The Role of SATB1 in Tumour Progression and Metastasis

Identifying quantitative sncRNAs signature using global sequencing as a potential biomarker for tuberculosis diagnosis and their role in regulating host response

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to identify a quantitative signature of circulating small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) as a biomarker for pulmonary tuberculosis disease (active-TB/ATB) and explore their regulatory roles in host-pathogen interactions and disease progression.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study recruiting subjects diagnosed with active-TB (drug-sensitive and drug-resistant) and healthy controls. Sera samples were collected and utilized for preparing small RNA libraries. Quantitative patterns of circulating sncRNAs (miRNAs, piRNAs and tRFs) were identified via high-throughput sequencing and DeSeq2 analysis and validated in independent active-TB cohorts. Functional knockdown for two selected miRNAs were also performed.

RESULTS

A diagnostic signature of four sncRNAs for both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant active-TB cases was validated, exhibiting an AUC of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.937-0.996, p < 0.001) with 86.7% sensitivity (95% CI: 0.775-0.932) and 91.7% specificity (95% CI: 0.730-0.990) in ROC analysis. Functional knockdown demonstrated regulatory roles of hsa-miR-223-5p and hsa-miR-10b-5p in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-6 and IL-8).

CONCLUSION

The study identified a diagnostic tool utilizing a signature of four sncRNAs with high specificity and sensitivity, enhancing our understanding of sncRNAs as ATB diagnostic biomarker. Additionally, hsa-miR-223-5p and hsa-miR-10b-5p demonstrated potential roles in Mtb pathogenesis and host-response to infection.

Triptolide inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by regulating the circNOX4/miR-153-3p/SATB1 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

To explore the role and mechanism of triptolide in regulating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression by mediating the circular RNA (circRNA)-related pathway.

METHODS

The expression levels of circNOX4, miR-153-3p and special AT-rich sequence binding protein-1 (SATB1) were measured by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was confirmed by cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation assay. Flow cytometry was employed to measure cell apoptosis and cell cycle process. Moreover, cell migration and invasion were detected using transwell assay. The protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation markers and SATB1 were determined by western blot analysis. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were performed to confirm the interaction between miR-153-3p and circNOX4 or SATB1. Xenograft tumor models were built to verify the effects of triptolide and circNOX4 on ESCC tumor growth.

RESULTS

CircNOX4 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cells, and its expression could be reduced by triptolide. Triptolide could inhibit ESCC proliferation, cell cycle process, migration, invasion, EMT process, and promote apoptosis, while these effects were reversed by circNOX4 overexpression. MiR-153-3p could be sponged by circNOX4, and the promotion effect of circNOX4 on the progression of triptolide-treated ESCC cells was abolished by miR-153-3p overexpression. SATB1 was a target of miR-153-3p. Also, SATB1 knockdown reversed the enhancing effect of miR-153-3p inhibitor on the progression of triptolide-treated ESCC cells. Triptolide reduced ESCC tumor growth by regulating the circNOX4/miR-153-3p/SATB1 axis.

CONCLUSION

Triptolide could hinder ESCC progression, which was mainly achieved by regulating the circNOX4/miR-153-3p/SATB1 axis.

A novel anoikis-related gene signature identifies LYPD1 as a novel therapy target for bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a malignant tumor associated with unfavorable outcomes. Studies suggest that anoikis plays a crucial role in tumor progression and cancer cell metastasis. However, its specific role in bladder cancer remains poorly understood. Our objective was to identify anoikis-related genes (ARGs) and subsequently construct a risk model to assess their potential for predicting the prognosis of bladder cancer.The transcriptome data and clinical data of BLCA patients were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GEO database. We then performed the differential expression analysis to screen differentially expressed ARGs. Subsequently, we conducted non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering analysis to establish molecular subtypes based on the differentially expressed ARGs. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to estimate the quantification of different cell infiltration in BLCA tumor microenviroment. A prognostic risk model containing 7 ARGs was established using Lasso-Cox regression analysis. The nomogram was built for predicting the survival probability of BLCA patients. To determine the drug sensitivity of each sample from the high- and low-risk groups, the R package "pRRophetic" was performed. Finally, the role of LYPD1 was explored in BLCA cell lines.We identified 90 differential expression ARGs and NMF clustering categorizated the BLCA patientss into two distinct groups (cluster A and B). Patients in cluster A had a better prognosis than those in cluster B. Then, we established a ARGs risk model including CALR, FASN, FOSL1, JUN, LYPD1, MST1R, and SATB1, which was validated in the train and test set. The results suggested overall survival rate was much higher in low risk group than high risk group. The cox regression analysis, ROC curve analysis, and nomogram collectively demonstrated that the risk model served as an independent prognostic factor. The high risk group had a higher level TME scores compared to the low risk group. Furthermore, LYPD1 was low expression in BLCA cells and overexpression of LYPD1 inhibits the prolifearation, migration and invasion.In the current study, we have identified differential expression ARGs and constructed a risk model with the promise for guiding prognostic predictions and provided a therapeutic target for patients with BLCA.

