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Barzilova VD, Drury J, Rogers B, Thomas E, Ahmed F, Bradfield A, Al-Lamee H, Hapangama DK. Role of Nucleolin in Endometrial Precancerous Hyperplasia and Carcinogenesis: Ex Vivo and In Silico Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6228. [PMID: 35682908 PMCID: PMC9181237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116228] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy. Nucleolin (NCL) is involved in rDNA transcription, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, with high expression associated with worse overall survival (OS) in other adenocarcinomas. Our aims were to assess NCL gene and protein expression and explore the differential expression of NCL-associated genes (NAGs) in endometrial carcinogenesis. Endometrial samples were obtained from 157 women to include healthy, hyperplastic (EH), EC, and metastatic groups. RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess NCL gene and protein levels. In silico analysis of NAGs in TCGA and GEO datasets was performed, with the prognostic value determined via Human Protein Atlas. NCL mRNA level of EC was lower than in healthy post-menopausal endometrium (p < 0.01). EH samples had lower NCL immuno-expression scores than healthy pre-menopausal (p < 0.001), benign post-menopausal (p < 0.01), and EC (p < 0.0001) samples. Metastatic lesions demonstrated higher NCL quick scores than primary tissue (p = 0.04). Higher NCL Immuno quick scores carried a worse OS in high-grade EC (p = 0.01). Interrogating Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (TCGA-UCEC) and Uterine Carcinosarcoma (TCGA-UCS) cohorts revealed NCL to be the most highly upregulated gene in carcinosarcoma, with S100A11, LMNB2, RERG, E2F1 and CCNA2 representing key dysregulated NAGs in EC. Since NCL is implicated in transforming hyperplastic glands into cancer, with further involvement in metastasis, it is suggested to be a promising target for better-informed diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanya D. Barzilova
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Josephine Drury
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Bryony Rogers
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Emily Thomas
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Fareen Ahmed
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Alice Bradfield
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
| | - Hannan Al-Lamee
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
- Hewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK
| | - Dharani K. Hapangama
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
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