lncRNA Expression after Irradiation and Chemoexposure of HNSCC Cell Lines

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cause of cancer mortality in the world. To improve the quality of diagnostics and patients’ treatment, new and effective biomarkers are needed. Recent studies have shown that the expression level of different types of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is dysregulated in HNSCC and correlates with many biological processes. In this study, the response of lncRNAs in HNSCC cell lines after exposure to irradiation and cytotoxic drugs was examined. The SCC-040, SCC-25, FaDu, and Cal27 cell lines were treated with different radiation doses as well as exposed to cisplatin and doxorubicin. The expression changes of lncRNAs after exposure to these agents were checked by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Target prediction was performed using available online tools and classified into specific biological processes and cellular pathways. The results indicated that the irradiation, as well as chemoexposure, causes changes in lncRNA expression and the effect depends on the cell line, type of agents as well as their dose. After irradiation using the dose of 5 Gy significant dysregulation of 4 lncRNAs, 10 Gy-5 lncRNAs, and 20 Gy-3 lncRNAs, respectively, were observed in all cell lines. Only lncRNAs Zfhx2as was down-regulated in all cell lines independently of the dose used. After cisplatin exposure, 14 lncRNAs showed lower and only two higher expressions. Doxorubicin resulted in lower expressions of eight and increased four of lncRNAs. Common effects of cytotoxic drugs were observed in the case of antiPEG11, BACE1AS, PCGEM1, and ST7OT. Analysis of the predicted targets for dysregulated lncRNAs indicated that they are involved in important biological processes, regulating cellular pathways connected with direct response to irradiation or chemoexposure, cellular phenotype, cancer initiating cells, and angiogenesis. Both irradiation and chemoexposure caused specific changes in lncRNAs expression. However, the common effect is potentially important for cellular response to the stress and survival. Further study will show if lncRNAs are useful tools in patients’ treatment monitoring.

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MiR-124 Inhibits Growth and Enhances Radiation-Induced Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Inhibiting STAT3

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000485907 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 2017-2028 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Mengjie Wang ◽

Bi Meng ◽

Yangchen Liu ◽

Jingwen Yu ◽

Qiaoyun Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ionizing Radiation ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cellular Response ◽

Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ◽

Target Prediction ◽

Small Cell ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Cell Lung Carcinoma ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Background/Aims: A growing body of evidence indicates that the abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in sensitizing the cellular response to ionizing radiation (IR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the expression of miR-124 correlated with radiosensitivity in the context of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify miR-124 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The role of miR-124 in NSCLC proliferation and radiosensitivity was analyzed using CCK-8 and flow cytometry apoptosis assays. Luciferase activity assays, RT-PCR, and Western blot assays were performed to confirm the target gene of miR-124. Results: In this study, we found that miR-124 was downregulated both in clinical NSCLC samples and in cell lines. miR-124 inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells and enhanced the apoptosis of NSCLC cells exposed to ionizing radiation. We identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) as a direct target of miR-124 by using target prediction algorithms and luciferase assays. Overexpression of STAT3 in A549 cell lines restored the enhanced radiosensitivity induced by miR-124. Conclusion: Taking these observations into consideration, we illustrated that miR-124 is a potential target for enhancing the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells by targeting STAT3.

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Mechanisms of Signaling through Urokinase Receptor and the Cellular Response

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1615847 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 82 (08) ◽

pp. 305-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Yuri Koshelnick ◽

Monika Ehart ◽

Hannes Stockinger ◽

Bernd Binder

Keyword(s):

Cell Surface ◽

Proteolytic Activity ◽

Tumor Invasion ◽

Cellular Response ◽

Transmembrane Protein ◽

Urokinase Receptor ◽

Biological Processes ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Proteolytic Activation ◽

Core Proteins

IntroductionThe urokinase-urokinase receptor (u-PA-u-PAR) system seems to play a crucial role in a number of biological processes, including local fibrinolysis, tumor invasion, angiogenesis, neointima and atherosclerotic plaque formation, inflammation, and matrix remodeling during wound healing and development.1-6 Binding of urokinase to its specific receptor provides cells with a localized proteolytic potential. It stimulates conversion of cell surface-bound plasminogen into active plasmin, which, in turn, is required for proteolytic degradation of basement membrane components, including fibronectin, collagen, laminin, and proteoglycan core proteins.7 Moreover, plasmin activates other matrix-degrading enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases.8 Overexpression of u-PA/u-PAR correlates with tumor invasion and metastasis formation,9-13 while reduction of cell-surface bound u-PA and inhibition of u-PAR expression leads to a significant decrease of invasive and metastatic activity.14 Specific antagonists that suppress binding of u-PA to u-PAR have been shown to inhibit cell-surface plasminogen activation, tumor growth, and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo models.15,16 Independently of its proteolytic activity, u-PA is implicated in many biological processes that seem to require u-PAR-mediated intracellular signal transduction, such as proliferation, chemotactic movement and adhesion, migration, and differentiation.17 Data obtained in the late 1980s indicated that u-PA not only provides cells with local proteolytic activity, but might also be capable of transducing signals to the cell.18-22 At that time, however, the u-PAR has just been isolated, cloned, and identified as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein and not a transmembrane protein. Signaling via the u-PAR was, therefore, regarded as being unlikely, and the effects of u-PA on cell proliferation18-22 were thought to be mediated by proteolytic activation of latent growth factors. The assumption of direct signaling via u-PAR was, in fact, considered controversial, until about 10 years later when a physical association between u-PAR and signaling proteins was found.23 From this report on, several proteins associated with u-PAR have been identified. Now, u-PAR seems to be part of a large “signalosome” associated and interacting with several proteins on both the outside and inside of the cell.