Molecular biomarkers in prostate cancer tumorigenesis and clinical relevance

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent type of cancer in men and assessing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by liquid biopsy is a promising tool to help in cancer early detection, staging, risk of recurrence evaluation, treatment prediction and monitoring. Blood-based liquid biopsy approaches enable the enrichment, detection and characterization of CTCs by biomarker analysis. Hence, comprehending the molecular markers, their role on each stage of cancer development and progression is essential to provide information that can help in future implementation of these biomarkers in clinical assistance. In this review, we studied the molecular markers most associated with PCa CTCs to better understand their function on tumorigenesis and metastatic cascade, the methodologies utilized to analyze these biomarkers and their clinical significance, in order to summarize the available information to guide researchers in their investigations, new hypothesis formulation and target choice for the development of new diagnostic and treatment tools.

Computed tomography-based nomogram of Siewert type II/III adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction to predict response to docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has become the standard care for advanced adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG), although a part of the patients cannot benefit from NAC. There are no models based on baseline computed tomography (CT) to predict response of Siewert type II or III AEG to NAC with docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 (DOS).

AIM

To develop a CT-based nomogram to predict response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-eight consecutive patients with confirmed Siewert type II/III AEG underwent CT before and after three cycles of NAC with DOS, and were randomly and consecutively assigned to the training cohort (TC) (n = 94) and the validation cohort (VC) (n = 34). Therapeutic effect was assessed by disease-control rate and progressive disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1) criteria. Possible prognostic factors associated with responses after DOS treatment including Siewert classification, gross tumor volume (GTV), and cT and cN stages were evaluated using pretherapeutic CT data in addition to sex and age. Univariate and multivariate analyses of CT and clinical features in the TC were performed to determine independent factors associated with response to DOS. A nomogram was established based on independent factors to predict the response. The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated by Concordance index (C-index), calibration and receiver operating characteristics curve in the TC and VC.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that Siewert type (52/55 vs 29/39, P = 0.005), pretherapeutic cT stage (57/62 vs 24/32, P = 0.028), GTV (47.3 ± 27.4 vs 73.2 ± 54.3, P = 0.040) were significantly associated with response to DOS in the TC. Multivariate analysis of the TC also showed that the pretherapeutic cT stage, GTV and Siewert type were independent predictive factors related to response to DOS (odds ratio = 4.631, 1.027 and 7.639, respectively; all P < 0.05). The nomogram developed with these independent factors showed an excellent performance to predict response to DOS in the TC and VC (C-index: 0.838 and 0.824), with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.838 and 0.824, respectively. The calibration curves showed that the practical and predicted response to DOS effectively coincided.

CONCLUSION

A novel nomogram developed with pretherapeutic cT stage, GTV and Siewert type predicted the response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.

Cell-cell communication characteristics in breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer, a highly fatal disease due to its tendency to metastasize, is the most prevalent form of malignant tumors among women worldwide. Numerous studies indicate that breast cancer exhibits a unique predilection for metastasis to specific organs including the bone, liver, lung, and brain. However, different types of, The understanding of the heterogeneity of metastatic breast cancer has notably improved with the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques. Focusing on the modification in the microenvironment of the metastatic organs and the crosstalk between tumor cells and in situ cells, noteworthy research points include the identification of two distinct modes of tumor growth in bone metastases, the influence of type II pneumocyte on lung metastases, the paradoxical role of Kupffer cells in liver metastases, and the breakthrough of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) breach in brain metastases. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of breast cancer metastases, shedding light on the pivotal roles of immune and resident cells in the development of distinct metastatic foci.

