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de Kort WWB, de Ruiter EJ, Haakma WE, Driehuis E, Devriese LA, van Es RJJ, Willems SM. p-mTOR, p-ERK and PTEN Expression in Tumor Biopsies and Organoids as Predictive Biomarkers for Patients with HPV Negative Head and Neck Cancer. Head Neck Pathol 2023; 17:697-707. [PMID: 37486536 PMCID: PMC10514008 DOI: 10.1007/s12105-023-01576-4] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Survival rates of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have only marginally improved in the last decades. Hence there is a need for predictive biomarkers for long-time survival that can help to guide treatment decisions and might lead to the development of new therapies. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is the most frequently altered pathway in HNSCC, genes are often mutated, amplificated and overexpressed causing aberrant signaling affecting cell growth and differentiation. Numerous genetic alterations of upstream and downstream factors have currently been clarified. However, their predictive value has yet to be established. Therefore we assess the predictive value of p-mTOR, p-ERK and PTEN expression. METHODS Tissue microarrays (TMA's) of HPV-negative patients with oropharyngeal (n = 48), hypopharyngeal (n = 16) or laryngeal (n = 13) SCC, treated with primary chemoradiation (cisplatin/carboplatin/cetuximab and radiotherapy), were histologically stained for p-mTOR, PTEN and p-ERK. Expression was correlated to overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) and locoregional control (LRC). Also p-mTOR was histologically stained in a separate cohort of HNSCC organoids (n = 8) and correlated to mTOR-inhibitor everolimus response. RESULTS High p-mTOR expression correlated significantly with worse OS in multivariate analysis in the whole patient cohort [Hazar Ratio (HR) 1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11, p = 0.03] and in the cisplatin/carboplatin group with both worse OS (HR 1.09, 95%CI 1.02-1.16, p = 0.02) and DFS (HR 1.06, 95%CI 1.00-1.12, p = 0,04). p-ERK expression correlated significantly with DFS in univariate analysis in the whole patient cohort (HR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00-1.05, p = 0.04) and cisplatin/carboplatin group (HR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00-1.07, p = 0.04). PTEN-expression did not correlate with OS/DFS/LRC. Better organoid response to everolimus correlated significantly to higher p-mTOR expression (Rs = - 0.731, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS High p-mTOR expression predicts and high p-ERK expression tends to predict worse treatment outcome in HPV negative HNSCC patients treated with chemoradiation, providing additional evidence that these markers are candidate prognostic biomarkers for survival in this patient population. Also this study shows that the use of HNSCC organoids for biomarker research has potential. The role of PTEN expression as prognostic biomarker remains unclear, as consistent evidence on its prognostic and predictive value is lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. W. B. de Kort
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E. J. de Ruiter
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - W. E. Haakma
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E. Driehuis
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L. A. Devriese
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R. J. J. van Es
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - S. M. Willems
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
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Yang M, Zeng C, Gong Z, Shao B, Liu G, Bao X, Nie B. Development and validation of a predictive model for immune-related genes in patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Open Life Sci 2022; 17:1657-1668. [PMID: 36567723 PMCID: PMC9755709 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0469] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study involved building a model of immune-related genes (IRGs) that can predict the survival outcomes of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Using the TCGA database, we collected the gene expression profiles of patients with TSCC and analyzed the differences in IRGs obtained from the ImmPort database. Subsequently, we constructed a predictive model. Transcription factors and differentially expressed IRGs can be used to construct TSCC regulatory network. CIBERSORT tool was used to analyze the relative proportion of 22 tumor-infiltrating immune cells in TSCC samples. Finally, a prognostic model is constructed. We established an IRG model formed by seven genes. The receiver operating characteristic value of the prognostic model based on IRGs is 0.739. After the analysis of the correlation between IRGs and clinical and pathological conditions, we found that Gast was related to grade, IRF9, LTB, and T stage. Among the 22 tumor-infiltrating immune cells, the resting natural killer (NK) cells were found to be related to the 5-year survival rate. This study constructed a prognostic model formed by seven IRGs and discussed the tumor-infiltrating immune cells, which are related to the survival outcome, reflecting the potential regulatory role of TSCC tumor immune microenvironment that could potentially promote individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Urumqi Stomatological Hospital, No. 196 Zhongshan Road, Tianshan District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Changyu Zeng
- Center for STD/AIDS Control and Prevention, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Zhongcheng Gong
- The Oncological Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Bo Shao
- The Oncological Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Gaocheng Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Urumqi Stomatological Hospital, No. 196 Zhongshan Road, Tianshan District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Xuying Bao
- Department of Stomatology, Urumqi Stomatological Hospital, No. 196 Zhongshan Road, Tianshan District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Bin Nie
- Department of Stomatology, Urumqi Stomatological Hospital, No. 196 Zhongshan Road, Tianshan District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
