and FISH assay. Xenograft tumors were constructed to assess the anti-tumor role of BBR in vivo. BBR inhibited NSCLC cell growth, invasion and glycolysis. SPC25 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues, and BBR could reduce SPC25 expression in NSCLC cells. SPC25 knockdown repressed NSCLC cell growth, invasion and glycolysis, and its overexpression also reversed the anti-tumor effect of BBR. SPC25 could interact with NUF2, and NUF2 overexpression abolished the inhibitory effect of SPC25 knockdown or BBR on NSCLC cell behaviors. In animal experiments, BBR could suppress NSCLC tumor growth by inhibiting SPC25/NUF2 axis in vivo. BBR mainly played an anti-NSCLC role by targeting SPC25/NUF2 axis, which provided a new idea for NSCLC treatment.

Maintenance of magnesium homeostasis by NUF2 promotes protein synthesis and anaplastic thyroid cancer progression

Thyroid cancer is the most frequently observed endocrine-related malignancy among which anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is the most fatal subtype. The synthesis of protein is active to satisfy the rapid growth of ATC tumor, but the mechanisms regulating protein synthesis are still unknown. Our research revealed that kinetochore protein NUF2 played an essential role in protein synthesis and drove the progression of ATC. The prognosis of patients with thyroid carcinoma was positively correlated with high NUF2 expression. Depletion of NUF2 in ATC cells notably inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis, while overexpression of NUF2 facilitated ATC cell viability and colony formation. Deletion of NUF2 significantly suppressed the growth and metastasis of ATC in vivo. Notably, knockdown of NUF2 epigenetically inhibited the expression of magnesium transporters through reducing the abundance of H3K4me3 at promoters, thereby reduced intracellular Mg2+ concentration. Furthermore, we found the deletion of NUF2 or magnesium transporters significantly inhibited the protein synthesis mediated by the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In conclusion, NUF2 functions as an emerging regulator for protein synthesis by maintaining the homeostasis of intracellular Mg2+, which finally drives ATC progression.

Role of cell division cycle-associated proteins in regulating cell cycle and promoting tumor progression

The cell division cycle-associated protein (CDCA) family is important in regulating cell division. High CDCA expression is significantly linked to tumor development. This review summarizes clinical and basic studies on CDCAs conducted in recent decades. Furthermore, it systematically introduces the molecular expression and function, key mechanisms, cell cycle regulation, and roles of CDCAs in tumor development, cell proliferation, drug resistance, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, it presents the latest research on tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment targeting CDCAs. These findings are pivotal for further in-depth studies on the role of CDCAs in promoting tumor development and provide theoretical support for their application as new anti-tumor targets.

Knockdown of NUF2-derived exosomes can inhibit the migration and autophagy of BC cells and improve resistance to doxorubicin

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of fatal cancer in women. New therapeutic strategies need to be explored to enhance the efficacy of doxorubicin by overcoming the resistance of BC cells. NUF2 is a component of the Ndc80 centromere complex and is a key substance in mediating mitosis and affects the progression of multiple tumors. However, the role as well as mechanisms of NUF2 resistance in BC remain unclear. This study aims to reveal the role of NUF2 in drug resistance in BC. We here revealed that NUF2 was highly expressed in human BC. NUF2 depletion-derived exosomes blocked the growth of BC cells. Further, NUF2 ablation-derived exosomes inhibited autophagy in BC cells. Also, NUF2 ablation-derived exosomes improved doxorubicin resistance in BC cells. Mechanically, NUF2 ablation-derived exosomes blocked PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis in BC cells. In summary, NUF2 ablation-derived exosomes blocked the autophagy of BC cells and improved doxorubicin resistance via mediating PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis.

Comprehensive molecular analyses and experimental validation of CDCAs with potential implications in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma prognosis

Previous reports have revealed that the abnormal expression of the cell division cycle-associated gene family (CDCAs) is closely associated with some human cancers. However, the precise functional roles and mechanisms of CDCAs in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP) remain unclear. In this study, RNA sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas database and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases were utilized to perform the expression, correlation, survival, mutation, functional enrichment analysis, and immunoinfiltration analyses of CDCAs in KIRP. We found that the expression levels of CDCA genes were significantly increased in KIRP across multiple databases, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Moreover, increased expression of CDCA genes is significantly associated with poor prognosis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that pathologic T and N staging, NUF2, CDCA2, CDCA3, CDCA5, CBX2, CDCA7, and CDCA8 were independent prognostic factors for patients with KIRP. Utilizing these nine variables, we developed a nomogram prognostic model. Furthermore, the results of GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses suggested that CDCA genes were associated with nuclear division, mitotic nuclear division, and chromosome segregation and were involved in the cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, and cellular senescence. We found that the expression of NUF2, CDCA2, CDCA5, and CBX2 was closely associated with the expression of lymphocytes, immunostimulatory molecules, immunoinhibitory molecules, and chemokines. In summary, NUF2, CDCA2, CDCA3, CDCA5, CBX2, CDCA7, and CDCA8 are potential biomarkers for KIRP diagnosis and prognosis.

NUF2 regulated the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway via stabilizing ERBB3

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide. The NDC80 kinetochore complex component NUF2 has been previously identified as up-regulating in HCC and associated with patient prognosis. However, the pathophysiological effects and molecular mechanisms of NUF2 in tumorigenesis remain unclear. In this study, we confirmed a significant increase in NUF2 expression in HCC tissues and established a correlation between high NUF2 expression and adverse outcomes in HCC patients. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, we demonstrated that genetic inhibition of NUF2 suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells and disrupted the cell cycle. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms revealed that NUF2 interacted with ERBB3, inhibiting its ubiquitination degradation, thus activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and influencing cell cycle regulation. Overall, this study revealed the crucial role of NUF2 in promoting the malignant progression of HCC, suggesting its potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for HCC.

FOXM1 promotes neurofibromatosis type 1-associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor progression in a NUF2-dependent manner

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas characterized by poor prognosis and low drug response rates. Traditional chemo/radiotherapies show only mild benefits for patients with MPNSTs, and no targeted therapy is available in the clinic. A better understanding of the molecular background of MPNSTs is critical for the development of effective targeted therapies. Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) has been implicated in the progression of many human malignancies, though its role in MPNSTs is unclear. In this study, using four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and a tissue microarray, we demonstrated that FOXM1 upregulation was associated with poor prognosis in patients with MPNSTs. FOXM1 overexpression and knockdown regulated the proliferation and colony formation of MPNST cells. Using bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays, we identified NUF2 as a direct downstream target of FOXM1. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the induction of MPNST cell proliferation by FOXM1 was dependent on elevated NUF2 expression, as NUF2 knockdown abolished the FOXM1-induced proliferation of MPNST cells. Our study showed that the FOXM1-NUF2 axis mediates human MPNST progression and could be a potential therapeutic target.