Geographic variation of mutagenic exposures in kidney cancer genomes.

International differences in the incidence of many cancer types indicate the existence of carcinogen exposures that have not yet been identified by conventional epidemiology make a substantial contribution to cancer burden1. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, obesity, hypertension and tobacco smoking are risk factors, but they do not explain the geographical variation in its incidence2. Underlying causes can be inferred by sequencing the genomes of cancers from populations with different incidence rates and detecting differences in patterns of somatic mutations. Here we sequenced 962 clear cell renal cell carcinomas from 11 countries with varying incidence. The somatic mutation profiles differed between countries. In Romania, Serbia and Thailand, mutational signatures characteristic of aristolochic acid compounds were present in most cases, but these were rare elsewhere. In Japan, a mutational signature of unknown cause was found in more than 70% of cases but in less than 2% elsewhere. A further mutational signature of unknown cause was ubiquitous but exhibited higher mutation loads in countries with higher incidence rates of kidney cancer. Known signatures of tobacco smoking correlated with tobacco consumption, but no signature was associated with obesity or hypertension, suggesting that non-mutagenic mechanisms of action underlie these risk factors. The results of this study indicate the existence of multiple, geographically variable, mutagenic exposures that potentially affect tens of millions of people and illustrate the opportunities for new insights into cancer causation through large-scale global cancer genomics.

Primary hepatic choriocarcinoma in an 83-year-old woman.

We present a case of primary hepatic choriocarcinoma in an 83-year-old Japanese woman with gastric wall and lymph node metastases and a splenic vein tumor thrombus. Multiple irregular hepatic tumors with massive necrosis and hemorrhage were observed during autopsy. Syncytiotrophoblast-like and mononucleated cytotrophoblast-like cell morphology with focal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-like trabecular structures was observed. In immunohistochemical analyses, the tumor cells expressed human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, CK7, CK19) but were negative for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), glypican-3, and vimentin. Immunohistochemical findings did not reveal evidence of HCC or angiosarcoma. We concluded the liver tumor was primary hepatic choriocarcinoma.

Identification of integrin α3 as a molecular marker of cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and of cancer cells with aggressive phenotypes.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial event in wound healing, tissue repair, and cancer progression in adult tissues. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß induces EMT in mouse epithelial cells. During prolonged treatment, TGF-ß successively induces myofibroblastic differentiation with increased expression of myofibroblast marker proteins, including smooth muscle α actin and calponin. We recently showed that fibroblast growth factor-2 prevented myofibroblastic differentiation induced by TGF-ß, and transdifferentiated the cells to those with much more aggressive characteristics (enhanced EMT). To identify the molecular markers specifically expressed in cells undergoing enhanced EMT induced by the combination of TGF-ß and fibroblast growth factor-2, we carried out a microarray-based analysis and found that integrin α3 (ITGA3) and Ret were upregulated. Intriguingly, ITGA3 was also overexpressed in breast cancer cells with aggressive phenotypes and its expression was correlated with that of δEF-1, a key regulator of EMT. Moreover, the expression of both genes was downregulated by U0126, a MEK 1/2 inhibitor. Therefore, ITGA3 is a potential marker protein for cells undergoing enhanced EMT and for cancer cells with aggressive phenotypes, which is positively regulated by δEF-1 and the MEK-ERK pathway.

Oncogenic structural aberration landscape in gastric cancer genomes.

Structural variants (SVs) are responsible for driver events in gastric cancer (GC); however, their patterns and processes remain poorly understood. Here, we examine 170 GC whole genomes to unravel the oncogenic structural aberration landscape in GC genomes and identify six rearrangement signatures (RSs). Non-random combinations of RSs elucidate distinctive GC subtypes comprising one or a few dominant RS that are associated with specific driver events (BRCA1/2 defects, mismatch repair deficiency, and TP53 mutation) and epidemiological backgrounds. Twenty-seven SV hotspots are identified as GC driver candidates. SV hotspots frequently constitute complexly clustered SVs involved in driver gene amplification, such as ERBB2, CCNE1, and FGFR2. Further deconstruction of the locally clustered SVs uncovers amplicon-generating profiles characterized by super-large SVs and intensive segmental amplifications, contributing to the extensive amplification of GC oncogenes. Comprehensive analyses using adjusted SV allele frequencies indicate the significant involvement of extra-chromosomal DNA in processes linked to specific RSs.

