RESUMO
In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), stromal restriction of CD8+ T cells associates with poor clinical outcomes and lack of responsiveness to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB). To identify mediators of T cell stromal restriction, we profiled murine breast tumors lacking the transcription factor Stat3, which is commonly hyperactive in breast cancers and promotes an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Expression of the cytokine Chi3l1 was decreased in Stat3-/- tumors. CHI3L1 expression was elevated in human TNBCs and other solid tumors exhibiting T cell stromal restriction. Chi3l1 ablation in the polyoma virus middle T (PyMT) breast cancer model generated an anti-tumor immune response and delayed mammary tumor onset. These effects were associated with increased T cell tumor infiltration and improved response to ICB. Mechanistically, Chi3l1 promoted neutrophil recruitment and neutrophil extracellular trap formation, which blocked T cell infiltration. Our findings provide insight into the mechanism underlying stromal restriction of CD8+ T cells and suggest that targeting Chi3l1 may promote anti-tumor immunity in various tumor types.
Assuntos
Armadilhas Extracelulares , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Citocinas , Armadilhas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/metabolismo , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/patologia , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative stress and consequently cell injury contributing to a wide range of diseases. Addressing the critical gaps in our understanding of the adaptive molecular events downstream ROS provocation holds promise for the identification of druggable metabolic vulnerabilities. Here, we unveil a direct molecular link between the activity of two estrogen-related receptor (ERR) isoforms and the control of glutamine utilization and glutathione antioxidant production. ERRα down-regulation restricts glutamine entry into the TCA cycle, while ERRγ up-regulation promotes glutamine-driven glutathione production. Notably, we identify increased ERRγ expression/activation as a hallmark of oxidative stress triggered by mitochondrial disruption or chemotherapy. Enhanced tumor antioxidant capacity is an underlying feature of human breast cancer (BCa) patients that respond poorly to treatment. We demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of ERRγ with the selective inverse agonist GSK5182 increases antitumor efficacy of the chemotherapeutic paclitaxel on poor outcome BCa tumor organoids. Our findings thus underscore the ERRs as novel redox sensors and effectors of a ROS defense program and highlight the potential therapeutic advantage of exploiting ERRγ inhibitors for the treatment of BCa and other diseases where oxidative stress plays a central role.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/fisiopatologia , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Receptores de Estrogênio/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Glutamina/metabolismo , Glutationa/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Paclitaxel/farmacologia , Receptores de Estrogênio/genética , Rotenona/farmacologia , Tamoxifeno/análogos & derivados , Tamoxifeno/farmacologia , Receptor ERRalfa Relacionado ao EstrogênioRESUMO
Hypoxia is an important phenomenon in solid tumors that contributes to metastasis, tumor microenvironment (TME) deregulation, and resistance to therapies. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is an HIF target, but its roles during hypoxic stress leading to the TME deregulation are not well defined. We report here that the mammary gland-specific deletion of Axl in a HER2+ mouse model of breast cancer leads to a normalization of the blood vessels, a proinflammatory TME, and a reduction of lung metastases by dampening the hypoxic response in tumor cells. During hypoxia, interfering with AXL reduces HIF-1α levels altering the hypoxic response leading to a reduction of hypoxia-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and production of key cytokines for macrophages behaviors. These observations suggest that inhibition of Axl generates a suitable setting to increase immunotherapy. Accordingly, combining pharmacological inhibition of Axl with anti-PD-1 in a preclinical model of HER2+ breast cancer reduces the primary tumor and metastatic burdens, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach to manage HER2+ patients whose tumors present high hypoxic features.