CIAPIN1 nuclear accumulation predicts poor clinical outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. The expression of cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1) correlates with the malignant progression of several cancers. However, the relationship between the subcellular localization of CIAPIN1 and clinical characteristics in EOC remains unclear. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect CIAPIN1 expression in 108 EOC tissues. CIAPIN1 expressions in eight fresh EOC tissues were detected by Western blotting. The relationship between CIAPIN1 subcellular expression and patients? clinicopathological features, including prognosis, was evaluated. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were employed to assess the CIAPIN1 subcellular localization in the EOC cell lines A2780 and HO8910. In addition, all patients were followed up to assess the prognostic value of CIAPIN1 in patients with EOC. RESULTS: CIAPIN1 is highly expressed in EOC, but is present at low levels in paired non-cancerous ovarian epithelial tissues. The results of Western blotting were in accordance with the immunohistochemical results. Poor differentiation of the tumors and EOC cell lines correlated with higher levels of CIAPIN1 nuclear expression. CIAPIN1 nuclear expression significantly correlated with the Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and histological differentiation (     

Identification of NDRG1-regulated genes associated with invasive potential in cervical and ovarian cancer cells

N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is an important gene regulating tumor invasion. In this study, shRNA technology was used to suppress NDRG1 expression in CaSki (a cervical cancer cell line) and HO-8910PM (an ovarian cancer cell line). In vitro assays showed that NDRG1 knockdown enhanced tumor cell adhesion, migration and invasion activities without affecting cell proliferation. cDNA microarray analysis revealed 96 deregulated genes with more than 2-fold changes in both cell lines after NDRG1 knockdown. Ten common upregulated genes (LPXN, DDR2, COL6A1, IL6, IL8, FYN, PTP4A3, PAPPA, ETV5 and CYGB) and one common downregulated gene (CLCA2) were considered to enhance tumor cell invasive activity. BisoGenet network analysis indicated that NDRG1 regulated these invasion effector genes/proteins in an indirect manner. Moreover, NDRG1 knockdown also reduced pro-invasion genes expression such as MMP7, TMPRSS4 and CTSK. These results suggest that regulation of invasion and metastasis by NDRG1 is a highly complicated process.     

Positive correlation between the expression of X-chromosome RBM genes (RBMX, RBM3, RBM10) and the proapoptotic Bax gene in human breast cancer

In a recent report, it has been postulated that the ubiquitous RBM proteins might constitute a novel family of apoptosis modulators. We measured the expression of the X-chromosome RBM genes (RBMX, RBM3, and RBM10) in 122 breast cancers by means of differential RT-PCR. Using the same method, we also studied the expression of the apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax. Markers of hormone dependence (estrogen and progesterone receptors), proliferation (Ki67 and DNA-ploidy), angiogenesis (VEGF and CD105), as well as oncogene (c-erb-B2), and tumor suppressor gene (p53) expression were also analyzed. The expression of all X-chromosome RBM genes was significantly associated with the expression of the proapoptotic Bax gene (RBMX, P=0.039; RBM3, P<0.001; RBM10 large variant, P<0.001; RBM10 small variant, P<0.001). Furthermore, the expression of both RBM10 variants was significantly associated with the expression of the VEGF gene (large variant, P=0.004; small variant, P=0.003). We also found an association of borderline significance (P=0.05) between the expression of RBM3, the large variant of RBM10 and wild-type p53. Expression of the small RBM10 variant, finally, was associated with high proliferation of the tumors (Ki67>or=20%; P=0.037). The expression of both RBM10 variants seems to be interdependent to a significant degree (r=0.26, P=0.006). From these results, it seems that the X-chromosome, through its RBM genes, plays a formerly unknown role in the regulation of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in breast cancer.     

