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Chang Y, Chen L, Tang J, Chen G, Ji J, Xu M. USP7-mediated JUND suppresses RCAN2 transcription and elevates NFATC1 to enhance stem cell property in colorectal cancer. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:3121-3140. [PMID: 37535148 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-023-09822-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) encompass a subset of highly aggressive tumor cells that are involved in tumor initiation and progression. This study investigates the function of regulator of calcineurin 2 (RCAN2) in the stem cell property in colorectal cancer (CRC). By analyzing four GEO datasets, we obtained RCAN2 as a stemness-related gene in CRC. RCAN2 was poorly expressed in CRC tissues and cells, especially in CSCs. RCAN2 restoration reduced calcineurin activity and promoted phosphorylation and degradation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATC1) protein, leading to reduced stemness of CSCs. JunD proto-oncogene (JUND), whose protein level was increased in CRC samples and CRC stem cells, bound to RCAN2 and suppressed its transcription. The abundant ubiquitin specific peptidase 7 (USP7) in CSCs enhanced JUND protein stability through deubiquitination modification. Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of USP7 or JUND also blocked the calcineurin-NFATC1 signaling and reduced the protein levels of stemness-related proteins. Moreover, the USP7 knockdown weakened the colony/sphere formation ability as well as the tumorigenicity of CSCs, and it reduced the CSC content in xenograft tumors. However, further restoration of JUND rescued the stemness of the CSCs. Overall, this study demonstrates that USP7-mediated JUND suppresses RCAN2 transcription and activates NFATC1 to enhance stem cell property in CRC. 1. RCAN2 is poorly expressed in CRC tissues and cells and especially in CSCs. 2. RCAN2 reduces stemness of CSCs by blocking calcineurin-NFATC1 signal transduction. 3. JUND binds to RCAN2 promoter to suppresses RCAN2 transcription. 4. USP7 enhances JUND protein stability via deubiquitination modification. 5. Downregulation of USP7 or JUND restores RCAN2 level and suppresses stemness of CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunli Chang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pudong New Area People's Hospital, No. 490, Chuanhuan South Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201299, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingling Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pudong New Area People's Hospital, No. 490, Chuanhuan South Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201299, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pudong New Area People's Hospital, No. 490, Chuanhuan South Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201299, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyu Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pudong New Area People's Hospital, No. 490, Chuanhuan South Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201299, People's Republic of China
| | - Jieru Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pudong New Area People's Hospital, No. 490, Chuanhuan South Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201299, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pudong New Area People's Hospital, No. 490, Chuanhuan South Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201299, People's Republic of China.
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Herrera-Orozco H, García-Castillo V, López-Urrutia E, Martinez-Gutierrez AD, Pérez-Yepez E, Millán-Catalán O, Cantú de León D, López-Camarillo C, Jacobo-Herrera NJ, Rodríguez-Dorantes M, Ramos-Payán R, Pérez-Plasencia C. Somatic Copy Number Alterations in Colorectal Cancer Lead to a Differentially Expressed ceRNA Network (ceRNet). Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:9549-9565. [PMID: 38132443 PMCID: PMC10742218 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45120597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the second deadliest malignancy worldwide. Around 75% of CRC patients exhibit high levels of chromosome instability that result in the accumulation of somatic copy number alterations. These alterations are associated with the amplification of oncogenes and deletion of tumor-ppressor genes and contribute to the tumoral phenotype in different malignancies. Even though this relationship is well known, much remains to be investigated regarding the effect of said alterations in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and, in turn, the impact these alterations have on the tumor phenotype. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of differentially expressed lncRNAs coded in regions with copy number alterations in colorectal cancer patient samples. We downloaded RNA-seq files of the Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Project from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository (285 sequenced tumor tissues and 41 non-tumor tissues), evaluated differential expression, and mapped them over genome sequencing data with regions presenting copy number alterations. We obtained 78 differentially expressed (LFC > 1|< -1, padj < 0.05) lncRNAs, 410 miRNAs, and 5028 mRNAs and constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, predicting significant lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions. Said network consisted of 30 lncRNAs, 19 miRNAs, and 77 mRNAs. To understand the role that our ceRNA network played, we performed KEGG and GO analysis and found several oncogenic and anti-oncogenic processes enriched by the molecular players in our network. Finally, to evaluate the clinical relevance of the lncRNA expression, we performed survival analysis and found that C5orf64, HOTAIR, and RRN3P3 correlated with overall patient survival. Our results showed that lncRNAs coded in regions affected by SCNAs form a complex gene regulatory network in CCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Herrera-Orozco
- Laboratorio de Genómica, FES-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico; (H.H.-O.); (V.G.-C.); (E.L.-U.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio D. Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Verónica García-Castillo
- Laboratorio de Genómica, FES-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico; (H.H.-O.); (V.G.-C.); (E.L.-U.)
| | - Eduardo López-Urrutia
- Laboratorio de Genómica, FES-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico; (H.H.-O.); (V.G.-C.); (E.L.-U.)
| | - Antonio Daniel Martinez-Gutierrez
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.D.M.-G.); (E.P.-Y.); (O.M.-C.); (D.C.d.L.)
| | - Eloy Pérez-Yepez
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.D.M.-G.); (E.P.-Y.); (O.M.-C.); (D.C.d.L.)
| | - Oliver Millán-Catalán
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.D.M.-G.); (E.P.-Y.); (O.M.-C.); (D.C.d.L.)
| | - David Cantú de León
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.D.M.-G.); (E.P.-Y.); (O.M.-C.); (D.C.d.L.)
| | - César López-Camarillo
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Calle Dr. García Diego 168, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Nadia J. Jacobo-Herrera
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Av. Vasco de Quiroga 15, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | | | - Rosalío Ramos-Payán
- Faculty of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan 80030, Mexico;
| | - Carlos Pérez-Plasencia
- Laboratorio de Genómica, FES-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico; (H.H.-O.); (V.G.-C.); (E.L.-U.)
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.D.M.-G.); (E.P.-Y.); (O.M.-C.); (D.C.d.L.)