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Hou F, Liu Y, Cheng Y, Zhang N, Yan W, Zhang F. Exploring the Mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Efficacy against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021; 2021:5597586. [PMID: 34335829 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5597586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) has been widely shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit invasion and migration of various cancer cells. Increased evidence shows that SBG may be useful to treat oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the biological activity and possible mechanisms of SBG in the treatment of OSCC have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to clarify the bioactive component and multitarget mechanisms of SBG against OSCC using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to predict the active components in SBG, and putative molecular targets of SBG were identified using the Swiss Target Prediction database. OSCC-related targets were screened by GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). Then, we established protein-protein interaction (PPI), compound-target-disease (C-T-D), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks by Cytoscape to identify the main components, core targets, and pharmacological pathways of SBG against OSCC via applying data mining techniques and topological parameters. Metascape database was utilized for Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis. The potential interaction of the main components with core targets was revealed by molecular docking simulation, and for the correlation between core targets and OSCC prognosis analysis, the Kaplan-Meier Plotter online database was used. Results There were 25 active compounds in SBG and 86 genes targeted by OSCC. A total of 141 signaling pathways were identified, and it was found that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may occupy core status in the anti-OSCC system. GO analysis revealed that the primary biological processes were related to apoptosis, proliferation, and migration. Molecular docking results confirmed that core targets of OSCC had a high affinity with the main compounds of SBG. Conclusion Our study demonstrated multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway characteristics of SBG in the treatment of OSCC and provided a foundation for further drug development research.
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Zhang H, Yi JK, Huang H, Park S, Park S, Kwon W, Kim E, Jang S, Kim SY, Choi SK, Kim SH, Liu K, Dong Z, Ryoo ZY, Kim MO. Rhein Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Inhibiting the mTOR Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092176. [PMID: 33946531 PMCID: PMC8125196 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Rhein has demonstrated therapeutic effects in various cancer models. However, its effects and underlying mechanisms of action in CRC remain poorly understood. We investigated the potential anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms of rhein in CRC in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability and anchorage-independent colony formation assays were performed to examine the antigrowth effects of rhein on CRC cells. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were conducted to assess cell migration and invasion capacity. Cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry and verified by immunoblotting. A tissue microarray was used to detect mTOR expression in CRC patient tissues. Gene overexpression and knockdown were done to analyze the function of mTOR in CRC. The anticancer effect of rhein in vivo was assessed in a CRC xenograft mouse model. The results show that rhein significantly inhibited CRC cell growth by inducing S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Rhein inhibited CRC cell migration and invasion through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. mTOR was highly expressed in CRC cancer tissues and cells. Overexpression of mTOR promoted cell growth, migration, and invasion, whereas mTOR knockdown diminished these phenomena in CRC cells in vitro. In addition, rhein directly targeted mTOR and inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway in CRC cells. Rhein promoted mTOR degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Intraperitoneal administration of rhein inhibited HCT116 xenograft tumor growth through the mTOR pathway. In conclusion, rhein exerts anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo by targeting mTOR and inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway in CRC. Our results indicate that rhein is a potent anticancer agent that may be useful for the prevention and treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Zhang
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, ITRD, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea; (H.Z.); (H.H.); (E.K.)
| | - Jun-Koo Yi
- Gyeongbuk Livestock Research Institute, Yeongju 36052, Korea;
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, ITRD, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea; (H.Z.); (H.H.); (E.K.)
| | - Song Park
- Core Protein Resources Center, DGIST, Daegu 41566, Korea; (S.P.); (S.-K.C.)
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, DGIST, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Sijun Park
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bioresearch, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (S.P.); (S.J.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Wookbong Kwon
- Division of Biotechnology, DGIST, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Eungyung Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, ITRD, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea; (H.Z.); (H.H.); (E.K.)
| | - Soyoung Jang
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bioresearch, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (S.P.); (S.J.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Si-Yong Kim
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bioresearch, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (S.P.); (S.J.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Seong-Kyoon Choi
- Core Protein Resources Center, DGIST, Daegu 41566, Korea; (S.P.); (S.-K.C.)
- Division of Biotechnology, DGIST, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Sung-Hyun Kim
- Department of Bio-Medical Analysis, Korea Polytechnic College, Chungnam 34134, Korea;
| | - Kangdong Liu
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China; (K.L.); (Z.D.)
| | - Zigang Dong
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China; (K.L.); (Z.D.)
| | - Zae Young Ryoo
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bioresearch, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (S.P.); (S.J.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Correspondence: (Z.Y.R.); (M.O.K.); Tel.: +82-53-950-7361 (Z.Y.R.); +82-54-530-1234 (M.O.K.)
| | - Myoung Ok Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, ITRD, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea; (H.Z.); (H.H.); (E.K.)
