Targeting of oncogenic AAA-ATPase TRIP13 reduces progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Thyroid hormone receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) is involved in cancer progression, but its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unknown. Thus, we assessed the expression, functional role, and mechanism of action of TRIP13 in PDAC. We further examined the efficacy of TRIP13 inhibitor, DCZ0415, alone or in combination with gemcitabine on malignant phenotypes, tumor progression, and immune response. We found that TRIP13 was overexpressed in human PDACs relative to corresponding normal pancreatic tissues. TRIP13 knockdown or treatment of PDAC cells with DCZ0415 reduced proliferation and colony formation, and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Additionally, TRIP13 knockdown or targeting with DCZ0415 reduced the migration and invasion of PDAC cells by increasing E-cadherin and decreasing N-cadherin and vimentin. Pharmacologic targeting or silencing of TRIP13 also resulted in reduce expression of FGFR4 and STAT3 phosphorylation, and downregulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. In immunocompromised mouse models of PDAC, knockdown of TRIP13 or treatment with DCZ0415 reduced tumor growth and metastasis. In an immunocompetent syngeneic PDAC model, DCZ0415 treatment enhanced the immune response by lowering expression of PD1/PDL1, increasing granzyme B/perforin expression, and facilitating infiltration of CD3/CD4 T-cells. Further, DCZ0415 potentiated the anti-metastatic and anti-tumorigenic activities of gemcitabine by reducing proliferation and angiogenesis and by inducing apoptosis and the immune response. These preclinical findings show that TRIP13 is involved in PDAC progression and targeting of TRIP13 augments the anticancer effect of gemcitabine.

Increased Gene Expression of C1orf74 Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer.

C1orf74, also known as URCL4, has been reported to have higher expression and be associated with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients, and its role in regulation of the EGFR/AKT/mTORC1 pathway has been recently elucidated. In the current study, we used publicly available data and experimental validation of C1orf74 gene expression and its association with prognosis in cervical cancer patients. qRT-PCR was performed using RNA from cervical cancer cell lines and twenty-five cervical cancer patients. Data from TNMplot revealed that mRNA expression of the C1orf74 gene in primary tumor tissues, as well as metastatic tissues from cervical cancer patients, was significantly higher compared to normal cervical tissues. HPV-positive tumors had higher expression of this gene compared to HPV-negative tumors. qPCR analysis also demonstrated higher expression of C1orf74 in HPV-positive cervical cancer cell lines and most cervical cancer patients. The promoter methylation levels of the C1orf74 gene in cervical cancer tissues were lower compared to normal cervical tissues (p < 0.05). Collectively, our study indicates that higher expression of the C1orf74 gene caused by hypomethylation of its promoter is associated with poor overall survival in cervical cancer patients. Thus, C1orf74 is a novel prognostic marker in cervical cancer.

The effect of paclitaxel- and fisetin-loaded PBM nanoparticles on apoptosis and reversal of drug resistance gene ABCG2 in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (OvCa) is the most common type of epithelial OvCa. It is usually diagnosed in advanced stages, leaving a woman's chance of survival below 50%. Despite traditional chemotherapeutic therapies, there is often a high recurrence rate following initial treatments. Hence, a targeted drug delivery system is needed to attack the cancer cells and induce apoptosis, overcome acquired drug resistance, and protect normal cells from cytotoxicity. The present study shows that targeting folate receptor alpha (FRα) through planetary ball milling (PBM) nanoparticles (NPs) induces apoptosis in OvCa cells. RESULTS: Human tissue microarrays (TMAs) show overexpression of FRα in Stage IV OvCa tissues compared to matched normal tissues. They provide a focus for a targeted delivery system. We formulated PBM nanoparticles encapsulated with paclitaxel (PTX) or fisetin (Fis) and conjugated with folic acid (FA). The cytotoxic effect of these PBM NPs reduced the concentration of the toxic chemotherapy drug PTX by five-fold. The combined treatment of PTX-FA NPs and Fis-FA NPs inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis more extensively than the individual drugs alone. Apoptosis of OvCa cells, determined by flow cytometry, showed an increase from 14.4 to 80.4% (OVCAR3 cells) and from 2.69 to 90.0% (CAOV3 cells) in the number of apoptotic cells. Also, expressions of the pro-apoptotic markers, BAK and active caspase-3, were increased after PTX-FA + Fis-FA PBM NP treatment. In addition to looking at targeted treatment effects on apoptosis, drug resistance was investigated. Drug resistance in OvCa cells was reversed by ABCG2, an ABC-transporter marker. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that PTX-FA and Fis-FA PBM NPs directly target platinum-resistant OvCa cells, induce cytotoxic/apoptotic effects, and reverse multi-drug resistance (MDR). These findings allow us to create new clinical applications using PTX-FA and Fis-FA combination nanoparticles to treat drug-resistant cancers.

