scholarly journals Experimental and computational modeling for signature and biomarker discovery of renal cell carcinoma progression

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay S. Cooley ◽  
Justine Rudewicz ◽  
Wilfried Souleyreau ◽  
Andrea Emanuelli ◽  
Arturo Alvarez-Arenas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is difficult to treat with 5-year survival rate of 10% in metastatic patients. Main reasons of therapy failure are lack of validated biomarkers and scarce knowledge of the biological processes occurring during RCC progression. Thus, the investigation of mechanisms regulating RCC progression is fundamental to improve RCC therapy. Methods In order to identify molecular markers and gene processes involved in the steps of RCC progression, we generated several cell lines of higher aggressiveness by serially passaging mouse renal cancer RENCA cells in mice and, concomitantly, performed functional genomics analysis of the cells. Multiple cell lines depicting the major steps of tumor progression (including primary tumor growth, survival in the blood circulation and metastatic spread) were generated and analyzed by large-scale transcriptome, genome and methylome analyses. Furthermore, we performed clinical correlations of our datasets. Finally we conducted a computational analysis for predicting the time to relapse based on our molecular data. Results Through in vivo passaging, RENCA cells showed increased aggressiveness by reducing mice survival, enhancing primary tumor growth and lung metastases formation. In addition, transcriptome and methylome analyses showed distinct clustering of the cell lines without genomic variation. Distinct signatures of tumor aggressiveness were revealed and validated in different patient cohorts. In particular, we identified SAA2 and CFB as soluble prognostic and predictive biomarkers of the therapeutic response. Machine learning and mathematical modeling confirmed the importance of CFB and SAA2 together, which had the highest impact on distant metastasis-free survival. From these data sets, a computational model predicting tumor progression and relapse was developed and validated. These results are of great translational significance. Conclusion A combination of experimental and mathematical modeling was able to generate meaningful data for the prediction of the clinical evolution of RCC.

Biomedicines ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Jee Soo Park ◽  
Myung Eun Lee ◽  
Won Sik Jang ◽  
Jongchan Kim ◽  
Se Mi Park ◽  
...  

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but their benefits are limited to specific patient subsets. Here, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of JX-594 (pexastimogene devacirepvec, Pexa-vec) monotherapy by systemic injection in comparison with sunitinib monotherapy in metastatic orthotopic RCC murine models. Two highly metastatic orthotopic RCC models were developed to compare the treatment efficacy in the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium favorable-risk and intermediate- or poor-risk groups. JX-594 was systemically injected through the peritoneum, whereas sunitinib was orally administered. Post-treatment, tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling was determined using immunofluorescence analysis. Systemic JX-594 monotherapy injection demonstrated therapeutic benefit in both early- and advanced-stage mRCC models. Sunitinib monotherapy significantly reduced the primary tumor burden and number of lung metastases in the early-stage, but not in the advanced-stage mRCC model. Systemic JX-594 delivery remodeled the primary TME and lung metastatic sites by increasing tumor-infiltrating CD4/8+ T cells and dendritic cells. Systemic JX-594 monotherapy demonstrated significantly better therapeutic outcomes compared with sunitinib monotherapy in both early- and advanced-stage mRCCs by converting cold tumors into hot tumors. Sunitinib monotherapy effectively suppressed primary tumor growth and lung metastasis in early-stage mRCC.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay S. Cooley ◽  
Justine Rudewicz ◽  
Wilfried Souleyreau ◽  
Kim Clarke ◽  
Francesco Falciani ◽  
...  

AbstractRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) still lacks prognostic and predictive biomarkers to monitor the disease and the response to therapy. The usual strategy in translational research is to start from human samples, to identify molecular markers and gene networks and then to functionally validate them in vitro and in animal models. We devised herein a completely opposite strategy from “mouse to man” by performing an aggressiveness screen and used functional genomics, imaging, clinical data and computational approaches in order to discover molecular pathways and players in renal cancer development and metastasis. Multiple cell lines for primary tumor growth, survival in the blood circulation and lung metastasis or metastatic spread from the primary tumor were generated and analyzed using a multi-layered approach which includes large-scale transcriptome, genome and methylome analyses. Transcriptome and methylome analyses demonstrated distinct clustering in three different groups. Remarkably, DNA sequencing did not show significant genomic variations in the different groups which indicates absence of clonal selection during the in vivo amplification process. Transcriptome analysis revealed distinct signatures of tumor aggressiveness which were validated in patient cohorts. Methylome analysis of full-length DNA allowed clustering of the same groups and revealed clinically relevant signatures. Furthermore, we identified SAA2 and CFB as soluble prognostic and predictive biomarkers of the therapeutic response. We also uncovered IL34 as another soluble prognostic biomarker and key regulator of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression. This was also functionally validated in vivo, and a mathematical model of IL34-dependent primary tumor growth and metastasis development was provided. These results indicate that such multilayered analysis in a RCC animal model leads to meaningful results that are of translational significance.One Sentence SummaryAn aggressiveness screen with multilayer systems analysis to identify signatures and biomarkers for renal cell carcinoma aggressiveness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 592-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Zhao ◽  
Christopher G. Wood ◽  
Jose A. Karam ◽  
Tapati Maity ◽  
Lei Wang

