Serum Syndecan-1: A Novel Biomarker for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Assessing coagulopathy and endothelial dysfunction in pediatric venous malformation: A thromboelastometry and syndecan-1 study

OBJECTIVE

The occurrence of unpredictable pain crises are the principal determinant of the quality of life for patients with venous malformations (VM). A definite coagulation phenomenon, characterized by an increase in D-dimer levels and the presence of phleboliths within the malformation, has been previously reported. By applying Virchow's triad and evaluating intralesional samples, our objective is to delineate the coagulation profile and the extent of endothelial dysfunction within the malformation.

METHODS

With the authorization of the Ethics Committee, a research project was undertaken on intralesional and extralesional blood samples from 30 pediatric patients afflicted with spongiform VM. Thromboelastometry analyses were performed using ROTEM Sigma, and the concentration of syndecan-1 was determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

In the ROTEM analyses, the A5, A10, and maximum clot firmness (MCF) values were below the established reference ranges in the intralesional samples in both the EXTEM and INTEM assays, indicating that intralesional clots had significant instability. Furthermore, during the investigation of the delayed fibrinolysis phase using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in EXTEM analysis, widespread hyperfibrinolysis was observed intralesional. Additionally, analysis of syndecan-1 showed significant differences between extralesional and intralesional levels (p < .026) and controls (p < .03), suggesting differences in the state of endothelium.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, we developed a comprehensive understanding of the coagulopathic profile of VM and the role of endothelial dysfunction in its pathogenesis. These findings will enable the implementation of targeted therapies based on the individual coagulation profiles.

A glycosylation-related signature predicts survival in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Tumor initiation and progression are closely associated with glycosylation. However, glycosylated molecules have not been the subject of extensive studies as prognostic markers for pancreatic cancer. The objectives of this study were to identify glycosylation-related genes in pancreatic cancer and use them to construct reliable prognostic models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were used to assess the differential expression of glycosylation-related genes; four clusters were identified based on consistent clustering analysis. Kaplan-Meier analyses identified three glycosylation-related genes associated with overall survival. LASSO analysis was then performed on The Cancer Genome Atlas and International Cancer Genome Consortium databases to identify glycosylation-related signatures. We identified 12 GRGs differently expressed in pancreatic cancer and selected three genes (SEL1L, TUBA1C, and SDC1) to build a prognostic model. Thereafter, patients were divided into high and low-risk groups. Eventually, we performed Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to validate the signature.

RESULTS

Clinical outcomes were significantly poorer in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. There were also significant correlations between the high-risk group and several risk factors, including no-smoking history, drinking history, radiotherapy history, and lower tumor grade. Furthermore, the high-risk group had a higher proportion of immune cells. Eventually, three glycosylation-related genes were validated in human PC cell lines.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the glycosylation-related signature for pancreatic cancer. It is an effective predictor of survival and can guide treatment decisions.

Lysine lactylation (Kla) might be a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Histone lysine lactylation (Kla) is a newly identified histone modification, which plays a crucial role in cancer progression. Hence, we determined the prognostic value of Kla in breast cancer (BC).

METHODS

We obtained RNA expression profiles of BC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), following screening out Kla-specific genes. Furthermore, we determined the prognostic value of Kla by constructing a cox model based on Kla-specific genes. Subsequently, we identified expression of lactate accumulation-related genes and prognostic Kla-specific genes through Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and further performed a correlation analysis based on their expression. Meanwhile, we explored the effects of Kla on BC tumor microenvironment (TME), drug therapy and immunotherapy. Moreover, we predicted the pathways influenced by Kla via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

RESULTS

A total of 1073 BC samples and 112 normal controls were obtained from TCGA, and 23 tumor samples were removed owing to inadequate clinical information. We identified 257 differentially expressed Kla-specific genes (DEKlaGs) in BC. A cox model involved with CCR7, IGFBP6, NDUFAF6, OVOL1 and SDC1 was established, and risk score could be visualized as an independent biomarker for BC. Meanwhile, Kla was remarkably associated with BC immune microenvironment, drug therapy and immunotherapy. Kla was identified to be related to activation of various BC-related KEGG pathways.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Kla contributes to drug resistance and undesirable immune responses, and plays a crucial role in BC prognosis, suggesting that Kla was expected to be a new therapeutic target for BC.

SDC1 and ITGA2 as novel prognostic biomarkers for PDAC related to IPMN

The existing biomarkers are insufficient for predicting the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a precursor to PDAC; therefore, identifying biomarkers from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PDAC and IPMN is a new and reliable strategy for predicting the prognosis of PDAC. In this study, four datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and standardized using the R package 'limma.' A total of 51 IPMN and 81 PDAC samples were analyzed, and 341 DEGs in PDAC and IPMN were identified; DEGs were involved in the extracellular matrix and tumor microenvironment. An acceptable survival prognosis was demonstrated by SDC1 and ITGA2, which were highly expressed during in vitro PDAC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. SDC1high was enriched in interferon alpha (IFN-α) response and ITGA2high was primarily detected in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which was verified using western blotting. We concluded that SDC1 and ITGA2 are potential prognostic biomarkers for PDAC associated with IPMN. Downregulation of SDC1 and ITGA2 expression in PDAC occurs via a mechanism involving possible regulation of IFN-α response, EMT, and immunity, which may act as new targets for PDAC therapy.

SDC1-TGM2-FLOT1-BHMT complex determines radiosensitivity of glioblastoma by influencing the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes

Rationale: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Radiotherapy has long been an important treatment for GBM. Despite recent advances in tumor radiotherapy, the prognosis of GBM remains poor due to radioresistance. Autophagy has been reported as a basic factor to prolong the survival of tumor under radiation stress, but the molecular mechanism of how autophagy contributes to GBM radioresistance was still lacking. Methods: We established radioresistant GBM cells and identified their protein profiles by Tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomic analysis, then chose the radioresistant genes based on the TMT analysis of GBM cells and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis of GEO database. Colony formation, flow cytometry, qPCR, western blotting, mRFP-GFP-LC3, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and co-IP assays were conducted to investigate the regulation mechanisms among these new-found molecules. Results: Syndecan 1 (SDC1) and Transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) were both overexpressed in the radioresistant GBM cells and tissues, contributing to the dismal prognosis of radiotherapy. Mechanically, after irradiation, SDC1 carried TGM2 from cell membrane into cytoplasm, and transported to lysosomes by binding to flotillin 1 (FLOT1), then TGM2 recognized the betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) on autophagosomes to coordinate the encounter between autophagosomes and lysosomes. Conclusions: The SDC1-TGM2-FLOT1-BHMT copolymer, a novel member of the protein complexes involved in the fusion of lysosomes and autophagosomes, maintained the autophagic flux in the irradiated tumor cells and ultimately enhanced radioresistance of GBM, which provides new insights of the molecular mechanism and therapeutic targets of radioresistant GBM.

Role of Syndecans in Ovarian Cancer: New Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the eighth cancer both in prevalence and mortality in women and represents the deadliest female reproductive cancer. Due to generally vague symptoms, OC is frequently diagnosed only at a late and advanced stage, resulting in high mortality. The tumor extracellular matrix and cellular matrix receptors play a key role in the pathogenesis of tumor progression. Syndecans are a family of four transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (PG), including syndecan-1, -2, -3, and -4, which are dysregulated in a myriad of cancers, including OC. Many clinicopathological studies suggest that these proteins are promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for OC. Furthermore, functions of the syndecan family in the regulation of cellular processes make it an interesting pharmacological target for anticancer therapies.