Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Research Articles

MSC-derived exosome ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating NOD 1/NLRP3-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inflammation.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is an irreversible and usually fatal lung disease. In recent years, the therapeutic role of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exos) in anti-fibrotic treatment has received much attention. In this study, we aimed to determine the anti-fibrotic properties and related molecular mechanisms of MSC-exos in Bleomycin(BLM)-induced PF. We used BLM-induced mice model of PF and in vitro model. MSC-exos were isolated from BMSCs cells using Exo Quick-TC kit and identified using conventional methods. Using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) to detect cell viability. Classic molecular biology approaches such as RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were used to examine molecular pathways. Histopathological examination was performed using HE and Masson staining. MSC-exos alleviated inflammation, inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and ameliorated PF. Further studies showed that MSC-exos regulated NOD1/NF-kB signaling pathway to suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, overexpression of NLRP3 significantly reversed the anti-fibrotic effects of MSC-exos in BLM-induced lung epithelial cells. MSC-derived exosome ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating NOD 1/NLRP3-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inflammation.

SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin.

Growing evidence suggests that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is pivotal for tumor progression. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer, characterized by its high recurrence rate, aggressive metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the underlying molecular pathways in TNBC could aid in identifying new therapeutic targets. In this study, we conducted bioinformatics analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases to examine PTPN11 (encoding SHP2) expression levels and perform survival analysis in TNBC. Additionally, we analyzed SHP2 levels in four TNBC cell lines and a normal breast epithelial cell line using Western blot. Furthermore, we knocked down SHP2 expression via RNA interference in three TNBC cell lines. To assess the impact of SHP2 on invasion and migration, we conducted transwell assays and wound healing experiments. An in vivo experiment utilizing a mouse xenograft model was also performed to evaluate tumor metastasis. Moreover, we detected the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers and investigated the mechanism between SHP2 and β-catenin using Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments. We found that high SHP2 expression was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. The migratory and invasive abilities of TNBC cells in vitro, as well as the metastatic potential of TNBC in mouse xenograft models, were reduced after SHP2 depletion. Downregulation of SHP2 also decreased the expression of mesenchymal markers but induced upregulation of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Additionally, SHP2 promoted β-catenin stability by inhibiting its degradation via the proteasome. Furthermore, c-Myc expression and GSK3β and AKT phosphorylation, which are involved in β-catenin signaling, were decreased in SHP2-depleted TNBC cells. Our study demonstrates that SHP2 is involved in migration, invasion, and EMT in TNBC cells by modulating β-catenin. Manipulating SHP2 expression or its target protein β-catenin may offer a novel approach to TNBC therapy.

Perilipin2-dependent lipid droplets accumulation promotes metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma via epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Emerging evidence shows that lipid metabolic reprogramming plays a vital role in tumor metastasis. The effect and mechanism of fatty acids and lipid droplets (LDs), the core products of lipid metabolism, on the metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), need further exploration. In this study, the influence of palmitic acid (PA) and oleic acid (OA) on the migration and invasion ability of OSCC cells was determined by in vitro experiments. Genetic manipulation of PLIN2 was performed to explore its effect on the accumulation of LDs and OSCC metastasis. Possible mechanisms of these biological effects were clarified by detecting the levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway proteins as well as conducting various bioinformatics analyses. The results indicated that PA/OA promoted the migration and invasion of OSCC cells and induced PLIN2-dependent LDs accumulation in vitro. Knockdown of PLIN2 inhibited the LDs accumulation and the migration and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro, while overexpression of PLIN2 enhanced those of OSCC cells in vitro and also promoted the metastasis of OSCC in vivo. Besides, PLIN2 up-regulation activated the PI3K pathway and subsequently enhanced EMT in OSCC cells in vitro. OSCC patients with higher PLIN2 expression possessed poorer prognosis and higher sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs (1S,3 R)-RSL3 and ML-210. In conclusion, PLIN2-dependent LDs accumulation could promote the metastasis of OSCC cells by regulating EMT. PLIN2 might be a potential therapeutic target for OSCC patients, especially those with obesity.