Unlocking Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine Efficacy through Genetic Modulation-How Soon Is Now?

The dendritic cell (DC) vaccine anti-cancer strategy involves tumour-associated antigen loading and maturation of autologous ex vivo cultured DCs, followed by infusion into the cancer patient. This strategy stemmed from the idea that to induce a robust anti-tumour immune response, it was necessary to bypass the fundamental immunosuppressive mechanisms of the tumour microenvironment that dampen down endogenous innate immune cell activation and enable tumours to evade immune attack. Even though the feasibility and safety of DC vaccines have long been confirmed, clinical response rates remain disappointing. Hence, the full potential of DC vaccines has yet to be reached. Whether this cellular-based vaccination approach will fully realise its position in the immunotherapy arsenal is yet to be determined. Attempts to increase DC vaccine immunogenicity will depend on increasing our understanding of DC biology and the signalling pathways involved in antigen uptake, maturation, migration, and T lymphocyte priming to identify amenable molecular targets to improve DC vaccine performance. This review evaluates various genetic engineering strategies that have been employed to optimise and boost the efficacy of DC vaccines.

Upregulation of ubiquitin carboxy‑terminal hydrolase 47 (USP47) in papillary thyroid carcinoma ex vivo and reduction of tumor cell malignant behaviors after USP47 knockdown by stabilizing SATB1 expression in vitro

Aberrant ubiquitination contributes to cancer development, including thyroid carcinoma. The present study assessed the expression of ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase 47 (USP47) and underlying molecular events in the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The effects of USP47 on PTC cell invasion and migration were analyzed by Transwell assays, while. the effects of USP47 and SATB1on PTC cell gene expression and changes in tumor cell metabolism were assayed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western bolt, or ELISA, respectively. The expression of USP47 mRNA and protein was upregulated in PTC tissue and associated with the PTC tumor size. Knockdown of USP47 expression in PTC cell lines (TPC-1 and K1), decreased the cell proliferation mobility and invasion capacities, whereas USP47 overexpression in these cell lines showed an inverse effect and promoted cell glycolysis and glutamine metabolism. Moreover, expression of special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 (SATB1) was high in PTC tissue and was associated with USP47 expression. SATB1 expression promoted tumor cell glycolysis and glutamine metabolism, while USP47 protein bound to and deubiquitinated SATB1 to increase its intracellular levels, thus promoting glycolysis and glutamine metabolism. USP47 promotion of PTC development may be due to its stabilization of SATB1 protein, suggesting that targeting the USP47/SATB1 signaling axis may serve as a therapeutic intervention for PTC.

Identification of Somatic Mutations in Plasma Cell-Free DNA from Patients with Metastatic Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The accurate diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires an understanding of its genomic alterations. Liquid biopsies, especially cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis, are a minimally invasive technique used for genomic profiling. We conducted comprehensive whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 50 paired OSCC cell-free plasma with whole blood samples using multiple mutation calling pipelines and filtering criteria. Integrative Genomics Viewer (IGV) was used to validate somatic mutations. Mutation burden and mutant genes were correlated to clinico-pathological parameters. The plasma mutation burden of cfDNA was significantly associated with clinical staging and distant metastasis status. The genes TTN, PLEC, SYNE1, and USH2A were most frequently mutated in OSCC, and known driver genes, including KMT2D, LRP1B, TRRAP, and FLNA, were also significantly and frequently mutated. Additionally, the novel mutated genes CCDC168, HMCN2, STARD9, and CRAMP1 were significantly and frequently present in patients with OSCC. The mutated genes most frequently found in patients with metastatic OSCC were RORC, SLC49A3, and NUMBL. Further analysis revealed that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, and the hypoxia-related pathway were associated with OSCC prognosis. Choline metabolism in cancer, O-glycan biosynthesis, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway were associated with distant metastatic status. About 20% of tumors carried at least one aberrant event in BCAA catabolism signaling that could possibly be targeted by an approved therapeutic agent. We identified molecular-level OSCC that were correlated with etiology and prognosis while defining the landscape of major altered events of the OSCC plasma genome. These findings will be useful in the design of clinical trials for targeted therapies and the stratification of patients with OSCC according to therapeutic efficacy.