转录因子类癌基因-stat3与肿瘤研究进展

Stat3是近年来研究异常活跃的转录因子,多项研究结果显示Stat3在多种肿瘤组织与细胞系中异常表达,并与肿瘤的增殖分化、细胞凋亡、免疫逃避、血管新生、侵袭转移等密切相关。现就Stat3在致癌中的作用机制及以Stat3为靶点进行的肿瘤治疗的研究进展作一综述。     

Role of DNA repair and cell cycle control genes in ovarian cancer susceptibility

Recent studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the population that are associated with variations in the risks of many different cancer diseases. For ovarian cancer, the known highly penetrant susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are probably responsible for only 40 % of the excess familial ovarian cancer risks, suggesting that other susceptibility genes of lower penetrance exist. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of SNPs in three genes, XRCC2 (R188H), ERCC2 (K751Q) and CDKN1B (V109G) which are with moderate risk for ovarian cancer susceptibility in Egyptian women. We further investigated the potential combined effect of these genes variants on ovarian cancer risk. The three genes polymorphisms were characterized in 100 ovarian cancer Egyptian females and 100 healthy women by (RFLP–PCR) method in a case control study. Our results revealed that the frequencies of AC genotypes of ERCC2 (K751Q), and GG genotypes of CDKN1B (V109G) polymorphisms were significantly higher in EOC patients than in normal individual (P = 0.007, 0.02 respectively). The frequencies of AA genotype of XRCC2 (R188H) and CC genotype of ERCC2 (K751Q) were higher in EOC patients than in normal individual but without significance (P = 0.06, 0.38 respectively). Also, no association between any one of the three studied genes polymorphisms and the clinical characteristics of disease. The combination of GA (XRCC2) + AC (ERCC2) + GG (CDKN1B) was significantly associated with increased EOC risk. Also, the combination for GA (XRCC2) + AC (ERCC2) and the combination of AA (XRCC2) + CC (ERCC2) were significantly associated with increased EOC risk. There was significant difference in CA125 values between EOC and control Group (P < 0.001). Our results suggested that, XRCC2, ERCC2 and CDKN1B genes are important candidate genes for susceptibility to EOC. Also, gene–gene interaction between GA (XRCC2) + AC (ERCC2) + GG (CDKN1B) polymorphism may be associated with increased risk of EOCC in Egyptian women.     

NuMA overexpression in epithelial ovarian cancer

Highly aneuploid tumours are common in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC). We investigated whether NuMA expression was associated with this phenomenon.NuMA protein levels in normal and tumour tissues, ovarian cell lines and primary cultures of malignant cells derived from ovarian ascitic fluids were analysed by Affymetrix microarray analysis, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF), with results correlated to associated clinical data. Aneuploidy status in primary cultures was determined by FACS analysis.Affymetrix microarray data indicated that NuMA was overexpressed in tumour tissue, primary cultures and cell lines compared to normal ovarian tissue. IHC revealed low to weak NuMA expression in normal tissues. Expression was upregulated in tumours, with a significant association with disease stage in mucinous EOC subtypes (p = 0.009), lymph node involvement (p = 0.03) and patient age (p = 0.04). Additional discontinuous data analysis revealed that high NuMA levels in tumours decreased with grade (p = 0.02) but increased with disease stage (p = 0.04) in serous EOC. NuMA expression decreased in late disease stage 4 endometrioid EOCs. High NuMA levels decreased with increased tumour invasion in all subtypes (p = 0.03). IF of primary cultures revealed that high NuMA levels at mitotic spindle poles were significantly associated with a decreased proportion of cells in cytokinesis (p = 0.05), increased binucleation (p = 0.021) and multinucleation (p = 0.007), and aneuploidy (p = 0.008).NuMA is highly expressed in EOC tumours and high NuMA levels correlate with increases in mitotic defects and aneuploidy in primary cultures.     

Clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a, and 3b expressions in sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer

Altered DNA methylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters plays a role in human carcinogenesis and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are responsible for it. This study aimed to determine aberrant expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b in benign and malignant ovarian tumor tissues for their association with clinicopathological significance and prognostic value. A total of 142 ovarian cancers and 44 benign ovarian tumors were recruited for immunohistochemical analysis of their expression. The data showed that expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b was observed in 76 (53.5%), 92 (64.8%) and 79 (55.6%) of 142 cases of ovarian cancer tissues, respectively. Of the serious tumors, DNMT3a protein expression was significantly higher than that in benign tumor samples (P?=?0.001); DNMT3b was marginally significant down regulated in ovarian cancers compared to that of the benign tumors (P?=?0.054); DNMT1 expression has no statistical difference between ovarian cancers and benign tumor tissues (P?=?0.837). Of the mucious tumors, the expression of DNMT3a, DNMT3b, and DNMT1 was not different between malignant and benign tumors. Moreover, DNMT1 expression was associated with DNMT3b expression (P?=?0.020, r?=?0.195). DNMT1 expression was associated with age of the patients, menopause status, and tumor localization, while DNMT3a expression was associated with histological types and serum CA125 levels and DNMT3b expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. In addition, patients with DNMT1 or DNMT3b expression had a trend of better survival than those with negative expression. Co-expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3b was significantly associated with better overall survival (P?=?0.014). The data from this study provided the first evidence for differential expression of DNMTs proteins in ovarian cancer tissues and their associations with clinicopathological and survival data in sporadic ovarian cancer patients.     