Targeted inhibition of BET proteins in HPV-16 associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma reveals heterogeneous transcription response.

Integrated human papillomavirus (HPV-16) associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors have worse survival outcomes compared to episomal HPV-16 HNSCC tumors. Therefore, there is a need to differentiate treatment for HPV-16 integrated HNSCC from other viral forms. We analyzed TCGA data and found that HPV+ HNSCC expressed higher transcript levels of the bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) family of transcriptional coregulators. However, the mechanism of BET protein-mediated transcription of viral-cellular genes in the integrated viral-HNSCC genomes needs to be better understood. We show that BET inhibition downregulates E6 significantly independent of the viral transcription factor, E2, and there was overall heterogeneity in the downregulation of viral transcription in response to the effects of BET inhibition across HPV-associated cell lines. Chemical BET inhibition was phenocopied with the knockdown of BRD4 and mirrored downregulation of viral E6 and E7 expression. Strikingly, there was heterogeneity in the reactivation of p53 levels despite E6 downregulation, while E7 downregulation did not alter Rb levels significantly. We identified that BET inhibition directly downregulated c-Myc and E2F expression and induced CDKN1A expression. Overall, our studies show that BET inhibition provokes a G1-cell cycle arrest with apoptotic activity and suggests that BET inhibition regulates both viral and cellular gene expression in HPV-associated HNSCC.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Reveals High Mutational Concordance between Primary and Matched Recurrent Triple-Negative Breast Cancers.

PURPOSE: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a molecularly complex and heterogeneous breast cancer subtype with distinct biological features and clinical behavior. Although TNBC is associated with an increased risk of metastasis and recurrence, the molecular mechanisms underlying TNBC metastasis remain unclear. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis of primary TNBC and paired recurrent tumors to investigate the genetic profile of TNBC. METHODS: Genomic DNA extracted from 35 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 26 TNBC patients was subjected to WES. Of these, 15 were primary tumors that did not have recurrence, and 11 were primary tumors that had recurrence (nine paired primary and recurrent tumors). Tumors were analyzed for single-nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions. RESULTS: The tumor mutational burden (TMB) was 7.6 variants/megabase in primary tumors that recurred (n = 9); 8.2 variants/megabase in corresponding recurrent tumors (n = 9); and 7.3 variants/megabase in primary tumors that did not recur (n = 15). MUC3A was the most frequently mutated gene in all groups. Mutations in MAP3K1 and MUC16 were more common in our dataset. No alterations in PI3KCA were detected in our dataset. CONCLUSIONS: We found similar mutational profiles between primary and paired recurrent tumors, suggesting that genomic features may be retained during local recurrence.

Nested and Large Nested Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract: A Multi-institutional Study.