Adaptive and non-adaptive gene expression responses in prostate cancer during androgen deprivation

Androgen deprivation therapy is the cornerstone treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Eventually prostate cancer cells overcome androgen deprivation therapy, giving rise to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) characterized by increased androgen receptor (AR) activity. Understanding the cellular mechanisms leading to CRPC is needed for development of novel treatments. We used long-term cell cultures to model CRPC; a testosterone-dependent cell line (VCaP-T) and cell line adapted to grow in low testosterone (VCaP-CT). These were used to uncover persistent and adaptive responses to testosterone level. RNA was sequenced to study AR-regulated genes. Expression level changed due to testosterone depletion in 418 genes in VCaP-T (AR-associated genes). To evaluate significance for CRPC growth, we compared which of them were adaptive i.e., restored expression level in VCaP-CT. Adaptive genes were enriched to steroid metabolism, immune response and lipid metabolism. The Cancer Genome Atlas Prostate Adenocarcinoma data were used to assess the association with cancer aggressiveness and progression-free survival. Expressions of 47 AR-associated or association gaining genes were statistically significant markers for progression-free survival. These included genes related to immune response, adhesion and transport. Taken together, we identified and clinically validated multiple genes being linked with progression of prostate cancer and propose several novel risk genes. Possible use as biomarkers or therapeutic targets should be studied further.

Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 promotes multidrug resistance in gastric cancer by regulation of Ezrin to alter subcellular localization of ATP-binding cassette transporters

Multidrug resistance is a primary factor in the poor response to chemotherapy and subsequent death in gastric cancer patients. However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear. In this study, the high expression of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (SATB1) in gastric cancer was found to be associated with reduced sensitivity to various chemotherapy drugs. Our results demonstrate that SATB1 can promote chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. SATB1 exerts its effect by enhancing the activity of multiple ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein, and breast cancer resistance protein) in gastric cancer cell lines. We also found that SATB1 affects ABC transporters by altering the subcellular localization of the ABC transporter rather than its expression. Subsequently, we confirmed that Ezrin binds to various ABC transporters and affects their subcellular localization. In addition, we found that SATB1 can also bind to the Ezrin promoter and regulate its expression. In the present study, we elucidate the mechanism of SATB1-mediated multidrug resistance in gastric cancer, providing a basis for SATB1 as a potential target for reversal of resistance.

It Takes Two to Tango: A Review of Oncogenic Virus and Host Microbiome Associated Inflammation in Head and Neck Cancer

Simple Summary

Certain viruses, specifically, human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), have been linked with the development of head and neck cancer. In this study, we review the mechanisms by which (these) viruses lead to cellular transformation and a chronic inflammatory state. Given that the head and neck host a rich microbiome (which itself is intrinsically linked to inflammation), we scrutinize the literature to highlight the interplay between viruses, cellular transformation, inflammation, and the local host microbiome in head and neck cancer.

Abstract

While the two primary risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are alcohol and tobacco, viruses account for an important and significant upward trend in HNSCC incidence. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent for a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC)—a cancer that is impacting a rapidly growing group of typically middle-aged non-smoking white males. While HPV is a ubiquitously present (with about 1% of the population having high-risk oral HPV infection at any one time), less than 1% of those infected with high-risk strains develop OPSCC—suggesting that additional cofactors or coinfections may be required. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a similarly ubiquitous virus that is strongly linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Both of these viruses cause cellular transformation and chronic inflammation. While dysbiosis of the human microbiome has been associated with similar chronic inflammation and the pathogenesis of mucosal diseases (including OPSCC and NPC), a significant knowledge gap remains in understanding the role of bacterial-viral interactions in the initiation, development, and progression of head and neck cancers. In this review, we utilize the known associations of HPV with OPSCC and EBV with NPC to investigate these interactions. We thoroughly review the literature and highlight how perturbations of the pharyngeal microbiome may impact host-microbiome-tumor-viral interactions—leading to tumor growth.