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/imunologia , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia/imunologia , Imunoterapia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genética , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/genética , Animais , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/fisiopatologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Transição Epitelial-Mesenquimal/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Deleção de Genes , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Marcação de Genes , Humanos , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia/genética , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/administração & dosagem , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/imunologia , Camundongos , Metástase Neoplásica/tratamento farmacológico , Metástase Neoplásica/genética , Metástase Neoplásica/imunologia , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/genética , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1/imunologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/imunologia , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/imunologia , Microambiente Tumoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptor Tirosina Quinase AxlRESUMO
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be repaired by two major pathways: non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). DNA repair pathway choice is governed by the opposing activities of 53BP1, in complex with its effectors RIF1 and REV7, and BRCA1. However, it remains unknown how the 53BP1/RIF1/REV7 complex stimulates NHEJ and restricts HR to the S/G2 phases of the cell cycle. Using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach, we identify 11 high-confidence REV7 interactors and elucidate the role of SHLD2 (previously annotated as FAM35A and RINN2) as an effector of REV7 in the NHEJ pathway. FAM35A depletion impairs NHEJ-mediated DNA repair and compromises antibody diversification by class switch recombination (CSR) in B cells. FAM35A accumulates at DSBs in a 53BP1-, RIF1-, and REV7-dependent manner and antagonizes HR by limiting DNA end resection. In fact, FAM35A is part of a larger complex composed of REV7 and SHLD1 (previously annotated as C20orf196 and RINN3), which promotes NHEJ and limits HR Together, these results establish SHLD2 as a novel effector of REV7 in controlling the decision-making process during DSB repair.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Quebras de DNA de Cadeia Dupla , Reparo do DNA por Junção de Extremidades , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Proteínas Mad2/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Fase G2/genética , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Proteínas Mad2/genética , Fase S/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a Telômeros/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a Telômeros/metabolismo , Proteína 1 de Ligação à Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética , Proteína 1 de Ligação à Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismoRESUMO
Stromal stiffening accompanies malignancy, compromises treatment and promotes tumour aggression. Clarifying the molecular nature and the factors that regulate stromal stiffening in tumours should identify biomarkers to stratify patients for therapy and interventions to improve outcome. We profiled lysyl hydroxylase-mediated and lysyl oxidase-mediated collagen crosslinks and quantified the greatest abundance of total and complex collagen crosslinks in aggressive human breast cancer subtypes with the stiffest stroma. These tissues harbour the highest number of tumour-associated macrophages, whose therapeutic ablation in experimental models reduced metastasis, and decreased collagen crosslinks and stromal stiffening. Epithelial-targeted expression of the crosslinking enzyme, lysyl oxidase, had no impact on collagen crosslinking in PyMT mammary tumours, whereas stromal cell targeting did. Stromal cells in microdissected human tumours expressed the highest level of collagen crosslinking enzymes. Immunohistochemical analysis of biopsies from a cohort of patients with breast cancer revealed that stromal expression of lysyl hydroxylase 2, an enzyme that induces hydroxylysine aldehyde-derived collagen crosslinks and stromal stiffening, correlated significantly with disease specific mortality. The findings link tissue inflammation, stromal cell-mediated collagen crosslinking and stiffening to tumour aggression and identify lysyl hydroxylase 2 as a stromal biomarker.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Colágeno/metabolismo , Células Estromais/metabolismo , Macrófagos Associados a Tumor/metabolismo , Adulto , Biópsia , Neoplasias da Mama/imunologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Proteína-Lisina 6-Oxidase/metabolismo , Células Estromais/patologiaRESUMO