Nested urothelial carcinoma (NUC) and large nested urothelial carcinoma (LNUC) of the upper urinary tract are exceedingly rare. This has contributed to the paucity of information regarding their clinicopathological and molecular characteristics. To address this knowledge gap, we explored the largest cohort to date of these rare tumors, comprising resection specimens of 10 LNUC and 7 NUC, from 7 participating institutions. Clinicopathological data were retrieved and documented. Whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing were performed on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencer. The data generated were analyzed using the genome analysis toolkit pipeline. Somatic mutations were annotated using funcotator tool to identify pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants. Tumor mutational burden was calculated using python-based "pyTMB" tool. Microsatellite instability analysis was done using MSIsensor2 and the Idylla platform. Differential expression analysis of genes in LNUC and NUC along with mRNA expression-based molecular subtyping was performed by analyzing expression pattern of markers used in The Cancer Genome Atlas subclassification of bladder carcinoma. Both tumor types were more common in older males, were unifocal, and occurred more commonly mixed with minor components of predominantly conventional urothelial carcinoma. Overlying low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma was significantly more common in LNUC (P = .034). On follow-up (LNUC: median, 10 months; range, 3-84 months; NUC: median, 9 months; range, 2-48 months), LNUC had better clinical outcomes (P = .031). Pathogenic mutations in FGFR3 and PIK3CA were significantly more common in LNUC (P = .049 and P = .044, respectively), with the latter present exclusively in LNUC. Seventy-five percent of the cases showed tumor mutational burden of <10, and all cases were microsatellite-stable. FGFR3 mutations were also more common in low-stage tumors. This study expands on the clinicopathological spectrum of NUC and LNUC of the upper urinary tract and is the first to comprehensively analyze the molecular profile of these tumors, highlighting pathogenic genetic alterations of potential therapeutic and prognostic value.

Global impact of somatic structural variation on the cancer proteome.

Both proteome and transcriptome data can help assess the relevance of non-coding somatic mutations in cancer. Here, we combine mass spectrometry-based proteomics data with whole genome sequencing data across 1307 human tumors spanning various tissues to determine the extent somatic structural variant (SV) breakpoint patterns impact protein expression of nearby genes. We find that about 25% of the hundreds of genes with SV-associated cis-regulatory alterations at the mRNA level are similarly associated at the protein level. SVs associated with enhancer hijacking, retrotransposon translocation, altered DNA methylation, or fusion transcripts are implicated in protein over-expression. SVs combined with altered protein levels considerably extend the numbers of patients with tumors somatically altered for critical pathways. We catalog both SV breakpoint patterns involving patient survival and genes with nearby SV breakpoints associated with increased cell dependency in cancer cell lines. Pan-cancer proteogenomics identifies targetable non-coding alterations, by virtue of the associated deregulated genes.

A hybrid breast cancer/mesenchymal stem cell population enhances chemoresistance and metastasis.

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer remain at risk for metastatic disease despite treatment. The acquisition of chemoresistance is a major cause of tumor relapse and death, but the mechanisms are far from understood. We have demonstrated that breast cancer cells (BCCs) can engulf mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), leading to enhanced dissemination. Here, we show that clinical samples of primary invasive carcinoma and chemoresistant breast cancer metastasis contain a unique hybrid cancer cell population coexpressing pancytokeratin and the MSC marker fibroblast activation protein-α. We show that hybrid cells form in primary tumors and that they promote breast cancer metastasis and chemoresistance. Using single-cell microfluidics and in vivo models, we found that there are polyploid senescent cells within the hybrid cell population that contribute to metastatic dissemination. Our data reveal that Wnt Family Member 5A (WNT5A) plays a crucial role in supporting the chemoresistance properties of hybrid cells. Furthermore, we identified that WNT5A mediates hybrid cell formation through a phagocytosis-like mechanism that requires BCC-derived IL-6 and MSC-derived C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2. These findings reveal hybrid cell formation as a mechanism of chemoresistance and suggest that interrupting this mechanism may be a strategy in overcoming breast cancer drug resistance.