MicroRNA-409 regulates the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cell lines by targeting special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1)

This study aims to determine the cellular functions and clinical significance of microRNA-409 (miR-409) in breast cancer by targeting special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1). Breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues, breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-453, MDA-MB-231, BT-549, BR3, and MCF-7) were used. miR-409 mimics, miR-409 inhibitor, SATB1, and siSATB1 were transiently transduced into cancer cells independently or together. RT-qPCR, Western blot, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), and Transwell assays were carried out to analyze the expression, cellular proliferation, and invasion. The results showed that the expression of miR-409 in breast cancer tissues is lower than that in adjacent tissues. The application of a target prediction algorithm predicts that the candidate gene regulated by miR-409 may be SATB1. The expression level of miR-409 in MDA-MB-453 cells is lower, while in BT-549 cells it is higher, when compared with MDA-MB-231, BR3, and MCF-7. The proliferation rate and invasive ability of MDA-MB-453 cells transfected with the miR-409 mimic was significantly lower than that of the miRNA negative control (miR-NC) cells, while the proliferation rate and invasive ability of BT-549 cells transfected with the miR-409 inhibitor were significantly increased. Cell proliferation and invasion of miR-409 mimic and SATB1 co-transfected MDA-MB-453 cells increased compared with that of miR-409 mimic-transfected cells, while miR-409 inhibitor and siSATB1 co-transfected BT-549 cells showed the opposite result. All these results indicated that miR-409 regulates breast cancer proliferation and invasion by targeting SATB1 and might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.

Association between Immunohistochemistry Markers and Tumor Features and Their Diagnostic and Prognostic Values in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

This study investigated the expression of some frequently used immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers. Besides, we evaluated their correlations with the clinical features and outcomes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Patients who underwent surgical removal of the ICC tumors were followed up for 4 years. The paraffin-embedded sections were used to obtain different markers, including CK7, CK19, CK20, CDX2, Glypican3, Hepa1, Ki-67, Villin, and SATB1. Overall survival in relation to IHC marker expression patterns and other clinical characteristics was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test, followed by the Cox proportional hazard model (to evaluate the relationship between multiple factors and the overall postoperative survival). A total of 122 ICC patients (67 males and 55 females, averagely aged 57.75) were included in this study. There were 44 cases with vascular invasion, 46 cases with lymphatic metastasis, and 13 cases with distant metastasis. CK7 was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis; and in distant-metastasis cases, the positive ratio of SATB1 was lower. Interestingly, SATB1 expression indicated a poorer survival, while Villin expression was associated with a better survival. The COX regression analysis showed that female was a protective factor versus male, Villin expression was a strong protective factor, and Ki-67 expression was correlated with a poor survival. Together, IHC markers are associated with tumor features and postoperative survival, especially for SATB1 as a risk factor and Villin as a protective marker, and female ICC patients may have better survival than males.

Tfh cells induce intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structures

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are highly organized ectopic structures found in nonlymphoid organs under chronic inflammatory conditions, including cancer. A recent study by Chaurio et al. reports that repression of Satb1 in CD4⁺ T cells can lead to increased Tfh cell differentiation, driving intratumoral TLS formation, resulting in reduced tumor growth in mice.

Identification of a chromatin regulator signature and potential candidate drugs for bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a malignant tumor with a dismay outcome. Increasing evidence has confirmed that chromatin regulators (CRs) are involved in cancer progression. Therefore, we aimed to explore the function and prognostic value of CRs in BLCA patients.

Methods

Chromatin regulators (CRs) were acquired from the previous top research. The mRNA expression and clinical information were downloaded from TCGA and GEO datasets. Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis were performed to select the prognostic gene and construct the risk model for predicting outcome in BLCA. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the prognosis between high- and low-risk groups. We also investigated the drug sensitivity difference between high- and low-risk groups. CMAP dataset was performed to screen the small molecule drugs for treatment.

Results

We successfully constructed and validated an 11 CRs-based model for predicting the prognosis of patients with BLCA. Moreover, we also found 11 CRs-based model was an independent prognostic factor. Functional analysis suggested that CRs were mainly enriched in cancer-related signaling pathways. The CR-based model was also correlated with immune cells infiltration and immune checkpoint. Patients in the high-risk group were more sensitive to several drugs, such as mitomycin C, gemcitabine, cisplatin. Eight small molecule drugs could be beneficial to treatment for BLCA patients.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, our study provided novel insights into the function of CRs in BLCA. We identified a reliable prognostic biomarker for the survival of patients with BLCA.

