Rare Germline Variants in the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Gene Associated with Dental and Osseous Anomalies.

APC is a tumor suppressor gene that exerts its effect through the regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Loss of function mutations of the gene are associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Early diagnosis in FAP patients is essential to prevent the development of colorectal cancer. Extraintestinal manifestations often precede the formation of the polyposis; therefore, these manifestations may serve as a clinical indicator for the condition. The aim of this study was to assess genotype-phenotype associations between the location of APC mutations and various extraintestinal features, mainly focusing on osseous and dental anomalies. Analyses of our cases and the mutations available in the literature with these manifestations revealed that mutations in the N-terminal region (amino acids 1-~1000) of the protein are more frequently associated with only osseous anomalies, whereas dental manifestations are more prevalent in mutations in the middle region (amino acids 1000-~2100). In addition, supernumerary teeth were found to be the most common dental feature. Since dental abnormalities often precede intestinal polyposis, dentists have a crucial role in the early identification of patients at risk.

Development of an in vivo syngeneic mouse transplant model of invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma driven by endogenous expression of Pik3caH1047R and Apc loss.

Preclinical models that replicate patient tumours as closely as possible are crucial for translational cancer research. While in vitro cancer models have many advantages in assessing tumour response therapy, in vivo systems are essential to enable evaluation of the role of the tumour cell extrinsic factors, such as the tumour microenvironment and host immune system. The requirement for a functional immune system is particularly important given the current focus on immunotherapies. Therefore, we set out to generate an immunocompetent, transplantable model of colorectal cancer suitable for in vivo assessment of immune-based therapeutic approaches. Intestinal tumours from a genetically engineered mouse model, driven by expression of a Pik3ca mutation and loss of Apc, were transplanted into wild type C57BL/6 host mice and subsequently passaged to form a novel syngeneic transplant model of colorectal cancer. Our work confirms the potential to develop a panel of mouse syngeneic grafts, akin to human PDX panels, from different genetically engineered, or carcinogen-induced, mouse models. Such panels would allow the in vivo testing of new pharmaceutical and immunotherapeutic treatment approaches across a range of tumours with a variety of genetic driver mutations.

Association of genetic ancestry with molecular tumor profiles in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: There are known disparities in incidence and outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) by race and ethnicity. Some of these disparities may be mediated by molecular changes in tumors that occur at different rates across populations. Genetic ancestry is a measure complementary to race and ethnicity that can overcome missing data issues and better capture genetic similarity in admixed populations. We aimed to identify somatic mutations and tumor gene expression differences associated with both genetic ancestry and imputed race and ethnicity. METHODS: Sequencing was performed with the Tempus xT NGS 648-gene panel and whole exome capture RNA-Seq for 8454 primarily late-stage CRC patients. Genetic ancestry proportions for five continental groups-Africa (AFR), American indigenous (AMR), East Asia (EAS), Europe (EUR), and South Asia (SAS)-were estimated using ancestry informative markers. To address data gaps, race and ethnicity categories were imputed, resulting in assignments for 952 Hispanic/Latino, 420 non-Hispanic (NH) Asian, 1061 NH Black, and 5763 NH White individuals. We assessed association of genetic ancestry proportions and imputed race and ethnicity categories with somatic mutations in relevant CRC genes and in 2608 expression profiles, as well as 1957 consensus molecular subtypes (CMS). RESULTS: Increased AFR ancestry was associated with higher odds of somatic mutations in APC, KRAS, and PIK3CA and lower odds of BRAF mutations. Additionally, increased EAS ancestry was associated with lower odds of mutations in KRAS, EUR with higher odds in BRAF, and the Hispanic/Latino category with lower odds in BRAF. Greater AFR ancestry and the NH Black category were associated with higher rates of CMS3, while a higher proportion of Hispanic/Latino patients exhibited indeterminate CMS classifications. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular differences in CRC tumor mutation frequencies and gene expression that may underlie observed differences by race and ethnicity were identified. The association of AFR ancestry with increased KRAS mutations aligns with higher CMS3 subtype rates in NH Black patients. The increase of indeterminate CMS in Hispanic/Latino patients suggests that subtype classification methods could benefit from enhanced patient diversity.

