Long non-coding RNAs compose an important level of epigenetic regulation in normal physiology and disease. Despite the plethora of publications of lncRNAs in human cancer, the landscape is still ...unclear.
Microarray analysis in 44 NSCLC paired specimens was followed by qPCR-based validation in 29 (technical) and 38 (independent) tissue pairs. Cross-validation of the selected targets was achieved in 850 NSCLC tumours from TCGA datasets.
Twelve targets were successfully validated by qPCR (upregulated: FEZF1-AS1, LINC01214, LINC00673, PCAT6, NUTM2A-AS1, LINC01929; downregulated: PCAT19, FENDRR, SVIL-AS1, LANCL1-AS1, ADAMTS9-AS2 and LINC00968). All of them were successfully cross validated in the TCGA datasets. Abnormal DNA methylation was observed in the promoters of FENDRR, FEZF1-AS1 and SVIL-AS1. FEZF1-AS1 and LINC01929 were associated with survival in the TCGA set.
Our study provides through multiple levels of internal and external validation, a comprehensive list of dysregulated lncRNAs in NSCLC. We therefore envisage this dataset to serve as an important source for the lung cancer research community assisting future investigations on the involvement of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of the disease and providing novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic stratification.
Multiplexed imaging technologies enable the study of biological tissues at single-cell resolution while preserving spatial information. Currently, high-dimension imaging data analysis is ...technology-specific and requires multiple tools, restricting analytical scalability and result reproducibility. Here we present SIMPLI (Single-cell Identification from MultiPLexed Images), a flexible and technology-agnostic software that unifies all steps of multiplexed imaging data analysis. After raw image processing, SIMPLI performs a spatially resolved, single-cell analysis of the tissue slide as well as cell-independent quantifications of marker expression to investigate features undetectable at the cell level. SIMPLI is highly customisable and can run on desktop computers as well as high-performance computing environments, enabling workflow parallelisation for large datasets. SIMPLI produces multiple tabular and graphical outputs at each step of the analysis. Its containerised implementation and minimum configuration requirements make SIMPLI a portable and reproducible solution for multiplexed imaging data analysis. Software is available at "SIMPLI https://github.com/ciccalab/SIMPLI ".
Genetic alterations of somatic cells can drive non-malignant clone formation and promote cancer initiation. However, the link between these processes remains unclear and hampers our understanding of ...tissue homeostasis and cancer development.
Here, we collect a literature-based repertoire of 3355 well-known or predicted drivers of cancer and non-cancer somatic evolution in 122 cancer types and 12 non-cancer tissues. Mapping the alterations of these genes in 7953 pan-cancer samples reveals that, despite the large size, the known compendium of drivers is still incomplete and biased towards frequently occurring coding mutations. High overlap exists between drivers of cancer and non-cancer somatic evolution, although significant differences emerge in their recurrence. We confirm and expand the unique properties of drivers and identify a core of evolutionarily conserved and essential genes whose germline variation is strongly counter-selected. Somatic alteration in even one of these genes is sufficient to drive clonal expansion but not malignant transformation.
Our study offers a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the genetic events initiating clone expansion and cancer revealing significant gaps and biases that still need to be addressed. The compendium of cancer and non-cancer somatic drivers, their literature support, and properties are accessible in the Network of Cancer Genes and Healthy Drivers resource at http://www.network-cancer-genes.org/ .
Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) to the liver is incurable. Transcriptome profiling of 40 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded mUM liver resections and 6 control liver specimens was undertaken. mUMs were ...assessed for morphology, nuclear BAP1 (nBAP1) expression, and their tumour microenvironments (TME) using an “immunoscore” (absent/altered/high) for tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and macrophages (TAMs). Transcriptomes were compared between mUM and control liver; intersegmental and intratumoural analyses were also undertaken. Most mUM were epithelioid cell-type (75%), amelanotic (55%), and nBAP1-ve (70%). They had intermediate (68%) or absent (15%) immunoscores for TILs and intermediate (53%) or high (45%) immunoscores for TAMs. M2-TAMs were dominant in the mUM-TME, with upregulated expression of ANXA1, CD74, CXCR4, MIF, STAT3, PLA2G6, and TGFB1. Compared to control liver, mUM showed significant (p < 0.01) upregulation of 10 genes: DUSP4, PRAME, CD44, IRF4/MUM1, BCL2, CD146/MCAM/MUC18, IGF1R, PNMA1, MFGE8/lactadherin, and LGALS3/Galectin-3. Protein expression of DUSP4, CD44, IRF4, BCL-2, CD146, and IGF1R was validated in all mUMs, whereas protein expression of PRAME was validated in 10% cases; LGALS3 stained TAMs, and MFGEF8 highlighted bile ducts only. Intersegmental mUMs show differing transcriptomes, whereas those within a single mUM were similar. Our results show that M2-TAMs dominate mUM-TME with upregulation of genes contributing to immunosuppression. mUM significantly overexpress genes with targetable signalling pathways, and yet these may differ between intersegmental lesions.
gene encodes the hepatoma upregulated protein (HURP), a microtubule associated protein regulating mitotic spindle dynamics, which promotes chromosomal congression and alignment during mitosis, with a ...potential role in tumorigenesis. In the present study,
mRNA expression was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Primary OPSCC tumors from 107 patients and 48 adjacent normal tissues, as well as 12 respiratory tract cancer cell lines (9 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 2 lung cancer and 1 normal bronchial) were utilised in the present study. mRNA expression levels of
were higher in malignant OPSCC tissues compared with in normal mucosa (P<1×10
) and significantly associated with sex and smoking status (P<0.0001). Vinorelbine
toxicity at half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
) was measured in the 11 cancer cell lines using an MTT assay. Sensitivity to vinorelbine was significantly correlated with HURP expression (r=0.636; P=0.035). The data indicated that
overexpression is frequent in OPSCC tissues and associated with smoking. The correlation between
mRNA expression and vinorelbine
response suggests that HURP is a potential modulator of vinorelbine response; therefore, it should be explored for its possible predictive value for the efficiency of vinorelbine treatment in this type of cancer.
Sortilin is an important regulator with potential tumour-suppressor function by limiting EGFR signalling. In this study, we undertook a comprehensive expression analysis of sortilin transcript ...variants and the DNA methylation status of their corresponding promoters in human non-small cell carcinomas (NSCLCs). RNA/DNA was extracted from 81 NSCLC samples and paired normal tissue. mRNA expression was measured by qPCR and DNA methylation determined by pyrosequencing. BigDye-terminator sequencing was used to confirm exon-8 alternative splicing. Results demonstrated that both SORT1A and SORT1B variants were downregulated in lung tumours. The SORT1A/SORT1B expression ratio was higher in tumours compared to normal tissue. SORT1B promoter hypermethylation was detected in lung tumours compared to normal lung (median difference 14%, Mann–Whitney test p = 10−6). Interestingly, SORT1B is hypermethylated in white blood cells, but a small and very consistent drop in methylation (6%, p = 10−15) was observed in the lung cancer cases compared to control subjects. We demonstrate that the SORT1B exon-8 splice variation, reported in sequence databases, is also a feature of SORT1A. The significantly altered quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sortilin mRNA in NSCLC indicate a significant involvement in tumour pathogenesis and may have significant impact for its utility as a predictive marker in lung cancer management.
Background
The Basque Country has one of the highest rates of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in Europe, although tobacco and alcohol consumption are not high when compared to other ...European countries where HNSCC incidence is lower. Our aim was to determine the role of genetic variation with regard to the metabolism of alcohol and carcinogens from tobacco smoke in the Basque Country.