Microbiome diversity in African American, European American, and Egyptian colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: Although there is an established role for microbiome dysbiosis in the pathobiology of colorectal cancer (CRC), CRC patients of various race/ethnicities demonstrate distinct clinical behaviors. Thus, we investigated microbiome dysbiosis in Egyptian, African American (AA), and European American (EA) CRC patients. Patients and methods: CRCs and their corresponding normal tissues from Egyptian (n = 17) patients of the Alexandria University Hospital, Egypt, and tissues from AA (n = 18) and EA (n = 19) patients at the University of Alabama at Birmingham were collected. DNA was isolated from frozen tissues, and the microbiome composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Differential microbial abundance, diversity, and metabolic pathways were identified using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size analyses. Additionally, we compared these profiles with our previously published microbiome data derived from Kenyan CRC patients. Results: Differential microbiome analysis of CRCs across all racial/ethnic groups showed dysbiosis. There were high abundances of Herbaspirillum and Staphylococcus in CRCs of Egyptians, Leptotrichia in CRCs of AAs, Flexspiria and Streptococcus in CRCs of EAs, and Akkermansia muciniphila and Prevotella nigrescens in CRCs of Kenyans (LDA score >4, adj. p-value <0.05). Functional analyses showed distinct microbial metabolic pathways in CRCs compared to normal tissues within the racial/ethnic groups. Egyptian CRCs, compared to normal tissues, showed lower l-methionine biosynthesis and higher galactose degradation pathways. Conclusions: Our findings showed altered mucosa-associated microbiome profiles of CRCs and their metabolic pathways across racial/ethnic groups. These findings provide a basis for future studies to link racial/ethnic microbiome differences with distinct clinical behaviors in CRC.

Using cancer proteomics data to identify gene candidates for therapeutic targeting.

Gene-level associations obtained from mass-spectrometry-based cancer proteomics datasets represent a resource for identifying gene candidates for functional studies. When recently surveying proteomic correlates of tumor grade across multiple cancer types, we identified specific protein kinases having a functional impact on uterine endometrial cancer cells. This previously published study provides just one template for utilizing public molecular datasets to discover potential novel therapeutic targets and approaches for cancer patients. Proteomic profiling data combined with corresponding multi-omics data on human tumors and cell lines can be analyzed in various ways to prioritize genes of interest for interrogating biology. Across hundreds of cancer cell lines, CRISPR loss of function and drug sensitivity scoring can be readily integrated with protein data to predict any gene's functional impact before bench experiments are carried out. Public data portals make cancer proteomics data more accessible to the research community. Drug discovery platforms can screen hundreds of millions of small molecule inhibitors for those that target a gene or pathway of interest. Here, we discuss some of the available public genomic and proteomic resources while considering approaches to how these could be leveraged for molecular biology insights or drug discovery. We also demonstrate the inhibitory effect of BAY1217389, a TTK inhibitor recently tested in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of solid tumors, on uterine cancer cell line viability.

BZW2 Inhibition Reduces Colorectal Cancer Growth and Metastasis.

Because survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remain poor, there is an urgent need to identify potential novel druggable targets that are associated with colorectal cancer progression. One such target, basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 2 (BZW2), is involved in regulation of protein translation, and its overexpression is associated with human malignancy. Thus, we investigated the expression and regulation of BZW2, assessed its role in activation of WNT/ß-catenin signaling, identified its downstream molecules, and demonstrated its involvement in metastasis of colorectal cancer. In human colorectal cancers, high mRNA and protein expression levels of BZW2 were associated with tumor progression. BZW2-knockdown reduced malignant phenotypes, including cell proliferation, invasion, and spheroid and colony formation. BZW2-knockdown also reduced tumor growth and metastasis; conversely, transfection of BZW2 into BZW2 low-expressing colorectal cancer cells promoted malignant features, including tumor growth and metastasis. BZW2 expression was coordinately regulated by microRNA-98, c-Myc, and histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). RNA sequencing analyses of colorectal cancer cells modulated for BZW2 identified P4HA1 and the long noncoding RNAs, MALAT1 and NEAT1, as its downstream targets. Further, BZW2 activated the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in colorectal cancers expressing wild-type ß-catenin. In sum, our study suggests the possibility of targeting BZW2 expression by inhibiting EZH2 and/or c-Myc. IMPLICATIONS: FDA-approved small-molecule inhibitors of EZH2 can indirectly target BZW2 and because BZW2 functions as an oncogene, these inhibitors could serve as therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer.