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Yasir M, Park J, Chun W. EWS/FLI1 Characterization, Activation, Repression, Target Genes and Therapeutic Opportunities in Ewing Sarcoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15173. [PMID: 37894854 PMCID: PMC10607184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite their clonal origins, tumors eventually develop into complex communities made up of phenotypically different cell subpopulations, according to mounting evidence. Tumor cell-intrinsic programming and signals from geographically and temporally changing microenvironments both contribute to this variability. Furthermore, the mutational load is typically lacking in childhood malignancies of adult cancers, and they still exhibit high cellular heterogeneity levels largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Ewing sarcomas represent highly aggressive malignancies affecting both bone and soft tissue, primarily afflicting adolescents. Unfortunately, the outlook for patients facing relapsed or metastatic disease is grim. These tumors are primarily fueled by a distinctive fusion event involving an FET protein and an ETS family transcription factor, with the most prevalent fusion being EWS/FLI1. Despite originating from a common driver mutation, Ewing sarcoma cells display significant variations in transcriptional activity, both within and among tumors. Recent research has pinpointed distinct fusion protein activities as a principal source of this heterogeneity, resulting in markedly diverse cellular phenotypes. In this review, we aim to characterize the role of the EWS/FLI fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma by exploring its general mechanism of activation and elucidating its implications for tumor heterogeneity. Additionally, we delve into potential therapeutic opportunities to target this aberrant fusion protein in the context of Ewing sarcoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wanjoo Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea; (M.Y.); (J.P.)
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Mahdi Khanifar M, Zafari Z, Sheykhhasan M. Crosstalk between long non-coding RNAs and p53 signaling pathway in colorectal cancer: A review study. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 249:154756. [PMID: 37611430 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related fatalities. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of diverse physiological processes and are dysregulated in a wide range of pathophysiological circumstances such as CRC. Studies revealed that aberrant expressions of lncRNAs clearly modulate the expression level of p53 gene in CRC, thereby transactivating multiple downstream pathways. P53 is regarded as a crucial tumor suppressor gene which promotes cell-cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence or apoptosis in response to cellular stresses. P53 is also mutated in CRC as well as various types of human malignancies. Therefore, lncRNAs interact with the p53 signaling pathway in numerus ways and significantly influence CRC-related processes. The current findings in the investigation of the crosstalk between lncRNAs and the P53 pathway in controlling CRC carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and therapeutic resistance are summarized in the this review. A deeper knowledge of CRC carcinogenesis may also have implications in CRC prevention and treatment through more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mahdi Khanifar
- School of Molecular Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zafari
- Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Sheykhhasan
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Qom, Iran.
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El-Fakharany EM, El-Gendi H, Abdel-Wahhab K, Abu-Serie MM, El-Sahra DG, Ashry M. Therapeutic efficacy of α-lactalbumin coated oleic acid based liposomes against colorectal carcinoma in Caco-2 cells and DMH-treated albino rats. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37624964 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2250452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor recognized as a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Therefore, novel liposomes of oleic acid coated with camel α-lactalbumin (α-LA coated liposomes) were developed for their potential antitumor activity against CRC, both in vitro and in DMH-induced CRC-modeled animal. In vitro results indicated the high safety of α-LA coated liposomes towards normal human cells with potent antitumor activity against Caco-2 cells at an IC50 value of 57.01 ± 3.55 µM with selectivity index of 6.92 ± 0.48. This antitumor activity has been attributed to induction of the apoptotic mechanism, as demonstrated by nuclear condensation and arrest of Caco-2 cells in sub-G1 populations. α-LA coated liposomes also revealed a significant up-regulation of the p53 gene combined with a down-regulation of the Bcl2 gene. Moreover, in vivo results revealed that treatment of induced-CRC modeled animals with α-LA coated liposomes for six weeks markedly improved the CRC-disorders; this was achieved from the significant reduction in the values of AFP, CEA, CA19.9, TNF-α, IL-1β, MDA, and NO coupled with remarkable rise in SOD, GPx, GSH, CAT, and CD4+ levels. The histopathological findings asserted the therapeutic potential of α-LA coated liposomes in the treatment of CRC. Therefore, the present results proved the antitumor activity of α-LA coated liposomes against CRC through the restoration of impaired oxidative stress, improved immune response, and reduced inflammation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmail M El-Fakharany
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA- City), Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Hamada El-Gendi
- Bioprocess Development Department, GEBRI, SRTA-City, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | - Marwa M Abu-Serie
- Medical Biotechnology Department, GEBRI, SRTA-City, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Doaa Galal El-Sahra
- Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Ashry
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
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Zeng X, Sun L, Ling X, Jiang Y, Shen J, Liang L, Zhang X. Comprehensive analysis identifies novel targets of gemcitabine to improve chemotherapy treatment strategies for colorectal cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1170526. [PMID: 37664836 PMCID: PMC10471186 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1170526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gemcitabine (GEM) is a second-line anticancer drug of choice for some colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and GEM inability to be commonly available in the clinic due to the lack of clarity of the exact action targets. Methods The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of GEM treatment for 42 CRC cell lines were accessed from the Genomics of Drug sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database. High-throughput sequencing data of CRC patients were captured in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted. Pearson correlations were derived for GEM potency-related genes. Differential analysis was conducted in the TCGA cohort to obtain CRC development-related genes (CDRGs), and univariate COX model analysis was performed on CDRGs overlapping with GEM potency-related genes to obtain CDRGs affecting CRC prognosis. Hub genes affecting GEM potency were identified by Spearman correlation. Results CALB2 and GPX3 were identified as potential targets for GEM treatment of CRC via prognostic analysis, which we also observed to be elevated with elevated clinical stage in CRC patients. The enhanced expression of CALB2 and GPX3 genes identified in the pathway analysis might inhibit the body metabolism as well as activate immune and inflammation related pathways. In addition, we found that CALB2 and GPX3 could also be considered as prognostic biomarkers in pan-cancer. Finally, we found that CALB2 and GPX3 were remarkably associated with the drug sensitivity of MG-132, Dasatinib, Shikonin, Midostaurin, MS-275, and Z-LNle-CHO, which were expected to be the drugs of choice for GEM combination. Conclusion CALB2 and GPX3 represent prognostic biomarkers for CRC and they might be potential action targets for GEM. Our study offered innovative ideas for GEM administration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Zeng
