ZNF582 promoter methylation predicts cervical cancer radiosensitivity and ZNF582 protein overexpression reduces radiosensitivity by cell cycle arrest in S phase.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ZNF582 promoter methylation (ZNF582m) level and radiosensitivity of cervical cancer and its biological basis. This was a prospective multicenter clinical study, comprising two independent cohorts of locally advanced cervical cancer patients. Exfoliated cervical cells were collected at 0, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 64 Gy to test ZNF582m levels. Radiotherapy response was evaluated according to RECIST Version. RT-PCR and WT were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels; MTT and flow cytometry were used to detect the cell viability and cell cycle, respectively. While clone formation and subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice were used to detect the growth of HeLa cells with/without ZNF582 overexpression. In the first cohort, 22 cases achieved complete remission (CR) or partial response (PR), and the other 28 cases exhibited stable disease (SD). Radiotherapy reduced ZNF582m levels among all patients. Initial lever of ZNF582m was significantly higher in the Responder (CR + PR) group than in the SD group. Also, patients with higher initial lever ZNF582m were more sensitive towards radiotherapy than ZNF582m-low patients. The second cohort confirmed the above results. The amplitude of ZNF582m levels were related to the radiotherapeutic response; some patients of ZNF582m-low showed a transient increase in ZNF582m, and present greater radiosensitivity than other ZNF582m-low patients. In vitro, ZNF582 protein overexpression promoted cell cycle arrest in S phase. These results suggested that higher ZNF582m levels predicted greater radiosensitivity in clinical cervical cancer cases. Overexpressed ZNF582 conferred radioresistance by cell cycle arrest in vitro.

VEGF-B targeting by aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediates the migration and invasion of choriocarcinoma stem-like cells.

Unlike other members of the VEGF family, the function of VEGF-B in tumor progression remains to be elucidated. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the function of VEGF-B in human choriocarcinoma cells by investigating its detailed effects and molecular mechanisms. VEGF-B and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis and western blot analysis in JEG-3 cells and choriocarcinoma stem-like cells (CSLCs) and their proliferation, migration, and invasion after the transfection of short hairpin RNA VEGF-B, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; AhR agonist) treatment or StemRegenin 1 (SR1; AhR antagonist) treatment were examined by cell proliferation assay, wound healing assay and Transwell assay. In addition, luciferase reporter analysis and bioinformatics data mining were used to investigate the association between VEGF-B and AhR. Upregulation of VEGF-B and AhR expression was observed in CSLCs. Following VEGF-B knockdown or SR1 treatment, the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of CSLCs were significantly decreased, contrary to the findings after TCDD treatment. It was also found that AhR enhanced VEGF-B transcriptional activity by binding to the relative promoter region. These observations indicated that VEGF-B may be an oncogene that promotes choriocarcinoma cell migration and invasion targeted by AhR. Therefore, targeting VEGF-B may provide a novel therapeutic opportunity for choriocarcinoma.

Identification and characterization of a subpopulation of CD133+ cancer stem-like cells derived from SK-UT-1 cells.

BACKGROUND: Uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is a malignant tumor found in the smooth muscle lining the walls of the uterus. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for metastasis, drug resistance, and relapse of cancer, resulting in treatment failure. However, little is known about CSCs and their associated-markers in ULMS. We aimed to characterize and identify a subpopulation of CD133+ cancer stem-like cells derived from SK-UT-1 cell line. METHODS: SK-UT-1 cells were sphere-forming cultured in vitro. We also sorted the CD133+ cells derived from SK-UT-1 cell line by immunomagnetic beads. CD133+ subpopulation and apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. Self-renewal and anchorage-independent growth capabilities were examined using sphere and colony formation assays. The tumorigenicity of the fourth-passage spheres and parental SK-UT-1 cells was used by mouse xenograft model in vivo. Cell proliferation ability and sensitivity to doxorubicin (DXR) were assessed by CCK-8 assay. Cell migration and invasion were tested by wound healing assay or Transwell migration and invasion assays. Expressions of CSC-related marker were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: The fourth-passage spheres were defined as a CD133+ cell population, which was accompanied by increase of sphere and colony forming rate, migration and invasion abilities, as well as drug-resistant properties in vitro. Moreover, the fourth-passage spheres showed a stronger tumorigenic potential in vivo. CD133+ cell population sorted from SK-UT-1 line showed an increased ability in sphere and colony formation, proliferation, migration, invasion, resistance to apoptosis after treatment with doxorubicin (DXR) compared with CD133- cell population. The expression levels of CSCs-related markers (e.g., CD44, ALDH1,BMI1, and Nanog), were significantly elevated in CD133+ cells compared with those in CD133- cells. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings indicated that CD133 may be a significant marker for cancer stem-like cells, and it may be a potential therapeutic target for human ULMS.

