Initial Stages Of Carcinogenesis Research Articles

Pericytes Are Immunoregulatory Cells in Glioma Genesis and Progression.

Vascular co-option is a consequence of the direct interaction between perivascular cells, known as pericytes (PCs), and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells (GBMcs). This process is essential for inducing changes in the pericytes' anti-tumoral and immunoreactive phenotypes. Starting from the initial stages of carcinogenesis in GBM, PCs conditioned by GBMcs undergo proliferation, acquire a pro-tumoral and immunosuppressive phenotype by expressing and secreting immunosuppressive molecules, and significantly hinder the activation of T cells, thereby facilitating tumor growth. Inhibiting the pericyte (PC) conditioning mechanisms in the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) results in immunological activation and tumor disappearance. This underscores the pivotal role of PCs as a key cell in the TME, responsible for tumor-induced immunosuppression and enabling GBM cells to evade the immune system. Other cells within the TME, such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and microglia, have also been identified as contributors to this immunomodulation. In this paper, we will review the role of these three cell types in the immunosuppressive properties of the TME. Our conclusion is that the cellular heterogeneity of immunocompetent cells within the TME may lead to the misinterpretation of cellular lineage identification due to different reactive stages and the identification of PCs as TAMs. Consequently, novel therapies could be developed to disrupt GBM-PC interactions and/or PC conditioning through vascular co-option, thereby exposing GBMcs to the immune system.

Different Patterns of Vascularization in Preinvasive States and at the Initial Stages of Invasive Growth of the Neoplasms.

Tissue samples obtained during surgery from 90 patients with malignant neoplasms of various localizations were studied (the presence of precancerous dysplastic alterations and their transition to invasive cancer in the slides were obligatory condition). In addition to traditional histological methods, immunohistochemical reactions for detection of HIF-1α, GLUT1, CAIX, and CD31 were performed. At the precancerous stage including cancer in situ, progressive signs of reduced blood vessel density and hypoxia were observed. At the earliest stages of invasion, hypoxia was compensated by abundant vascularization of the stroma, which was confirmed by disappearance of hypoxia markers in tumor cells and their persistence in the deep layers of the tumor far from blood vessels. At the same time, the ischemic phenotype was preserved in tumor cells even in abundantly vascularized stroma, which can attest to deep metabolic changes in some tumor cells similar to the Warburg effect. Thus, the initial stages of carcinogenesis are associated with reduction of the vascular network up to the complete absence of blood vessels in the cancer in situ. After migration to the vascularized subepithelial stroma, e.g., having started invasion that compensated for hypoxia, the tumor cells no longer expressed markers of hypoxia, except the cells located far from blood vessels. In parallel, neoplastic cell clones that presumably have changed their phenotype and transformed their metabolism similar to the Warburg effect were detected. In the deep layers of the tumors, these cells coexist in different proportions. Analysis of the content of these cells, their alternation, and mutual transformation will be very valuable for estimating the sensitivity of tumor cells to therapeutic measures.

Assessment of tumoral and peritumoral inflammatory reaction in cutaneous malignant melanomas.

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with an increasing worldwide incidence in recent decades. The main risk factor for increasing the skin cancer incidence is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Of the two major forms of skin cancer (melanomas and non-melanotic cancers), the cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most aggressive form, causing about 80% of the deaths resulted from this type of tumor. Malignant melanoma develops through malignant transformation of melanocytes in the skin because of prolonged exposure to solar or artificial UV. The malignant transformation of the melanocytes in the skin is accompanied by the presence of a local inflammatory reaction that, in the initial stages of carcinogenesis, would oppose to tumor development. Chronic exposure to UV or other etiopathogenic factors induces chronic inflammation, which, by producing inflammatory molecules (cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins), constitutes a tumoral microenvironment that favors carcinogenesis, tumor invasion, metastasis, and the presence of neoplastic "mutant cells" that avoid the protective action of the immune system. Using immunohistochemistry techniques, we assessed the intra- and peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate cells in CM. The chronic inflammatory infiltrate presented more intense in the peritumoral stroma compared to the intratumoral one, heterogenous, more intensely composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, and mast cells (MCs), the most numerous cells in the inflammatory infiltrate being T-lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages; B-lymphocytes and MCs were in a small number, especially intratumorally. Inflammatory cells had a direct contact with tumor cells, blood vessels, connective matrix, suggesting that the inflammatory microenvironment plays an important role in carcinogenesis, tumor invasion, local angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis.

