scholarly journals CTEN Induces Tumour Cell Invasion and Survival and Is Prognostic in Radiotherapy-Treated Head and Neck Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2963
Author(s):  
Jason C. Fleming ◽  
Jeongmin Woo ◽  
Karwan Moutasim ◽  
Christopher J. Hanley ◽  
Steven J. Frampton ◽  
...  

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogenous disease treated with surgery and/or (chemo) radiotherapy, but up to 50% of patients with late-stage disease develop locoregional recurrence. Determining the mechanisms underpinning treatment resistance could identify new therapeutic targets and aid treatment selection. C-terminal tensin-like (CTEN) is a member of the tensin family, upregulated in several cancers, although its expression and function in HNSCC are unknown. We found that CTEN is commonly upregulated in HNSCC, particularly HPV−ve tumours. In vitro CTEN was upregulated in HPV−ve (n = 5) and HPV+ve (n = 2) HNSCC cell lines. Stable shRNA knockdown of CTEN in vivo significantly reduced tumour growth (SCC-25), and functional analyses in vitro showed that CTEN promoted tumour cell invasion, colony formation and growth in 3D-culture (SCC-25, Detroit 562). RNA sequencing of SCC-25 cells following CTEN siRNA knockdown identified 349 differentially expressed genes (logFC > 1, p < 0.05). Gene ontology analysis highlighted terms relating to cell locomotion and apoptosis, consistent with in vitro findings. A membrane-based antibody array confirmed that CTEN regulated multiple apoptosis-associated proteins, including HSP60 and cleaved caspase-3. Notably, in a mixed cohort of HPV+ve and HPV−ve HNSCC patients (n = 259), we found a significant, independent negative association of CTEN with prognosis, limited to those patients treated with (chemo)radiotherapy, not surgery, irrespective of human papillomavirus (HPV) status. These data show that CTEN is commonly upregulated in HNSCC and exerts several functional effects. Its potential role in modulating apoptotic response to therapy suggests utility as a predictive biomarker or radio-sensitising target.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi30-vi30
Author(s):  
ross carruthers ◽  
Sarah Derby ◽  
Karen Strathdee ◽  
Anthony Chalmers ◽  
Jim Norman ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: Widespread contamination of the brain with malignant cells is a predominant feature of glioblastoma (GBM) and fatal brainstem infiltration is frequently observed at autopsy. Whilst radiotherapy improves survival, irradiation increases GBM cell invasion, resulting in sublethal dose to cells migrating outside the irradiated volume. Tumour cell invasion should be a therapeutic priority if survival is to be improved. The responsible molecular mechanisms are key to improving outcomes but remain enigmatic. Ataxia telangiectasia and rad3-related (ATR) is a DNA damage response (DDR) kinase involved in DNA replication stress (RS) response and is an established therapeutic target for GBM. In this study we demonstrate a novel role for ATR kinase in facilitating malignant cell invasion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Invading margins of human GBM samples demonstrated increased pATR expression relative to core. Live cell imaging demonstrated a reduction in cell velocity following ATR inhibition (ATRi; VE822) or ATR siRNA, and a retraction defect was evident in vitro. Extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation occurred following ATRi or siRNA which were single walled structures on electron microscopy which could engulf high molecular weight dextran, suggesting blockade of macropinosome processing. Live cell imaging with GFP-integrin α5 and integrin recycling assays showed integrin sequestration within macropinosomes and reduced integrin internalisation respectively. Interrogation of a published ‘ATR interactome’ revealed ATR targets with functions in endocytic vesicle trafficking. Intravital in vivo imaging of murine xenograft tumours confirmed vacuolation and dextran uptake following ATRi, whilst a further study demonstrated reduced invading tumour cells following ATRi in intracranial xenografts. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate a novel role for ATR in facilitating macropinocytic vesicle trafficking and integrin internalisation. ATRi results in a profound motility defect in vitro and in vivo. ATR inhibitors are entering early phase trials as radiation sensitisers and we propose that therapeutic benefit will extend beyond DNA damage potentiation.


Metastasis ◽  
1980 ◽  
pp. 28-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Tchao ◽  
A. B. Schleich ◽  
M. Frick ◽  
A. Mayer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Muth ◽  
Andreas Roth ◽  
Michael Siegl ◽  
Guido Piontek ◽  
Rudolf Reiter ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Since 2004, the use of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab has been preferred over platinum-based therapy for patients with advanced Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the response rate to the treatment is only around 20%. Currently, no biomarkers have been identified to differentiate potential responders from non-responders to cetuximab therapy.Methods: We evaluated the predictive and prognostic properties of AurkA polymorphism and HPV infection in HNSCC patients treated with cetuximab. Clinical data of 434 patients was collected and tissue was analyzed for AurkA polymorphism using PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to stain for various markers and their expression levels were scored. Cell culture experiments were performed to complement clinical findings.Results: We demonstrated in vivo as well as in vitro that both AurkA polymorphism and HPV status have predictive and prognostic value. Conclusions: AurkA polymorphism and HPV status could be beneficial for response prediction and therapy optimization for HNSCC patients.