Antrodia camphorata Supplementation during Early Life Alters Gut Microbiota and Inhibits Young-Onset Intestinal Tumorigenesis in APC1638N Mice Later in Life.

Young-onset colorectal cancer is an increasing concern worldwide due to the growing prevalence of Westernized lifestyles in childhood and adolescence. Environmental factors during early life, particularly early-life nutrition, significantly contribute to the increasing incidence. Recently, there have been reports of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer, of a unique fungus (Antrodia camphorate, AC) native to Taiwan. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of AC supplementation in early life on the development of young-onset intestinal tumorigenesis. APC1638N mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HF) at 4-12 weeks of age, which is equivalent to human childhood/adolescence, before switching to a normal maintenance diet for an additional 12 weeks up to 24 weeks of age, which is equivalent to young to middle adulthood in humans. Our results showed that the body weight in the HF groups significantly increased after 8 weeks of feeding (p < 0.05). Following a switch to a normal maintenance diet, the change in body weight persisted. AC supplementation significantly suppressed tumor incidence and multiplicity in females (p < 0.05) and reduced IGF-1 and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling (p < 0.05). Moreover, it altered the gut microbiota, suppressed inflammatory responses, and created a microenvironment towards suppressing tumorigenesis later in life.

An In Vivo Metastasis Model Using Genotype-Defined Tumor Organoids.

Recent cancer genome analyses have identified frequently mutated genes that are responsible for the development and malignant progression of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). We previously constructed mouse models that carried major driver mutations of CRC, namely Apc, Kras, Tgfbr2, Trp53, and Fbxw7, in combinations. Comprehensive histological analyses of the models showed a link between mutation combinations and malignant phenotypes, such as invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis. The major cause of cancer-related death is metastasis, making it important to understand the mechanism underlying metastasis in order to develop novel therapeutic strategies. To this end, we have established intestinal tumor-derived organoids from different genotyped mice and generated liver metastasis models via transplantation of the organoids into the spleen. Through histological and imaging analyses of the transplantation models, we have determined that the combination of Apc, Kras, Tgfbr2, and Trp53 mutations promotes liver metastasis at a high incidence. We also demonstrated polyclonal metastasis of tumor cell clusters consisting of genetically and phenotypically distinct cells through our model analysis. These organoid transplantation models recapitulate human CRC metastasis, constituting a useful tool for basic and clinical cancer research as a preclinical model. We herein report the experimental protocols of the organoid culture and generation of metastasis models.

Targeted panel sequencing of pharmacogenes and oncodrivers in colorectal cancer patients reveals genes with prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and thus biomarkers allowing prediction of the resistance of patients to therapy and estimating their prognosis are needed. We designed a panel of 558 genes with pharmacogenomics records related to 5-fluorouracil resistance, genes important for sensitivity to other frequently used drugs, major oncodrivers, and actionable genes. We performed a target enrichment sequencing of DNA from tumors and matched blood samples of patients, and compared the results with patient prognosis stratified by systemic adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The median number of detected variants per tumor sample was 18.5 with 4 classified as having a high predicted functional effect and 14.5 moderate effect. APC, TP53, and KRAS were the most frequent mutated genes (64%, 59%, and 42% of mutated samples, respectively) followed by FAT4 (23%), FBXW7, and PIK3CA (16% for both). Patients with advanced stage III had more frequently APC, TP53, or KRAS mutations than those in stages I or II. KRAS mutation counts followed an increasing trend with grade (G1 < G2 < G3). The response to adjuvant therapy was worse in carriers of frameshift mutations in APC or 12D variant in KRAS, but none of these oncodrivers had prognostic value. Carriage of somatic mutations in any of the genes ABCA13, ANK2, COL7A1, NAV3, or UNC80 had prognostic relevance for worse overall survival (OS) of all patients. In contrast, mutations in FLG, GLI3, or UNC80 were prognostic in the same direction for patients untreated, and mutations in COL6A3, LRP1B, NAV3, RYR1, RYR3, TCHH, or TENM4 for patients treated with adjuvant therapy. The first association was externally validated. From all germline variants with high or moderate predicted functional effects (median 326 per patient), > 5% frequency and positive Manhattan plot based on 3-year RFS, rs72753407 in NFACS, rs34621071 in ERBB4, and rs2444274 in RIF1 were significantly associated with RFS, OS or both. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified several putative somatic and germline genetic events with prognostic potential for colorectal cancer that should undergo functional characterization.