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Cav1/EREG/YAP Axis in the Treatment Resistance of Cav1-Expressing Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13123038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 3038

Author(s):

Mickaël Burgy ◽

Aude Jehl ◽

Ombline Conrad ◽

Sophie Foppolo ◽

Véronique Bruban ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Cell Cycle Progression ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Treatment Resistance ◽

Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Hnscc Cell

The EGFR-targeting antibody cetuximab (CTX) combined with radiotherapy is the only targeted therapy that has been proven effective for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Recurrence arises in 50% of patients with HNSCC in the years following treatment. In clinicopathological practice, it is difficult to assign patients to classes of risk because no reliable biomarkers are available to predict the outcome of HPV-unrelated HNSCC. In the present study, we investigated the role of Caveolin-1 (Cav1) in the sensitivity of HNSCC cell lines to CTX-radiotherapy that might predict HNSCC relapse. Ctrl- and Cav-1-overexpressing HNSCC cell lines were exposed to solvent, CTX, or irradiation, or exposed to CTX before irradiation. Growth, clonogenicity, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, metabolism and signaling pathways were analyzed. Cav1 expression was analyzed in 173 tumor samples and correlated to locoregional recurrence and overall survival. We showed that Cav1-overexpressing cells demonstrate better survival capacities and remain proliferative and motile when exposed to CTX-radiotherapy. Resistance is mediated by the Cav1/EREG/YAP axis. Patients whose tumors overexpressed Cav1 experienced regional recurrence a few years after adjuvant radiotherapy ± chemotherapy. Together, our observations suggest that a high expression of Cav1 might be predictive of locoregional relapse of LA-HNSCC.

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YRNAs: New Insights and Potential Novel Approach in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9051281 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1281 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kacper Guglas ◽

Tomasz Kolenda ◽

Maciej Stasiak ◽

Magda Kopczyńska ◽

Anna Teresiak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

High Expression ◽

Ribonucleoprotein Particle ◽

Hnscc Cell

YRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs that are components of the Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle and are essential for initiation of DNA replication. Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle is a target of autoimmune antibodies in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome. Deregulation of YRNAs has been confirmed in many cancer types, but not in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The main aim of this study was to determine the biological role of YRNAs in HNSCC, the expression of YRNAs, and their usefulness as potential HNSCC biomarkers. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT)-PCR, the expression of YRNAs was measured in HNSCC cell lines, 20 matched cancer tissues, and 70 FFPETs (Formaline-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue) from HNSCC patients. Using TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) data, an analysis of the expression levels of selected genes, and clinical-pathological parameters was performed. The expression of low and high YRNA1 expressed groups were analysed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). YRNA1 and YRNA5 are significantly downregulated in HNSCC cell lines. YRNA1 was found to be significantly downregulated in patients’ tumour sample. YRNAs were significantly upregulated in T4 stage. YRNA1 showed the highest sensitivity, allowing to distinguish healthy from cancer tissue. An analysis of TCGA data revealed that expression of YRNA1 was significantly altered in the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection status. Patients with medium or high expression of YRNA1 showed better survival outcomes. It was noted that genes correlated with YRNA1 were associated with various processes occurring during cancerogenesis. The GSEA analysis showed high expression enrichment in eight vital processes for cancer development. YRNA1 influence patients’ survival and could be used as an HNSCC biomarker. YRNA1 seems to be a good potential biomarker for HNSCC, however, more studies must be performed and these observations should be verified using an in vitro model.

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Impaired Capacity of Multidrug Resistance-Related Cytotoxic Drugs to Inhibit Colony Formation of Dexamethasone-Resistant Human Leukemic Cell Lines

Cancer Investigation ◽

10.3109/07357909309024864 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 358-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Csongor Kiss

Keyword(s):

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Colony Formation ◽

Leukemic Cell ◽

Cytotoxic Drugs ◽

Human Leukemic Cell ◽

Leukemic Cell Lines

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High-Throughput 3D Tumor Spheroid Array Platform for Evaluating Sensitivity of Proton-Drug Combinations

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms23020587 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 587

Author(s):

Dong Woo Lee ◽

Jung Eun Kim ◽

Ga-Haeng Lee ◽

Arang Son ◽

Hee Chul Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Lines ◽

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Screening ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Drug Combinations ◽