- Second Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liyue Sun
- Second Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Ling
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuying Jiang
- Second Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Ju Shen
- Second Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Lei Liang
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuhui Zhang
- Second Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Meng M, Tan J, Chen H, Shi Z, Kwan HY, Su T. Brevilin A exerts anti-colorectal cancer effects and potently inhibits STAT3 signaling invitro. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18488. [PMID: 37593607 PMCID: PMC10432182 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related morbidity worldwide, with an estimated of 1.85 million new cases and 850,000 deaths every year. Nevertheless, the current treatment regimens for CRC have many disadvantages, including toxicities and off-targeted side effects. STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) has been considered as a promising molecular target for CRC therapy. Brevilin A, a sesquiterpene lactone compound rich in Centipedae Herba has potent anticancer effects in nasopharyngeal, prostate and breast cancer cells by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling. However, the anti-CRC effect of brevilin A and the underlying mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of STAT3 signaling in the anti-CRC action of brevilin A. Here, HCT-116 and CT26 cell models were used to investigate the anti-CRC effects of brevilin A in vitro. HCT-116 cells overespressing with STAT3 were used to evaluate the involvement of STAT3 signaling in the anti-CRC effect of brevilin A. Screening of 49 phosphorylated tyrosine kinases in the HCT-116 cells after brevilin A treatment was performed by using the human phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase (phospho-RTK) array. Results showed that brevilin A inhibited cell proliferation and cell viability, induced apoptosis, reduced cell migration and invasion, inhibited angiogenesis, lowered the protein expression levels of phospho-Src (Tyr416), phospho-JAK2 (Y1007/1008) and phospho-STAT3 (Tyr705), and inhibited STAT3 activation and nuclear localization. Brevilin A also significantly reduced the protein expression levels of STAT3 target genes, such as MMP-2, VEGF and Bcl-xL. More importantly, over-activation of STAT3 diminished brevilin A's effects on cell viability. All these results suggest that brevilin A exerts potent anti-CRC effects, at least in part, by inhibiting STAT3 signaling. Our findings provide a strong pharmacological basis for the future exploration and development of brevilin A as a novel STAT3-targeting phytotherapeutic agent for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjing Meng
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jincheng Tan
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Chen
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiqiang Shi
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hiu-Yee Kwan
- Centre for Cancer & Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, China
| | - Tao Su
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, China
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Wu X, Yan H, Qiu M, Qu X, Wang J, Xu S, Zheng Y, Ge M, Yan L, Liang L. Comprehensive characterization of tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer via molecular analysis. eLife 2023; 12:e86032. [PMID: 37267125 PMCID: PMC10238095 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a challenging and deadly disease with high tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity. Using an integrative multi-omics analysis and artificial intelligence-enabled spatial analysis of whole-slide images, we performed a comprehensive characterization of TME in colorectal cancer (CCCRC). CRC samples were classified into four CCCRC subtypes with distinct TME features, namely, C1 as the proliferative subtype with low immunogenicity; C2 as the immunosuppressed subtype with the terminally exhausted immune characteristics; C3 as the immune-excluded subtype with the distinct upregulation of stromal components and a lack of T cell infiltration in the tumor core; and C4 as the immunomodulatory subtype with the remarkable upregulation of anti-tumor immune components. The four CCCRC subtypes had distinct histopathologic and molecular characteristics, therapeutic efficacy, and prognosis. We found that the C1 subtype may be suitable for chemotherapy and cetuximab, the C2 subtype may benefit from a combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab, the C3 subtype has increased sensitivity to the WNT pathway inhibitor WIKI4, and the C4 subtype is a potential candidate for immune checkpoint blockade treatment. Importantly, we established a simple gene classifier for accurate identification of each CCCRC subtype. Collectively our integrative analysis ultimately established a holistic framework to thoroughly dissect the TME of CRC, and the CCCRC classification system with high biological interpretability may contribute to biomarker discovery and future clinical trial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangkun Wu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hong Yan
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Mingxing Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoping Qu
- Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., LtdNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., LtdNanjingChina
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Shaowan Xu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yiran Zheng
- Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., LtdNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., LtdNanjingChina
| | - Minghui Ge
- Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., LtdNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., LtdNanjingChina
| | - Linlin Yan
- Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., LtdNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., LtdNanjingChina
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Jinfeng LaboratoryChongqingChina
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Saleh MA, Antar SA, Abdo W, Ashour A, Zaki AA. Genistin modulates high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in Ehrlich-ascites-carcinoma-bearing mice. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:966-978. [PMID: 35907070 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22268-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the world's second-largest cause of death. Although there are numerous cancer treatment options, they are typically uncomfortable owing to side effects and ineffectual due to increased resistance to traditional anti-cancer medications or radiation therapy. A key method in cancer treatment is to target delayed/inhibited inflammation and apoptosis, which are very active areas of research. Natural chemicals originating from plants are of particular interest because of their high bioavailability, safety, few side effects, and, most importantly, cost-effectiveness. Flavonoids have become incredibly common as anti-cancer medications, with promising findings as cytotoxic anti-cancer agents that cause cancer cell death. Isolated compound (genistin) was evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The compound exhibited good cytotoxic activities against both cell lines. In vivo antiproliferative efficacy was also investigated in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC). Compared to the control group, genistin revealed a significant decrease in tumor weight, volume, high-mobility group box1 (HMGB1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) contents. On the other hand, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) contents increase suggesting an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activity through inhibition of HMGB1 signaling and activating the Bcl-2 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Saleh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, UAE.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.