- Correspondence: (Z.Y.R.); (M.O.K.); Tel.: +82-53-950-7361 (Z.Y.R.); +82-54-530-1234 (M.O.K.)
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Bouaoud J, De Souza G, Darido C, Tortereau A, Elkabets M, Bertolus C, Saintigny P. The 4-NQO mouse model: An update on a well-established in vivo model of oral carcinogenesis. Methods Cell Biol 2021; 163:197-229. [PMID: 33785166 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The early detection and management of oral premalignant lesions (OPMDs) improve their outcomes. Animal models that mimic histological and biological processes of human oral carcinogenesis may help to improve the identification of OPMD at-risk of progression into oral squamous cell carcinoma and to develop preventive strategies for the entire field of cancerization. No animal model is perfectly applicable for investigating human oral carcinogenesis. However, the 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) mouse model is well established and mimics several morphological, histological, genomic and molecular features of human oral carcinogenesis. Some of the reasons for the success of this model include its reproducible experimental conditions with limited variation, the possibility of realizing longitudinal studies with invasive intervention or gene manipulation, and sample availability for all stages of oral carcinogenesis, especially premalignant lesions. Moreover, the role of histological and molecular alterations in the field of cancerization (i.e., macroscopically healthy mucosa exposed to a carcinogen) during oral carcinogenesis can be easily explored using this model. In this review, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of this model for studying human oral carcinogenesis. In summary, the 4-NQO-induced murine oral cancer model is relevant for investigating human oral carcinogenesis, including the immune microenvironment, and for evaluating therapeutic and chemoprevention agents.
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Wilson TG, Hanna A, Recknagel J, Pruetz BL, Baschnagel AM, Wilson GD. Prognostic significance of MTOR expression in HPV positive and negative head and neck cancers treated by chemoradiation. Head Neck 2019; 42:153-162. [PMID: 31657099 DOI: 10.1002/hed.25983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) plays a key role in regulating cell growth and metabolism and is commonly overexpressed in head and neck cancer (HNSCC). This study investigated the association of MTOR with clinical outcome in human papilloma virus (HPV) positive and negative HNSCC patients treated by chemoradiation. METHODS A tissue microarray (TMA) consisting of cores from 109 HNSCC patients treated by definitive chemoradiation was constructed and stained with antibodies against p16 and MTOR and expression correlated with clinicopathological features and clinical outcome. RESULTS MTOR varied widely between tumor cores and was not associated with HPV status or clinicopathological features. There was a positive correlation with pre-treatment FDG uptake. (P = .01). In HPV negative patients, MTOR predicted for shorter locoregional control (P = .02), diseases free survival (P = .02), and overall survival (P = .04). MTOR expression was not associated with outcome in HPV positive patients. CONCLUSIONS Prognostic significance of MTOR expression depends on HPV status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Wilson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
| | - Alaa Hanna
- Department of Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
| | - Johnathon Recknagel
- Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
| | - Barbara L Pruetz
- Beaumont BioBank, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
| | - Andrew M Baschnagel
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - George D Wilson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
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Liu L, Chen J, Cai X, Yao Z, Huang J. Progress in targeted therapeutic drugs for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Surg Oncol 2019; 31:90-97. [PMID: 31550560 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [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: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
With the rapid development of biomedicine, people have a deeper understanding with the biological characteristics of malignant tumors, and begin to notice that in most tumors, there are over-expression of several molecules such as epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors,mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),programmed cell death receptor-1(PD-1),cyclin-dependent kinases(CDKs) and so on, whose levels are closely related to the prognosis of tumors. It has been found that the drugs targeting the above molecules can significantly improve the survival rate of cancer patients, and have the advantages of high selectivity, low toxicity and high therapeutic index. Targeted drugs, as new ones in the field of cancer, have achieved good efficacy in most tumor treatments. Oral cancer is an aggressive malignant tumour that is prone to relapse and metastasis. More than 90% of them are squamous cell carcinoma, and the 5-year survival rate remains at about 50%-60%.The proposing of targeted therapy opens up a new way for the treatment of oral cancer and brings dawn to patients with advanced diseases. Currently,a variety of targeted therapeutic drugs are being tested in various clinical trials in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)·In this paper, we discuss the research progress of targeted therapeutic drugs in the treatment of OSCC in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Liu
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jili Chen
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xinjia Cai
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhigang Yao
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Junhui Huang