UBE2J1 is identified as a novel plasma cell-related gene involved in the prognosis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

BackgroundImmune cells within tumor tissues play important roles in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, thus affecting tumor progression and the therapeutic response. The current study was designed to identify key markers of plasma cells and explore their role in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).MethodsWe utilized single-cell sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify key immune cell types within HGSOC tissues and to extract related markers via the Seurat package. The effects of immune cell markers on prognosis were analyzed via univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) of bulk sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-HGSOC cohort. Finally, the effects of key markers on HGSOC cells were evaluated via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell, colony formation, wound healing, immunofluorescence and in vivo tumor growth assays.ResultsAt the single-cell level, we detected a significant increase in the proportion of plasma cells in HGSOC samples compared to that in normal ovarian samples. Within HGSOC tissues, these plasma cells were found to interact with CD8 + T cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells. In addition, patients in the high-plasma cell-related score group had better survival rates and higher epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis and immune scores. Moreover, univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses revealed that ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 J1 (UBE2J1) is a prognostic marker in HGSOC. Further functional studies revealed that overexpression of UBE2J1 promoted cell proliferation, invasion, migration and colony formation, whereas UBE2J1 knockdown attenuated the abovementioned cellular behaviors. Additionally, UBE2J1 overexpression promoted EMT, as evidenced by alterations in the protein expression levels of N-cadherin, snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (Slug), Twist family BHLH transcription factor 1 (Twist 1) and E-cadherin. Moreover, we found that UBE2J1 silencing was able to inhibit the tumor growth in vivo.ConclusionsOverall, this study elucidated the role of plasma cells and revealed UBE2J1 as a novel oncogene in HGSOC, uncovering new mechanisms related to HGSOC tumorigenesis and promising therapeutic targets for HGSOC patients.

UHRF1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediating renal fibrosis by activating the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway

Renal fibrosis is widely recognized as the ultimate outcome of many chronic kidney diseases. The process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the progression of fibrosis following renal injury. UHRF1, as a critical epigenetic regulator, may play an essential role in the pathogenesis and progression of renal fibrosis and EMT. However, the potential mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We aim to investigate the role of UHRF1 in EMT and renal fibrosis and to evaluate the potential benefits of Hinokitiol in preventing renal fibrosis. Based on data from the GEO and Nephroseq databases, UHRF1 exhibited high expression levels in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model and in patients with nephropathy. Gene set enrichment analysis predicted that UHRF1 may function through the TGF-β signaling pathway in fibrosis. By establishing a TGF-β1-stimulated HK2 cell model and animal models of renal fibrosis induced by UUO and folic acid, we confirmed that UHRF1 was highly expressed in both in vitro and in vivo models of renal fibrosis. After knockdown of UHRF1 in vitro, we found that the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway was inhibited, renal tubular epithelial cell EMT was reduced and renal fibrosis was attenuated. Hinokitiol has been reported to reduce the expression of UHRF1 mRNA and protein. We observed that inhibition of UHRF1 with Hinokitiol ameliorated induced EMT and renal fibrosis by reducing SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, our data demonstrated that the upregulation of UHRF1 accelerated the EMT of renal tubular cells and renal fibrosis through the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway. Hinokitiol may ameliorate renal fibrosis by suppressing the expression of UHRF1 in the kidney.

