Comparable expression of stem markers and damage-responsive proteins in untreated and chemoradiation-treated rectal cancer.

Methylation of Cancer-Stem-Cell-Associated Wnt Target Genes Predicts Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer Patients

A Novel Predictive Marker of Resistance to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Young Rectal Cancer Patients

Radiation of Potential Local Cancer Stem Cell Niches Improves Survival of Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme

235 Background: Molecular subtyping in colorectal cancer provided novel insights into tumour heterogeneity and delivered new prognostic signatures. Existing methods (such as CMS-based subtyping) were generated without much consideration of differences in expression profiles between colon and rectal cancer tissues. Moreover, stage 2 and 3 rectal cancer patients often receive neo-adjuvant radio-chemotherapy which may impact on gene expression when determined from resection samples. Methods: We investigated possible differences between treatment-naive colon and rectal cancers at the molecular level. We collected mRNA expression profiles for rectal and colon cancer samples available from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (n=2139) and applied batch-effect correction using ComBat. Results: To explore whether CMS subtypes changed after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancers, we analysed rectal tumour samples from 40 patients where both pre-operative biopsies and resections after chemoradiotherapy were available. More than half of samples shifted from CMS1-3 to CMS4 after patients received chemoradiotherapy. We therefore focused our further analysis on treatment-naive rectal cancers. We observed that CMS-based subtyping showed different prognostic potential in treatment-naïve colon vs. rectal cancers. Rectal cancers had significantly better disease-free survival (DFS) when assigned to CMS 2 or 4 compared to colon cancers. This suggested differences in disease biology that were not captured by CMS subtyping. We next aimed to identify molecular subtypes in rectal cancers, and identified three prevalent rectal-specific subtypes (RSS) by applying hierarchical clustering in 182 untreated rectal cancer samples. We used gene co-expression network analysis to define functional gene modules to identify these subtypes. Based on the gene modules’ signatures, we built a classifier to predict our new subtypes in different transcriptomics datasets (n=692). We observed that RSS1 had better disease-free survival (DFS), whereas RSS2 exhibited worse short-term DFS (less than 3 years) and RSS3 showed worse long-term DFS (3+ years). We discovered the deactivation of EGFR, MAPK and WNT pathways on RSS3 as well as high CD8+ infiltration and low CD4+ counts in these tumours. RSS2 exhibits low plasma cell and regulatory T-cell abundance and high activations of TGF-β, NF-κB, and TNF-α. We also observed high EMT, angiogenesis and inflammatory response in this subtype. Lastly, RSS1 showed high expression on MYC target and low activity on angiogenesis genes. Moreover, the immune and inflammatory responses were also lower than in the other subtypes. Conclusions: Rectal-specific subtypes are of prognostic importance and provide new insight into molecular disease pathways and potential targets.

Recent advancements in cancer research have shown that cancer stem cell (CSC) niche is a crucial factor modulating tumor progression and treatment outcomes. It sustains CSCs by orchestrated regulation of several cytokines, growth factors, and signaling pathways. Although the features defining adult stem cell niches are well-explored, the CSC niche is poorly characterized. Since membrane trafficking proteins have been shown to be essential for the localization of critical proteins supporting CSCs, we investigated the role of TUBB4B, a probable membrane trafficking protein that was found to be overexpressed in the membranes of stem cell enriched cultures, in sustaining CSCs in oral cancer. Here, we show that the knockdown of TUBB4B downregulates the expression of pluripotency markers, depletes ALDH1A1+ population, decreases in vitro sphere formation, and diminishes the tumor initiation potential in vivo. As TUBB4B is not known to have any role in transcriptional regulation nor cell signaling, we suspected that its membrane trafficking function plays a role in constituting a CSC niche. The pattern of its expression in tissue sections, forming a gradient in and around the CSCs, reinforced the notion. Later, we explored its possible cooperation with a signaling protein, Ephrin-B1, the abrogation of which reduces the self-renewal of oral cancer stem cells. Expression and survival analyses based on the TCGA dataset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples indicated that the functional cooperation of TUBB4 and EFNB1 results in a poor prognosis. We also show that TUBB4B and Ephrin-B1 cohabit in the CSC niche. Moreover, depletion of TUBB4B downregulates the membrane expression of Ephrin-B1 and reduces the CSC population. Our results imply that the dynamics of TUBB4B is decisive for the surface localization of proteins, like Ephrin-B1, that sustain CSCs by their concerted signaling.