Genetic Modifications That Expand Oncolytic Virus Potency

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are a promising type of cancer therapy since they selectively replicate in tumor cells without damaging healthy cells. Many oncolytic viruses have progressed to human clinical trials, however, their performance as monotherapy has not been as successful as expected. Importantly, recent literature suggests that the oncolytic potential of these viruses can be further increased by genetically modifying the viruses. In this review, we describe genetic modifications to OVs that improve their ability to kill tumor cells directly, to dismantle the tumor microenvironment, or to alter tumor cell signaling and enhance anti-tumor immunity. These advances are particularly important to increase virus spread and reduce metastasis, as demonstrated in animal models. Since metastasis is the principal cause of mortality in cancer patients, having OVs designed to target metastases could transform cancer therapy. The genetic alterations reported to date are only the beginning of all possible improvements to OVs. Modifications described here could be combined together, targeting multiple processes, or with other non-viral therapies with potential to provide a strong and lasting anti-tumor response in cancer patients.

Overexpression of PTPRN Promotes Metastasis of Lung Adenocarcinoma and Suppresses NK Cell Cytotoxicity

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common diagnostic histologic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, but the role of receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase-like N (PTPRN) in LUAD has not been studied.

Methods

We conducted a bioinformatic analysis to identify the expression of PTPRN on LUAD data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the relationship between PTPRN and overall survival of LUAD patients. The effects of PTPRN on the migration ability of LUAD cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by in vitro and in vivo assays (i.e., wound healing assay, transwell assay, western blotting, xenograft model, and immunohistochemistry). Gene-set enrichment analysis and computational resource were used to analyze the correlation between PTPRN and different tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Lactate dehydrogenase assay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were conducted to examine natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity.

Results

In our study, we found that PTPRN was up-regulated in LUAD and related to metastasis of LUAD patients. Besides, PTPRN was correlated with poor prognosis in the TCGA-LUAD dataset. PTPRN overexpression promoted LUAD cell migration and the expression of EMT markers by influencing MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling. Moreover, PTPRN expression was significantly associated with TIICs, especially NK cells. A549 and H1299 cells overexpressed PTPRN inhibited NK cell cytotoxicity.

Conclusion

Taken together, these findings demonstrated that PTPRN might be a potential and novel therapeutic target modulating antitumor immune response in treatment of LUAD.

SATB1 protein is associated with the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition process in non‑small cell lung cancers

Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms and the leading cause of cancer‑related mortality worldwide. Its predominant subtype is non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for over 80% of the cases. Surprisingly, the majority of lung cancer‑related deaths are caused not by a primary tumour itself, but by its metastasis to distant organs. Therefore, it becomes especially important to identify the factors involved in lung cancer metastatic spread. Special AT‑rich binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a nuclear matrix protein that mediates chromatin looping and plays the role of global transcriptional regulator. During the past decade, it has received much attention as a factor promoting tumour invasion. In breast, colorectal and prostate cancers, SATB1 has been shown to influence the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which is thought to be crucial for cancer metastasis. The aim of this study was to analyse the possible correlations between the expression of SATB1 and major EMT‑associated proteins in NSCLC clinical samples. Additionally, the impact of EMT induction in NSCLC cell lines on SATB1 mRNA expression was also investigated. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of SATB1, SNAIL, SLUG, Twist1, E‑cadherin, and N‑cadherin in 242 lung cancer clinical samples. EMT was induced by TGF‑β1 treatment in the A549 and NCI‑H1703 lung cancer cell lines. Changes in gene expression profiles were analyzed using real‑time PCR and Droplet Digital PCR. SATB1 expression was positively correlated with the expression of SNAIL (R=0.129; P=0.045), SLUG (R=0.449; P<0.0001), and Twist1 (R=0.264; P<0.0001). Moreover, SATB1 expression significantly increased after in vitro EMT induction in A549 and NCI‑H1703 cell lines. The results obtained may point to the role of SATB1 as one of the regulators of EMT in NSCLC.

