1
|
Bica C, Jurj A, Harangus A, Ciocan C, Moldovan A, Zanoaga O, Burz C, Ferracin M, Raduly L, Berindan-Neagoe I. miRNA patterns in male LUSC patients - the 3-way mirror: Tissue, plasma and exosomes. Transl Oncol 2024; 44:101951. [PMID: 38564933 PMCID: PMC11002298 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101951] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is classified into two main histological groups: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer. Improving the outcome of cancer patients could be possible by enhancing the early diagnosis. In the current study, we evaluated the levels of three microRNAs - miR-21-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-181a-5p in tumor (TT) vs adjacent normal tissue (NT), as well as their expression levels in plasma and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from plasma in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) male patients vs healthy individuals as means to identify a panel of miRNAs that could serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of LUSC in male patients. Matched paired tissue samples from male LUSC (n=40) patients were used for miRNA expression analysis. MiR-21-5p and miR-155-5p in tumor tissue were overexpressed, while underexpression of miR-181a-5p was observed in LUSC TT vs NT. These results were further validated in the TCGA LUSC dataset, considering 279 male samples. These alterations of miR-21-5p, miR-181a-5p, and miR-155-5p in tumor tissue are also present in plasma and plasma extracellular vesicles in LUSC male patients. In addition, ROC curves were performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of different combinations of these miRNAs, confirming a high diagnostic accuracy for LUSC of up to 88 % in male subjects. The expression levels in tissue samples and the abundance in plasma and plasma EVs of the three miRNAs combined - miR-21-5p, miR-155-5p and miR-181a-5p - could be considered for further studies on biomarkers for the early detection of LUSC in male subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Bica
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400337, Romania; Research Center for Advanced Medicine-MedFUTURE, Department of Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ancuta Jurj
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400337, Romania
| | | | - Cristina Ciocan
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400337, Romania
| | - Alin Moldovan
- Leon Daniello Pulmonology Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Oana Zanoaga
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400337, Romania
| | - Claudia Burz
- Department of Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Medical Oncology, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă", 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lajos Raduly
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400337, Romania.
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400337, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gherman LM, Chiroi P, Nuţu A, Bica C, Berindan-Neagoe I. Profiling canine mammary tumors: A potential model for studying human breast cancer. Vet J 2024; 303:106055. [PMID: 38097103 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.106055] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite all clinical progress recorded in the last decades, human breast cancer (HBC) remains a major challenge worldwide both in terms of its incidence and its management. Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) share similarities with HBC and represent an alternative model for HBC. The utility of the canine model in studying HBC relies on their common features, include spontaneous development, subtype classification, mutational profile, alterations in gene expression profile, and incidence/prevalence. This review describes the similarities between CMTs and HBC regarding genomic landscape, microRNA expression alteration, methylation, and metabolomic changes occurring during mammary gland carcinogenesis. The primary purpose of this review is to highlight the advantages of using the canine model as a translational animal model for HBC research and to investigate the challenges and limitations of this approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana-Madalina Gherman
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Experimental Center of Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Paul Chiroi
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreea Nuţu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cecilia Bica
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Policiuc L, Bica C, Ciocan C, Leucuta DC, Nutu A, Berindan-Neagoe I. Developing cancer biobanks in Romania: understanding the knowledge and recommendations in assessing a clinical dataset for biospecimens. Med Pharm Rep 2023; 96:392-399. [PMID: 37970200 PMCID: PMC10642746 DOI: 10.15386/mpr-2646] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims In the context of the novelty of personalized medicine and biobanking in Romania, there is an acute need to analyze the degree of knowledge of the key actors in the domain. The present study sought to investigate the understanding of 'biobanking' and 'personalized medicine' in three categories of participants in the development of a biobank - health professionals (clinicians/diagnosticians), scientific researchers, and patients, in order to identify possible faults regarding the level of information. The secondary objective of this study was to identify key elements and relevant data that should be detailed in the clinical dataset that accompanies a biological sample. Methods A total of 120 participants were included in this study that were divided into three categories that represent key actors in the development and management of a cancer biobank - clinicians (n=40), scientific researchers (n=40), and oncology patients (n=40). Results The survey indicated that the terms 'biobank' and 'personalized medicine' are unknown only in a proportion of patients, while for the other two groups, these terms are already known. The second questionnaire allowed the arrangement of a recommended clinical dataset to be filled when a biological sample is provided to be included in a cancer biobank. Conclusions The trust of patients and healthcare professionals in building biobanks that adhere to ethical and operational standards in Romania is important, as the development of artificial intelligence and databases allows advanced knowledge and connection of findings from different databases and, therefore, brings the concept of personalized medicine closer to the clinical practice. The information included in this dataset will be integrated and constitutes a comprehensive biobank database. All these aspects are meant to increase the utility of the specimens in cancer research, as clearly annotated samples, along with prospective data, bring valuable knowledge that helps scientific researchers and clinicians make the clinical connection between the molecular alterations and the phenotype of particular patients or a disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Policiuc