Identification of androgen response-related lncRNAs in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules with over 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins, but are known to be widely expressed and have key roles in gene regulation and cellular functions. They are also found to be involved in the onset and development of various cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). Since PCa are commonly driven by androgen regulated signaling, mainly stimulated pathways, identification and determining the influence of lncRNAs in androgen response is useful and necessary. LncRNAs regulated by the androgen receptor (AR) can serve as potential biomarkers for PCa. In the present study, gene expression data analysis were performed to distinguish lncRNAs related to the androgen response pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used publicly available RNA-sequencing and ChIP-seq data to identify lncRNAs that are associated with the androgen response pathway. Using Universal Correlation Coefficient (UCC) and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) analyses, we found 15 lncRNAs that have (a) highly correlated expression with androgen response genes in PCa and are (b) differentially expressed in the setting of treatment with an androgen agonist as well as antagonist compared to controls. Using publicly available ChIP-seq data, we investigated the role of androgen/AR axis in regulating expression of these lncRNAs. We observed AR binding in the promoter regions of 5 lncRNAs (MIR99AHG, DUBR, DRAIC, PVT1, and COLCA1), showing the direct influence of AR on their expression and highlighting their association with the androgen response pathway. CONCLUSION: By utilizing publicly available multiomics data and by employing in silico methods, we identified five candidate lncRNAs that are involved in the androgen response pathway. These lncRNAs should be investigated as potential biomarkers for PCa.

Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Tumor Immune Microenvironment Signaling Networks Supporting Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cause of cancer death in American men. Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is the most lethal form of PCa and preferentially metastasizes to the bones through incompletely understood molecular mechanisms. Herein, we processed RNA sequencing data from patients with mCRPC (n = 60) and identified 14 gene clusters (modules) highly correlated with mCRPC bone metastasis. We used a novel combination of weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and upstream regulator and gene ontology analyses of clinically annotated transcriptomes to identify the genes. The cyan module (M14) had the strongest positive correlation (0.81, p = 4 × 10-15) with mCRPC bone metastasis. It was associated with two significant biological pathways through KEGG enrichment analysis (parathyroid hormone synthesis, secretion, and action and protein digestion and absorption). In particular, we identified 10 hub genes (ALPL, PHEX, RUNX2, ENPP1, PHOSPHO1, PTH1R, COL11A1, COL24A1, COL22A1, and COL13A1) using cytoHubba of Cytoscape. We also found high gene expression for collagen formation, degradation, absorption, cell-signaling peptides, and bone regulation processes through Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis.

Developing 3D Organoid Raft Cultures from Patient-Derived Xenografts as Rapid Models to Screen Efficacy of Experimental Therapeutics.

Reliable preclinical models are needed for screening new cancer drugs. Thus, we developed an improved 3D tumor organoid model termed "organoid raft cultures" (ORCs). Development of ORCs involved culturing tumors ex vivo on collagen beds (boats) with grid supports to maintain their morphological structure. The ORCs were developed from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of colon cancers excised from immune-deficient mice (NOD/SCID/IL2Rgammanull). We utilized these new models to evaluate the efficacy of an investigational drug, Navitoclax (ABT-263). We tested the efficacy of ABT-263, an inhibitor of BCL-2 family proteins, in these ORCs derived from a PDX that showed high expression of antiapoptotic BCL2 family proteins (BCL-2, BCL-XL, and BCL-W). Hematoxylin and eosin staining evaluation of PDXs and corresponding ORCs indicated the retention of morphological and other histological integrity of ORCs. ORCs treated with ABT-263 showed decreased expression of antiapoptotic proteins (BCL2, BCL-XL and BCL-W) and increased proapoptotic proteins (BAX and PUMA), with concomitant activation of caspase 3. These studies support the usefulness of the ORCs, developed from PDXs, as an alternative to PDXs and as faster screening models.

