scholarly journals PDZ Binding Kinase/T-LAK Cell-Derived Protein Kinase Plays an Oncogenic Role and Promotes Immune Escape in Human Tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Tingting Feng ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Sunbin Ling ◽  
Chenyang Xu ◽  
Yingqi Lyu ◽  
...  

Background. PDZ binding kinase (PBK)/T-LAK cell-derived protein kinase (TOPK) is an important mitotic kinase that promotes tumor progression in some cancers. However, the pan-cancer analysis of PBK/TOPK and its role in tumor immunity are limited. Methods. The oncogenic and immune roles of PBK in various cancers were explored using multiple databases, including Oncomine, Human Protein Atlas, ULCAN, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0, STRING, and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2, and data collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression Project. Several bioinformatics tools and methods were used for quantitative analyses and panoramic descriptions, such as the DESeq2 and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm. Results. PBK was expressed at higher levels in most solid tumors than in normal tissues in multiple databases. PBK was associated with an advanced tumor stage and grade and a poor prognosis in most cases. PBK was associated with tumor immune cell infiltration in most cases and was especially positively correlated with TAMs, Tregs, MDSCs, and T cell exhaustion in KIRC, LGG, and LIHC. PBK was closely related to TMB, MSI, and immune checkpoint genes in various cancers, and patients with higher expression of PBK in KIRC, LGG, and LIHC had higher TIDE scores and lower immune responses in the predicted results. PBK was closely related to cell cycle regulation and immune-related processes in LIHC and LGG according to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Conclusions. PBK may play an oncogenic role in most solid tumors and promotes immune escape, especially in KIRC, LGG, and LIHC. This study suggests the potential value of PBK inhibitors combined with immunotherapy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-127
Author(s):  
Zhenxing Feng ◽  
Jiao Zhang ◽  
Yafang Zheng ◽  
Qingzhang Wang ◽  
Xiaochuan Min ◽  
...  

Aim: ASF1 is involved in tumorigenesis. However, its possible role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is unclear. This study thus explored the role of ASF1A and ASF1B in LUAD. Materials & methods: Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus were employed to investigate ASF1A and ASF1B expression and its roles in LUAD prognosis. Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the protein expression of ASF1B of 30 LUAD patients. Results: The upregulation of ASF1B in tumor tissues is associated with worse overall survival and progress-free survival and is correlated with advanced tumor stage and tumor development. However, aberrant expression of ASF1A was not found in LUAD and ASF1A was not related to patients’ overall survival and progress-free survival. Conclusion: ASF1B could be a promising prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in LUAD.


Author(s):  
Marica Meroni ◽  
Miriam Longo ◽  
Erika Paolini ◽  
Anna Alisi ◽  
Luca Miele ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (CAD) are comorbidities of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which ranges from steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rs599839 A>G variant, in the CELSR2-PSRC1-SORT1 cluster, has been associated CAD, but its impact on metabolic traits and liver damage in NAFLD has not been investigated yet. Methods: We evaluated the effect of the rs599839 variant in 1426 NAFLD patients (Overall cohort) of whom 131 have HCC (NAFLD-HCC), in 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank Cohort (UKBBC) and in 366 HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were evaluated by RNAseq (n=125). Results: The rs599839 variant was associated with reduced circulating LDL, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques and hypertension (p<0.05) in NAFLD patients and with protection against dyslipidemia in UKBBC. The G allele was associated with higher risk of HCC and advanced tumor stage (p<0.05) in the Overall cohort. Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were increased in NAFLD patients carrying the rs599839 variant (p<0.0001). SORT1 mRNA levels negatively correlated with circulating lipids and with those of genes involved in lipoprotein turnover (p<0.0001). Conversely, PSRC1 expression was positively related to that of genes implicated in cell proliferation (p<0.0001). In TCGA, PSRC1 over-expression promoted more aggressive HCC development (p<0.05). Conclusions: In sum, the rs599839 A>G variant improves dyslipidemia thus protecting against CAD in NAFLD patients, but as one it might promote HCC development by modulating SORT1 and PSRC1 expressions which impact on lipid metabolism and cell proliferation, respectively