Basal extrusion of single-oncogenic mutant cells induces dome-like structures with altered microenvironments.

At the initial stage of carcinogenesis, oncogenic transformation occurs in single cells within epithelial layers. However, the behavior and fate of the newly emerging transformed cells remain enigmatic. Here, using originally established mouse models, we investigate the fate of RasV12-transformed cells that appear in a mosaic manner within epithelial tissues. In the lung bronchial epithelium, most majority of RasV12-transformed cells are apically extruded, whereas noneliminated RasV12 cells are often basally delaminated leading to various noncell-autonomous changes in surrounding environments; macrophages and activated fibroblasts are accumulated, and normal epithelial cells overlying RasV12 cells overproliferate and form a convex multilayer, which is termed a 'dome-like structure'. In addition, basally extruded RasV12 cells acquire certain features of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, the expression of COX-2 is profoundly elevated in RasV12 cells in dome-like structures, and treatment with the COX inhibitor ibuprofen suppresses the recruitment of activated fibroblasts and moderately diminishes the formation of dome-like structures. Therefore, basal extrusion of single-oncogenic mutant cells can induce a tumor microenvironment and EMT and generate characteristic precancerous lesions, providing molecular insights into the earlier steps of cancer development.

Potential Role of Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystalline for Early Diagnostics of Ovarian Cancer.

Calcification is one of the clinical and morphological manifestations of ovarian tumors and it begins at the initial stages of carcinogenesis. Thus, this process can be used for the early diagnostics of some malignant ovarian tumors. We compared the results of ultrasound and histology and found that calcifications of a size less than 200 μm are not detected by ultrasound. These calcified structures are round fragile particles of different sizes. In the EDX (Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) spectra, the main lines were from Ca and P, and the ratio of these elements corresponds to hydroxyapatite. Thus, we established that hydroxyapatite is the main mineral component of ovarian psammoma bodies and could be used for early diagnostics of ovarian malignant neoplasia.

Leveling Up the Controversial Role of Neutrophils in Cancer: When the Complexity Becomes Entangled.

Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell in the circulation of human and act as gatekeepers to discard foreign elements that have entered the body. They are essential in initiating immune responses for eliminating invaders, such as microorganisms and alien particles, as well as to act as immune surveyors of cancer cells, especially during the initial stages of carcinogenesis and for eliminating single metastatic cells in the circulation and in the premetastatic organs. Since neutrophils can secrete a whole range of factors stored in their many granules as well as produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species upon stimulation, neutrophils may directly or indirectly affect carcinogenesis in both the positive and negative directions. An intricate crosstalk between tumor cells, neutrophils, other immune cells and stromal cells in the microenvironment modulates neutrophil function resulting in both anti- and pro-tumor activities. Both the anti-tumor and pro-tumor activities require chemoattraction towards the tumor cells, neutrophil activation and ROS production. Divergence is seen in other neutrophil properties, including differential secretory repertoire and membrane receptor display. Many of the direct effects of neutrophils on tumor growth and metastases are dependent on tight neutrophil–tumor cell interactions. Among them, the neutrophil Mac-1 interaction with tumor ICAM-1 and the neutrophil L-selectin interaction with tumor-cell sialomucins were found to be involved in the neutrophil-mediated capturing of circulating tumor cells resulting in increased metastatic seeding. On the other hand, the anti-tumor function of neutrophils was found to rely on the interaction between tumor-surface-expressed receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Cathepsin G expressed on the neutrophil surface. Intriguingly, these two molecules are also involved in the promotion of tumor growth and metastases. RAGE is upregulated during early inflammation-induced carcinogenesis and was found to be important for sustaining tumor growth and homing at metastatic sites. Cathepsin G was found to be essential for neutrophil-supported lung colonization of cancer cells. These data level up the complexity of the dual role of neutrophils in cancer.