Absent in melanoma 2: a potent suppressor of retinal pigment epithelial-mesenchymal transition and experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical and complex process involved in normal embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and tumor progression. It also contributes to retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Although absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) has been linked to inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, and cancers, its role in the EMT of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE-EMT) and retinal diseases remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that AIM2 functions as a potent suppressor of RPE cell proliferation and EMT to maintain retinal homeostasis. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) revealed that AIM2 was significantly downregulated in primary human RPE (phRPE) cells undergoing EMT and proliferation. Consequently, Aim2-deficient mice showed morphological changes and increased FN expression in RPE cells under physiological conditions, whereas AIM2 overexpression in phRPE cells inhibited EMT. In a retinal detachment-induced PVR mouse model, AIM2 deficiency promotes RPE-EMT, resulting in severe experimental PVR. Clinical samples further confirmed the downregulation of AIM2 in the PVR membranes from patients. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome analysis revealed that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was significantly related to RPE-EMT and that AIM2 inhibited AKT activation in RPE cells by reducing its phosphorylation. Moreover, treatment with eye drops containing an AKT inhibitor alleviated RPE-EMT and the severity of experimental PVR. These findings provide new insights into the complex mechanisms underlying RPE-EMT and PVR pathogenesis, with implications for rational strategies for potential therapeutic applications in PVR by targeting RPE-EMT.

TMEM160 Promotes Tumor Growth in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Cervical Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines

The Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) is an international initiative. It aims to create a protein list expressed in human cells by each chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms, akin to the gene list generated by the Human Genome Project. Transmembrane protein 160 (TMEM160) is a member of the transmembrane proteins (TMEM) family. TMEM proteins have been implicated in cancer-related processes, including cell proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the role of TMEM160 in non-small cell lung cancer and cervical cancer using cell lines, clinical samples, and xenograft studies. Our findings demonstrated that TMEM160 knockdown decreased the proliferation of lung and cervical cancer cell lines. We observed that TMEM160 is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm and dynamic localization during mitosis of cancer cells and discovered a novel interaction between TMEM160 and nuclear proteins such as NUP50. Furthermore, the TMEM160 interactome was enriched in processes associated with apical junctions, xenobiotic metabolism, glycolysis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, reactive oxygen species, UV response DNA, the P53 pathway, and the mitotic spindle. This study provides an initial understanding of the function of TMEM160 in lung and cervical cancer progression and clarifies the need to continue investigating the participation of TMEM160 in these cancers.

KAT2B inhibits proliferation and invasion via inactivating TGF-β/Smad3 pathway-medicated autophagy and EMT in epithelial ovarian cancer

Lysine acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B) plays a crucial role in epigenetic regulation and tumor pathogenesis. Our study investigates KAT2B’s function in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using in vivo and in vitro methods. Immunohistochemistry showed the KAT2B expression in EOC tissues. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) further identified altered gene expression profiles following KAT2B silencing in EOC cells. Western blot and qRT-PCR were employed to assess the protein and mRNA expression, respectively. KAT2B downregulated in EOC tissues and correlated with both FIGO stage and grade. KAT2B silencing induced autophagy, enhancing cell proliferation and invasion, while overexpression had opposite effects. In vivo, KAT2B silencing increased tumor volume and weight, mitigated by autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. Bioinformatics and co-immunoprecipitation assays identified a KAT2B-SMAD7 interaction. Mechanistic investigations suggested that KAT2B knockdown enhanced autophagy via activation of the TGF-β/Smad3/7 signaling pathway, thereby driving epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, and invasion in EOC. Additionally, our data hint at a potential role for the AKT/mTOR pathway. KAT2B acts as a putative tumor suppressor in EOC, where its reduced expression correlates with advanced disease stages. It is implicated in the regulation of autophagy, proliferation, and invasion via the TGF-β/Smad3/7 pathway, positioning KAT2B as a candidate therapeutic target for EOC interventions.