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1783
Author(s):  
Marica Meroni ◽  
Miriam Longo ◽  
Erika Paolini ◽  
Anna Alisi ◽  
Luca Miele ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are comorbidities of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which ranges from steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rs599839 A>G variant, in the CELSR2-PSRC1-SORT1 gene cluster, has been associated CVD, but its impact on metabolic traits and on the severity liver damage in NAFLD has not been investigated yet. Methods: We evaluated the effect of the rs599839 variant in 1426 NAFLD patients (Overall cohort) of whom 131 had HCC (NAFLD-HCC), in 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank Cohort (UKBBC), and in 366 HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were evaluated by RNAseq (n = 125). Results: The rs599839 variant was associated with reduced circulating LDL, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques and hypertension (p < 0.05) in NAFLD patients and with protection against dyslipidemia in UKBBC. The minor G allele was associated with higher risk of HCC, independently of fibrosis severity (odds ratio (OR): 5.62; 95% c.i. 1.77–17.84, p = 0.003), poor prognosis and advanced tumor stage (p < 0.05) in the overall cohort. Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were increased in NAFLD patients carrying the rs599839 variant (p < 0.0001). SORT1 mRNA levels negatively correlated with circulating lipids and with those of genes involved in lipoprotein turnover (p < 0.0001). Conversely, PSRC1 expression was positively related to that of genes implicated in cell proliferation (p < 0.0001). In TCGA, PSRC1 over-expression promoted more aggressive HCC development (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In sum, the rs599839 A>G variant is associated with protection against dyslipidemia and CVD in NAFLD patients, but as one it might promote HCC development by modulating SORT1 and PSRC1 expressions which impact on lipid metabolism and cell proliferation, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Ming-Hong Hsieh ◽  
Hsueh-Ju Lu ◽  
Chiao-Wen Lin ◽  
Chia-Yi Lee ◽  
Shang-Jung Yang ◽  
...  

The long noncoding RNA, Growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) plays a crucial role in the development of oral cancer. However, potential genetic variants in GAS5 that affect the susceptibility and progression of oral cancer have rarely been explored. In this study, two loci of GAS5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs145204276 and rs55829688) were genotyped by using the TaqMan allelic discrimination in 1125 oral cancer patients and 1195 non-oral-cancer individuals. After statistical analyses, the distribution of both the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 and GAS5 SNP rs55829688 frequencies were similar between the study and control groups. However, the patients with GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variants (Ins/Del or Del/Del) showed a higher tendency of moderate to poor cell differentiation of oral cancer (OR: 1.454, 95% CI: 1.041–2.031, p = 0.028). Moreover, the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variants (Ins/Del or Del/Del) in the non-alcohol-drinking population were associated with significantly advanced tumor stage (OR: 1.500, 95% CI: 1.081–2.081, p = 0.015) and larger tumor size (OR: 1.494, 95% CI: 1.076–2.074, p = 0.016). Furthermore, individuals with the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variant were associated with a higher expression of GAS5 in the GTEx database (p = 0.002), and the higher GAS5 level was associated with poor cell differentiation, advanced tumor stage and larger tumor size in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from the TCGA database (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variant is related to poor-differentiation cell status in oral cancer. Besides, the presence of the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variant is associated with a worse tumor stage and tumor size in oral cancer patients without alcohol drinking.


BMC Urology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Yang ◽  
Hanchao Zhang ◽  
Zhengdao Liu ◽  
Faliang Zhao ◽  
Guobiao Liang