Interplay between WNT/PI3K-mTOR axis and the microbiota in APC-driven colorectal carcinogenesis: data from a pilot study and possible implications for CRC prevention.

BACKGROUND: Wnt/ß-catenin signalling impairment accounts for 85% of colorectal cancers (CRCs), including sporadic and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) settings. An altered PI3K/mTOR pathway and gut microbiota also contribute to CRC carcinogenesis. We studied the interplay between the two pathways and the microbiota composition within each step of CRC carcinogenesis. METHODS: Proteins and target genes of both pathways were analysed by RT-qPCR and IHC in tissues from healthy faecal immunochemical test positive (FIT+, n = 17), FAP (n = 17) and CRC (n = 15) subjects. CRC-related mutations were analysed through NGS and Sanger. Oral, faecal and mucosal microbiota was profiled by 16 S rRNA-sequencing. RESULTS: We found simultaneous hyperactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin and PI3K/mTOR pathways in FAP-lesions compared to CRCs. Wnt/ß-catenin molecular markers positively correlated with Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and negatively with Bacteroides in FAP faecal microbiota. Alistipes, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were enriched in FAP stools and adenomas, the latter also showing an overabundance of Lachnoclostridium, which positively correlated with cMYC. In impaired-mTOR-mutated CRC tissues, p-S6R correlated with Fusobacterium and Dialister, the latter also confirmed in the faecal-ecosystem. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals an interplay between Wnt/ß-catenin and PI3K/mTOR, whose derangement correlates with specific microbiota signatures in FAP and CRC patients, and identifies new potential biomarkers and targets to improve CRC prevention, early adenoma detection and treatment.

Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles and Non-Extracellular Vesicle Components from APCMin/+ Mice Promote Pro-Tumorigenic Activities and Activate Human Colonic Fibroblasts via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide. Current studies have demonstrated that tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) from different cancer cell types modulate the fibroblast microenvironment to contribute to cancer development and progression. Here, we isolated and characterized circulating large EVs (LEVs), small EVs (SEVs) and non-EV entities released in the plasma from wild-type (WT) mice and the APCMin/+ CRC mice model. Our results showed that human colon fibroblasts exposed from APC-EVs, but not from WT-EVs, exhibited the phenotypes of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through EV-mediated NF-κB pathway activation. Cytokine array analysis on secreted proteins revealed elevated levels of inflammatory cytokine implicated in cancer growth and metastasis. Finally, non-activated cells co-cultured with supernatant from fibroblasts treated with APC-EVs showed increased mRNA expressions of CAFs markers, the ECM, inflammatory cytokines, as well as the expression of genes controlled by NF-κB. Altogether, our work suggests that EVs and non-EV components from APCMin/+ mice are endowed with pro-tumorigenic activities and promoted inflammation and a CAF-like state by triggering NF-κB signaling in fibroblasts to support CRC growth and progression. These findings provide insight into the interaction between plasma-derived EVs and human cells and can be used to design new CRC diagnosis and prognosis tools.