Cell signaling communication within papillary craniopharyngioma revealed by an integrated analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing

ObjectiveThis study aims to elucidate the primary signaling communication among papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP) tumor cells.MethodsFive samples of PCP were utilized for single-cell RNA sequencing. The most relevant ligand and receptor interactions among different cells were calculated using the CellChat package in R software. Bulk RNA sequencing of 11 tumor samples and five normal controls was used to investigate the pair interactions detected by single-cell RNA sequencing.ResultsFibroblasts were not found in ACP, whereas they were detected in PCP. InferCNV revealed high CNV scores for the clusters of epithelial cells and fibroblasts using immune cells as a reference. Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Interferon Gamma Response, p53 Pathway, and Estrogen Response Early are pathways commonly shared by fibroblasts and epithelial cells, ranking high in priority. The Wnt signaling pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway play a crucial role in facilitating communication between epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Neutrophils were recognized as the main receivers of incoming signals, with ANXA1-FPR1 and MIF-(CD74 + CXCR2) being identified as the primary signals transmitted from fibroblasts to neutrophils.ConclusionThrough analyzing the communication of essential signaling pathways, ligands, and receptors among epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and neutrophils in PCP tumor tissues, we have identified certain molecules with promising prognostic and therapeutic potential.

M6A -mediated lncRNA SCIRT stability promotes NSCLC progression through binding to SFPQ and activating the PI3K/Akt pathway

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has emerged as one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, a pervasive epigenetic modification in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), plays a crucial role in NSCLC progression. Here, we report that m6A modification and the expression of the lncRNA stem cell inhibitory RNA transcript (SCIRT) was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Functional analysis revealed that SCIRT enhanced NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial‒mesenchymal transition. The m6A modification of SCIRT can be installed by METTL3, which enhanced the stability of this lncRNA. Notably, SCIRT overexpression in response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) sensitized cells to camptothecin (CPT) and impairs DNA homologous recombination repair. SCIRT directly interacted with SFPQ in vitro and was primarily localized in the nucleus. Furthermore, ectopic SCIRT expression upregulated SFPQ and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway following CPT treatment, suggesting an unexpected role of SCIRT in facilitating SFPQ-mediated DSB repair. In brief, our findings highlight the oncogenic role of SCIRT in NSCLC by binding SFPQ and activating PI3K/Akt signaling, presenting a promising therapeutic target for personalized NSCLC treatment.

Impact and mechanism of the TBX-22 gene mutation G874A on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in medial edge epithelial cells.

Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) are prevalent congenital anomalies with complex genetic causes. The G874A mutation of T-box transcription factor 22 (TBX-22) gene is notably associated with CL/P, while the underlying mechanism remains to be clarified. Studies have shown that the restriction of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) process in medial edge epithelial cells (MEEs) is crucial for CL/P development. In our current research, primary MEEs, isolated and cultured from mouse embryos, were genetically introduced the TBX-22 G874A mutation and subsequently treated with TGF-β1. They were then utilized to test the hypothesis that the G874A mutation in TBX22 plays a role in the regulation of the EMT in MEEs. Our findings reveal that TBX22 reduces miR140-5p transcription by binding to its promoter, while miR140-5p downregulates TGFBR1 protein expression by targeting its mRNA 3'-UTR. In other words, TBX22 could indirectly positively regulates TGFBR1 expression post-transcriptionally. Functional cellular assays showed that the G874A mutation of TBX-22 counteracted TGF-β1-induced decrease in proliferation and migration. Western blotting results showed that the G874A mutation of TBX-22 inhibited EMT protein expression (α-SMA and Vimentin) and promoted E-cadherin in TGF-β1-induced MEEs. To summarize, our research reveals that the G874A mutation of TBX22 impedes the progression of EMT in MEEs through the upregulation of miR140-5p and the downregulation of TGFBR1. This highlights TGFBR1 as a viable target for the prevention of CL/P.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Modulated by Genistein in Cancer

Genistein (4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone) is a phytoestrogen belonging to a subclass of natural flavonoids that exhibits a wide range of pharmacological functions, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These characteristics make genistein a valuable phytochemical compound for the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. Genistein effectively inhibits tumor growth and dissemination by modulating key cellular mechanisms. This includes the suppression of angiogenesis, the inhibition of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and the regulation of cancer stem cell proliferation. These effects are mediated through pivotal signaling pathways such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin. Moreover, genistein interferes with the function of specific cyclin/CDK complexes and modulates the activation of Bcl-2/Bax and caspases, playing a critical role in halting tumor cell division and promoting apoptosis. The aim of this review is to discuss in detail the key cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic anticancer effects of this flavonoid.