AbstractBackgroundBladder cancer (BLCA) is a malignant urothelial carcinoma and has a high mortality rate. EPDR1 (ependymin related 1) is a type II transmembrane protein and related to calcium-dependent cell adhesion.MethodsWe explored the potential oncogenic roles of EPDR1 in BLCA basing on the multiple public datasets.ResultsWe found that EPDR1 expression had a significant difference in BLCA and adjacent normal bladder tissues, and the level of EPDR1was up-regulated with advanced tumor stage and metastasis in BLCA. Meanwhile, the high expression group of EPDR1 had a shorter OS compared to the low or medium expression-group. Furthermore, EPDR1 expression was associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), including NK cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, Macrophages cells, and so on. Moreover, EPDR1 also involved in several signaling pathways as well as PI3K/AKT pathway, Cytokine receptor interaction, and apoptosis.ConclusionEPDR1 can be used as a novel prognostic biomarker as well as an effective target for diagnosis and treatment in BLCA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eike Burandt ◽  
Felix Lübbersmeyer ◽  
Natalia Gorbokon ◽  
Franziska Büscheck ◽  
Andreas M. Luebke ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The E-Cadherin gene (CDH1, Cadherin 1), located at 16q22.1 encodes for a calcium-dependent membranous glycoprotein with an important role in cellular adhesion and polarity maintenance. Methods To systematically determine E-Cadherin protein expression in normal and cancerous tissues, 14,637 tumor samples from 112 different tumor types and subtypes as well as 608 samples of 76 different normal tissue types were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray format. Results E-Cadherin was strongly expressed in normal epithelial cells of most organs. From 77 tumor entities derived from cell types normally positive for E-Cadherin, 35 (45.5%) retained at least a weak E-Cadherin immunostaining in ≥99% of cases and 61 (79.2%) in ≥90% of cases. Tumors with the highest rates of E-Cadherin loss included Merkel cell carcinoma, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, lobular carcinoma of the breast, and sarcomatoid and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Reduced E-Cadherin expression was linked to higher grade (p = 0.0009), triple negative receptor status (p = 0.0336), and poor prognosis (p = 0.0466) in invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, triple negative receptor status in lobular carcinoma of the breast (p = 0.0454), advanced pT stage (p = 0.0047) and lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer (p < 0.0001), and was more common in recurrent than in primary prostate cancer (p < 0.0001). Of 29 tumor entities derived from E-Cadherin negative normal tissues, a weak to strong E-Cadherin staining could be detected in at least 10% of cases in 15 different tumor entities (51.7%). Tumors with the highest frequency of E-Cadherin upregulation included various subtypes of testicular germ cell tumors and renal cell carcinomas (RCC). E-Cadherin upregulation was more commonly seen in malignant than in benign soft tissue tumors (p = 0.0104) and was associated with advanced tumor stage (p = 0.0276) and higher grade (p = 0.0035) in clear cell RCC, and linked to advanced tumor stage (p = 0.0424) and poor prognosis in papillary RCC (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion E-Cadherin is consistently expressed in various epithelial cancers. Down-regulation or loss of E-Cadherin expression in cancers arising from E-Cadherin positive tissues as well as E-Cadherin neo-expression in cancers arising from E-Cadherin negative tissues is linked to cancer progression and may reflect tumor dedifferentiation.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1503
Author(s):  
Oscar Wai Ho Yeung ◽  
Xiang Qi ◽  
Li Pang ◽  
Hui Liu ◽  
Kevin Tak Pan Ng ◽  
...  

Background and Aims—Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling orchestrates tumorigenesis and one of the family members, TGF-β receptor type III (TGFβR3), are distinctively under-expressed in numerous malignancies. Currently, the clinical impact of TGFβR3 down-regulation and the underlying mechanism remains unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we aimed to identify the tumor-promoting roles of decreased TGFβR3 expression in HCC progression. Materials and Methods—For clinical analysis, plasma and liver specimens were collected from 100 HCC patients who underwent curative resection for the quantification of TGFβR3 by q-PCR and ELISA. To study the tumor-promoting mechanism of TGFβR3 downregulation, HCC mouse models and TGFβR3 knockout cell lines were applied. Results—Significant downregulation of TGFβR3 and its soluble form (sTGFβR3) were found in HCC tissues and plasma compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.01). Patients with <9.4 ng/mL sTGFβR3 exhibited advanced tumor stage, higher recurrence rate and shorter disease-free survival (p < 0.05). The tumor-suppressive function of sTGFβR3 was further revealed in an orthotopic mouse HCC model, resulting in 2-fold tumor volume reduction. In TGFβR3 knockout hepatocyte and HCC cells, increased complement component C5a was observed and strongly correlated with shorter survival and advanced tumor stage (p < 0.01). Interestingly, C5a activated the tumor-promoting Th-17 response in tumor associated macrophages. Conclusion—TGFβR3 suppressed tumor progression, and decreased expression resulted in poor prognosis in HCC patients through upregulation of tumor-promoting complement C5a.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cem Horozoglu ◽  
Seyda Demirkol ◽  
Aysegul Verim ◽  
Dilara Sonmez ◽  
Saime Sürmen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Genetic variations of LGALS3 (Galectin-3) were found to be associated with treatment resistance, mortality, recurrence, high tumor volume and multiple tumor involvement in solid organ cancers. The modulators of extracellular matrix (ECM), which is a dynamic factor in the larynx tissue with high biomechanical and regenerating ability, can play an important role. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the genetic variants of LGALS3, one of these modulators, with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC). Methods LGALS3 gene variations were genotyped by PCR-RFLP method using genomic DNA samples obtained from peripheral blood samples of 74 patients diagnosed with LSCC and 94 healthy controls. Results The C allele carriage for the Rs4652 genetic variant was found to be higher (p=0.017) in patients with LSCC. Statistical relationships were found between homozygous genotypes of this variant (CC/AA) with advanced tumor stage (p=0.017) and presence of reflux (p=0.036). CC genotype for rs4644 was found to be higher in cases with positive family history (p=0.036). Conclusions Our findings of LGALS3 gene variants, which are also found to be associated with other solid cancers, suggest that they may play a role in LSCC pathophysiology similarly.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document