Sequential oncogenic mutations influence cell competition

At the initial stage of carcinogenesis, newly emerging transformed cells are often eliminated from epithelial layers via cell competition with the surrounding normal cells. For instance, when surrounded by normal cells, oncoprotein RasV12-transformed cells are extruded into the apical lumen of epithelia. During cancer development, multiple oncogenic mutations accumulate within epithelial tissues. However, it remains elusive whether and how cell competition is also involved in this process. In this study, using a mammalian cell culture model system, we have investigated what happens upon the consecutive mutations of Ras and tumor suppressor protein Scribble. When Ras mutation occurs under the Scribble-knockdown background, apical extrusion of Scribble/Ras double-mutant cells is strongly diminished. In addition, at the boundary with Scribble/Ras cells, Scribble-knockdown cells frequently undergo apoptosis and are actively engulfed by the neighboring Scribble/Ras cells. The comparable apoptosis and engulfment phenotypes are also observed in Drosophila epithelial tissues between Scribble/Ras double-mutant and Scribble single-mutant cells. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential is enhanced in Scribble/Ras cells, causing the increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Suppression of mitochondrial membrane potential or ROS production diminishes apoptosis and engulfment of the surrounding Scribble-knockdown cells, indicating that mitochondrial metabolism plays a key role in the competitive interaction between double- and single-mutant cells. Moreover, mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase) acts downstream of these processes. These results imply that sequential oncogenic mutations can profoundly influence cell competition, a transition from loser to winner. Further studies would open new avenues for cell competition-based cancer treatment, thereby blocking clonal expansion of more malignant populations within tumors.

Abstract 2596: Stage-specific inhibition of NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis by 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)seleno-aspirin (p-XS-Asp)

Abstract Chemopreventive efficacy of p-XSC is well documented but it failed due to systemic toxicity issues. This toxicity could partially be due to the release of poisonous hydrogen cyanide generated after p-XSC metabolizes to form active bis-selenol (p-XSeH). To address the said concern, we recently designed and developed p-XS-Asp, with the rationale that it would cleave in vivo to release the active p-XSeH and aspirin instead of undesired HCN, thus making the compound less toxic and possibly more potent than p-XSC. Indeed, we have shown previously that p-XS-Asp inhibits NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice more effectively than p-XSC in a complete A/J mouse model, and is better tolerable. The complete model, however, does not reveal at what stage of carcinogenesis does p-XS-Asp acts. In the current study, we evaluated the stage-specificity of chemopreventive efficacy of p-XS-Asp in NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis in A/J mice models. A/J mice were divided into 7 distinct groups (n=30 per group, half male, half female; except group 1 and 2 where n=10). The mice were fed AIN-93M diet (control) or p-XS-Asp diet until they reached termination end point of 26 weeks (adenomas) and 40 weeks (adenocarcinomas). Two weeks after the experiment started, all the groups, except for group 1 and 2, were given a single IP injection of 10 µmol (100 mg/kg) of NNK. Group 3 and 4 were on complete control AIN93M and p-XS-Asp diets, respectively. Group 5 (peri-initiation) was on p-XS-Asp for the first 3 weeks and then on the control diet till the end of the experiment. On the other hand, group 6 (post-initiation) was on control diet for 3 weeks and then was changed to the p-XS-Asp diet. In the progression group 7, mice were on control diet for 14 weeks and subsequently changed to p-XS-Asp diet. The Groups 4 and 5 mice showed a remarkable decrease in the tumor multiplicity (TM) and incidence (TI) as compared to the mice on control diet at both 26 and 40 week time-points. The TM in male mice for groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at 26 weeks was 0.6, 0, 5.7, 1, 1.54, 4.27, and 6.27, respectively, while at 40 weeks, it was 0.2, 0, 7.7, 1, 1.8, 4.1, and 4.9, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in female mice. These data clearly demonstrated that robust inhibition at peri-initiation stage is mainly responsible for the activity observed in the complete model. The inhibition of both O6-methylguanine and pyridoxobutyl mutagenic DNA adducts by p-XS-Asp further compliments that the compound acts at initial stages of carcinogenesis. Body weights comparison and the blood and tissue analyses showed no systemic toxicity for the p-XS-Asp fed groups. RNA-seq data of the tumor tissues showed numerous signaling pathways to be affected in p-XS-Asp treated mice. The exact mechanism of action is still under investigation. In summary, our results show that p-XS-Asp may be promising candidate for future clinical evaluation as a lung cancer preventive agent. Citation Format: Asif Raza, Amandeep Singh, Cesar Aliaga, Daniel Plano, Shantu Amin, Arun K. Sharma. Stage-specific inhibition of NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis by 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)seleno-aspirin (p-XS-Asp) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2596.