| | - Samar A Antar
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta, 34518, Egypt
| | - Walied Abdo
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Ashour
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta, 34518, Egypt
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Zaki
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta, 34518, Egypt
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
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10
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Zhang W, Zhang X, Cheng P, Yue K, Tang M, Li Y, Guo Q, Zhang Y. HSF4 promotes tumor progression of colorectal cancer by transactivating c-MET. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 478:1141-1150. [PMID: 36229759 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04582-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock factors (HSFs) are a family of transcription factors, composed of HSF1, HSF2, and HSF4, to regulate cell stress reaction for maintaining cellular homeostasis in response to adverse stimuli. Recent studies have disclosed the roles of HSF1 and HSF2 in modulating tumor development, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, HSF4, which is closely associated with pathology of congenital cataracts, remains less studied in tumors. In this study, we aimed to describe the regulatory effects of HSF4 and underlying molecular mechanism in CRC progression. By bioinformatic analysis of TCGA database and TMA-IHC assay, we identified that the expression of HSF4 was significantly upregulated in CRCs compared with normal colonic tissues and was a prognostic factor of poor outcomes of CRC patients. Function assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, transwell assays, and xenografted mouse model, were employed to verify that HSF4 promoted cell growth, colony formation, invasion of CRC cells in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo as a potential oncogenic factor. Mechanistically, results of Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and immunoblotting assays revealed that HSF4 associated directly to MET promoter to enhance expression of c-MET, a well-known oncogene in multiple cancers, thus fueling the activity of downstream ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways. In further rescue experiments, restoration of c-MET expression abolished inhibitory cell growth and invasion induced by downregulated HSF4 expression. To sum up, our findings describe a crucial role of HSF4 in CRC progression by enhancing activity of c-MET and downstream ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways, and highlight HSF4 as a potential therapeutic target for anti-CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650000, China.,Faculty of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Xuelian Zhang
- Faculty of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Peng Cheng
- Faculty of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Kelin Yue
- Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650000, Kunming, China
| | - Ming Tang
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Yan Li
- Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650000, Kunming, China
| | - Qiang Guo
- Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650000, Kunming, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650000, Kunming, China.
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11
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Basta DW, Vong M, Beshimova A, Nakamura BN, Rusu I, Kattah MG, Shao L. A20 Restricts NOS2 Expression and Intestinal Tumorigenesis in a Mouse Model of Colitis-Associated Cancer. Gastro Hep Adv 2022; 2:96-107. [PMID: 36636264 PMCID: PMC9833806 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastha.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Colon cancer can occur sporadically or in the setting of chronic inflammation, such as in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We previously showed that A20, a critical negative regulator of tumor necrosis factor signal transduction, could regulate sporadic colon cancer development. In this report, we investigate whether A20 also acts as a tumor suppressor in a model of colitis-associated cancer. METHODS Colitis and colitis-associated tumors were induced in wild-type and A20 intestinal epithelial cell-specific knockout (A20dIEC) mice using dextran sodium sulfate and azoxymethane. Clinicopathologic markers of inflammation were assessed in conjunction with colonic tumor burden. Gene expression analyses and immunohistochemistry were performed on colonic tissue and intestinal enteroids. Nitric oxide (NO) production and activity were assessed in whole colonic lysates and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. RESULTS A20dIEC mice develop larger tumors after treatment with dextran sodium sulfate and azoxymethane than wild-type mice. In addition to elevated markers of inflammation, A20dIEC mice have significantly enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a well-known driver of neoplasia. Enhanced iNOS expression is associated with the formation of reactive nitrogen species and DNA damage. Loss of A20 also enhances NO-dependent cell death directly. CONCLUSION Mechanistically, we propose that A20 normally restricts tumor necrosis factor-induced nuclear factor kappa B-dependent production of iNOS in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby protecting against colitis-associated tumorigenesis. We also propose that A20 plays a direct role in regulating NO-dependent cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Basta
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mandy Vong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Adolat Beshimova
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Brooke N Nakamura
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Iulia Rusu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael G Kattah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ling Shao
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
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12
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Ahmed YW, Alemu BA, Bekele SA, Gizaw ST, Zerihun MF, Wabalo EK, Teklemariam MD, Mihrete TK, Hanurry EY, Amogne TG, Gebrehiwot AD, Berga TN, Haile EA, Edo DO, Alemu BD. Epigenetic tumor heterogeneity in the era of single-cell profiling with nanopore sequencing. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:107. [PMID: 36030244 PMCID: PMC9419648 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01323-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanopore sequencing has brought the technology to the next generation in the science of sequencing. This is achieved through research advancing on: pore efficiency, creating mechanisms to control DNA translocation, enhancing signal-to-noise ratio, and expanding to long-read ranges. Heterogeneity regarding epigenetics would be broad as mutations in the epigenome are sensitive to cause new challenges in cancer research. Epigenetic enzymes which catalyze DNA methylation and histone modification are dysregulated in cancer cells and cause numerous heterogeneous clones to evolve. Detection of this heterogeneity in these clones plays an indispensable role in the treatment of various cancer types. With single-cell profiling, the nanopore sequencing technology could provide a simple sequence at long reads and is expected to be used soon at the bedside or doctor's office. Here, we review the advancements of nanopore sequencing and its use in the detection of epigenetic heterogeneity in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohannis Wondwosen Ahmed
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Berhan Ababaw Alemu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sisay Addisu Bekele
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Tebeje Gizaw
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Muluken Fekadie Zerihun
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Endriyas Kelta Wabalo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Maria Degef Teklemariam
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tsehayneh Kelemu Mihrete
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Endris Yibru Hanurry
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tensae Gebru Amogne
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Assaye Desalegne Gebrehiwot
- Department of Medical Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tamirat Nida Berga
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ebsitu Abate Haile
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dessiet Oma Edo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bizuwork Derebew Alemu
- Department of Statistics, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mizan Tepi University, Tepi, Ethiopia
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13
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Ashoori H, Kamian S, Vahidian F, Ghamarchehreh ME. Correlation of miR-31 and miR-373 expression with KRAS mutations and its impact on prognosis in colorectal cancer. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2022; 34:35. [DOI: 10.1186/s43046-022-00136-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Colorectal cancers (CRC) are among the most common cancers. There are different modalities for treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. There are some mutations in cancers which can assist in the treatment and better prognosis of patients. In this study, two molecular markers (miR-31 and miR-373) were involved in the pathogenesis of CRC and their association with histopathological features was investigated. As well, the prognostic value of these molecular markers was investigated in CRC patients with or without common KRAS mutations.
Methods
Paraffin blocks of tissue samples from 150 patients who underwent colon surgery between 2018 and 2020 were prepared by the Pathology Department of Imam Hossein Hospital (Tehran, Iran). After DNA and RNA isolation, gene expression of miR-31 and miR-373 was determined using probe-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Mutations of KRAS were surveyed using conventional PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis.