ARID1A-deficient bladder cancer is dependent on PI3K signaling and sensitive to EZH2 and PI3K inhibitors.

Metastatic urothelial carcinoma is generally incurable with current systemic therapies. Chromatin modifiers are frequently mutated in bladder cancer, with ARID1A-inactivating mutations present in about 20% of tumors. EZH2, a histone methyltransferase, acts as an oncogene that functionally opposes ARID1A. In addition, PI3K signaling is activated in more than 20% of bladder cancers. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo data, including patient-derived xenografts, we show that ARID1A-mutant tumors were more sensitive to EZH2 inhibition than ARID1A WT tumors. Mechanistic studies revealed that (a) ARID1A deficiency results in a dependency on PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling via upregulation of a noncanonical PI3K regulatory subunit, PIK3R3, and downregulation of MAPK signaling and (b) EZH2 inhibitor sensitivity is due to upregulation of PIK3IP1, a protein inhibitor of PI3K signaling. We show that PIK3IP1 inhibited PI3K signaling by inducing proteasomal degradation of PIK3R3. Furthermore, ARID1A-deficient bladder cancer was sensitive to combination therapies with EZH2 and PI3K inhibitors in a synergistic manner. Thus, our studies suggest that bladder cancers with ARID1A mutations can be treated with inhibitors of EZH2 and/or PI3K and revealed mechanistic insights into the role of noncanonical PI3K constituents in bladder cancer biology.

Proteogenomic characterization of 2002 human cancers reveals pan-cancer molecular subtypes and associated pathways.

Mass-spectrometry-based proteomic data on human tumors-combined with corresponding multi-omics data-present opportunities for systematic and pan-cancer proteogenomic analyses. Here, we assemble a compendium dataset of proteomics data of 2002 primary tumors from 14 cancer types and 17 studies. Protein expression of genes broadly correlates with corresponding mRNA levels or copy number alterations (CNAs) across tumors, but with notable exceptions. Based on unsupervised clustering, tumors separate into 11 distinct proteome-based subtypes spanning multiple tissue-based cancer types. Two subtypes are enriched for brain tumors, one subtype associating with MYC, Wnt, and Hippo pathways and high CNA burden, and another subtype associating with metabolic pathways and low CNA burden. Somatic alteration of genes in a pathway associates with higher pathway activity as inferred by proteome or transcriptome data. A substantial fraction of cancers shows high MYC pathway activity without MYC copy gain but with mutations in genes with noncanonical roles in MYC. Our proteogenomics survey reveals the interplay between genome and proteome across tumor lineages.

Distinct Gene Expression Profiles of Matched Primary and Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancers.

Background: Although triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with an increased risk of recurrence and metastasis, the molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis in TNBC remain unknown. To identify transcriptional changes and genes regulating metastatic progression in TNBC, we compared the transcriptomic profiles of primary and matched metastatic tumors using massively parallel RNA sequencing. Methods: We performed gene expression profiling using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) TNBC tissues of patients from two cohorts: the Zurich cohort (n = 31) and the Stavanger cohort (n = 5). Among the 31 patients in the Zurich cohort, 18 had primary TNBC tumors that did not metastasize, and 13 had primary tumors that metastasized (11 paired primary and locoregional recurrences). The Stavanger cohort included five matched primary and metastatic TNBC tumors. Significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs; absolute fold change ≥2, p < 0.05) were identified and subjected to functional analyses. We investigated if there was any overlap between DEGs from both the cohorts with epithelial-to-mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition (EMAT) gene signature. xCell was used to estimate relative fractions of 64 immune and stromal cell types in each RNA-seq sample. Results: In the Zurich cohort, we identified 1624 DEGs between primary TNBC tumors and matched metastatic lesions. xCell analysis revealed a significantly higher immune scores for metastatic lesions compared to paired primary tumors in the Zurich cohort. We also found significant upregulation of three MammaPrint signature genes (HRASLS, TGFB3 and RASSF7) in primary tumors that metastasized compared to primary tumors that remained metastasis-free. In the Stavanger cohort, we identified 818 DEGs between primary tumors and matched metastatic lesions. No significant differences in xCell immune scores were observed. We found that 21 and 14 DEGs from Zurich and Stavanger cohort, respectively, overlapped with the EMAT gene signature. In both cohorts, genes belonging to the MMP, FGF, and PDGFR families were upregulated in primary tumors compared to matched metastatic lesions. Conclusions: Our results suggest that distinct gene expression patterns exist between primary TNBCs and matched metastatic tumors. Further studies are warranted to explore whether these discrete expression profiles underlie or result from disease status.