The COX-2/PGE2 pathway suppresses apical elimination of RasV12-transformed cells from epithelia

At the initial stage of carcinogenesis, when RasV12-transformed cells are surrounded by normal epithelial cells, RasV12 cells are apically extruded from epithelia through cell competition with the surrounding normal cells. In this study, we demonstrate that expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)−2 is upregulated in normal cells surrounding RasV12-transformed cells. Addition of COX inhibitor or COX-2-knockout promotes apical extrusion of RasV12 cells. Furthermore, production of Prostaglandin (PG) E2, a downstream prostanoid of COX-2, is elevated in normal cells surrounding RasV12 cells, and addition of PGE2 suppresses apical extrusion of RasV12 cells. In a cell competition mouse model, expression of COX-2 is elevated in pancreatic epithelia harbouring RasV12-exressing cells, and the COX inhibitor ibuprofen promotes apical extrusion of RasV12 cells. Moreover, caerulein-induced chronic inflammation substantially suppresses apical elimination of RasV12 cells. These results indicate that intrinsically or extrinsically mediated inflammation can promote tumour initiation by diminishing cell competition between normal and transformed cells.

ВТОРИННИЙ РІСТ У ДИХАЛЬНО-ДЕФІЦИТНОМУ ШТАМІ ДРІЖДЖІВ SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE ВНАСЛІДОК ДЕЛЕЦІЇ ГЕНА YKU70

It is known that significant causes of malignant tumors are destabilization of the nuclear genome and mitochondrial dysfunction. Adaptive regrowth in yeast colonies (the appearance of cell subpopulations more adapted to unfavorable conditions under conditions of the death of the original culture) is used as a model of the initial stages of carcinogenesis. To study the features of the formation of adaptive regrowth, a reparationdefective and respiratory-deficient yeast strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was created. The thermosensitive mutation in the yku70 gene was used as an inducer of nuclear genome instability (at 37 оC it causes cell cycle arrest due to a reduction of the length of telomeric regions of chromosomes). Damage to the mitochondrial DNA of the ∆yku70 strain led to its respiratory deficiency (petite mutation). The isolated petite mutant ∆yku70 strain was cultured at optimal 28 оC and restrictive 37 оC temperatures, the state of the cell suspension was evaluated by light and fluorescence microscopy, to determine the viability of cells was used the analysis of microcolonies growth. Isolation of adaptive regrowth clones and analysis of their properties by the method of serial dilutions were conducted. To assess the genome stability of selected clones of adaptive regrowth, PCR analysis of the microsatellite sequences YOR267C, SC8132X, SCPTSY7 was conducted. When culturing the petite mutant of the strain ∆yku70 at a restrictive temperature of 37 оC for 7 days, the formation of viable subpopulations was detected, which can overcome the arrest of the cell cycle in the G2 / M phase. Further analysis of the isolated clones of adaptive regrowth showed that they differ in cell survival at restrictive temperature, resistance to UV radiation and the ability to form adaptive regrowth on colonies. In the analysis of microsatellite repeats in adaptive regrowth clones, no manifestations of instability of the studied sequences were detected.

Epithelial defense against cancer (EDAC).

Several lines of evidence indicate that cell competition can occur in mammals. In particular, at the initial stage of carcinogenesis, normal epithelial cells are able to recognize the neighboring transformed cells and actively eliminate them from epithelial tissues. This implies that normal epithelia have anti-tumor activity that does not involve immune cells, which is termed epithelial defense against cancer (EDAC). In this review article, we summarize recent advances on the underlying molecular machinery of EDAC. In addition, we also describe the molecular mechanisms by which transformed cells escape from EDAC to promote carcinogenesis.