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cecilia Bica
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina Ciocan
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniel Corneliu Leucuta
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreea Nutu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chira S, Ciocan C, Bica C, Calin GA, Berindan-Neagoe I. Artificial miRNAs derived from miR-181 family members have potential in cancer therapy due to an altered spectrum of target mRNAs. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:1989-2005. [PMID: 37283340 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14673] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
miRNAs are a class of noncoding RNAs with gene regulation properties, and they function as key factors in cell homeostasis. The interaction of miRNAs with their target mRNAs is largely considered to rely on sequence complementarity; however, some evidence indicates that mature miRNAs can adopt diverse conformations with implications for their function. Using the oncogenic miR-181 family as a study model, we suggest that a potential relationship between the primary sequence and secondary structure of miRNAs may have an impact on the number and spectrum of targeted cellular transcripts. We further emphasize that specific alterations in miR-181 primary sequences might impose certain constraints on target gene selection compared with the wild-type sequences, leading to the targeting of new transcripts with upregulated function in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu Chira
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine, and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina Ciocan
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine, and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cecilia Bica
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine, and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - George A Calin
- Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas State University, Houston, TX, USA
- The RNA Interference and Non-codingRNA Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas State University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine, and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bica C, Tirpe A, Nutu A, Ciocan C, Chira S, Gurzau ES, Braicu C, Berindan-Neagoe I. Emerging roles and mechanisms of semaphorins activity in cancer. Life Sci 2023; 318:121499. [PMID: 36775114 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121499] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Semaphorins are regulatory molecules that are linked to the modulation of several cancer processes, such as angiogenesis, cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis, tumor growth, as well as cancer cell survival. Semaphorin (SEMA) activity depends on the cancer histotypes and their particularities. In broad terms, the effects of SEMAs result from their interaction with specific receptors/co-receptors - Plexins, Neuropilins and Integrins - and the subsequent effects upon the downstream effectors (e.g. PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK). The present article serves as an integrative review work, discussing the broad implications of semaphorins in cancer, focusing on cell proliferation/survival, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, stemness, and chemo-resistance/response whilst highlighting their heterogeneity as a family. Herein, we emphasized that semaphorins are largely implicated in cancer progression, interacting with the tumor microenvironment components. Whilst some SEMAs (e.g. SEMA3A, SEMA3B) function widely as tumor suppressors, others (e.g. SEMA3C) act as pro-tumor semaphorins. The differences observed in terms of the biological structure of SEMAs and the particularities of each cancer histotypes require that each semaphorin be viewed as a unique entity, and its roles must be researched accordingly. A more in-depth and comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms that promote and sustain the malignant behavior of cancer cells is of utmost importance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Bica
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Alexandru Tirpe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania; Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Andreea Nutu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Cristina Ciocan
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Sergiu Chira
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Eugen S Gurzau
- Cluj School of Public Health, College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 7 Pandurilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, 400240 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Cornelia Braicu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chira S, Nutu A, Isacescu E, Bica C, Pop L, Ciocan C, Berindan-Neagoe I. Genome Editing Approaches with CRISPR/Cas9 for Cancer Treatment: Critical Appraisal of Preclinical and Clinical Utility, Challenges, and Future Research. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182781. [PMID: 36139356 PMCID: PMC9496708 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing burden on human malignant diseases became a major concern for healthcare practitioners, that must deal with tumor relapse and the inability to efficiently treat metastasis, in addition to side effects. Throughout the decades, many therapeutic strategies have been employed to improve the clinical outcomes of cancer patients and great efforts have been made to develop more efficient and targeted medicines. The malignant cell is characterized by genetic and epigenetic modifications, therefore targeting those specific drivers of carcinogenesis is highly desirable. Among the genome editing technologies, CRISPR/Cas9 stood as a promising candidate for cancer treatment alternatives, due to its low complexity design. First described as a defense mechanism of bacteria against invading foreign DNA, later it was shown that CRISPR components can be engineered to target specific DNA sequences in a test tube, a discovery that was awarded later with the Nobel Prize in chemistry for its rapid expansion as a reliable genome editing tool in many fields of research, including medicine. The present paper aims of describing CRISPR/Cas9 potential targets for malignant disorders, and the approaches used for achieving this goal. Aside from preclinical studies, we also present the clinical trials that use CRISPR-based technology for therapeutic purposes of cancer. Finally, a summary of the presented studies adds a more focused view of the therapeutic value CRISPR/Cas9 holds and the associated shortcomings.
Collapse
|