Methods
Fourteen polymorphisms in alcohol or tobacco metabolism genes were genotyped in 84 HNSCC patients and 242 healthy individuals from the Basque Country.
Results
ADH1B histidine allele (rs1229984), CYP2E1 rs3813867 heterozygous genotype, and GSTT1 deletion conferred protection against HNSCC (OR: 0.318 0.04–0.75, OR: 0.13 0.02–0.94, and OR: 0.12 0.02–0.60, respectively) while GSTP1 (rs1695) Val/Val genotype was related to an increased risk (OR: 4.12 1.11–15.31). Regarding alcohol and tobacco habits, GSTT1 deletion was associated with tobacco usage, while the 3 polymorphisms tested in ALDH2 were associated with alcohol consumption. However, genotypic distributions of these 7 SNPs did not differ from those observed for other Caucasian populations where HNSCC incidence is lower.
Conclusions
The identified genotypic variations in alcohol and tobacco metabolizing genes only by themselves do not seem to be responsible for the higher incidence of HNSCC observed in the Basque Country.
J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 1–8
Oral cancer is one of the most frequent head and neck cancers, and epidemiological studies have shown that smoking is a major risk factor in this pathology. However, ...as not all smokers develop oral cancer, some individuals must be more susceptible to develop this disease. This individual susceptibility has been related to different genetic variants in metabolizing enzymes. The cytochrome P‐450 (CYP) family of enzymes metabolizes tobacco‐related carcinogens producing reactive metabolites, which could cause DNA damage. Because of their functional role in the metabolism of tobacco‐related compounds, the genetic polymorphisms found in the genes that code for CYP enzymes have been suggested to modulate oral cancer risk and contribute to individual susceptibility. In this review, we analyze and update the available evidence in the literature regarding the polymorphisms of CYP genes in relation to the susceptibility of developing oral cancer.
Neurotensin receptor-3 or sortilin is a vacuolar protein sorting 10 protein domain (Vps10p) has been firstly discovered in the human brain, it acts as receptor or co-receptor of the cell and traffics ...different proteins within the cell. Sortilin deregulation contributes to the development of several diseases, including neurological diseases and cancer. On the other hand, neurotrophins which are a family of proteins essential for the nervous system development, function and plasticity. The first discovered member is the nerve growth factor; other members are brain-derived growth factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4. Nerve growth factor and brain-derived growth factor are the common neurotrophins that have a role in cancer. Neurotrophins initiate their signals through interaction with tyrosine receptor kinases TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC; each member has an affinity for a specific receptor to stimulate cell survival, while the interaction with p75NTR initiates cell apoptosis pathway by forming a complex with sortilin and neurotrophin precursors. A number of therapeutic approaches are emerging to target the neurotrophins pathway as well as sortilin.
Gorlin-Goltz syndrome: clinicopathologic aspects Ortega García de Amezaga, Aitziber; García Arregui, Olatz; Zepeda Nuño, Sergio ...
Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal,
2008-Jun-01, Letnik:
13, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcicoma syndrome, comes into being due to a genetic alteration produced by a mutation in the "Patched" tumour suppressor gene, and it is ...inherited in a dominant autosomal way, though sporadic cases have been found. This syndrome shows a high penetrance and variable expressiveness. It is about a multisystemic process that is characterised by the presence of multiple pigmented basocellular carcinomas, keratocysts in the jaws, palmar and/or plantar pits and calcification of the falxcerebri. Together with these major features a great number of processes considered as minor features have also been described. The latter include numerous skeletical, dermatology related and neurological anomalies among others. In some occasions, the presence of very aggressive basocellular carcinomas has been described as well as other malignant neoplasias. Due to the importance of oral maxillofacial manifestations of this syndrome, it is fundamental to know its characteristic in order to make a diagnosis, an early preventive treatment and establish right genetic advice. In this work the main clinicopathologic and the therapeutic aspects related to the syndrome under consideration have been revised and updated.