Recent advancements in cancer research have shown that cancer stem cell (CSC) niche is a crucial factor modulating tumor progression and treatment outcomes. It sustains CSCs by orchestrated regulation of several cytokines, growth factors, and signaling pathways. Although the features defining adult stem cell niches are well-explored, the CSC niche is poorly characterized. Since membrane trafficking proteins have been shown to be essential for the localization of critical proteins supporting CSCs, we investigated the role of TUBB4B, a probable membrane trafficking protein that was found to be overexpressed in the membranes of stem cell enriched cultures, in sustaining CSCs in oral cancer. Here, we show that the knockdown of TUBB4B downregulates the expression of pluripotency markers, depletes ALDH1A1+ population, decreases in vitro sphere formation, and diminishes the tumor initiation potential in vivo. As TUBB4B is not known to have any role in transcriptional regulation nor cell signaling, we suspected that its membrane trafficking function plays a role in constituting a CSC niche. The pattern of its expression in tissue sections, forming a gradient in and around the CSCs, reinforced the notion. Later, we explored its possible cooperation with a signaling protein, Ephrin-B1, the abrogation of which reduces the self-renewal of oral cancer stem cells. Expression and survival analyses based on the TCGA dataset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples indicated that the functional cooperation of TUBB4 and EFNB1 results in a poor prognosis. We also show that TUBB4B and Ephrin-B1 cohabit in the CSC niche. Moreover, depletion of TUBB4B downregulates the membrane expression of Ephrin-B1 and reduces the CSC population. Our results imply that the dynamics of TUBB4B is decisive for the surface localization of proteins, like Ephrin-B1, that sustain CSCs by their concerted signaling.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), also known as CXCL12, has variable effects on a plurality of cells. It is known to have selective effects on cell migration, morphology, survival and cell homing. As such the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis is postulated to be a crucial key pathway in the interaction between (cancer) stem cells and their surrounding supportive cells, the so-called (cancer) stem cell niche. We evaluated the expression of CD44 as a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker and the expression of CXCR4 in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell line UM-SCC 11A. In addition, we monitored proliferation, formation of podia and migration of UM-SCC 11A cells under the influence of SDF-1α. Whereas SDF-1α induced the formation of podia of CD44(+) CXCR4(+) UM-SCC 11A cells in a dose-dependent manner and the maximum number of cells exhibiting the formation of podia was observed under the influence of 10 ng/ml SDF-1α (P=5.3x10(-6)), the highest number of migrating cells was noted using a concentration of 100 ng/ml (P=0.027). Proliferation and survival were not affected by SDF-1α. We showed that UM-SCC 11A cells could be a target for SDF-1α by CXCR4 expression and these cells also showed characteristics of HNSCC CSCs via CD44 expression. We demonstrated that SDF-1α is a chemoattractant for UM-SCC 11A cells, and a maximum directed migration was achieved under the influence of 100 ng/ml SDF-1α. Changes in cell morphology by presenting filopodia or a prominent uropod were noted following treatment of 10 ng/ml SDF-1α. The SDF-CXCR4 axis may play a crucial role in the interaction between CSCs and their supportive cells in the CSC niche. Understanding these interactions may help to gain further insight into the pathophysiology of the progression and recurrence of malignant diseases and thus help to develop novel strategies for therapy.