Results
The mean age of the patients was 57.2 ± 13.4 years. KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations were positive in 31 (20.6%) and 22 (14.6%) cases, respectively. The results showed that KRAS common mutations occurred in 32.6% of Iranian CRC patients. The expression levels of miR-31 and miR-373 increased in CRC patients with KRAS mutations in comparison with patients without these mutations.
Conclusion
Considering the role of miR-31 and miR-373 in CRC tumor progression, it seems that the CRC patients bearing KRAS mutations have a poorer prognosis respective to patients without KRAS mutations.
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Nawareg NA, Mostafa AS, El-Messery SM, Nasr MNA. New benzimidazole based hybrids: Synthesis, molecular modeling study and anticancer evaluation as TopoII inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2022; 127:106038. [PMID: 35870412 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Three series of new benzimidazole hybrids were designed and synthesized as promising human TopoII inhibitors. They were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C NMR, ESI-MS and IR). All hybrids (6-23) were screened for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against five human cancer cell lines namely; HepG-2, MCF-7, PC-3, HCT-116 and Hela. Compound 21 showed the most potent anticancer activity against all cancer cell lines, with IC50 range of 2.82 to 12.59 µM, while proving safe towards normal cells WI-38 (IC50 = 31.89 µM) compared to the reference drug doxorubicin (IC50 = 6.72 µM). The most active candidates 13, 20, 21, 22 and 23 were further assessed for their human TopoII inhibition. The best of which, compounds 13 and 20 showed IC50 of 6.72 and 8.18 µM respectively compared to staurosporine (IC50 = 4.64 µM). Further mechanistic studies for compound 13 showed cell cycle arrest at S-phase by 51.29 % and a significant increase in the total apoptosis by 62.5 folds. Furthermore, apoptosis study proved that it induced apoptosis by decreasing both IAP and Bcl-2, activating caspases 3, 8 and 9, and increasing accumulation of ROS in HepG-2 cells. Besides, it decreased transcription factors' binding activity to DNA. Comparative molecular docking study was performed between the most potent TopoII inhibitors 13 and 20, and the least potent one 23 to relate the binding pattern with TopoII catalytic active site to the biological activity, where all results came in agreement with the biological results. Additional molecular modeling studies including surface mapping and contact preferences were performed to emphasize the importance of hydrophobicity. Physicochemical calculations were assessed where compounds 13 and 20 represented very promising orally active drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nareman A Nawareg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta 34518, Egypt
| | - Amany S Mostafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Shahenda M El-Messery
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
| | - Magda N A Nasr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
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15
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Ying Y, Wang M, Chen Y, Li M, Ma C, Zhang J, Huang X, Jia M, Zeng J, Wang Y, Li L, Wang X, Tao Q, Shu XS. Zinc finger protein 280C contributes to colorectal tumorigenesis by maintaining epigenetic repression at H3K27me3-marked loci. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2120633119. [PMID: 35605119 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120633119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This study uncovered the role of ZNF280C, a known DNA damage response protein, as a tumorigenic transcription regulator that contributes to colorectal tumorigenesis and metastasis through maintaining an epigenetic repression program at key cancer gene loci. These findings identified a contributor with potential prognostic value to colorectal pathogenesis and provide mechanistic insight to the essential function of transcription factor in fine-tuning the activity of chromatin regulators for proper transcription control. Dysregulated epigenetic and transcriptional programming due to abnormalities of transcription factors (TFs) contributes to and sustains the oncogenicity of cancer cells. Here, we unveiled the role of zinc finger protein 280C (ZNF280C), a known DNA damage response protein, as a tumorigenic TF in colorectal cancer (CRC), required for colitis-associated carcinogenesis and Apc deficiency–driven intestinal tumorigenesis in mice. Consistently, ZNF280C silencing in human CRC cells inhibited proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, xenograft growth, and liver metastasis. As a C2H2 (Cys2-His2) zinc finger-containing TF, ZNF280C occupied genomic intervals with both transcriptionally active and repressive states and coincided with CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and cohesin binding. Notably, ZNF280C was crucial for the repression program of trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3)-marked genes and the maintenance of both focal and broad H3K27me3 levels. Mechanistically, ZNF280C counteracted CTCF/cohesin activities and condensed the chromatin environment at the cis elements of certain tumor suppressor genes marked by H3K27me3, at least partially through recruiting the epigenetic repressor structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain-containing 1 (SMCHD1). In clinical relevance, ZNF280C was highly expressed in primary CRCs and distant metastases, and a higher ZNF280C level independently predicted worse prognosis of CRC patients. Thus, our study uncovered a contributor with good prognostic value to CRC pathogenesis and also elucidated the essence of DNA-binding TFs in orchestrating the epigenetic programming of gene regulation.