Abstract 1913: Role of glypican 1 in regulating fibroblast activation in the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment

Abstract Cancer is a heterogeneous collection of neoplastic cells, surrounded by non-malignant, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM), among other constituents. Cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells forms a dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME) that mediates cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis. The TME can inhibit cancer growth and proliferation during the initial stages of carcinogenesis; however, cancer cells can evade these inhibitory signals, and reshape the TME, making it more amenable to their own growth. This gives rise to cancer-associated stromal cells, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs further modulate the TME by regulating the release of growth signals, cell death, ECM remodeling, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Glypican-1 (GPC1) is a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) that has both pro-mitogenic and pro-metastatic activity. GPC1’s role in regulating fibroblasts and their transformation into CAFs has not been investigated. We studied the ability of prostate cancer cells to alter the TME in vitro by exposing human bone fibroblasts (HS-5 cells) to tumor conditioned media (TCM) isolated from a human neuroendocrine (DU-145) and bone (PC-3) metastatic prostate cancer cell lines and assessed changes in cell morphology and cytotoxicity (using MTT). Exposure of HS-5 cells to TCM from DU-145 and PC-3 cells altered cellular morphology to a more mesenchymal phenotype similar to that seen in active myofibroblasts. TCM also decreased MTT staining in a time-dependent manner. We also determined the effect of GPC1 knockdown (KD) in HS-5 cells on cell morphology, migration and cytotoxicity. Interestingly, we saw phenotypic switching of GPC1 KD HS-5 cells to a myofibroblast like morphology akin to that when treated with TCM. There was no change in cytotoxicity in GPC1 KD HS-5 cells as compared to control cells. However, GPC1 KD enhanced the migration of HS-5 cells in wound healing assay. Migration was also increased in GPC1 KD HS-5 cells upon treatment with TCM. GPC1 KD also increased HS-5 cell contractility significantly. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that GPC1 plays an inhibitory role in the TME of prostate cancer by regulating the activation of fibroblasts. Citation Format: Sukhneeraj P. Kaur, Hee K. Lee, Robert D. Arnold, Brian S. Cummings. Role of glypican 1 in regulating fibroblast activation in the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1913.

Accumulation of the myosin-II-spectrin complex plays a positive role in apical extrusion of Src-transformed epithelial cells.

At the initial stage of carcinogenesis, transformation occurs in single cells within the epithelium. Recent studies have revealed that the newly emerging transformed cells are often apically eliminated from epithelial tissues. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this cancer preventive phenomenon still remain elusive. In this study, we first demonstrate that myosin-II accumulates in Src-transformed cells when they are surrounded by normal epithelial cells. Knock-down of the heavy chains of myosin-II substantially diminishes apical extrusion of Src cells, suggesting that accumulated myosin-II positively regulates the apical elimination of transformed cells. Furthermore, we have identified β-spectrin as a myosin-II-binding protein under the coculture of normal and Src-transformed epithelial cells. β-spectrin is also accumulated in Src cells that are surrounded by normal cells, and the β-spectrin accumulation is regulated by myosin-II. Moreover, knock-down of β-spectrin significantly suppresses apical extrusion of Src cells. Collectively, these results indicate that accumulation of the myosin-II-spectrin complex plays a positive role in apical extrusion of Src-transformed epithelial cells. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of apical extrusion would lead to the establishment of a novel type of cancer preventive medicine.

Telomeres and Telomerase During Human Papillomavirus-Induced Carcinogenesis.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) belong to a small spherical virus family and are transmitted through direct contact, most often through sexual behavior. More than 200 types of HPV are known, a dozen or so of which are classified as high-risk viruses (HR HPV) and may contribute to the development of cervical cancer. HPV is a small virus with a capsid composed of L1 and L2 proteins, which are crucial for entry to the cell. The infection begins at the basal cell layer and progresses to involve cells from higher layers of the cervical epithelium. E6 and E7 viral proteins are involved in the process of carcinogenesis. They interact with suppressors of oncogenesis, including p53 and Rb proteins. This leads to DNA replication and intensive cell divisions. The persistent HR HPV infection leads to the development of dysplasia and these changes may progress to invasive cancer. During the initial stage of carcinogenesis, telomeres shorten until telomerase activates. The activation of telomerase, the enzyme necessary to extend chromosome ends (telomeres) is the key step in cell immortalization. Analyzing the expression level of hTERT and hTERC genes encoding telomerase and telomere length measurement may constitute new markers of the early carcinogenesis.