Transcriptome of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Reveals Two Molecular Subtypes with Distinct Tumor Microenvironment and Prognosis.

Background: Although patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) generally have a poor prognosis and there are currently no effective treatment options, survival and response to therapy vary between patients. Genomic and transcriptomic profiles of ATC have been reported; however, a comprehensive study of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of ATC is still lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the TME characteristics associated with ATC and their prognostic implications. Methods: We analyzed bulk RNA transcriptomic data from 1,634 samples-including 476 normal thyroid tissues, 25 benign thyroid adenomas, 340 RAS-like and 719 BRAFV600E-like differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC-R and DTC-B, respectively), and 74 ATCs. We assessed the TME and molecular characteristics of these thyroid cancer subtypes using deconvolution analysis. Results: The TME of ATC was characterized by a high abundance of immune cells and fibroblasts and a low abundance of epithelial cells compared to other thyroid histologies. During its malignant evolution, ATC exhibited an ecotype more closely related to DTC-B than RAS-like DTC (DTC-R). Furthermore, we identified two distinct molecular subtypes within ATC with significant differences in their TMEs. We termed the subtype with increased immune cells and fibroblasts as ATC-immune-fibroblast (ATC-IF) and the subtype with elevated epithelial and endothelial cells as ATC-epithelial-endothelial (ATC-E). The ATC-IF group had worse disease-specific survival (log-rank p = 0.035), higher ERK scores, and lower thyroid differentiation scores than the ATC-E group. While both ATC subtypes had elevated immune cells and fibroblasts compared to DTC-R and DTC-B, this increase was more pronounced in ATC-IF, with a marked rise in myeloid lineage cells and promigratory fibroblasts. Immune checkpoint gene expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition scores were significantly higher in the ATC-IF group than in the ATC-E group. Conclusion: ATC shows a TME distinct from that of DTC and can be further divided into two molecular subtypes-each with its own unique TME. The ATC-IF group, with a poorer prognosis and higher ERK score, is enriched in immune cells and fibroblasts, which may represent potential therapeutic targets.

Abstract B029: TWIST1 Associates with resistance to treatment and Twist1 drives tumor progression in vivo for small cell lung cancer