1994 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
C SNYDERMAN ◽  
I KLAPAN ◽  
M MILANOVICH ◽  
D HEO ◽  
R WAGNER ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Jing ◽  
Dandan Liu ◽  
Qingchuan Lai ◽  
Linqi Li ◽  
Mengqian Zhou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) play critical roles in various cancers by modulating functional proteins post-translationally. Previous studies have demonstrated that DUB Josephin Domain Containing 1 (JOSD1) is implicated in tumor progression, however, the role and mechanism of JOSD1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain to be explored. In this study, we aimed to identify the clinical significance and function of JOSD1 in HNSCC. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were analyzed to find novel DUBs in HNSCC. Immunohistochemistry assay was performed to determine the expression of JOSD1 in our cohort of 42 patients suffered with HNSCC. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to identify the correlation between JOSD1 and the prognosis of HNSCC patients. The regulation of BRD4 on JOSD1 was determined by using pharmacological inhibition and gene depletion. The in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to elucidate the role of JOSD1 in HNSCC. Results The results of IHC showed that JOSD1 was aberrantly expressed in HNSCC specimens, especially in the chemoresistant ones. The overexpression of JOSD1 indicated poor clinical outcome of HNSCC patients. Moreover, JOSD1 depletion dramatically impaired cell proliferation and colony formation, and promoted cisplatin-induced apoptosis of HNSCC cells in vitro. Additionally, JOSD1 suppression inhibited the tumor growth and improved chemosensitivity in vivo. The epigenetic regulator BRD4 contributed to the upregulation of JOSD1 in HNSCC. Conclusions These results demonstrate that JOSD1 functions as an oncogene in HNSCC progression, and provide a promising target for clinical diagnosis and therapy of HNSCC.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 480
Author(s):  
Rakshitha Pandulal Miskin ◽  
Janine S. A. Warren ◽  
Abibatou Ndoye ◽  
Lei Wu ◽  
John M. Lamar ◽  
...  

In the current study, we demonstrate that integrin α3β1 promotes invasive and metastatic traits of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells through induction of the transcription factor, Brain-2 (Brn-2). We show that RNAi-mediated suppression of α3β1 in MDA-MB-231 cells caused reduced expression of Brn-2 mRNA and protein and reduced activity of the BRN2 gene promoter. In addition, RNAi-targeting of Brn-2 in MDA-MB-231 cells decreased invasion in vitro and lung colonization in vivo, and exogenous Brn-2 expression partially restored invasion to cells in which α3β1 was suppressed. α3β1 promoted phosphorylation of Akt in MDA-MB-231 cells, and treatment of these cells with a pharmacological Akt inhibitor (MK-2206) reduced both Brn-2 expression and cell invasion, indicating that α3β1-Akt signaling contributes to Brn-2 induction. Analysis of RNAseq data from patients with invasive breast carcinoma revealed that high BRN2 expression correlates with poor survival. Moreover, high BRN2 expression positively correlates with high ITGA3 expression in basal-like breast cancer, which is consistent with our experimental findings that α3β1 induces Brn-2 in TNBC cells. Together, our study demonstrates a pro-invasive/pro-metastatic role for Brn-2 in breast cancer cells and identifies a role for integrin α3β1 in regulating Brn-2 expression, thereby revealing a novel mechanism of integrin-dependent breast cancer cell invasion.


Life Sciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 278 ◽  
pp. 119541
Author(s):  
Aysegul Gorur ◽  
Miguel Patiño ◽  
Hideaki Takahashi ◽  
German Corrales ◽  
Curtis R. Pickering ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1334
Author(s):  
Ye Liu ◽  
Zahra Mohri ◽  
Wissal Alsheikh ◽  
Umber Cheema

The development of biomimetic, human tissue models is recognized as being an important step for transitioning in vitro research findings to the native in vivo response. Oftentimes, 2D models lack the necessary complexity to truly recapitulate cellular responses. The introduction of physiological features into 3D models informs us of how each component feature alters specific cellular response. We conducted a systematic review of research papers where the focus was the introduction of key biomimetic features into in vitro models of cancer, including 3D culture and hypoxia. We analysed outcomes from these and compiled our findings into distinct groupings to ascertain which biomimetic parameters correlated with specific responses. We found a number of biomimetic features which primed cancer cells to respond in a manner which matched in vivo response.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongwei Zhao ◽  
Hasaan Hayat ◽  
Xiaohong Ma ◽  
Daguang Fan ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms including deep learning have recently demonstrated remarkable progress in image-recognition tasks. Here, we utilized AI for monitoring the expression of underglycosylated mucin 1 (uMUC1) tumor antigen, a biomarker for ovarian cancer progression and response to therapy, using contrast-enhanced in vivo imaging. This was done using a dual-modal (magnetic resonance and near infrared optical imaging) uMUC1-specific probe (termed MN-EPPT) consisted of iron-oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MN) conjugated to a uMUC1-specific peptide (EPPT) and labeled with a near-infrared fluorescent dye, Cy5.5. In vitro studies performed in uMUC1-expressing human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3/Luc and control uMUC1low ES-2 cells showed preferential uptake on the probe by the high expressor (n = 3, p < .05). A decrease in MN-EPPT uptake by SKOV3/Luc cells in vitro due to uMUC1 downregulation after docetaxel therapy was paralleled by in vivo imaging studies that showed a reduction in probe accumulation in the docetaxel treated group (n = 5, p < .05). The imaging data were analyzed using deep learning-enabled segmentation and quantification of the tumor region of interest (ROI) from raw input MRI sequences by applying AI algorithms including a blend of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Fully Connected Neural Networks. We believe that the algorithms used in this study have the potential to improve studying and monitoring cancer progression, amongst other diseases.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document