Genetic variants in telomere‐maintenance genes are associated with ovarian cancer risk and outcome

Most ovarian cancer patients present at an advanced stage with poor prognosis. Telomeres play a critical role in protecting chromosomes stability. The associations of genetic variants in telomere maintenance genes and ovarian cancer risk and outcome are unclear. We genotyped 137 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in telomere‐maintenance genes in 417 ovarian cancer cases and 417 matched healthy controls to evaluate their associations with cancer risk, survival and therapeutic response. False discovery rate Q‐value was calculated to account for multiple testing. Eleven SNPs from two genes showed nominally significant associations with the risks of ovarian cancer. The most significant SNP was TEP1: rs2228026 with participants carrying at least one variant allele exhibiting a 3.28‐fold (95% CI: 1.72‐6.29; P < 0.001, Q = 0.028) increased ovarian cancer risk, which remained significant after multiple testing adjusting. There was also suggested evidence for the associations of SNPs with outcome, although none of the associations had a Q < 0.05. Seven SNPs from two genes showed associations with ovarian cancer survival (P < 0.05). The strongest association was found in TNKS gene (rs10093972, hazard ratio = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.20‐2.92; P = 0.006, Q = 0.076). Five SNPs from four genes showed suggestive associations with therapeutic response (P < 0.05). In a survival tree analysis, TEP1:rs10143407 was the primary factor contributing to overall survival. Unfavourable genotype analysis showed a cumulative effect of significant SNPs on ovarian cancer risk, survival and therapeutic response. Genetic variations in telomere‐maintenance genes may be associated with ovarian cancer risk and outcome.     

微RNA在卵巢上皮性癌发生发展中作用及其临床意义

研究表明,miRNA参与了胚胎发育、损伤修复、糖尿病、心脏病等许多重要生理病理过程,特别是在恶性肿瘤的发生发展中发挥了重要作用,并具有潜在的临床意义。本文比较详细地叙述了有关miRNA的重要基础研究成果,并就miRNA在卵巢癌组织及细胞中的表达、miRNA在卵巢癌发生发展中的作用、miRNA与卵巢癌早期诊断、化疗耐药及预后判断等方面的最新研究成果进行了综述。     

How germline genes promote malignancy in cancer cells

Cancers often express hundreds of genes otherwise specific to germ cells, the germline/cancer (GC) genes. Here, we present and discuss the hypothesis that activation of a “germline program” promotes cancer cell malignancy. We do so by proposing four hallmark processes of the germline: meiosis, epigenetic plasticity, migration, and metabolic plasticity. Together, these hallmarks enable replicative immortality of germ cells as well as cancer cells. Especially meiotic genes are frequently expressed in cancer, implying that genes unique to meiosis may play a role in oncogenesis. Because GC genes are not expressed in healthy somatic tissues, they form an appealing source of specific treatment targets with limited side effects besides infertility. Although it is still unclear why germ cell specific genes are so abundantly expressed in cancer, from our hypothesis it follows that the germline's reproductive program is intrinsic to cancer development.     