Effect of Tumor Conditioned Media from Prostate Cancer Cells on Fibroblast Cell Morphology, Viability and Gene Expression

Cancer is a heterogeneous collection of neoplastic cells, surrounded by non‐malignant, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM), among other constituents. Cross‐talk between tumor and stromal cells forms a dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME) that mediates cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis. The TME can act to inhibit cancer growth and proliferation during the initial stages of carcinogenesis. However, cancer cells are able to evade these inhibitory signals, and subsequently reshape the TME, making it more amenable to their own growth. This gives rise to numerous cancer‐associated stromal cells, including cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs further modulate the TME by regulating the release of growth signals, cell death, ECM remodeling, angiogenesis, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. To study the ability of prostate cancer to alter the TME in vitro, we exposed human bone fibroblasts (HS‐5 cells) to tumor conditioned media isolated from a human neuroendocrine prostate cancer cell line (DU145) and assessed changes in cell morphology, viability (using MTT assay) and the expression of Group IIA secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2G2A), as well as its regulatory proteins, glypican‐1 (GPC‐1) and Group IVA phospholipase A2 (PLA2G4A), using qPCR. Exposure of HS‐5 cells to TCM from DU145 cells altered cellular morphology to a more mesenchymal phenotype typically seen in active myofibroblasts. TCM also decreased MTT staining in a time‐dependent manner that was independent of the presence of serum in the TCM. Changes in cell morphology and viability correlated to increases in the expression of PLA2G2A, GPC‐1 and PLA2G4A. The effect of TCM was time‐ and serum‐dependent, and was differential for each gene studied. Alteration in cellular morphology and increases in PLA2G2A, GPC‐1 and PLA2G4A in HS‐5 cells correlated to increases in the expression of fibroblast activation protein‐α, which is a CAF marker. To elucidate the mechanisms mediating changes in HS‐5 cells exposed to TCM, we investigated the expression of GLi1, a transcription factor involved in the activation of the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. We found that TCM increased GLi1 mRNA levels in HS‐5 cells, with greater increases being observed using TCM containing serum. Collectively, these data demonstrate that media from DU145 cells can induce morphological and genotypic changes in human fibroblasts similar to those observed in CAFs. As such, this model holds promise for identifying molecular mechanisms by which prostate cancer cells alter the TME and induce prostate cancer cell growth.Support or Funding InformationNational Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering NIBIB (EB0160100)Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program Idea Development Award (PC150431 GRANT11996600)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

The paxillin-plectin-EPLIN complex promotes apical elimination of RasV12-transformed cells by modulating HDAC6-regulated tubulin acetylation

Recent studies have revealed that newly emerging RasV12-transformed cells are often apically extruded from the epithelial layer. During this cancer preventive process, cytoskeletal proteins plectin and Epithelial Protein Lost In Neoplasm (EPLIN) are accumulated in RasV12 cells that are surrounded by normal cells, which positively regulate the apical elimination of transformed cells. However, the downstream regulators of the plectin-EPLIN complex remain to be identified. In this study, we have found that paxillin binds to EPLIN specifically in the mix culture of normal and RasV12-transformed cells. In addition, paxillin is accumulated in RasV12 cells surrounded by normal cells. Paxillin, plectin and EPLIN mutually influence their non-cell-autonomous accumulation, and paxillin plays a crucial role in apical extrusion of RasV12 cells. We also demonstrate that in RasV12 cells surrounded by normal cells, acetylated tubulin is accumulated. Furthermore, acetylation of tubulin is promoted by paxillin that suppresses the activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 6. Collectively, these results indicate that in concert with plectin and EPLIN, paxillin positively regulates apical extrusion of RasV12-transformed cells by promoting microtubule acetylation. This study shed light on the unexplored events occurring at the initial stage of carcinogenesis and would potentially lead to a novel type of cancer preventive medicine.

Free Radical Activity as Diagnostic and Prognostic Criteria in Solid Tumors and Their Therapy

Blood plasma of 39 cancer patients who had not previously undergone anti-tumor treatment, and 21 patients with recurrent epithelial tissues cancer before treatment and after the first course of chemotherapy were investigated. The treatment effectiveness of patients with relapse was evaluated throughout the year. The control group was the blood plasma of 14 healthy people. Free radical activity and oxidative modification of proteins were assessed in blood plasma. In malignant neoplasms of epithelial tissues, free radical activity and oxidative modification of plasma proteins are significantly higher. At the initial stages of carcinogenesis, the oxidative modification level of plasma proteins increases both due to aldehyde and ketone carbonyl derivatives. In the terminal stage of malignant tumors, an increase in the oxidative modification of proteins occurs due to aliphatic ketone dinitrophenyl hydrazones, which are the markers of protein aggregation characteristic of the late stages of oxidative stress. In case of an objective response to polychemotherapy, there is a significant decrease in free radical plasma activity after the first course of therapy and a significant increase in carbonyl derivatives recorded at a wavelength of 230 nm, which can serve as a marker of its effectiveness.