Bcl-2 Up-Regulation Mediates Taxane Resistance Downstream of APC Loss.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients are treated with traditional chemotherapy, such as the taxane class of drugs. One such drug, paclitaxel (PTX), can be effective in treating TNBC; however, many tumors will develop drug resistance, which can lead to recurrence. In order to improve patient outcomes and survival, there lies a critical need to understand the mechanism behind drug resistance. Our lab made the novel observation that decreased expression of the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) tumor suppressor using shRNA caused PTX resistance in the human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-157. In cells lacking APC, induction of apoptosis by PTX was decreased, which was measured through cleaved caspase 3 and annexin/PI staining. The current study demonstrates that CRISPR-mediated APC knockout in two other TNBC lines, MDA-MB-231 and SUM159, leads to PTX resistance. In addition, the cellular consequences and molecular mechanisms behind APC-mediated PTX response have been investigated through analysis of the BCL-2 family of proteins. We found a significant increase in the tumor-initiating cell population and increased expression of the pro-survival family member Bcl-2, which is widely known for its oncogenic behavior. ABT-199 (Venetoclax), is a BH3 mimetic that specifically targets Bcl-2. ABT-199 has been used as a single or combination therapy in multiple hematologic malignancies and has shown promise in multiple subtypes of breast cancer. To address the hypothesis that APC-induced Bcl-2 increase is responsible for PTX resistance, we combined treatment of PTX and ABT-199. This combination treatment of CRISPR-mediated APC knockout MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in alterations in apoptosis, suggesting that Bcl-2 inhibition restores PTX sensitivity in APC knockout breast cancer cells. Our studies are the first to show that Bcl-2 functional inhibition restores PTX sensitivity in APC mutant breast cancer cells. These studies are critical to advance better treatment regimens in patients with TNBC.

Non-stem cell lineages as an alternative origin of intestinal tumorigenesis in the context of inflammation.

According to conventional views, colon cancer originates from stem cells. However, inflammation, a key risk factor for colon cancer, has been shown to suppress intestinal stemness. Here, we used Paneth cells as a model to assess the capacity of differentiated lineages to trigger tumorigenesis in the context of inflammation in mice. Upon inflammation, Paneth cell-specific Apc mutations led to intestinal tumors reminiscent not only of those arising in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but also of a larger fraction of human sporadic colon cancers. The latter is possibly because of the inflammatory consequences of western-style dietary habits, a major colon cancer risk factor. Machine learning methods designed to predict the cell-of-origin of cancer from patient-derived tumor samples confirmed that, in a substantial fraction of sporadic cases, the origins of colon cancer reside in secretory lineages and not in stem cells.

Exploring the DNA Methylation Profile of Genes Associated with Bladder Cancer in Bladder Tissue of Patients with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic process that commonly occurs in genes' promoters and results in the transcriptional silencing of genes. DNA methylation is a frequent event in bladder cancer, participating in tumor initiation and progression. Bladder cancer is a major health issue in patients suffering from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), although the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease remain unclear. In this population, bladder cancer is characterized by aggressive histopathology, advanced stage during diagnosis, and high mortality rates. To assess the DNA methylation profiles of five genes' promoters previously known to be associated with bladder cancer in bladder tissue of NLUTD patients, we conducted a prospective study recruiting NLUTD patients from the neuro-urology unit of a public teaching hospital. Cystoscopy combined with biopsy for bladder cancer screening was performed in all patients following written informed consent being obtained. Quantitative methylation-specific PCR was used to determine the methylation status of RASSF1, RARß, DAPK, hTERT, and APC genes' promoters in bladder tissue samples. Twenty-four patients suffering from mixed NLUTD etiology for a median duration of 10 (IQR: 12) years were recruited in this study. DNA hypermethylation was detected in at least one gene of the panel in all tissue samples. RAR-ß was hypermethylated in 91.7% samples, RASSF and DAPK were hypermethylated in 83.3% samples, APC 37.5% samples, and TERT in none of the tissue samples. In 45.8% of the samples, three genes of the panel were hypermethylated, in 29.2% four genes were hypermethylated, and in 16.7% and in 8.3% of the samples, two and one gene were hypermethylated, respectively. The number of hypermethylated genes of the panel was significantly associated with recurrent UTIs (p = 0.0048). No other significant association was found between DNA hypermethylation or the number of hypermethylated genes and the clinical characteristics of the patients. Histopathological findings were normal in 8.3% of patients, while chronic inflammation was found in 83.3% of patients and squamous cell metaplasia in 16.7% of patients. In this study, we observed high rates of DNA hypermethylation of genes associated with bladder cancer in NLUTD patients, suggesting an epigenetic field effect and possible risk of bladder cancer development. Recurrent UTIs seem to be associated with increased DNA hypermethylation. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of recurrent UTIs and chronic inflammation in DNA hypermethylation and bladder cancer etiopathogenesis in NLUTD patients.