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16
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Ma B, Wang K, Liang Y, Meng Q, Li Y. Molecular Characteristics, Oncogenic Roles, and Relevant Immune and Pharmacogenomic Features of EVA1B in Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:809837. [PMID: 35250982 PMCID: PMC8888821 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.809837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE EVA1B, a protein coding gene, is a critical paralog of EVA1A gene. Herein, our study was conducted to investigate the role of EVA1B in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and prognosis. METHODS Pan-cancer analysis was conducted to analyze expression, genetic and epigenetic alterations, and immunological characteristics of EVA1B. Especially, immunological characteristics and mutational landscape were compared between high and low EVA1B expression groups in the combined TCGA-COAD and TCGA-READ datasets. Through random survival forest analysis, an EVA1B-derived genomic model was developed, and its prognostic value was verified in the external datasets (GSE14333, GSE39582, and GSE87211). Drug sensitivity was compared between high- and low-risk subpopulations. A nomogram was conducted through integrating independent factors. RESULTS EVA1B expression presented a remarkable upregulation in most cancer types, especially CRC. EVA1B expression was significantly correlated to DNA methyltransferases, DNA mismatch repair genes, m6A regulators, TMB, and MSI across pan-cancer. High EVA1B expression indicated an undesirable CRC patients' prognosis. Additionally, its upregulation was correlated to enhanced immune cell infiltration, increased stromal and immune activation, and elevated activities of cancer immunity cycle. Higher frequencies of amplification and deletion were investigated in high EVA1B expression subpopulation. Following verification, the EVA1B-derived genomic model reliably predicted patients' prognosis and drug responses. The nomogram (age, stage, EVA1B-derived risk score) was conducted to quantify an individual's survival probability. Furthermore, our experimental validation based on immunohistochemistry indicated that EVA1B overexpression is correlated with CRC tumorigenesis and poor outcomes in our CRC patients' cohort. CONCLUSION Collectively, our findings provided valuable resource for guiding the mechanisms and therapeutic analysis of EVA1B in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Ma
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Kangchun Wang
- Department of Organ Transplantation and Hepatobiliary, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yu Liang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Qingkai Meng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Yongmin Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
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17
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Abstract
Transcription factors, cofactors, chromatin regulators, and transcription apparatuses interact with transcriptional regulatory elements, including promoters, enhancers, and super-enhancers (SEs), to coordinately regulate the transcription of target genes and thereby control cell behaviors. Among these transcriptional regulatory components and related elements, SEs often play a central role in determining cell identity and tumor initiation and progression. Therefore, oncogenic SEs, which are generated within cancer cells in oncogenes and other genes important in tumor pathogenesis, have emerged as attractive targets for novel cancer therapeutic strategies in recent years. Herein, we review the identification, formation and activation modes, and regulatory mechanisms for downstream genes and pathways of oncogenic SEs. We also review the therapeutic strategies and compounds targeting oncogenic SEs in colorectal cancer and other malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Guo
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyuan Lou
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueping Xiang
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jimin Shao
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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18
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Martinou EG, Moller-Levet CS, Angelidi AM. PBX4 functions as a potential novel oncopromoter in colorectal cancer: a comprehensive analysis of the PBX gene family. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:585-600. [PMID: 35261789 DOI: pmid/35261789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-B-cell leukaemia (PBX) is a transcription factor family (PBX1, PBX2, PBX3 and PBX4) that regulates important cellular functions and has been identified to be involved in human cancers. This study aimed to explore the expression of PBX genes and their clinical significance in colorectal cancer (CRC). We analysed the differential expression of PBX genes in CRC vs. normal tissue, using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/) and ONCOMINE platform (https://www.oncomine.org/). The UALCAN (http://ualcan.path.uab.edu/) interactive OMICS web-server was used to evaluate the epigenetic regulation of PBX genes via their promoter methylation status. We found that only PBX4 was upregulated whereas PBX1 and PBX3 were downregulated (644 tumour vs. 51 normal samples) (P<0.001). The methylation status of PBX4 promoter appeared to be decreased (P=1.4e-07) whereas the methylation status of PBX1 and PBX3 promoters was increased (P=3.8e-04 and P=3.2e-07, respectively) in cancer vs. normal samples. To determine the prognostic value of PBXs, we conducted a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable COX regression. We observed that high PBX4 expression was associated with increased risk for a worse overall survival (OS) in the TCGA CRC patient cohort (n=639), (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.14-1.88, P=0.003) adjusted for age, gender, tumour location and metastases. We conducted in vitro gene expression modulation experiments to investigate the impact of PBX4 overexpression in CRC cell (HCT116) growth. Additionally, we evaluated the RNA expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis markers. In vitro studies showed that PBX4 overexpression increased CRC cell proliferation (P<0.001) and upregulated the expression of EMT markers VIM, CDH1, CDH2, ZEB1, SNAI1 (P<0.05) and angiomarker VEGFA (P<0.0001). Lastly, through the Cistrome data browser (http://dbtoolkit.cistrome.org/) we investigated putative transcriptional regulators and we performed gene set enrichment analysis in Enrichr server (https://maayanlab.cloud/Enrichr/) to identify related biological processes. Nineteen factors were identified to be putative regulators of PBX4 and gene set enrichment analysis showed that biological processes related to cell cycle and cell proliferation were enriched (GO:0051726: CDK8, JUN, JUND, and IRF1, P=0.001). In conclusion, our study identified PBX4 as a potential novel oncopromoter in CRC and its overexpression was found to be associated with increased risk for worse survival rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini G Martinou
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Royal Surrey County Hospital Guildford GU2 7XX, UK.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Carla S Moller-Levet
- Bioinformatics Department, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Angeliki M Angelidi
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Martinou E, Moller-Levet C, Karamanis D, Bagwan I, Angelidi AM. HOXB9 Overexpression Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression and Is Associated with Worse Survival in Liver Resection Patients for Colorectal Liver Metastases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2281. [PMID: 35216396 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As is known, HOXB9 is an important factor affecting disease progression and overall survival (OS) in cancer. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We aimed to explore the role of HOXB9 in CRC progression and its association with OS in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). We analysed differential HOXB9 expression in CRC using the Tissue Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). We modulated HOXB9 expression in vitro to assess its impact on cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Lastly, we explored the association of HOXB9 protein expression with OS, using an institutional patient cohort (n = 110) who underwent liver resection for CRLM. Furthermore, HOXB9 was upregulated in TCGA-CRC (n = 644) vs. normal tissue (n = 51) and its expression levels were elevated in KRAS mutations (p < 0.0001). In vitro, HOXB9 overexpression increased cell proliferation (p < 0.001) and upregulated the mRNA expression of EMT markers (VIM, CDH2, ZEB1, ZEB2, SNAI1 and SNAI2) while downregulated CDH1, (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conversely, HOXB9 silencing disrupted cell growth (p < 0.0001). High HOXB9 expression (HR = 3.82, 95% CI: 1.59-9.2, p = 0.003) was independently associated with worse OS in CRLM-HOXB9-expressing patients after liver resection. In conclusion, HOXB9 may be associated with worse OS in CRLM and may promote CRC progression, whereas HOXB9 silencing may inhibit CRC growth.