SOX1 and PAX1 Are Hypermethylated in Cervical Adenocarcinoma and Associated with Better Prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The increased risk and poor survival outcome of cervical adenocarcinoma (CAC) demand for effective early diagnostic biomarkers that can predict the disease progression and outcome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of methylation status of SOX1 and PAX1 in the detection and prognosis of CAC. METHODS: We performed a quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 205 cervical paraffin-embedded specimens (175 CACs, 30 noncancer cervical tissues). Overall and progression-free survival (OS and PFS, respectively) rates were calculated and compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic value of SOX1m and PAX1m on CAC patients was assessed by the Cox regression model. A mathematical formula combining SOX1m , PAX1m , and age was constructed for survival prediction. RESULTS: The methylation status of SOX1 and PAX1 was higher in CAC tissues than in noncancer cervical tissues. In addition, SOX1m -positive CAC patients showed a higher 5-year OS rate than SOX1m -negative patients. In CAC patients with smaller tumor size (<4 cm), the PAX1m -positive group showed a higher 5-year PFS rate than the PAX1m -negative group. In the algorithm combining SOX1m , PAX1m , and age, the low-risk group showed a better 5-year OS and PFS rate than the high-risk group. CONCLUSION: SOX1 and PAX1 methylation levels are higher in CAC than in normal cervical tissues and are potential biomarkers for monitoring CAC prognosis.

Integrative Bioinformatics Approaches to Screen Potential Prognostic Immune-Related Genes and Drugs in the Cervical Cancer Microenvironment.

In developing countries, cervical cancer is still the major cause of cancer-related death among women. To better understand the correlation between tumor microenvironment (TME) and prognosis of cervical cancer, we screened 1367 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of cervical cancer samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm-derived immune scores. Then, we extracted 401 tumor immune microenvironment (TIME)-related DEGs that related to patients' survival outcomes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and functional enrichment analysis revealed that the prognostic genes mainly participated in myeloid leukocyte activation, adaptive immune response regulation, and receptor signaling pathways. A total of 79 key prognostic DEGs were obtained through PPI network. A TF-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed to explore the potential regulatory mechanism. 4 genes (CCR7, PD-1, ZAP70, and CD28) were validated in another independent cohort of cervical cancer from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Finally, potential drugs for key prognostics DEGs were predicted using DrugBank. In conclusion, we obtained a list of potential prognostic TIME-related genes and potential predicted drugs by integrative bioinformatics approaches. A comprehensive understanding of prognostic genes within the TIME may provide new strategies for cervical cancer treatment.

Comparison of survival outcomes of neoadjuvant therapy and direct surgery in IB2/IIA2 cervical adenocarcinoma: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study compared the efficacy and survival of patients with cervical adenocarcinoma (IB2/IIA2; FIGO2009) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical surgery (NACT + RS), neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy before radical surgery (NACRT + RS), or primary radical surgery (RS). METHODS: Between January 2008 and November 2015, 91 patients diagnosed with stage IB2/IIA2 cervical adenocarcinoma were enrolled, including 29 patients who received RS, 24 patients who received NACT + RS, and 38 patients who received NACRT + RS. RESULTS: The characteristics of patients were balanced among the three groups, and the median follow-up time was 72 months. The 5 year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 75.8% and the 5 year overall survival (OS) rate was 85.0%. Univariate analysis revealed that effectiveness of neoadjuvant treatment, tumor size, lymph node metastases, and depth of stromal invasion were the factors predicting recurrence and mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional analysis revealed that the occurrence of a lymph node metastasis was an independent prognostic factor of DFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.223; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.060-0.827) and OS (HR = 0.088; 95% CI: 0.017-0.470). On survival analysis of preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and primary surgery, the 5 year OS (P = 0.010) and DFS (P = 0.016) rates for the NACRT + RS group were significantly lower than those for the RS group. CONCLUSION: Stage IB2/IIA2 cervical adenocarcinoma patients who received primary RS had a better DFS and OS than those who received preoperative NACRT. There was no significant difference when compared to the preoperative NACT group.