This study aims to investigate whether nuclear β-catenin overexpression at invasive front in rectal carcinoma is associated with lymph node metastasis and prognosis. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to detect the expression of β-catenin in rectal carcinoma and lymph node metastatic lesions. Spearman's rank correlation analysis and Tukey's test were used to evaluate the association between nuclear β-catenin expression at invasive front in rectal carcinoma and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression model were used to evaluate the prognostic value of nuclear β-catenin overexpression at invasive front in rectal carcinoma for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Overexpression of nuclear β-catenin at the invasive front in rectal carcinoma in stage III-N2 was significantly higher than that in stage III-N1 (73.4 vs. 40.4 %, P < 0.001). Nuclear β-catenin expression at the invasive front in rectal carcinoma was associated with the expression of nuclear β-catenin in corresponding lymph node metastatic lesions (r = 0.297, P < 0.001). Overexpression of nuclear β-catenin at the invasive front in rectal carcinoma was correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes (P < 0.001). Patients with nuclear β-catenin overexpression at the invasive front in rectal carcinoma had poor DFS (P = 0.002) and OS (P = 0.003). Moreover, overexpression of nuclear β-catenin at the invasive front was an independent prognosticator for unfavorable DFS and OS (P = 0.002 and 0.001). Our findings suggest that overexpression of nuclear β-catenin at the invasive front in rectal carcinoma may be a useful marker to evaluate lymph node metastasis, as well as a promising predictor of poor prognosis.

Colon Cancer: An Update and Future Directions

β-Catenin signalling participates in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of β-catenin in resistance to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer, especially pertaining to its association with EMT/CSC features. A total of 109 cases of locally advanced rectal cancer, along with a colon cancer cell line, were investigated. Nuclear β-catenin accumulation in pretreatment-biopsied samples was inversely associated with the therapeutic efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in resected rectal cancer. In resected tumours, nuclear β-catenin was predominantly observed in EMT-like lesions with decreased E-cadherin and increased Snail expression, along with expression of CSC-related markers. The EMT-like lesions also showed significant decreases in both apoptosis and cell proliferation as compared with non-EMT lesions. In-vitro culture of a colon cancer cell line in STK2 was sufficient to induce EMT/CSC properties together with nuclear β-catenin accumulation, and showed inhibition of cell proliferation and resistance to doxorubicin treatment. Nuclear β-catenin accumulation may contribute to chemoradioresistance in locally advanced rectal cancer, probably through its regulation of EMT/CSC properties. In addition, nuclear β-catenin in pretreatment-biopsied samples is useful in predicting the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer.

Cells expressing LGR5, an intestinal stem cell marker, have been suggested as cancer stem cells in human colon cancers. Previously, we discovered that LGR5-expressing cells exist in the gastric antrum and remarkably increase in number in intestinal metaplasia. In addition, most gastric adenomas contain abundant LGR5-expressing cells coexpressing intestinal stem cell signatures. However, LGR5 expression in gastric cancers (GCs) and its prognostic significance remain unknown. We examined the LGR5 expression in GC tissues by real time-PCR and RNA in situ hybridization, and analyzed its clinicopathological relevance and prognostic value. The effects of LGR5 on cancer cell proliferation and migration were assessed with an in vitro transfection technique. LGR5 expression was significantly lower in GCs than in matched nontumorous gastric mucosa. RNA in situ hybridization on tissue microarrays showed that 7% of GCs were positive for LGR5. LGR5 positivity was associated with old age, well to moderate differentiation, and nuclear β-catenin positivity. Although LGR5 did not show any prognostic significance for all GC cases, it was associated with poor survival in GCs with nuclear β-catenin expression. LGR5 expression was induced by transfection in GC cell lines with abnormal Wnt activation, which, however, showed no influence on the growth and migration of GC cells. A small portion of GCs expressed LGR5. Although LGR5 was associated with poor survival in GCs with nuclear β-catenin, LGR5 expression in GC cells had no effects on the growth and migration, requiring a further study exploring a biological role of LGR5 in GCs.

The hallmarks of ovarian cancer stem cells and niches: Exploring their harmonious interplay in therapy resistance.

An alginate-based platform for cancer stem cell research

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are central to tumor progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. Characterized by remarkable self-renewal and adaptability, CSCs can transition dynamically between stem-like and differentiated states in response to external stimuli, a process termed “CSC plasticity.” This adaptability underpins their resilience to therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies (ACT). Beyond intrinsic properties, CSCs reside in a specialized microenvironment—the CSC niche—which provides immune-privileged protection, sustains their stemness, and fosters immune suppression. This review highlights the critical role of CSCs and their niche in driving immunotherapy resistance, emphasizing the need for integrative approaches to overcome these challenges.

Cancer stem cell, niche and EGFR decide tumor development and treatment response: A bio-computational simulation study