Tackling tumor microenvironment through epigenetic tools to improve cancer immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Epigenetic alterations are known contributors to cancer development and aggressiveness. Additional to alterations in cancer cells, aberrant epigenetic marks are present in cells of the tumor microenvironment, including lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages, which are often overlooked but known to be a contributing factor to a favorable environment for tumor growth. Therefore, the main aim of this review is to give an overview of the epigenetic alterations affecting immune cells in the tumor microenvironment to provoke an immunosuppressive function and contribute to cancer development. Moreover, immunotherapy is briefly discussed in the context of epigenetics, describing both its combination with epigenetic drugs and the need for epigenetic biomarkers to predict response to immune checkpoint blockage.

MAIN BODY

Combining both topics, epigenetic machinery plays a central role in generating an immunosuppressive environment for cancer growth, which creates a barrier for immunotherapy to be successful. Furthermore, epigenetic-directed compounds may not only affect cancer cells but also immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, which could be beneficial for the clinical response to immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Thus, modulating epigenetics in combination with immunotherapy might be a promising therapeutic option to improve the success of this therapy. Further studies are necessary to (1) understand in depth the impact of the epigenetic machinery in the tumor microenvironment; (2) how the epigenetic machinery can be modulated according to tumor type to increase response to immunotherapy and (3) find reliable biomarkers for a better selection of patients eligible to immunotherapy.

SATB1 Knockdown Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion and Decreases Chemoradiation Resistance in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells by Reversing EMT and Suppressing MMP-9

Background: Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a chromatin organizer and transcriptional regulator which regulate numerous cellular processes through effects on multiple gene expression. SATB1 is associated with drug resistance in several cancers. Whether SATB1 involves radiation resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and underlying mechanism of SATB1 to participate in chemoradiotherapy resistance in NPC have not been elaborated. Methods: Chemoradioresistant NPC cell lines 5-8F/DDP (cisplatin) and 5-8F/R (radiation) were developed from 5-8F cell line. The expressions of SATB1, MMP-9 and EMT markers (Vimentin and E-cadherin) in these cell lines were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR and western blot (WB) analysis. Cell viabilities of 5-8F/DDP treated with various concentrations of DDP and 5-8F/R irradiated with various doses of X-ray at the indicated time were investigated by MTT test. SATB1 was silenced in 5-8F/DDP and 5-8F/R cells by short hairpin RNA, and then the expressions of SATB1, MMP-9, Vimentin and E-cadherin were evaluated by RT-qPCR and WB analysis; the abilities of cell proliferation and invasion were assessed using MTT and transwell assays, respectively. Drug and radiation resistance assays were performed after SATB1 knockdown and cell viability was detected by MTT method. Results: SATB1, MMP-9 and Vimentin were markedly upregulated in 5-8F/DDP and 5-8F/R cells compared with 5-8F cell, whereas E-cadherin was obviously downregulated. 5-8F/DDP and 5-8F/R cells displayed drug and radiation resistance to DDP or X-irradiation, respectively, while DDP or X-irradiation inhibited 5-8F cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Subsequently, knockdown of SATB1 resulted in decreased MMP-9 and Vimentin expression and increased E-cadherin expression in 5-8F/DDP and 5-8F/R. Furthermore, silencing of SATB1 suppressed proliferative and invasive abilities of 5-8F/DDP and 5-8F/R cells. Additionally, SATB1 knockdown reduced drug resistance of 5-8F/DDP cell to DDP and decreased radiation resistance of 5-8F/R cell to X-ray. Conclusion: These results suggest that high expression of SATB1 plays an important role in the malignant behavior of NPC and leads to X-radiation and drug resistance in NPC through promoting EMT process and enhancing MMP-9 expression. SATB1 may be a promising therapeutic target for aggressive and chemoradiation resistant NPC.

H19 Knockdown Suppresses Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis by Regulating miR-130a-3p/SATB1 in Breast Cancer Cells

Purpose

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that lncRNAs play an important role in BC. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), H19/miRNA-130a-3P/special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 (SATB1) axis on BC progression.