MMP-2和TIMP-2基因启动子区多态性与卵巢上皮性癌关系的研究

为探讨MMP-2和TIMP-2基因启动子区单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)与卵巢上皮性癌发病风险的关系, 采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法检测了246例卵巢上皮性癌患者和324例对照妇女的MMP-2 C-1306T、C-735T和TIMP-2 G-418C 3个SNPs的基因型。结果显示, MMP-2 C-1306T SNP的等位基因及基因型频率分布在卵巢癌与对照组间无显著差异(P=0.55和P=0.42); 但卵巢癌组MMP-2 C-735T SNP的C等位基因和C/C基因型频率(80.7%和66.7%)明显高于对照组(75.5%和55.9%), 与T/T+C/T基因型比较, 携带C/C基因型可以显著增加卵巢癌的发病风险(OR=1.58, 95% CI=1.12~2.23), 进一步分层分析显示, C/C基因型主要与宫内膜样癌和年龄≥50岁妇女的发病风险显著相关, OR值分别为1.69(95%CI=1.03~2.79)和1.71(95% CI=1.14~2.57); 对MMP-2 C-1306T、C-735T 2个SNPs的单体型分析显示, 4种单体型频率(T_-1306-T_-735、T_-1306-C_-735、C_-1306-T_-735和C_-1306-C_-735)在两组间分布无显著差异(P=0.24); 虽然TIMP-2 G-418C SNP的等位基因及基因型频率在卵巢癌组与对照组间分布无显著性差异(P=0.33和P=0.47), 但以病理类型分层分析显示, 携带TIMP-2 G-418G/G基因型有增加宫内膜样癌发病风险的趋势(OR=1.62, 95%CI=0.94~2.78)。以上结果提示, MMP-2基因启动子区C-735T SNP的C/C基因型可能是卵巢上皮性癌发病的潜在危险因素, 而C-1306T SNP可能与卵巢上皮性癌的发病风险无关; TIMP-2 G-418C SNP可能与不同病理类型的卵巢上皮性癌发病风险有关。     

Two isoforms of the cold-inducible mRNA-binding protein RBM3 localize to dendrites and promote translation

A diverse set of mRNA-binding proteins (BPs) regulate local translation in neurons. However, little is known about the role(s) played by a family of cold-inducible, glycine-rich mRNA-BPs. Unlike neuronal mRNA-BPs characterized thus far, these proteins are induced by hypothermia and are comprised of one RNA recognition motif and an adjacent arginine- and glycine-rich domain. We studied the expression and function of the RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3), a member of this family, in neurons. RBM3 was expressed in multiple brain regions, with the highest levels in cerebellum and olfactory bulb. In dissociated neurons, RBM3 was observed in nuclei and in a heterogeneous population of granules within dendrites. In sucrose gradient assays, RBM3 cofractionated with heavy mRNA granules and multiple components of the translation machinery. Two alternatively spliced RBM3 isoforms that differed by a single arginine residue were identified in neurons; both were post-translationally modified. The variant lacking the spliced arginine exhibited a higher dendritic localization and was the only isoform present in astrocytes. When overexpressed in neuronal cell lines, RBM3 isoforms-enhanced global translation, the formation of active polysomes, and the activation of initiation factors. These data suggest that RBM3 plays a distinctive role in enhancing translation in neurons.     

Immunomodulatory action of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor SGI-110 in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and xenografts

We aimed to determine the effect of SGI-110 on methylation and expression of the cancer testis antigens (CTAs) NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells in vitro and in vivo and to establish the impact of SGI-110 on expression of major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and Intracellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on EOC cells, and on recognition of EOC cells by NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T-cells. We also tested the impact of combined SGI-110 and NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T-cells on tumor growth and/or murine survival in a xenograft setting. EOC cells were treated with SGI-110 in vitro at various concentrations and as tumor xenografts with 3 distinct dose schedules. Effects on global methylation (using LINE-1), NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A methylation, mRNA, and protein expression were determined and compared to controls. SGI-110 treated EOC cells were evaluated for expression of immune-modulatory genes using flow cytometry, and were co-cultured with NY-ESO-1 specific T-cell clones to determine immune recognition. In vivo administration of SGI-110 and CD8+ T-cells was performed to determine anti-tumor effects on EOC xenografts. SGI-110 treatment induced hypomethylation and CTA gene expression in a dose dependent manner both in vitro and in vivo, at levels generally superior to azacitidine or decitabine. SGI-110 enhanced the expression of MHC I and ICAM-1, and enhanced recognition of EOC cells by NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T-cells. Sequential SGI-110 and antigen-specific CD8+ cell treatment restricted EOC tumor growth and enhanced survival in a xenograft setting. SGI-110 is an effective hypomethylating agent and immune modulator and, thus, an attractive candidate for combination with CTA-directed vaccines in EOC.