High methylation of ZNF582 in cervical adenocarcinoma affects radiosensitivity and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated hypermethylation of the ZNF582 gene in cervical cancer, but its prognostic value in cervical cancer, especially in cervical adenocarcinoma (CAC), remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the value of ZNF582 gene methylation for diagnosis and prediction of radiochemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in CAC. METHODS: We first determined ZNF582 methylation levels using quantitative methylation-specific PCR in a training set. Disease-free survival and overall survival (DFS and OS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox regression model was used to assess the prognostic significance of ZNF582 gene methylation in CAC patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to test ZNF582 protein expression in CAC tissues, and an MTT assay evaluated the sensitivity of Hela cells (with or without ZNF582 transfection) to radiation and chemotherapy. RESULTS: The ZNF582 gene showed a higher level of methylation in the CAC group than in the noncancer group, and patients negative for ZNF582 methylation had worse prognoses. We also found that ZNF582 methylation levels were reduced in concomitant chemo-radio-therapy (NCRT) patients compared with that in non-NCRT patients. Methylation-negative status was correlated with high ZNF582 protein expression, and ZNF582 protein overexpression could increase resistance to radiation and chemotherapy in Hela cells. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant high methylation of ZNF582 may be a potential biomarker for CAC detection and prognosis monitoring. Overexpression of ZNF582 protein could increase CAC chemoradiotherapy resistance.

Label-free detection of miRNA cancer markers based on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-induced copper nanoclusters.

The variations in microRNA (miRNA) expression levels can be useful biomarkers for the diagnosis of different cancers. In this work, a label-free and sensitive fluorescent method for detection of miRNA-21 is described based on duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) assist target recycling and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) induced copper nanoclusters (CuNCs). In the absence of target, the 3'-phosphorylated probe DNA cannot be hydrolyzed by DSN and extended by TdT, and failed to synthesizing fluorescent CuNCs. However, the target miRNA-21 can caused the digestion of probe DNA with DSN, releasing primer DNA with 3'-OH. After that, the primer DNA can forms long poly T with the assistance of TdT, leading to synthesize high fluorescent CuNCs. The fluorescence change of CuNCs can be used to identify the concentration of target miRNA-21. Under optimal experimental conditions, this strategy could quantitatively detect miRNA-21 down to 18.7 pM. We have also demonstrated the practical application of our proposed method for monitoring miRNA-21 expression levels in cancer cells. Moreover, this method show good specificity for miRNA-21 detection due to the strong preference of DSN for cutting perfectly matched DNA/RNA duplex, which holds great potential for highly specific quantification of biomarkers in bioanalysis and clinical diagnosis.

TRPM7 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer through the calcium-related PI3K / AKT oncogenic signaling.

BACKGROUND: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for metastasis and positively regulated by calcium-related signaling. The melastatin-related transient receptor potential 7 (TRPM7) regulates a non-selective cation channel and promotes cancer metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying the action of TRPM7 in ovarian cancer are unclear. METHODS: The expression of TRPM7 and EMT markers (Vimentin, N-cadherin, Twist and E-cadherin) in ovarian cancer samples was detected. TRPM7was knockdown by shRNA in Ovarian cancer cell lines to examine calcium [Ca2+]i, EMT markers and PI3K/AKT markers. Various cellular assays, such as invasion and migration, were performed in vitro, and further confirmed in vivo. RESULTS: TRPM7 expression is negatively correlated with E-cadherin, but positively with N-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist expression in ovarian cancer samples. TRPM7 depletion inhibited the migration and invasion in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. In addition, TRPM7 silencing decreased the lung metastasis of SKOV3 tumors and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Similar to that of TRPM7 silencing, treatment with MK886, a potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor to reduce TRPM7 expression, and/or BAPTA-AM, an intracellular calcium chelator, significantly mitigated the Epidermal growth factor (EGF) or Insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-stimulated migration, invasion, and the EMT in ovarian cancer cells by decreasing the levels of intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, treatment with LY2904002, a PI3K inhibitor, also inhibited the migration, invasion, and treatment with both LY2904002 and BAPTA-AM further enhanced their inhibition in ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, treatment with BAPTA-AM mitigated the IGF-stimulated migration, invasion, particularly in TRPM7-silenced ovarian cancer cells. Finally, TRPM7 silencing attenuated the PI3K/AKT activation, which was enhanced by BAPTA-AM, MK886 or LY2904002 treatment in ovarian cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: TRPM7 silencing inhibited the EMT and metastasis of ovarian cancer by attenuating the calcium-related PI3k/AKT activation. Our findings suggest that TRPM7 may be a therapeutic target for intervention of ovarian cancer.