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Li Z, He Y, Li Y, Li J, Zhao H, Song G, Miyagishi M, Wu S, Kasim V. NeuroD1 promotes tumor cell proliferation and tumorigenesis by directly activating the pentose phosphate pathway in colorectal carcinoma. Oncogene 2021; 40:6736-47. [PMID: 34657129 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Tumor metabolic reprogramming ensures that cancerous cells obtain sufficient building blocks, energy, and antioxidants to sustain rapid growth and for coping with oxidative stress. Neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (NeuroD1) is upregulated in various types of tumors; however, its involvement in tumor cell metabolic reprogramming remains unclear. In this study, we report that NeuroD1 is positively correlated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, the regulation of G6PD by NeuroD1 alters tumor cell metabolism by stimulating the PPP, leading to enhanced production of nucleotides and NADPH. These, in turn, promote DNA and lipid biosynthesis in tumor cells, while decreasing intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Mechanistically, we showed that NeuroD1 binds directly to the G6PD promoter to activate G6PD transcription. Consequently, tumor cell proliferation and colony formation are enhanced, leading to increased tumorigenic potential in vitro and in vivo. These findings reveal a novel function of NeuroD1 as a regulator of G6PD, whereby its oncogenic activity is linked to tumor cell metabolic reprogramming and regulation of the PPP. Furthermore, NeuroD1 represents a potential target for metabolism-based anti-tumor therapeutic strategies.
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21
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Qu J, Luo M, Zhang J, Han F, Hou N, Pan R, Sun X. A paradoxical role for sestrin 2 protein in tumor suppression and tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:606. [PMID: 34784907 PMCID: PMC8596924 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02317-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sestrin 2, a highly conserved stress-induced protein, participates in the pathological processes of metabolic and age-related diseases. This p53-inducible protein also regulates cell growth and metabolism, which is closely related to malignant tumorigenesis. Sestrin 2 was reported to regulate various cellular processes, such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, apoptosis, anoikis resistance, and drug resistance. Although sestrin 2 is associated with colorectal, lung, liver, and other cancers, sestrin 2 expression varies among different types of cancer, and the effects and mechanisms of action of this protein are also different. Sestrin 2 was considered a tumor suppressor gene in most studies, whereas conflicting reports considered sestrin 2 an oncogene. Thus, this review aims to examine the literature regarding sestrin 2 in various cancers, summarize its roles in suppression and tumorigenesis, discuss potential mechanisms in the regulation of cancer, and provide a basis for follow-up research and potential cancer treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsheng Qu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, 2428 Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China
| | - Moyi Luo
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, 2428 Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Fang Han
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Ningning Hou
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, 2428 Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China
| | - Ruiyan Pan
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, 2428 Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China.
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
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22
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Fang G, Fan J, Ding Z, Li R, Lin K, Fu J, Huang Q, Zeng Y, Liu J. Prognostic and Predictive Value of Transcription Factors Panel for Digestive System Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:670129. [PMID: 34745933 PMCID: PMC8566925 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.670129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Digestive system carcinoma is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. Lack of valid clinicopathological parameters as prognostic factors needs more accurate and effective biomarkers for high-confidence prognosis that guide decision-making for optimal treatment of digestive system carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to establish a novel model to improve prognosis prediction of digestive system carcinoma, with a particular interest in transcription factors (TFs). Materials and Methods A TF-related prognosis model of digestive system carcinoma with data from TCGA database successively were processed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Then, for evaluating the prognostic prediction value of the model, ROC curve and survival analysis were performed by external data from GEO database. Furthermore, we verified the expression of TFs expression by qPCR in digestive system carcinoma tissue. Finally, we constructed a TF clinical characteristics nomogram to furtherly predict digestive system carcinoma patient survival probability with TCGA database. Results By Cox regression analysis, a panel of 17 TFs (NFIC, YBX2, ZBTB47, ZNF367, CREB3L3, HEYL, FOXD1, TIGD1, SNAI1, HSF4, CENPA, ETS2, FOXM1, ETV4, MYBL2, FOXQ1, ZNF589) was identified to present with powerful predictive performance for overall survival of digestive system carcinoma patients based on TCGA database. A nomogram that integrates TFs was established, allowing efficient prediction of survival probabilities and displaying higher clinical utility. Conclusion The 17-TF panel is an independent prognostic factor for digestive system carcinoma, and 17 TFs based nomogram might provide implication an effective approach for digestive system carcinoma patient management and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxu Fang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,The Big Data Institute of Southeast Hepatobiliary Health Information, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianhui Fan
- Department of Hepatology for Pregnancy, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zongren Ding
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,The Big Data Institute of Southeast Hepatobiliary Health Information, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kongying Lin
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,The Big Data Institute of Southeast Hepatobiliary Health Information, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jun Fu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,The Big Data Institute of Southeast Hepatobiliary Health Information, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qizhen Huang
- The Big Data Institute of Southeast Hepatobiliary Health Information, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yongyi Zeng
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jingfeng Liu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,The Big Data Institute of Southeast Hepatobiliary Health Information, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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23
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He XS, Zou SY, Yao JL, Yu W, Deng ZY, Wang JR, Gan WJ, Wan S, Yang XQ, Wu H. Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies Complement Component 3 as a Potential Predictive Biomarker for Chemotherapy Resistance in Colorectal Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:763652. [PMID: 34722636 PMCID: PMC8554154 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.763652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: 5-fluorouracil- and oxaliplatin-based FOLFOX regimens are mainstay chemotherapeutics for colorectal cancer (CRC) but drug resistance represents a major therapeutic challenge. To improve patient survival, there is a need to identify resistance genes to better understand the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance. Methods: Transcriptomic datasets were retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and combined with our own microarray data. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to dissect the functional networks and hub genes associated with FOLFOX resistance and cancer recurrence. We then conducted analysis of prognosis, profiling of tumor infiltrating immune cells, and pathway overrepresentation analysis to comprehensively elucidate the biological impact of the identified hub gene in CRC. Results: WGCNA analysis identified the complement component 3 (C3) gene as the only hub gene associated with both FOLFOX chemotherapy resistance and CRC recurrence after FOLFOX chemotherapy. Subsequent survival analysis confirmed that high C3 expression confers poor progression-free survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence-free survival. Further correlational analysis revealed significant negative association of C3 expression with sensitivity to oxaliplatin, but not 5-fluorouracil. Moreover, in silico analysis of tumor immune cell infiltration suggested the change of C3 expression could affect tumor microenvironment. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed a hyperactivation of pathways contributing to invasion, metastasis, lymph node spread, and oxaliplatin resistance in CRC samples with C3 overexpression. Conclusion: Our results suggest that high C3 expression is a debilitating factor for FOLFOX chemotherapy, especially for oxaliplatin sensitivity, and C3 may represent a novel biomarker for treatment decision of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Shun He