Abstract Purpose: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive and deadly malignancy. Two major factors contributing to the high mortality of SCLC are early metastasis and rapid development of therapy resistance. Recent research suggests upregulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and the EMT transcription factor Twist1 correlated with accelerated tumor progression and chemoradiation (CRT) resistance in SCLC. However, a causal relationship between Twist1 and these aspects of SCLC biology has not been rigorously studied. Here, we investigated whether Twist1 upregulation could promote SCLC tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance to CRT. Materials and Methods: We analyzed transcriptomic data from the IMpower133 phase 3 trial of extensive stage SCLC stratified by median TWIST1 levels using Kaplan-Meir statistic. To investigate the roles of Twist1 directly in SCLC biology, we have generated a novel genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) termed RPGT (Rb1Flox; Trp53Flox; ROSA26LSL-rtTA-IRES-EGFP; Twist1-TetO7-Luc). The RPGT GEMM enables the generation of autochthonous SCLC tumors after induction with Cre recombinase adenovirus. By withdrawing or providing doxycycline to mice, we can control Twist1 expression to activate or inactivate EMT in tumors. By characterizing mouse tumor samples with histological, immunostaining, and transcriptomic profiling analyses, we evaluated the impact of Twist1 and EMT upregulation on SCLC tumor biology and plasticity as well as metastatic spread and outgrowth. To evaluate the impact of EMT activation on SCLC sensitivity to CRT, we performed in vitro viability assays on primary tumor cell lines established from RPGT tumors. We also treated RPGT mice with vs. without Twist1 overexpression with CRT to validate our in vitro data. Results: In the chemotherapy alone control arm of IMpower133 there was a trend towards a difference in overall survival (OS) between TWIST1-high or -low patients (p=025 by log-rank) and in the NMF1/NEUROD1 subtype, patients with TWIST1-high had statistically significantly inferior OS (p=0.01). We then observed that both control (no Twist1 overexpression) and Twist1-overexpressing RPGT mice developed neuroendocrine SCLC tumors. While SCLC-ASCL1 was the predominant subtype in both cohorts, RPGT tumors exhibited more plasticity, with features associated with SCLC-NEUROD1 subtype. Furthermore, Twist1 overexpression dramatically increased the metastatic incidence in RPGT compared to control animals, indicating an important role of EMT in SCLC dissemination. Transcriptomic profiling of primary tumors and matching metastases in RPGT mice also revealed downregulation of Twist1 and EMT in metastases, suggesting that EMT suppression was necessary for metastatic outgrowth. Furthermore, we found that repressing Twist1 expression enhanced SCLC susceptibility to CRT both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Overall, our data suggest that TWIST1/Twist1 plays an important role in promoting SCLC plasticity, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Citation Format: Triet Nguyen, Jinhee Chang, Kathleen Gabrielson, Amol Shetty, Yang Song, Apaala Chatterjee, Audrey Lafargue, Yoo Sun Kim, Danielle Council, Aaron Chan, Dipanwita Dutta Chowdhury, Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Nick Connis, Daniel Sforza, Eric Gardner, Christopher McFarland, Mohammad Rezaee, Nitin Roper, Christine Hann, Phuoc T. Tran. TWIST1 Associates with resistance to treatment and Twist1 drives tumor progression in vivo for small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Translating Targeted Therapies in Combination with Radiotherapy; 2025 Jan 26-29; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(2_Suppl):Abstract nr B029.

Novel transcripts of EMT driving the malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, progressive, and fibrotic condition of the oral mucosa that carries an elevated risk of malignant transformation. We aimed to identify and validate novel genes associated with the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSF. Genes regulating EMT were identified through differential gene expression analysis, using a LogFC threshold of -1 and + 1 and a padj value < 0.05, based on data from GEO datasets and the TCGA-HNSC datasets. The curated EMT genes were correlated with functional cancer states and subjected to clustering to identify candidate genes. Integration of bioinformatics and proteomics led to the discovery of the EMT genes MMP9, SPARC, and ITGA5 as novel candidates. Comprehensive pathway and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed their roles in regulating EMT in OSF, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and OSF-associated squamous cell carcinoma (OSFSCC). The significant roles of MMP9, SPARC, and ITGA5 in fibrosis and malignancy suggest a novel mechanism in which fibrosis-associated type 2 EMT undergoes transition to type 3 EMT, driving OSF towards malignancy.

Phospholipase C Beta 2 as a Key Regulator of Tumor Progression and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via PI3K/AKT Signaling in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents the most common form of invasive kidney cancer in adults. Among the components critical to cellular regulation is Phospholipase C Beta 2 (PLCB2), a member of the phospholipase C enzyme family. This enzyme plays a vital role in managing key cellular functions such as growth, differentiation, migration, and survival. Despite its significant importance, the specific expression patterns and molecular mechanisms of PLCB2 in the progression of RCC are not well understood. Methods: This investigation employed a combination of bioinformatics analyses, scRNA-seq, functional assays, transcriptome sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence, rescue experiments, and Western blotting to explore the regulatory function of PLCB2 in driving the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in RCC through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Results: PLCB2 expression is significantly elevated in RCC samples, and this increase is inversely correlated with patient prognosis. The knockdown of PLCB2 in RCC cell lines leads to a marked reduction in cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT. Transcriptome sequencing further revealed that PLCB2 is significantly associated with the PI3K/AKT pathway. Notably, the PI3K activator 740Y-P was able to reverse the reductions in migration, invasion, and EMT caused by the PLCB2 knockdown. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the pivotal role of PLCB2 in regulating RCC invasion and metastasis by modulating the EMT via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This highlights PLCB2 not only as a key prognostic biomarker, but also as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of advanced-stage RCC, offering new avenues for more effective interventions.