Isolation, Culture and Identification of Choriocarcinoma Stem-Like Cells from the Human Choriocarcinoma Cell-Line JEG-3.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit enhanced proliferative capacity and resistance to chemotherapy; however, choriocarcinoma CSCs have not yet been reported. In this study the human choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3 was cultured in serum free media, and the characteristics of suspension and parental adherent JEG-3 cells were compared. METHODS: Cell proliferation, colony-formation, soft agar clonogenicity, and transwell invasion assays were performed in vitro, and tumor xenografts in BALB/c nude mice were used to evaluate stem cell properties. RESULTS: In serum-supplemented medium (SSM), JEG-3 cells were 4.51 ± 1.71% CD44+, 7.67 ± 2.67% CD133+, and 13.85 ± 2.95% ABCG2+. In serum-free medium (SFM), the expression of these markers increased to 53.08 ± 3.15%, 47.40 ± 2.67%, and 78.70 ± 7.16%, respectively. Moreover, suspension JEG-3 cells exhibited enhanced colony-formation capability as well as invasive and proliferative ability in vitro, alongside enhanced tumorigenic properties in vivo. Suspension JEG-3 cells also exhibited resistance to the chemotherapeutic drugs methotrexate, fluorouracil and etoposide. When seeded in serum supplemented medium, suspension JEG-3 cells readopted an adherent phenotype and continued to differentiate with no significant difference in the morphology between suspension and parent cells. CONCLUSION: In this study, choriocarcinoma stem-like cells (CSLCs) were isolated from the human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cell line by SFM culture and characterized.

[Expressions of NF-κBp65 and IκBα in gestational trophoblastic disease and clinical significance].

AIM: To investigate the roles of nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κBp65) and inhibitor of nuclear factor κB α (IκBα) in the development and metastasis of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) by analyzing the expressions of NF-κBp65 and IκBα in normal early pregnancy villi and gestational trophoblastic diseases, and to reveal the relationship of NF-κBp65 and IκBα with age and clinical stage of GTN patients. METHODS: The expressions of NF-κBp65 and IκBα were detected by immunohistochemistry in normal pregnancy villi (20 cases), hydatidiform moles (HM, 30 cases), invasive hydatidiform moles (IHM, 13 cases) and chorionic carcinomas (CCA, 15 cases). RESULTS: NF-κBp65 expression was statistically different (P<0.05) between normal pregnancy villi and IHM (P=0.013), normal pregnancy villi and CCA(P=0.018), HM and IHM(P=0.026), HM and CCA (P=0.035). Differences in IκBα expression were statistically significant between normal pregnancy villi and IHM, normal pregnancy villi and CCA, HM and IHM, HM and CCA (P<0.01). The expressions of NF-κBp65 and IκBα were correlated to clinical stage (P=0.043, 0.042, P<0.05), but not to patients' ages. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that there was a negative association between the protein expressions of NF-κBp65 and IκBα in GTN (r=-0.403, P=0.034, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Up-regulated expression of NF-κBp65 and down-regulated expression of IκBα may be related to the development, invasion and metastasis of GTN. The expressions of NF-κBp65 and IκBα are negatively correlated in gestational trophoblastic tumor tissues.