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men. The indolent course of the disease makes the treatment choice a challenge for physicians and patients. In this study, a minimally invasive method was used to evaluate the potential of molecular markers in identifying patients with aggressive disease. Cell-free plasma samples from 60 PCa patients collected before radical prostatectomy were used to evaluate the levels of expression of eight genes (AMACR, BCL2, NKX3-1, GOLM1, OR51E2, PCA3, SIM2 and TRPM8) by quantitative real-time PCR. Overexpression of AMACR, GOLM1, TRPM8 and NKX3-1 genes was significantly associated with aggressive disease characteristics, including extracapsular extension, tumor stage and vesicular seminal invasion. A trio of genes (GOLM1, NKX3-1 and TRPM8) was able to identify high-risk PCa cases (85% of sensitivity and 58% of specificity), yielding a better overall performance compared with the biopsy Gleason score and prostate-specific antigen, routinely used in the clinical practice. Although more studies are required, these circulating markers have the potential to be used as an additional test to improve the diagnosis and treatment decision of high-risk PCa patients.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Ácidos Nucleicos Livres/sangue , Neoplasias da Próstata/diagnóstico , RNA Mensageiro/sangue , Idoso , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Brasil , Ácidos Nucleicos Livres/genética , Tomada de Decisão Clínica/métodos , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Calicreínas/sangue , Biópsia Líquida , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gradação de Tumores , Invasividade Neoplásica/genética , Seleção de Pacientes , Próstata/patologia , Antígeno Prostático Específico/sangue , Neoplasias da Próstata/sangue , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Neoplasias da Próstata/terapia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Medição de Risco/métodosRESUMO
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive cancers, with median survival of less than 2 years. Despite of considerable advance in molecular classification of GBMs, no improvements in therapy have been described. The scenario is further complicated by tumor heterogeneity and the relationship among genetic, transcriptional and functional findings. Classically, gene expression has been evaluated by steady-state mRNA, however, this does not take translational control into consideration, which contributes considerably to the composition of the proteome. In this study, we evaluated the transcriptomic and translatomic signature of a GBM obtained from a single patient focusing in tumor heterogeneity. In a sampling of eight fragments, we investigated the translation rates, mTORC1 and ERK1/2 pathways and identified both total and polysome associated mRNAs. An increased translation rate was observed in fragments with high-grade histological features. High-grade histology was also associated with the expression of genes related to extracellular matrix (ECM) and angiogenesis, in both transcriptomes and translatomes. However, genes associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and stress response, were observed only in translatomes from high-grade fragments. Overall, our results demonstrate that isolation of translated mRNA can be used to identify biomarkers and reveal previously unrecognized determinants of heterogeneity in GBMs.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Sistema Nervoso Central/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Glioblastoma/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias do Sistema Nervoso Central/patologia , MAP Quinases Reguladas por Sinal Extracelular/genética , Feminino , Glioblastoma/patologia , Humanos , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/genética , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Biossíntese de Proteínas , RNA Mensageiro/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Among the sex hormones, oestrogen may play a role in colorectal cancer, particularly in conjunction with oestrogen receptor-ß (ERß). The expression of ERß isoform variants and their correlations with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) syndrome and sporadic colorectal carcinomas are poorly described. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of the ERß1, ERß2, ERß4 and ERß5 isoform variants using quantitative RT-PCR (921 analyses) in FAP, normal mucosa, adenomatous polyps and sporadic colorectal carcinomas. RESULTS: Decreased expression of ERß isoforms was identified in sporadic polyps and in sporadic colorectal cancer as well as in polyps from FAP syndrome patients compared with normal tissues (p < 0.001). In FAP patients, ERß1 and ERß5 isoforms showed significant down-expression in polyps (p < 0.001) compared with matched normal tissues. However, no differences were observed when sporadic colorectal carcinomas were compared to normal mucosa tissues. These findings suggest an association of the ERß isoform variants in individuals affected by germline mutations of the APC gene. Progressively decreased expression of ERß was found in polyps at early stages of low-grade dysplasia, followed by T1-T2 and T3-T4 tumours (p < 0.05). In sporadic colorectal cancer, the loss of expression was an independent predictor of recurrence, and ERß1 and ERß5 expression levels were associated with better disease-free survival (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: These findings may provide a better understanding of oestrogens and their potential preventive and therapeutic effects on sporadic colorectal cancer and cancers associated with FAP syndrome.