Meta-analysis of the robustness of COVID-19 diagnostic kit performance during the early pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 is necessary to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the test reagents and assay platforms are varied and may not be sufficiently robust to diagnose COVID-19. METHODS: We reviewed 85 studies (21 530 patients), published from five regions of the world, to highlight issues involved in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in the early phase of the pandemic. All relevant articles, published up to 31 May 2020, in PubMed, BioRiXv, MedRiXv and Google Scholar, were included. We evaluated the qualitative (9749 patients) and quantitative (10 355 patients) performance of RT-PCR and serologic diagnostic tests for real-world samples, and assessed the concordance (5538 patients) between test performance in meta-analyses. Synthesis of results was done using random effects modelling and bias was evaluated according to QUADAS-2 guidelines. RESULTS: The RT-PCR tests exhibited heterogeneity in the primers and reagents used. Of 1957 positive RT-PCR COVID-19 participants, 1585 had positive serum antibody (IgM±IgG) tests (sensitivity 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.90). While 3509 of 3581 participants RT-PCR negative for COVID-19 were found negative by serology testing (specificity 0.98, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.99). The chemiluminescent immunoassay exhibited the highest sensitivity, followed by ELISA and lateral flow immunoassays. Serology tests had higher sensitivity and specificity for laboratory approval than for real-world reporting data. DISCUSSION: The robustness of the assays/platforms is influenced by variability in sampling and reagents. Serological testing complements and may minimise false negative RT-PCR results. Lack of standardised assay protocols in the early phase of pandemic might have contributed to the spread of COVID-19.

DCZ0415, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting TRIP13, inhibits EMT and metastasis via inactivation of the FGFR4/STAT3 axis and the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer.

Thyroid receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13), a protein of the AAA-ATPase family, is upregulated in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study focused on the inhibition of TRIP13-induced CRC progression and signalling by DCZ0415, a small molecule targeting TRIP13. It demonstrated potent antitumour activity in TRIP13-deregulated cancer cell lines, regardless of their p53, KRAS, BRAF, epidermal growth factor receptor or microsatellite instability status. The treatment of CRC cells with DCZ0415 resulted in decreased cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase and increased apoptosis. DCZ0415 diminished xenograft tumour growth and metastasis of CRC in immunocompromised mice. DCZ0415 reduced expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and proteins associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways in cells and xenografts exhibiting high expression of TRIP13. Additionally, DCZ0415 decreased cyclin D1, ß-catenin and T-cell factor 1, leading to the inactivation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. In a syngeneic CRC model, DCZ0415 treatment induced an immune response by decreasing PD1 and CTLA4 levels and increasing granzyme B, perforin and interferon gamma. In sum, DCZ04145 inhibits the TRIP13-FGFR4-STAT3 axis, inactivates NF-κB and Wnt/ß-catenin signalling, activates antitumour immune response and reduces the progression and metastasis of CRC. This study provides a rationale to evaluate DCZ0415 clinically for the treatment of a subset of CRCs that exhibit dysregulated TRIP13 and FGFR4.