Expression profile of microRNA-146a along HPV-induced multistep carcinogenesis: a study in HPV16 transgenic mice.

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the development of certain types of cancer and the dysregulation of microRNAs has been implicated in HPV-associated carcinogenesis. This is the case of microRNA-146a (miR-146a), which is thought to regulate tumor-associated inflammation. We sought to investigate the expression levels of miR-146a during HPV16-mediated carcinogenesis using skin samples from K14-HPV16 transgenic mice which develop the consecutive phases of the carcinogenesis process. Female transgenic (HPV+/-) and wild-type (HPV-/-) mice were sacrificed at 24-26weeks-old or 28-30weeks-old. Chest and ear skin samples from HPV+/- and HPV-/- mice were histologically classified and used for microRNA extraction and quantification by qPCR. Chest skin samples from 24 to 26 weeks-old HPV+/- mice presented diffuse epidermal hyperplasia and only 22.5% showed multifocal dysplasia, while at 28-30 weeks-old all (100.0%) HPV+/- animals showed epidermal dysplasia. All HPV+/- ear skin samples showed carcinoma in situ (CIS). MiR-146a expression levels were higher in HPV+/- compared to HPV-/- mice (p = 0.006). There was also an increase in miR-146a expression in dysplastic skin lesions compared with hyperplasic lesions (p = 0.011). Samples showing CIS had a significant decrease in miR-146a expression when compared to samples showing epidermal hyperplasia (p = 0.018) and epidermal dysplasia (p = 0.009). These results suggest that HPV16 induces the overexpression of miR-146a in the initial stages of carcinogenesis (hyperplasia and dysplasia), whereas decreases its expression at later stages (CIS). Taken together, these data implicate and suggest different roles of miR-146a in HPV-mediated carcinogenesis.

Cell competition with normal epithelial cells promotes apical extrusion of transformed cells through metabolicchanges.

Recent studies have revealed that newly emerging transformed cells are often apically extruded from epithelial tissues. During this process, normal epithelial cells can recognize and actively eliminate transformed cells, a process called epithelial defence against cancer (EDAC). Here, we show that mitochondrial membrane potential is diminished in RasV12-transformed cells when they are surrounded by normal cells. In addition, glucose uptake is elevated, leading to higher lactate production. The mitochondrial dysfunction is driven by upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), which positively regulates elimination of RasV12-transformed cells. Furthermore, EDAC from the surrounding normal cells, involving filamin, drives the Warburg-effect-like metabolic alteration. Moreover, using a cell-competition mouse model, we demonstrate that PDK-mediated metabolic changes promote the elimination of RasV12-transformed cells from intestinal epithelia. These data indicate that non-cell-autonomous metabolic modulation is a crucial regulator for cell competition, shedding light on the unexplored events at the initial stage ofcarcinogenesis.

B-Group Vitamins: Chemoprevention?

The importance of vitamins in the prevention of cancer has attracted the attention of consumers, nutritionists and scientists for decades. The mechanisms of carcinogenesis, extended in the context of the function of vitamins, i.e. regulation of and participation in metabolic processes in the cell, suggest a substantial impact of these compounds on the initial stages of carcinogenesis. One-carbon metabolism involving folic acid, vitamins B2, B6 and B12, and folate metabolism doesn't only generate methyl groups, thus determining epigenetic processes, modifications of the genome and carcinogenesis. It also provides the compounds involved in the DNA synthesis and repair processes, especially the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines and the conversion of dUMP (2-deoxyuridine monophosphate) to dTMP (2-deoxythymidine monophosphate). In light of these pathways, folate, together with vitamins B2, B6 and B12, became a subject of interest as compounds whose deficit or surplus can potentially have an impact on the processes of carcinogenesis. Literature reports, however, do not fully confirm that the influence on the synthesis of nucleotides is connected with the inhibition of carcinogenesis. The impact of individual vitamins involved in one-carbon metabolism on carcinogenesis and their role in the prevention of these conditions depend on the type of cancer and the dose administered. Nevertheless, the research conducted makes it possible to conclude a considerable and probably long-underestimated role of these compounds in the prevention of serious, difficult to treat or incurable diseases.