592 Background: Zinc finger protein 395 (ZNF395) is frequently altered in several tumor types. However, the role of ZNF395 remains poorly studied in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo role of ZNF395 in ccRCC. Methods: cBioPortal For Cancer Genomics was used to correlate the expression of ZNF395 with RCC patient clinical, pathological and molecular profiles. ZNF395 protein and mRNA levels were studied in several RCC cell lines in vitro. Subsequently, ZNF395 knockdown was performed in 786-O and UMRC3 RCC cells and overexpression was done in Caki-1 and 769-P RCC cells. We then evaluated ZNF395 modulation in these cell lines by in vitro MTT, migration and invasion assays. Finally, we studied the effect of ZNF395 knockout and overexpression in vivo using SCID xenograft models. Results: Patients with higher expression of ZNF395 experienced longer disease-free survival and overall survival. Using in vitro models, we confirmed that knockdown of ZNF395 decreased ZNF395 expression, and increased proliferation, migration and invasiveness of 786-O and UMRC3, while overexpression of ZNF395 increased ZNF395 expression, and reduced proliferation, migration and invasiveness of Caki-1 and 769-P. Using in vivo mouse models, knockdown of ZNF395 expression in 786-O promoted tumor growth while its overexpression in Caki-1 resulted in tumor growth inhibition. We are currently performing experiments to understand the process by which ZNF395 regulates ccRCC pathogenesis. Conclusions: Our data support the role of ZNF395 as an important tumor suppressor gene in the pathogenesis of RCC.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Shiqiang Zhang ◽  
Dingzhun Liao ◽  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Chujie Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Cancer cells prefer aerobic glycolysis to increase their biomass and sustain uncontrolled proliferation. As a key glycolytic activator, phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) has been implicated in the progression of multiple types of tumors. However, the specific function and clinical significance of PFKFB3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unclear. In the present study, we explored the role of PFKFB3 in RCC.Methods: We analyzed the expression of PFKFB3 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and its relationship with clinical characteristics of ccRCC. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect PFKFB3 expression levels in different RCC cell lines. Furthermore, we determined the glycolytic activity by glucose uptake, lactate secretion assay and ECAR analysis. CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry and EdU assay were performed to monitor cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. In addition, nude mice xenograft model was used to investigate the role of PFKFB3 in tumor growth in vivo.Results: In this study, we found that PFKFB3 was significantly up-regulated in RCC tissues and cell lines compared with normal control. Overexpression of PFKFB3 was positively associated with advanced TNM stage and could predict poor prognosis of ccRCC patients. Furthermore, knockdown of PFKFB3 suppresses cell glycolysis, proliferation and cell cycle G1/S transition in RCC cells. Importantly, in vivo experiments confirmed that PFKFB3 knockdown delayed tumor growth derived from the ACHN cell line.Conclusion: Our results suggest that PFKFB3 plays an important role in the progression of RCC via mediating glycolysis and proliferation, and provides a potential therapeutic target for RCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Wu ◽  
Tingting Liu ◽  
Lulu Sun ◽  
Shaojin Zhang ◽  
Gang Dong

Abstract Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of human cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) is reported to play an essential role in tumor growth and progression. However, the molecular mechanisms and function of SNHG4 in RCC remain undocumented. Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine expression levels of SNHG4 in RCC tissue samples and cell lines. Cell counting kit-8, western blotting, activities of caspase-3, -8, and -9, wound-healing, and transwell invasion assays were performed to explore cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The interaction among SNHG4, miR-204-5p, and RUNX2 was verified by bioinformatic analysis, a luciferase gene report, qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Xenograft mouse models were carried out to examine the role of SNHG4 in RCC in vivo. Results SNHG4 was highly expressed in RCC tissue samples and cell lines, and its upregulation was significantly involved in node involvement, distant metastasis, and reduced overall and relapse-free survival of patients with RCC. SNHG4 acted as an oncogenic lncRNA with promoted RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibited apoptosis. SNHG4 boosted tumor growth in xenograft mouse models. Mechanistically, SNHG4 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for sponging miR-204-5p, leading to the upregulation of its target RUNX2 to promote RCC cell proliferation and invasion. Conclusion SNHG4 and miR-204-5p might be indicated in RCC progression via RUNX2, suggesting the potential use of SNHG4/miR-204-5p/RUNX2 axis in RCC treatment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 173 (4S) ◽  
pp. 178-179
Author(s):  
Tetsuo Ogushi ◽  
Takahashi Satoru ◽  
Takumi Takeuchi ◽  
Tetsuya Fujimura ◽  
Tomohiko Urano ◽  
...  

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