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Yi C, Huang Z, Huang Z, Zhao X, Li H, Wang J. The Mammalian Target of Rapamycin–70-kDa Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinase Axis Inhibits the Biological Function of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019; 77:1928-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2018.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Katase N, Nishimatsu SI, Yamauchi A, Yamamura M, Fujita S. DKK3 knockdown confers negative effects on the malignant potency of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells via the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Int J Oncol 2018; 54:1021-1032. [PMID: 30569110 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Dickkopf‑related protein 3 (DKK3), which is a member of the Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor family, is considered to be a tumor suppressor, due to its reduced expression in cancer cells and its ability to induce apoptosis when overexpressed by adenovirus. However, our previous study demonstrated alternative functions for DKK3 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our study reported that DKK3 expression was predominantly upregulated in HNSCC cell lines and tissue samples, and its expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, DKK3 overexpression in HNSCC cells significantly increased cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and in vivo tumor growth. These data have led to the hypothesis that DKK3 may exert oncogenic functions and may increase the malignant properties of HNSCC. The present study established a stable DKK3 knockdown cell line (HSC‑3 shDKK3) using lentivirus‑mediated short hairpin RNA, and assessed its effects on cancer cell behavior using MTT, migration and invasion assays. In addition, its effects on in vivo tumor growth were assessed using a xenograft model. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of DKK3 knockdown were investigated by microarray analysis, pathway analysis and western blotting. Compared with control cells, HSC‑3 shDKK3 cells exhibited significantly reduced proliferation, migration and invasion, and formed significantly smaller tumor masses when subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice. In addition, in HSC‑3 shDKK3 cells, the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)‑protein kinase B (Akt) (Ser473), p‑phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K) p85 (Tyr467), p‑PI3K p55 (Try199), p‑3‑phosphoinositide‑dependent protein kinase‑1 (PDK1) (Ser241) and total p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) were reduced. Furthermore, phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) (Ser2448) was slightly decreased in HSC‑3 shDKK3 cells, which may be due to the increased expression of DEP domain‑containing mTOR‑interacting protein. Conversely, DKK3 overexpression in HSC‑3 shDKK3 cells rescued cellular proliferation, migration and invasion. With regards to expression levels, p‑PI3K and p‑PDK1 expression was not altered, whereas mTOR and p‑p38 MAPK expression was elevated. These data supported the hypothesis and indicated that DKK3 may contribute to the malignant phenotype of HNSCC cells via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Katase
- Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852‑8588, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Nishimatsu
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama 701‑0192, Japan
| | - Akira Yamauchi
- Department of Biochemistry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama 701‑0192, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yamamura
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama 701‑0192, Japan
| | - Shuichi Fujita
- Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852‑8588, Japan
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Barresi V, Lionti S, La Rocca L, Caliri S, Caffo M. High p-mTOR expression is associated with recurrence and shorter disease-free survival in atypical meningiomas. Neuropathology 2018; 39:22-29. [PMID: 30511495 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to their widely variable clinical behavior, the post-surgical treatment of atypical meningiomas is controversial. Therefore, prognostic factors able to identify high-risk cases, which may benefit from adjuvant treatments, are warranted. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) belongs to the PI3K-AKT pathway. Its phosphorylated form (p-mTOR Ser2448) is involved in cell growth, differentiation and tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate p-mTOR Ser2448 expression and its eventual correlation with clinicopathological features, recurrence, or disease-free survival (DFS), in atypical meningiomas. p-mTOR immunohistochemical expression was analyzed in 48 atypical meningiomas and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and with DFS. Eighty-one percent of atypical meningiomas expressed p-mTOR Ser2448. High immuno-expression was significantly associated with recurrences (P = 0.01) and lower DFS (P = 0.01). The presence of brain invasion, high mitotic index plus sheeting, and Simpson grade were significant and independent prognostic variables at multivariate analysis. p-mTOR Ser2448 is expressed in atypical meningiomas. High expression predicts development of recurrences and shorter DFS in patients affected by these tumors. Since p-mTOR Ser2448 is a target of anti-neoplastic drugs, evaluation of its expression may be used, not only to identify atypical meningiomas at higher risk of recurrence, but also to select those to submit to adjuvant targeted chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Barresi
- Departments of Pathology in Adulthood and Evolutive Age, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Simona Lionti
- Departments of Pathology in Adulthood and Evolutive Age, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Lilli La Rocca
- Departments of Pathology in Adulthood and Evolutive Age, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Samuel Caliri
- Departments of Pathology in Adulthood and Evolutive Age, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Caffo
- Biomedical and Odontoiatric Sciences, and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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