Assuntos
Polipose Adenomatosa do Colo/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Receptor beta de Estrogênio/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Polipose Adenomatosa do Colo/mortalidade , Polipose Adenomatosa do Colo/patologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Biomarcadores Tumorais , Neoplasias Colorretais/mortalidade , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Bases de Dados Genéticas , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gradação de Tumores , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Prognóstico , Isoformas de Proteínas , Isoformas de RNA , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
This study aimed to establish and characterize primary cell cultures and xenografts derived from penile carcinoma (PeCa) in order to provide experimental models for cellular processes and efficacy of new treatments. A verrucous squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) was macrodissected, dissociated, and cultivated in KSFM/DF12 medium. Cell cultures were evaluated at passage 5 (P5) using migration and invasion assays and were serially propagated, in vivo, in BALB/c nude mice until passage 3 (X1-X3). Immunophenotypic characterization of cultures and xenografts was performed. Genomic (CytoScan HD, Affymetrix) and transcriptomic profiles (HTA 2.0 platform, Affymetrix) for VSCC, cell cultures, and xenografts were assessed. P5 cells were able to migrate, invade the Matrigel, and produce tumors in immunodeficient mice, demonstrating their malignant potential. The xenografts unexpectedly presented a sarcomatoid-like carcinoma phenotype. Genomic analysis revealed a high similarity between the VSCC and tumor-derived xenograft, confirming its xenograft origin. Interestingly, a subpopulation of P5 cells presented stem cell-related markers (CD44(+)CD24(-) and ALDH1(high)) and sphere-forming capacity, suggesting their potential xenograft origin. Cell cultures and xenografts retained the genomic alterations present in the parental tumor. Compared to VSCC, differentially expressed transcripts detected in all experimental conditions were associated with cellular morphology, movement, and metabolism and organization pathways. Malignant cell cultures and xenografts derived from a verrucous penile carcinoma were established and fully characterized. Nevertheless, xenograft PeCa models must be used with caution, taking into consideration the selection of specific cell populations and anatomical sites for cell/tumor implantation.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Verrucoso/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Xenoenxertos , Neoplasias Penianas/patologia , Células Tumorais Cultivadas , Idoso , Animais , Carcinoma Verrucoso/genética , Citometria de Fluxo , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Neoplasias Penianas/genéticaRESUMO
Melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer, accounting for up to 75% of skin cancer deaths. A small proportion of melanoma cases can be ascribed to the presence of highly penetrant germline mutations, and approximately 40% of hereditary melanoma cases are caused by CDKN2A mutations. The current study sought to investigate whether the presence of germline CDKN2A mutations or the occurrence of cutaneous melanoma would result in constitutive genome-wide DNA methylation changes. The leukocyte methylomes of two groups of melanoma patients (those with germline CDKN2A mutations and those without CDKN2A mutations) were analyzed together with the profile of a control group of individuals. A pattern of DNA hypomethylation was detected in the CDKN2A-negative patients relative to both CDKN2A-mutated patients and controls. Additionally, we delineated a panel of 90 CpG sites that were differentially methylated in CDKN2A-mutated patients relative to controls. Although we identified a possible constitutive epigenetic signature in CDKN2A-mutated patients, the occurrence of reported SNPs at the detected CpG sites complicated the data interpretation. Thus, further studies are required to elucidate the impact of these findings on melanoma predisposition and their possible effect on the penetrance of CDKN2A mutations.