Materials and Methods

Expression of lncRNA and RNA was quantified via RT-qPCR. CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, transwell, and flow cytometric analyses were used to analyze the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of cells. A dual-luciferase reporter assay and a RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to assess molecular binding. Protein levels were measured by Western blotting. The function of the lncRNA H19 (hereafter referred to as H19) was examined by xenotransplantation.

Results

We demonstrated that H19 expression was higher in cancer tissues and cancer cell lines than in adjacent non-tumor tissues and normal cell lines, respectively. H19 silencing inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells, and induced apoptosis. In addition, H19 directly bound to miR-130a-3p and downregulated its expression. We further demonstrated that H19 sponged miRNA-130a-3p, which resulted in SATB1 upregulation, thus promoting BC progression. Silencing of H19 substantially suppressed BC tumorigenesis in vivo.

Conclusion

Our data uncovered a novel mechanism of BC progression based on the H19-miR-130a-3p-SATB1 axis.

lncRNA SNHG8 promotes aggressive behaviors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma via regulating miR-656-3p/SATB1 axis

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been proposed to regulate tumorigenesis, however, the role of small nucleolar RNA host gene 8 (SNHG8) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear.

METHODS

Levels of SNHG8 in NPC tissues and cells were analyzed with real-time quantitative PCR method. Cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay, and transwell invasion assay were performed to detect cell viability, migration, and invasion. Luciferase activity assay and RIP assay were performed to explore relationships among SNHG8, microRNA-656-3p (miR-656-3p), and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1).

RESULTS

We found SNHG8 level was increased expression in NPC tissues and cells.In vitro assays revealed that SNHG8 stimulates NPC cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration, and cell invasion. In vivo assay confirmed knockdown of SNHG8 could hamper tumor growth. Furthermore, we showed SNHG8 serves as a sponge for miR-656-3p to regulate SATB1 expression, and participated in NPC progression.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our work indicated the importance of SNHG8 in NPC progression, which provided novel treatment methods for NPC.

Progress in Delivery of siRNA-Based Therapeutics Employing Nano-Vehicles for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for a high number of deaths in males with no available curative treatments. Patients with PCa are commonly diagnosed in advanced stages due to the lack of symptoms in the early stages. Recently, the research focus was directed toward gene editing in cancer therapy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) intervention is considered as a powerful tool for gene silencing (knockdown), enabling the suppression of oncogene factors in cancer. This strategy is applied to the treatment of various cancers including PCa. The siRNA can inhibit proliferation and invasion of PCa cells and is able to promote the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the off-target effects of siRNA therapy remarkably reduce its efficacy in PCa therapy. To date, various carriers were designed to improve the delivery of siRNA and, among them, nanoparticles are of importance. Nanoparticles enable the targeted delivery of siRNAs and enhance their potential in the downregulation of target genes of interest. Additionally, nanoparticles can provide a platform for the co-delivery of siRNAs and anti-tumor drugs, resulting in decreased growth and migration of PCa cells. The efficacy, specificity, and delivery of siRNAs are comprehensively discussed in this review to direct further studies toward using siRNAs and their nanoscale-delivery systems in PCa therapy and perhaps other cancer types.

SND1 facilitates the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells by Smurf1-mediated degradation of FOXA2

Staphylococcal nuclease domain-containing protein 1 (SND1) is known to be involved in the progression of a variety of human cancers. However, the role of SND1 in cervical cancer remains unclear. Here, we found that the expression of SND1 in cervical cancer tissue was higher than that in normal cervical tissue. Importantly, high SND1 expression was closely associated with tumorigenic phenotype and shorter survival among cervical cancer patients. Functional assays demonstrated that SND1 knockdown inhibited the migration and invasion capabilities of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Additionally, a xenograft assay showed that silencing SND1 in cervical cancer cells suppressed lung metastasis in vivo. Further investigation revealed that knockdown of SND1 inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical cancer cells by enhancing FOXA2 expression. Moreover, the pro-metastasis effect of SND1 in cervical cancer was at least in part dependent on FOXA2 inhibition. Mechanistically, we found that SND1-induced FOXA2 ubiquitination resulted in degradation, mediated by the E3 ligase enzyme Smurf1. In summary, SND1 plays a crucial role in cervical cancer metastasis, and we provide evidence that SND1 may serve as a prognostic and therapeutic target in cervical cancer.