Plasma ctDNA enhances the tissue-based detection of oncodriver mutations in colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The advent of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) technology has provided a convenient and noninvasive means to continuously monitor cancer genomic data, facilitating personalized cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the supplementary benefits of plasma ctDNA alongside traditional tissue-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) in identifying targetable mutations and tumor mutational burden (TMB) in colorectal cancers (CRC). METHODS: Our study involved 76 CRC patients, collecting both tissue and plasma samples for NGS. We assessed the concordance of gene mutational status between ctDNA and tissue, focusing on actionable genes such as KRAS, NRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, and ERBB2. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore variables associated with discordance and positive mutation rates. RESULTS: In total, 26 cancer-related genes were identified. The most common variants in tumor tissues and plasma samples were in APC (57.9% vs 19.7%), TP53 (55.3% vs 22.4%) and KRAS (47.4% vs 43.4%). Tissue and ctDNA showed an overall concordance of 73.53% in detecting actionable gene mutations. Notably, plasma ctDNA improved detection for certain genes and gene pools. Variables significantly associated with discordance included gender and peritoneal metastases. TMB analysis revealed a higher detection rate in tissues compared to plasma, but combining both increased detection. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the importance of analyzing both tissue and plasma for detecting actionable mutations in CRC, with plasma ctDNA offering added value. Discordance is associated with gender and peritoneal metastases, and TMB analysis can benefit from a combination of tissue and plasma data. This approach provides valuable insights for personalized CRC treatment.

[Incidence of common gene mutations in early-onset colorectal cancer and the association with cancer survival: a meta-analysis].

Objective: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing globally; however, the molecular characteristics and prognosis of sporadic EOCRC are unclear. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate the incidence of gene mutations and their association with cancer survival in sporadic EOCRC, focusing on six common gene mutations (TP53, BRAF, KRAS, NRAS, PTEN, and APC). Methods: Ovid Embase and Ovid Medline electronic databases were searched for studies involving patients with sporadic EOCRC (i.e., diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 50 years and with no evidence of hereditary syndromes predisposing to colorectal cancer). The included articles were evaluated using quality assessment tools. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects and fixed-effects models. Cochran's Q statistic and the I2 index were used to assess heterogeneity. The incidence of the six common gene mutations listed above in sporadic EOCRC and their association with cancer survival were evaluated. Results: (1) Incidence of specific gene mutations in sporadic EOCRC. A total of 34 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The incidence of APC gene mutation was 36% (from 13 articles, 95%CI: 19%-55%, P=0.043); of KRAS gene mutation 30% (from 26 articles, 95%CI: 24%-35%, P=0.190); of BRAF gene mutation 7% (from 18 articles, 95%CI: 5%-11%, P=0.422); of NRAS gene mutation 4% (from five articles, 95%CI: 3%-5%, P=0.586); of PTEN gene mutation 6% (from six articles, 95%CI: 4%-10%, P=0.968); and of TP53 gene mutation 59% (from 13 articles, 95%CI: 49%-68%, P=0.164). (2) Association between gene mutations and survival in sporadic EOCRC. A total of six articles were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with wild-type BRAF, mutant BRAF was significantly associated with increased overall mortality risk in patients with EOCRC (pooled HR=2.85, 95%CI: 1.45-5.60, P=0.002). Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of BRAF gene mutation was higher in Eastern than in Western countries, whereas the incidence of TP53, KRAS, NRAS, and APC gene mutations was lower. There was no significant difference in the incidence of PTEN gene mutation between different regions. Conclusion: Compared with colorectal cancer occurring in the general population, the incidence of APC and KRAS mutations is lower in EOCRC, whereas the incidence of TP53 mutation remains consistent. BRAF mutation is associated with increased overall mortality risk in patients with EOCRC.