Assuntos
Metilação de DNA/genética , Genes p16 , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Leucócitos , Melanoma/genética , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Genótipo , Humanos , Masculino , Análise de Sequência com Séries de OligonucleotídeosRESUMO
The basal breast cancer subtype is enriched for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and displays consistent large chromosomal deletions. Here, we characterize evolution and maintenance of chromosome 4p (chr4p) loss in basal breast cancer. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data shows recurrent deletion of chr4p in basal breast cancer. Phylogenetic analysis of a panel of 23 primary tumor/patient-derived xenograft basal breast cancers reveals early evolution of chr4p deletion. Mechanistically we show that chr4p loss is associated with enhanced proliferation. Gene function studies identify an unknown gene, C4orf19, within chr4p, which suppresses proliferation when overexpressed-a member of the PDCD10-GCKIII kinase module we name PGCKA1. Genome-wide pooled overexpression screens using a barcoded library of human open reading frames identify chromosomal regions, including chr4p, that suppress proliferation when overexpressed in a context-dependent manner, implicating network interactions. Together, these results shed light on the early emergence of complex aneuploid karyotypes involving chr4p and adaptive landscapes shaping breast cancer genomes.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Humanos , Feminino , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Animais , Camundongos , Cromossomos Humanos Par 4/genética , Proliferação de Células/genética , Aberrações Cromossômicas , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/genética , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/patologiaRESUMO
Penile carcinoma (PeCa) represents an important public health problem in poor and developing countries. Despite its unpredictable behavior and aggressive treatment, there have only been a few reports regarding its molecular data, especially epigenetic mechanisms. The functional diversity in different cell types is acquired by chromatin modifications, which are established by epigenetic regulatory mechanisms involving DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and miRNAs. Recent evidence indicates that the dysregulation in these processes can result in the development of several diseases, including cancer. Epigenetic alterations, such as the methylation of CpGs islands, may reveal candidates for the development of specific markers for cancer detection, diagnosis and prognosis. There are a few reports on the epigenetic alterations in PeCa, and most of these studies have only focused on alterations in specific genes in a limited number of cases. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge of the epigenetic alterations in PeCa and the promising results in this field. The identification of epigenetically altered genes in PeCa is an important step in understanding the mechanisms involved in this unexplored disease.
Assuntos
Epigênese Genética , Neoplasias Penianas/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Humanos , Linfonodos/patologia , Masculino , Neoplasias Penianas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Penianas/patologia , Neoplasias Penianas/terapia , Prognóstico , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
The immune response against a tumor is characterized by the interplay among components of the immune system and neoplastic cells. Here, we bioprinted a model with two distinct regions containing gastric cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs). The initial cellular distribution allows for the longitudinal study of TIL migratory patterns concurrently with multiplexed cytokine analysis. The chemical properties of the bioink were designed to present physical barriers that immune T-cells must breech during infiltration and migration toward a tumor with the use of an alginate, gelatin, and basal membrane mix. TIL activity, degranulation, and regulation of proteolytic activity reveal insights into the time-dependent biochemical dynamics. Regulation of the sFas and sFas-ligand present on PDOs and TILs, respectively, and the perforin and granzyme longitudinal secretion confirms TIL activation when encountering PDO formations. TIL migratory profiles were used to create a deterministic reaction-advection diffusion model. The simulation provides insights that decouple passive from active cell migration mechanisms. The mechanisms used by TILs and other adoptive cell therapeutics as they infiltrate the tumor barrier are poorly understood. This study presents a pre-screening strategy for immune cells where motility and activation across ECM environments are crucial indicators of cellular fitness.
Assuntos
Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral , Neoplasias , Humanos , Técnicas de Cocultura , Linfócitos do Interstício Tumoral/patologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Hidrogéis , Neoplasias/patologia , Movimento CelularRESUMO
Activation of the tyrosine kinase c-Src promotes breast cancer progression and poor outcomes, yet the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, we have shown that deletion of c-Src in a genetically engineered model mimicking the luminal B molecular subtype of breast cancer abrogated the activity of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), a master transcriptional regulator of the cell cycle. We determined that c-Src phosphorylated FOXM1 on 2 tyrosine residues to stimulate its nuclear localization and target gene expression. These included key regulators of G2/M cell-cycle progression as well as c-Src itself, forming a positive feedback loop that drove proliferation in genetically engineered and patient-derived models of luminal B-like breast cancer. Using genetic approaches and small molecules that destabilize the FOXM1 protein, we found that targeting this mechanism induced G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, blocked tumor progression, and impaired metastasis. We identified a positive correlation between FOXM1 and c-Src expression in human breast cancer and show that the expression of FOXM1 target genes predicts poor outcomes and associates with the luminal B subtype, which responds poorly to currently approved therapies. These findings revealed a regulatory network centered on c-Src and FOXM1 that is a targetable vulnerability in aggressive luminal breast cancers.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama , Humanos , Feminino , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Proteína Forkhead Box M1/genética , Proteína Forkhead Box M1/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células , Ciclo Celular/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão GênicaRESUMO
Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a complex and dynamic disease characterized by clinicopathological and molecular heterogeneity. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of cell subpopulations has been associated with cancer progression and implicated in the prognosis and therapy response. Emerging evidence indicates that aberrant epigenetic profiles in OSCC may foster an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by modulating the expression of immune-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). DNA methylation analysis was performed in 46 matched OSCC and normal adjacent tissue samples using a genome-wide platform (Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip). Reference-based computational deconvolution (MethylCIBERSORT) was applied to infer the immune cell composition of the bulk samples. The expression levels of genes encoding immune markers and differentially methylated lncRNAs were investigated using The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. OSCC specimens presented distinct immune cell composition, including the enrichment of monocyte lineage cells, natural killer cells, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, regulatory T-lymphocytes, and neutrophils. In contrast, B-lymphocytes, effector T-lymphocytes, and fibroblasts were diminished in tumor samples. The hypomethylation of three immune-associated lncRNAs (MEG3, MIR155HG, and WFDC21P) at individual CpG sites was confirmed by bisulfite-pyrosequencing. Also, the upregulation of a set of immune markers (FOXP3, GZMB, IL10, IL2RA, TGFB, IFNG, TDO2, IDO1, and HIF1A) was detected. The immune cell composition, immune markers alteration, and dysregulation of immune-associated lncRNAs reinforce the impact of the immune microenvironment in OSCC. These concurrent factors contribute to tumor heterogeneity, suggesting that epi-immunotherapy could be an efficient alternative to treat OSCC.
RESUMO
The tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) is a critical determinant of therapeutic response. However, the mechanisms regulating its modulation are not fully understood. HER2Δ16, an oncogenic splice variant of the HER2, has been implicated in breast cancer and other tumor types as a driver of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms of HER2Δ16-mediated oncogenicity remain poorly understood. Here, we show that HER2∆16 expression is not exclusive to the clinically HER2+ subtype and associates with a poor clinical outcome in breast cancer. To understand how HER2 variants modulated the tumor microenvironment, we generated transgenic mouse models expressing either proto-oncogenic HER2 or HER2Δ16 in the mammary epithelium. We found that HER2∆16 tumors were immune cold, characterized by low immune infiltrate and an altered cytokine profile. Using an epithelial cell surface proteomic approach, we identified ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) as a functional regulator of the immune cold microenvironment. We generated a knock-in model of HER2Δ16 under the endogenous promoter to understand the role of Enpp1 in aggressive HER2+ breast cancer. Knockdown of Enpp1 in HER2Δ16-derived tumor cells resulted in decreased tumor growth, which correlated with increased T-cell infiltration. These findings suggest that HER2Δ16-dependent Enpp1 activation associates with aggressive HER2+ breast cancer through its immune modulatory function. Our study provides a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying HER2Δ16-mediated oncogenicity and highlights ENPP1 as a potential therapeutic target in aggressive HER2+ breast cancer.
Assuntos
Neoplasias , Receptor ErbB-2 , Animais , Camundongos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Camundongos Transgênicos , Diester Fosfórico Hidrolases/genética , Proteômica , Pirofosfatases/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismoRESUMO
Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and inflammation have been reported in penile carcinomas (PeCa). However, the cell types and cellular crosstalk involved in PeCa are unexplored. We aimed to characterize the complexity of cells and pathways involved in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in PeCa and propose target molecules associated with the TME. We first investigated the prognostic impact of cell types with a secretory profile to identify drug targets that modulate TME-enriched cells. The secretome analysis using the PeCa transcriptome revealed the enrichment of inflammation and extracellular matrix pathways. Twenty-three secreted factors were upregulated, mainly collagens and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The deregulation of collagens and MMPs was confirmed by Quantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Further, the deconvolution method (digital cytometry) of the bulk samples revealed a high proportion of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells. Increased DCs and B cells were associated with better survival. A high proportion of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) was observed in low-survival patients. Patients with increased CAFs had decreased immune cell proportions. The treatment with the MMP inhibitor GM6001 in CAF cells derived from PeCa resulted in altered cell viability. We reported a crosstalk between immune cells and CAFs, and the proportion of these cell populations was associated with prognosis. We demonstrate that a drug targeting MMPs modulates CAFs, expanding the therapeutic options of PeCa.