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University and The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Yi Zou
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jia-Lu Yao
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wangjianfei Yu
- Department of Bioinformatics, Medical College of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Deng
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan, Kunshan, China
| | - Jing-Ru Wang
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University and The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wen-Juan Gan
- Department of Pathology, Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shan Wan
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University and The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Yang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Medical College of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hua Wu
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University and The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Pathology, Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Lin J, Cao Z, Yu D, Cai W. Identification of Transcription Factor-Related Gene Signature and Risk Score Model for Colon Adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2021; 12:709133. [PMID: 34603375 PMCID: PMC8485095 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.709133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains poor. However, the specific and sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of COAD are absent. Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in many biological processes in cells. As the molecule of the signal pathway of the terminal effectors, TFs play important roles in tumorigenesis and development. A growing body of research suggests that aberrant TFs contribute to the development of COAD, as well as to its clinicopathological features and prognosis. In consequence, a few studies have investigated the relationship between the TF-related risk model and the prognosis of COAD. Therefore, in this article, we hope to develop a prognostic risk model based on TFs to predict the prognosis of patients with COAD. The mRNA transcription data and corresponding clinical data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO. Then, 141 differentially expressed genes, validated by the GEPIA2 database, were identified by differential expression analysis between normal and tumor samples. Univariate, multivariate and Lasso Cox regression analysis were performed to identify seven prognostic genes (E2F3, ETS2, HLF, HSF4, KLF4, MEIS2, and TCF7L1). The Kaplan-Meier curve and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC, 1-year AUC: 0.723, 3-year AUC: 0.775, 5-year AUC: 0.786) showed that our model could be used to predict the prognosis of patients with COAD. Multivariate Cox analysis also reported that the risk model is an independent prognostic factor of COAD. The external cohort (GSE17536 and GSE39582) was used to validate our risk model, which indicated that our risk model may be a reliable predictive model for COAD patients. Finally, based on the model and the clinicopathological factors, we constructed a nomogram with a C-index of 0.802. In conclusion, we emphasize the clinical significance of TFs in COAD and construct a prognostic model of TFs, which could provide a novel and reliable model for the prognosis of COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zichao Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dingye Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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25
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Tan S, Gui W, Wang S, Sun C, Xu X, Liu L. A methylation-based prognostic model predicts survival in patients with colorectal cancer. J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 12:1590-1600. [PMID: 34532113 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-21-376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To construct a model that could effectively predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) by searching for methylated-differentially expressed genes (MDEGs). Methods We identified MDEGs through four databases from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and annotated their functions via bioinformatics analysis. Subsequently, after adjusting for gender, age, and grading, multivariate Cox hazard analysis was utilized to select MDEGs interrelated with the prognosis of CRC, and LASSO analysis was utilized to fit the prediction model in the training set. Furthermore, another independent dataset was harnessed to verify the effectiveness of the model in predicting prognosis. Results In total, 252 hypomethylated and up-regulated genes and 132 hypermethylated and down-regulated genes were identified, 27 of which were correlated with the prognosis of CRC, and a 10-gene prognostic model was established after LASSO analysis. The overall survival rate could be effectively grouped into different risks by the median score of this model in the training set [risk ratio (HR) =2.27, confidence interval (95% CI), 1.69-3.13, P=8.15×10-8], and the validity of its effect in predicting prognosis in CRC was verified in the validation dataset (HR =1.75, 95% CI, 1.15-2.70, P=9.32×10-3). Conclusions Our model could effectively predict the overall survival rate of patients with CRC and provides potential application guidelines for its clinically personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanyue Tan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiwei Gui
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sumeng Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chongqi Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xian Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingxiang Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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26
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Gargalionis AN, Papavassiliou KA, Papavassiliou AG. Targeting STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081016. [PMID: 34440220 PMCID: PMC8392110 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a critical transcription factor that has been firmly associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and development. STAT3 mediates key inflammatory mechanisms in colitis-associated cancer, becomes excessively activated in CRC, and enhances cancer cell proliferation, tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. STAT3 hyperactivation in malignant cells, surrounding immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, mediates inhibition of the innate and adaptive immunity of the tumor microenvironment, and, therefore, tumor evasion from the immune system. These features highlight STAT3 as a promising therapeutic target; however, the mechanisms underlying these features have not been fully elucidated yet and STAT3 inhibitors have not reached the clinic in everyday practice. In the present article, we review the STAT3 signaling network in CRC and highlight the current notion for the design of STAT3-focused treatment approaches. We also discuss recent breakthroughs in combination immunotherapy regimens containing STAT3 inhibitors, therefore providing a new perception for the clinical application of STAT3 in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios N. Gargalionis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.N.G.); (K.A.P.)
- Department of Biopathology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas A. Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.N.G.); (K.A.P.)
| | - Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.N.G.); (K.A.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-210-746-2508; Fax: +30-210-746-2703
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27
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Briu LM, Maric C, Cadoret JC. Replication Stress, Genomic Instability, and Replication Timing: A Complex Relationship. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4764. [PMID: 33946274 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The replication-timing program constitutes a key element of the organization and coordination of numerous nuclear processes in eukaryotes. This program is established at a crucial moment in the cell cycle and occurs simultaneously with the organization of the genome, thus indicating the vital significance of this process. With recent technological achievements of high-throughput approaches, a very strong link has been confirmed between replication timing, transcriptional activity, the epigenetic and mutational landscape, and the 3D organization of the genome. There is also a clear relationship between replication stress, replication timing, and genomic instability, but the extent to which they are mutually linked to each other is unclear. Recent evidence has shown that replication timing is affected in cancer cells, although the cause and consequence of this effect remain unknown. However, in-depth studies remain to be performed to characterize the molecular mechanisms of replication-timing regulation and clearly identify different cis- and trans-acting factors. The results of these studies will potentially facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic pathways, particularly for personalized medicine, or new biomarkers. This review focuses on the complex relationship between replication timing, replication stress, and genomic instability.
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