Intervention of a Communication Between PI3K/Akt and β-Catenin by (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Suppresses TGF-β1-Promoted Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasive Phenotype of NSCLC Cells.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) assists in the acquisition of invasiveness, relapse, and resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can be caused by the signaling of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) through Smad-mediated or Smad-independent pathways. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a multifunctional cancer-preventing bioconstituent found in tea polyphenols, has been shown to repress TGF-β1-triggered EMT in the human NSCLC A549 cell line by inhibiting the activation of Smad2 and Erk1/2 or reducing the acetylation of Smad2 and Smad3. However, its impact on the Smad-independent pathway remains unclear. Here, we found that EGCG, similar to LY294002 (a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K]), downregulated Akt activation and restored the action of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), accompanied by TGF-β1-caused changes in hallmarks of EMT such as N-cadherin, E-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail in A549 cells. EGCG inhibited β-catenin expression and its nuclear localization caused by TGF-β1, suggesting that EGCG blocks the crosstalk between the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β route and β-catenin. Furthermore, it was shown that EGCG suppressed TGF-β1-elicited invasive phenotypes of A549 cells, including invading and migrating activities, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) secretion, cell adhesion, and wound healing. In summary, we suggest that EGCG inhibits the induction of EMT by TGF-β1 in NSCLC not only through a Smad-dependent pathway, but also through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/β-catenin signaling axis.

Abstract P007: A digital pathology multimodal artificial intelligence algorithm is associated with pro-metastatic genomic pathways in oligometastatic prostate cancer

Abstract Purpose Oligometastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (omCSPC) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease. A multimodal artificial intelligence (MMAI) algorithm (ArteraAI Prostate Test), which incorporates digital histopathology and clinical information, is prognostic for outcomes in localized prostate cancer. We hypothesized MMAI algorithms are also prognostic in omCSPC and correlate with tumor biology. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association between MMAI score vector features (VF) with outcomes and genomics of omCSPC. Materials/Methods We correlated somatic pathogenic mutations and ArteraAI MMAI scores from 168 omCSPC patients. RNAseq profiling was performed on a subset of 65 metachronous patients. Somatic nonsynonymous pathogenic mutations from panel DNAseq were identified using Mutect2 and ClinVAR database. Pair-end reads of RNAseq were aligned to Human reference (hg38) using HISAT2. To identify the differentially mutated genes associated with MMAI scores, samples were binned separately based on the median or quartile MMAI scores, and Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate differentially mutated genes between bins. Differential expression of genes were evaluated using DEseq2 and gene set enrichment analysis. VFs from the MMAI scores and correlated with mutations using Wilcoxon test. Results Median follow-up was 34.7 months. Overall survival was shorter in patients with high MMAI scores (top quartile) compared to those with low MMAI scores (bottom three quartiles, p=0.017). MMAI scores were significantly higher in synchronous compared to metachronous omCSPC (p&amp;lt;0.05). DNAseq demonstrated high MMAI scores were associated with higher incidence of BRCA2/ATM (p=0.008) and WNT pathway (APC/CTNNB1) mutations (p=0.13). Conversely, high MMAI scores were associated with lower incidence of SPOP mutations (p=0.03). RNAseq revealed differential gene expression based on MMAI score, with higher scores being enriched for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway expression (p&amp;lt;0.01). Of the 128 VFs that contribute to MMAI scores, 32 were associated with somatic mutations. Specifically, 15 VFs associated with mutations in DNA damage response (p&amp;lt;0.01); 8 VFs associated with mutated genes of PIK3 pathway(p&amp;lt;0.01); 4 VFs associated with mutated genes of TP53 pathway(p&amp;lt;0.01); and 1 VF associated with genomic alteration in WNT pathway genes. Conclusions We demonstrate digital histopathology features using MMAI algorithms are prognostic for outcomes in omCSPC. We directly correlated MMAI scores with DNA mutations and transcriptional programs involved in metastatic propagation with higher scores associated with aggressive alterations (WNT, BRCA2/ATM, EMT) and lower scores associated with more indolent alterations (SPOP). Furthermore, VF were able to be directly correlated with DNA mutations. This suggests digital histopathology-based MMAI algorithms identify phenotypic pathologic features correlated with underlying biological genomic and transcriptomic processes and can be leveraged to better understand the heterogeneity of omCSPC. Citation Format: Matthew P. Deek, Yang Song, Amol Shetty, Philip Sutera, Adrianna A. Mendes, Kim Van der Eecken, Emmalyn Chen, Timothy Showalter, Trevor J Royce, Tamara Todorovic, Huei-Chung Huang, Scott A. Houck, Rikiya Yamashita, Ana Ponce Kiess, Daniel Y. Song, Tamara Lotan, Andre Esteva, Felix Y. Feng, Piet Ost, Phuoc T. Tran.A digital pathology multimodal artificial intelligence algorithm is associated with pro-metastatic genomic pathways in oligometastatic prostate cancer.[abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Translating Targeted Therapies in Combination with Radiotherapy; 2025 Jan 26-29; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(2_Suppl):Abstract nr P007