RESUMO
DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR) is critical for the maintenance of genome stability. Germline and somatic mutations in HR genes have been associated with an increased risk of developing breast (BC) and ovarian cancers (OvC). However, the extent of factors and pathways that are functionally linked to HR with clinical relevance for BC and OvC remains unclear. To gain a broader understanding of this pathway, we used multi-omics datasets coupled with machine learning to identify genes that are associated with HR and to predict their sub-function. Specifically, we integrated our phylogenetic-based co-evolution approach (CladePP) with 23 distinct genetic and proteomic screens that monitored, directly or indirectly, DNA repair by HR. This omics data integration analysis yielded a new database (HRbase) that contains a list of 464 predictions, including 76 gold standard HR genes. Interestingly, the spliceosome machinery emerged as one major pathway with significant cross-platform interactions with the HR pathway. We functionally validated 6 spliceosome factors, including the RNA helicase SNRNP200 and its co-factor SNW1. Importantly, their RNA expression correlated with BC/OvC patient outcome. Altogether, we identified novel clinically relevant DNA repair factors and delineated their specific sub-function by machine learning. Our results, supported by evolutionary and multi-omics analyses, suggest that the spliceosome machinery plays an important role during the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs).
RESUMO
Cancer can develop from an accumulation of alterations, some of which cause a nonmalignant cell to transform to a malignant state exhibiting increased rate of cell growth and evasion of growth suppressive mechanisms, eventually leading to tissue invasion and metastatic disease. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are heterogeneous and are clinically characterized by the lack of expression of hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which limits its treatment options. Since tumor evolution is driven by diverse cancer cell populations and their microenvironment, it is imperative to map TNBC at single-cell resolution. Here, we describe an experimental procedure for isolating a single-cell suspension from a TNBC patient-derived xenograft, subjecting it to single-cell RNA sequencing using droplet-based technology from 10× Genomics and analyzing the transcriptomic data at single-cell resolution to obtain inferred copy number aberration profiles, using scCNA. Data obtained using this single-cell RNA sequencing experimental and analytical methodology should enhance our understanding of intratumor heterogeneity which is key for identifying genetic vulnerabilities and developing effective therapies.
Assuntos
Variações do Número de Cópias de DNA , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Genômica , Xenoenxertos , Humanos , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/genética , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Penile cancer (PeCa) is a common disease in poor and developing countries, showing high morbidity rates. Despite the recent progress in understanding the molecular events involved in PeCa, the lack of well-characterized in vitro models precludes new advances in anticancer drug development. Here we describe the establishment of five human primary penile cancer-derived cell cultures, including two epithelial and three cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) cells. Using high-throughput genomic approaches, we found that the epithelial PeCa derived- cells recapitulate the molecular alterations of their primary tumors and present the same deregulated signaling pathways. The differentially expressed genes and proteins identified are components of key oncogenic pathways, including EGFR and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. We showed that epithelial PeCa derived cells presented a good response to cisplatin, a common therapeutic approach used in PeCa patients. The growth of a PeCa-derived cell overexpressing EGFR was inhibited by EGFR inhibitors (cetuximab, gefitinib, and erlotinib). We also identified CAF signature markers in three PeCa-derived cells with fibroblast-like morphology, indicating that those cells are suitable models for PeCa microenvironment studies. We thus demonstrate the utility of PeCa cell models to dissect mechanisms that promote penile carcinogenesis, which are useful models to evaluate therapeutic approaches for the disease.