Exposure to Microcystin-LR Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by Altering Gut Microbiota and Associated Metabolites in APCmin/+ Mice.

Microcystins (MCs), toxins generated by cyanobacteria, feature microcystin-LR (MC-LR) as one of the most prevalent and toxic variants in aquatic environments. MC-LR not only causes environmental problems but also presents a substantial risk to human health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MC-LR on APCmin/+ mice, considered as an ideal animal model for intestinal tumors. We administered 40 µg/kg MC-LR to mice by gavage for 8 weeks, followed by histopathological examination, microbial diversity and metabolomics analysis. The mice exposed to MC-LR exhibited a significant promotion in colorectal cancer progression and impaired intestinal barrier function in the APCmin/+ mice compared with the control. Gut microbial dysbiosis was observed in the MC-LR-exposed mice, manifesting a notable alteration in the structure of the gut microbiota. This included the enrichment of Marvinbryantia, Gordonibacter and Family_XIII_AD3011_group and reductions in Faecalibaculum and Lachnoclostridium. Metabolomics analysis revealed increased bile acid (BA) metabolites in the intestinal contents of the mice exposed to MC-LR, particularly taurocholic acid (TCA), alpha-muricholic acid (α-MCA), 3-dehydrocholic acid (3-DHCA), 7-ketodeoxycholic acid (7-KDCA) and 12-ketodeoxycholic acid (12-KDCA). Moreover, we found that Marvinbryantia and Family_XIII_AD3011_group showed the strongest positive correlation with taurocholic acid (TCA) in the mice exposed to MC-LR. These findings provide new insights into the roles and mechanisms of MC-LR in susceptible populations, providing a basis for guiding values of MC-LR in drinking water.

Clinical and Immunologic Characteristics of Colorectal Cancer Tumors Expressing LY6G6D.

The identification of targets that are expressed on the cell membrane is a main goal in cancer research. The Lymphocyte Antigen 6 Family Member G6D (LY6G6D) gene codes for a protein that is mainly present on the surface of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Therapeutic strategies against this protein like the development of T cell engagers (TCE) are currently in the early clinical stage. In the present work, we interrogated public genomic datasets including TCGA to evaluate the genomic and immunologic cell profile present in tumors with high expression of LY6G6D. We used data from TCGA, among others, and the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER2.0) platform for immune cell estimations and Spearman correlation tests. LY6G6D expression was exclusively present in CRC, particularly in the microsatellite stable (MSS) subtype, and was associated with left-side tumors and the canonical genomic subgroup. Tumors with mutations of APC and p53 expressed elevated levels of LY6G6D. This protein was expressed in tumors with an inert immune microenvironment with an absence of immune cells and co-inhibitory molecules. In conclusion, we described clinical, genomic and immune-pathologic characteristics that can be used to optimize the clinical development of agents against this target. Future studies should be performed to confirm these findings and potentially explore the suggested clinical development options.

Yogurt Prevents Colorectal Tumorigenesis in ApcMin/+ Mice.