Transcriptome-Based Survival Analysis Identifies MAP4K4 as a Prognostic Marker in Gastric Cancer with Microsatellite Instability

Background/Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with diverse molecular subtypes. While microsatellite instability (MSI) GC generally carries a favorable prognosis, a subset of patients experiences poor outcomes, highlighting the need for refined prognostic markers. Methods: This study utilized transcriptomic and clinical data from two independent cohorts, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG), to identify novel prognostic genes in MSI-GC. Results: Through rigorous survival analysis, we identified high MAP4K4 expression (MAP4K4high) as an independent and robust predictor of poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) specifically within the MSI-GC subtype. MAP4K4high was associated with increased hazard ratios for both OS and DFS in both cohorts, even after adjusting for clinicopathological factors. Further analysis revealed that MAP4K4high MSI-GC tumors exhibit a distinct molecular profile characterized by increased extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and a microenvironment enriched in monocytes and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Notably, a subgroup of MSI-GC patients with a CIN-like phenotype and high MAP4K4 expression exhibited particularly dismal outcomes. Conclusions: Our findings establish MAP4K4 as a promising prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in MSI-GC and suggest its potential role in driving aggressive tumor behavior through modulation of the tumor microenvironment.

Free fatty acids derived from lipophagy enhanced resistance to anoikis by activating Src in high-invasive clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells.

Autophagy-mediated anoikis resistance plays a critical role in the initiation of tumor metastasis. Therefore, we investigated the role and mechanism of anoikis resistance mediated by free fatty acids (FFAs) derived from lipophagy in highly invasive clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, we found that the highly invasive ccRCC cell line Himi exhibited enhanced resistance to anoikis and elevated lipophagy levels. The increased lipophagy observed in Himi ccRCC cells contributed to their resistance to anoikis. The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src was significantly upregulated in Himi cells cultured under suspension conditions and in patients with poor prognoses. The underlying mechanism revealed that the FFAs released from lipophagy activated the phosphorylated Tyr419 site of Src, thereby promoting ccRCC invasion, facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enhancing angiogenesis, and conferring resistance to anoikis. Therefore, the present study revealed that FFAs generated from the degradation of lipid droplets via lipophagy enhanced resistance to anoikis by activating the phosphorylated Tyr419 site of Src in highly invasive ccRCC.