Genomic and epigenomic integrative subtypes of renal cell carcinoma in a Japanese cohort.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) comprises several histological types characterised by different genomic and epigenomic aberrations; however, the molecular pathogenesis of each type still requires further exploration. We perform whole-genome sequencing of 128 Japanese RCC cases of different histology to elucidate the significant somatic alterations and mutagenesis processes. We also perform transcriptomic and epigenomic sequencing to identify distinguishing features, including assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) and methyl sequencing. Genomic analysis reveals that the mutational signature differs among the histological types, suggesting that different carcinogenic factors drive each histology. From the ATAC-seq results, master transcription factors are identified for each histology. Furthermore, clear cell RCC is classified into three epi-subtypes, one of which expresses highly immune checkpoint molecules with frequent loss of chromosome 14q. These genomic and epigenomic features may lead to the development of effective therapeutic strategies for RCC.

Multiancestry genomic and transcriptomic analysis of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is among the most common malignancies worldwide, characterized by geographical, epidemiological and histological heterogeneity. Here, we report an extensive, multiancestral landscape of driver events in gastric cancer, involving 1,335 cases. Seventy-seven significantly mutated genes (SMGs) were identified, including ARHGAP5 and TRIM49C. We also identified subtype-specific drivers, including PIGR and SOX9, which were enriched in the diffuse subtype of the disease. SMGs also varied according to Epstein-Barr virus infection status and ancestry. Non-protein-truncating CDH1 mutations, which are characterized by in-frame splicing alterations, targeted localized extracellular domains and uniquely occurred in sporadic diffuse-type cases. In patients with gastric cancer with East Asian ancestry, our data suggested a link between alcohol consumption or metabolism and the development of RHOA mutations. Moreover, mutations with potential roles in immune evasion were identified. Overall, these data provide comprehensive insights into the molecular landscape of gastric cancer across various subtypes and ancestries.

The potential role of regulator of G-protein signaling 16 in cell motility mediated by δEF1 family proteins.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with tumor progression. We reported previously that expression of the δEF1 family proteins (δEF1/ZEB1 and SIP1/ZEB2), key regulators of the EMT, is positively correlated with EMT phenotypes and aggressiveness of breast cancer. Here, we show that the expression levels of regulator of G-protein signaling 16 (RGS16) are negatively correlated with those of the δEF1 family proteins. On the basis of the results of gain- and loss-of-function analyses, we suggest that δEF1 family proteins promote cell motility of breast cancer cells directly or indirectly through repressing expression of RGS16.

δEF1 associates with DNMT1 and maintains DNA methylation of the E-cadherin promoter in breast cancer cells.

Abnormal DNA methylation at the C-5 position of cytosine (5mC) of CpG dinucleotides is a well-known epigenetic feature of cancer. Levels of E-cadherin, which is regularly expressed in epithelial tissues, are frequently reduced in epithelial tumors due to transcriptional repression, sometimes accompanied by hypermethylation of the promoter region. δEF1 family proteins (δEF1/ZEB1 and SIP1/ZEB2), key regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), suppress E-cadherin expression at the transcriptional level. We recently showed that levels of mRNAs encoding δEF1 proteins are regulated reciprocally with E-cadherin level in breast cancer cells. Here, we examined the mechanism underlying downregulation of E-cadherin expression in three basal-type breast cancer cells in which the E-cadherin promoter region is hypermethylated (Hs578T) or moderately methylated (BT549 and MDA-MB-231). Regardless of methylation status, treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza), which inhibits DNA methyltransferases, had no effect on E-cadherin expression. Knockdown of δEF1 and SIP1 resulted in recovery of E-cadherin expression in cells lacking hypermethylation, whereas combined treatment with 5-aza synergistically restored E-cadherin expression, especially when the E-cadherin promoter was hypermethylated. Moreover, δEF1 interacted with DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) through the Smad-binding domain. Sustained knockdown of δEF1 family proteins reduced the number of 5mC sites in the E-cadherin promoter region, suggesting that these proteins maintain 5mC through interaction with DNMT1 in breast cancer cells. Thus, δEF1 family proteins appear to repress expression of E-cadherin during cancer progression, both directly at the transcriptional level and indirectly at the epigenetic level.