SCOPE: Yogurt consumption is related to a decreased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but whether such association is causal remains unclear. Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are at increased risk of CRC development. Here, the study investigates the efficacy of yogurt for intestinal polyposis chemoprevention in ApcMin/+ mice, a preclinical model for human FAP. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 10-week yogurt supplementation (15 g kg-1) in ApcMin/+ mice significantly reduces the intestinal polyp number (6.50 ± 0.97 versus 1.80 ± 0.49; p < 0.001) compared to controls. 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis suggests that yogurt supplementation may greatly modulate the gut microbiome composition, especially in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Importantly, the fecal concentration of d-lactate (d-Lac, 0.39 ± 0.04 µmol g-1 versus 8.14 ± 0.62 µmol g-1; p < 0.001) is boosted by yogurt, while oral administration with d-Lac (125 or 250 mg kg-1) reduces the polyp number by 71.43% or 77.14% (p < 0.001), respectively. The study also observes that d-Lac does not affect cell viability and anchorage-independence in CRC cells, but it greatly suppresses epidermal growth factor (EGF) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced cell transformation in preneoplastic cells. Mechanistically, it demonstrates that d-Lac may attenuate epithelial cell transformation by targeting PI3K/AKT/ß-catenin axis. CONCLUSION: Yogurt protects against intestinal polyposis in ApcMin/+ mice, and d-Lac may partially account for the chemopreventive effects above.

Mutational analysis of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: APC gene mutations identify a good prognostic factor.

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a highly aggressive neoplasm with biological heterogeneity. Mutations in multiple genes have been identified in LCNEC. However, associations between gene alterations, histopathological characteristics, and prognosis remain ambiguous. Here, we investigated the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and genomic characteristics of 19 patients with LCNEC and 9 patients with atypical carcinoid (AC). We revealed high mutation frequencies of TP53 (89.5 %), RB1 (42.1 %), APC (31.6 %), and MCL1 (31.6 %) in LCNEC, while genetic alterations were rarely found in AC. APC alterations mainly occurred to the exon 16 and were only identified in LCNEC with wild-type RB1. The 19 LCNEC were further subgrouped into APC wild-type (LCNEC-APCMT, 6/19) and APC-mutated (LCNEC-APCWT, 13/19) subgroups. In comparison with LCNEC-APCWT, LCNEC-APCMT displayed lower TMB (median: 12.64 vs 4.20, P = 0.045), and relatively mild cytologic atypia. In addition, LCNEC-APCMT distinguished itself from AC and LCNEC-APCWT by obviously downregulated expression of neuroendocrine markers (CD56 and Syn, P < 0.01) and significantly altered expression of genes downstream of APC (ß-catenin migrating into the cytoplasm and nucleus, P < 0.001; c-Myc upregulating, P = 0.005). The OS of LCNEC-APCMT was numerically intermediate between AC and LCNEC-APCWT. We first proposed that APC alterations were common in LCNEC with wild-type RB1 and that LCNEC-APCMT was associated with lower TMB and better OS in comparison with LCNEC-APCWT.

Enhanced ApcMin/+ adenoma formation after epithelial CUL4B deletion by recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as a prevalent malignancy globally. A pivotal event in CRC pathogenesis involves the loss-of-function mutation in the APC gene, leading to the formation of benign polyps. Despite the well-established role of APC, the contribution of CUL4B to CRC initiation in the pre-tumorous stage remains poorly understood. In this investigation, we generated a murine model by crossing ApcMin/+ mice with Cul4bΔIEC mice to achieve specific deletion of Cul4b in the gut epithelium against an ApcMin/+ background. By employing histological methods, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), and flow cytometry, we assessed alterations and characterized the immune microenvironment. Our results unveiled that CUL4B deficiency in gut epithelium expedited ApcMin/+ adenoma formation. Notably, CUL4B in adenomas restrained the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). In vivo inhibition of MDSCs significantly delayed the growth of CUL4B deleted ApcMin/+ adenomas. Furthermore, the addition of MDSCs to in vitro cultured ApcMin/+; Cul4bΔIEC adenoma organoids mitigated their alterations. Mechanistically, CUL4B directly interacted with the promoter of Csf3, the gene encoding granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) by coordinating with PRC2. Inhibiting CUL4B epigenetically activated the expression of G-CSF, promoting the recruitment of MDSCs. These findings offer novel insights into the tumor suppressor-like roles of CUL4B in regulating ApcMin/+ adenomas, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC initiation and progression in the context of activated Wnt signaling.