Targeted Drugs ◽

Tumor Spheroid ◽

Array Platform ◽

Hnscc Cell

Proton beam therapy (PBT) is a critical treatment modality for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, not much is known about drug combinations that may improve the efficacy of PBT. This study aimed to test the feasibility of a three-dimensional (3D) tumor-spheroid-based high-throughput screening platform that could assess cellular sensitivity against PBT. Spheroids of two HNSCC cell lines—Fadu and Cal27—cultured with a mixture of Matrigel were arrayed on a 384-pillar/well plate, followed by exposure to graded doses of protons or targeted drugs including olaparib at various concentrations. Calcein staining of HNSCC spheroids revealed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability for proton irradiation or multiple targeted drugs, and provided quantitative data that discriminated the sensitivity between the two HNSCC cell lines. The combined effect of protons and olaparib was assessed by calculating the combination index from the survival rates of 4 × 4 matrices, showing that Cal27 spheroids had greater synergy with olaparib than Fadu spheroids. In contrast, adavosertib did not synergize with protons in both spheroids. Taken together, we demonstrated that the 3D pillar/well array platform was a useful tool that provided rapid, quantitative data for evaluating sensitivity to PBT and drug combinations. Our results further supported that administration of the combination of PBT and olaparib may be an effective treatment strategy for HNSCC patients.

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PO-1049: HNSCC Cell Lines with DNA Repair Defects show an Invasive Phenotype in vitro

Radiotherapy and Oncology ◽

10.1016/s0167-8140(18)31359-8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 127 ◽

pp. S589

Author(s):

P. Essers ◽

E. Ploeg ◽

M. Verheij ◽

C. Vens

Keyword(s):

Dna Repair ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Invasive Phenotype ◽

Hnscc Cell

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A dual specificity kinase, DYRK1A, as a potential therapeutic target for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep36132 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Aneesha Radhakrishnan ◽

Vishalakshi Nanjappa ◽

Remya Raja ◽

Gajanan Sathe ◽

Vinuth N. Puttamallesh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Therapeutic Target ◽

Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Dual Specificity ◽

Hnscc Cell

Abstract Despite advances in clinical management, 5-year survival rate in patients with late-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not improved significantly over the past decade. Targeted therapies have emerged as one of the most promising approaches to treat several malignancies. Though tyrosine phosphorylation accounts for a minority of total phosphorylation, it is critical for activation of signaling pathways and plays a significant role in driving cancers. To identify activated tyrosine kinase signaling pathways in HNSCC, we compared the phosphotyrosine profiles of a panel of HNSCC cell lines to a normal oral keratinocyte cell line. Dual-specificity tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) was one of the kinases hyperphosphorylated at Tyr-321 in all HNSCC cell lines. Inhibition of DYRK1A resulted in an increased apoptosis and decrease in invasion and colony formation ability of HNSCC cell lines. Further, administration of the small molecular inhibitor against DYRK1A in mice bearing HNSCC xenograft tumors induced regression of tumor growth. Immunohistochemical labeling of DYRK1A in primary tumor tissues using tissue microarrays revealed strong to moderate staining of DYRK1A in 97.5% (39/40) of HNSCC tissues analyzed. Taken together our results suggest that DYRK1A could be a novel therapeutic target in HNSCC.

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Cancer stem cells enrichment with surface markers CD271 and CD44 in human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Carcinogenesis ◽

10.1093/carcin/bgz182 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 458-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Osama A Elkashty ◽

Ghada Abu Elghanam ◽

Xinyun Su ◽

Younan Liu ◽

Peter J Chauvin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Colony Formation ◽

Self Renewal ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Hnscc Cell

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a poor 5-year survival rate of 50%. One potential reason for treatment failure is the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Several cell markers, particularly CD44, have been used to isolate CSCs. However, isolating a pure population of CSC in HNSCC still remains a challenging task. Recent findings show that normal oral stem cells were isolated using CD271 as a marker. Thus, we investigated the combined use of CD271 and CD44 to isolate an enriched subpopulation of CSCs, followed by their characterization in vitro, in vivo, and in patients’ tissue samples. Fluorescent-activated cell sorting was used to isolate CD44+/CD271+ and CD44+/CD271− from two human HNSCC cell lines. Cell growth and self-renewal were measured with MTT and sphere/colony formation assays. Treatment-resistance was tested against chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) and ionizing radiation. Self-renewal, resistance, and stemness-related genes expression were measured with qRT-PCR. In vivo tumorigenicity was tested with an orthotopic immunodeficient mouse model of oral cancer. Finally, we examined the co-localization of CD44+/CD271+ in patients’ tissue samples. We found that CD271+ cells were a subpopulation of CD44+ cells in human HNSCC cell lines and tissues. CD44+/CD271+ cells exhibited higher cell proliferation, sphere/colony formation, chemo- and radio-resistance, upregulation of CSCs-related genes, and in vivo tumorigenicity when compared to CD44+/CD271− or the parental cell line. These cell markers showed increased expression in patients with the increase of the tumor stage. In conclusion, using both CD44 and CD271 allowed the isolation of CSCs from HNSCC. These enriched CSCs will be more relevant in future treatment and HNSCC progression studies.

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