[Expression of caveolin-1 and the invasion of choriocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the expression of caveolin-1(CAV-1) and the invasion of choriocarcinoma, and to explore the effect of CAV-1 small interfering RNA(siRNA) on the invasion of choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. METHODS: (1) Matrigel invasion assay and 3-(4,4)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-yl)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumormide (MTT) assay were used to examine the difference in invasion and proliferation ability between JEG-3 cells and JAR cells;(2) Expression of caveolin-1 gene in the human chorionic villi tissues and chorionicnoma cell lines (JEG-3 cells and JAR cells) were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. (3) The effect of CAV-1 siRNA transfection on the expression of CAV-1 mRNA, and the invasion and proliferation ability of JEG-3 cells were measured by RT-PCR, Matrigel invasion assay and MTT assay. RESULTS: (1) The invasion ability of JEG-3 cell line was stronger than that of JAR cell line (P<0.05), but the difference in proliferation ability between JAR and JEG-3 was not obvious (P>0.05);(2) The expression of caveolin-1 gene in chorionicnoma cell lines was significantly stronger than that in the human normal chorion(P<0.05), and the expression of caveolin-1 gene in JEG-3 cells was stronger than that in the JAR cells (P<0.05). The data suggested that there was significantly positive correlation between caveolin-1 and the invasiveness of chorionicnoma cells (r=0.086,P<0.05);(3) CAV-1 siRNA could knock-out the expression of CAV-1 mRNA, and inhibit the invasion and proliferation ability of chorionicnoma cells. CONCLUSION: CAV-1 can promote the invasion ability of chorionicnoma cells. CAV-1 siRNA can inhibit the invasion and proliferation ability of chorionicnoma cells.

[Correlation between expression of heparanase and invasion of choriocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the expression of heparanase (Hpa) and the invasion of choriocarcinoma by studying the expression of Hpa in human choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG-3 and JAR and human chorionic villous tissues. METHODS: (1) Matrigel invasion assays were used to detect in vitro invasive ability of JEG-3 cells and JAR cells. (2) Expression of Hpa protein in the human chorionic villous tissues and choriocarcinoma cell lines (JEG-3 cells and JAR cells) were detected by immunocytochemistry and western blot. RESULTS: (1) The invasive cell number was significantly larger in JEG-3 cells than in JAR cells (191 +/- 17 vs 106 +/- 13, P < 0.05). (2) Hpa protein mainly located in cytoplasm by immunocytochemistry. (3) Hpa protein expression was stronger in JEG-3 cells than in the JAR cells (1.560 +/- 0.180 vs 0.610 +/- 0.170, P < 0.05); the Hpa protein expression was significantly stronger in choriocarcinoma cell lines than in human chorionic villous tissues (0.190 +/- 0.008) by western blot (P < 0.05). (4) The data suggested that there were significantly positive correlations between Hpa and the invasiveness of choriocarcinoma cells (r = 0.89, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Hpa protein expression is significantly stronger in choriocarcinoma cell lines than in the human chorionic villous tissues. (2) Activation of Hpa enhances the invasion capability of choriocarcinoma. (3) Overexpression of Hpa may be related to the oncogenesis of choriocarcinoma and Hpa may play an important role in invasion of choriocarcinoma.

[Expression of heparanase and angiopoietin-2 mRNA in endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between heparanase (Hpa) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) gene expression and the development of endometriosis (EM). METHODS: Expression of Hpa gene and Ang-2 mRNA in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium collected from 86 patients with endometriosis (EM group) and the normal endometrium from 30 women without endometriosis (control group) was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: (1) Hpa gene expression was detected in 53 ectopic endometrium and 47 eutopic endometrium specimens in the EM group and 8 normal endometrium specimens in the control group. There was no significant difference in Hpa gene expression between ectopic and eutopic endometrium in the EM group (P > 0.05). However, the Hpa gene expression in normal endometrium in the control group was significantly lower than that in ectopic and eutopic endometrium in the EM group (P < 0.05). (2) Ang-2 gene expression was detected in 61 ectopic endometrium and 56 eutopic endometrium specimens in the EM group and 10 normal endometrium specimens in the control group. There was no significant difference in Ang-2 gene expression between ectopic and eutopic endometrium in the EM group (P > 0.05), however, the Ang-2 positive rate in normal endometrium in the control group was significantly lower than that in ectopic and eutopic endometrium in the EM group (P < 0.05). (3) The expression of Hpa gene in stage III-IV endometriosis was significantly higher than that in stage I-II endometriosis (P < 0.05). (4) The difference of Ang-2 mRNA expression between stage III-IV and stage I-II endometriosis was not significant (P > 0.05). (5) The expression of Hpa gene was shown to be significantly correlated to the expression of Ang-2 gene in ectopic endometrium specimens from patients with endometriosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hpa and Ang-2 genes are highly expressed in both ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis. Over-expression of these two genes may play a role in the development and progression of endometriosis.