Oncofetal Protein Research Articles

IGF2BP3 Expression Correlates With Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-II mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is an oncofetal RNA-binding protein normally involved in cell growth and migration during the early stages of embryogenesis. However, it is also expressed in various cancers, and the relationship between IGF2BP3 and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients is not fully understood. Our aim in this study was to determine whether IGF2BP3 expression status correlates with prognosis in patients with advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. MethodsThe IGF2BP3 expression statuses of 177 patients treated with esophagectomy without preoperative therapy were evaluated immunohistochemically using tissue microarray analysis. The relationships between IGF2BP3 expression status and clinicopathological features and survival were then assessed using appropriate statistics. ResultsAmong 177 esophageal tumors, 122 (68.9%) expressed high levels of IGF2BP3. In patients undergoing surgery alone, IGF2BP3-high expression was significantly associated with a poorer prognosis. By contrast, there were no significant associations between IGF2BP3 expression and clinicopathological features or outcomes in patients treated with surgery plus postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. ConclusionsIGF2BP3 positivity in advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients treated with surgery alone.

VLS-101, a ROR1-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, Demonstrates a Predictable Safety Profile and Clinical Efficacy in Patients with Heavily Pretreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

VLS-101, a ROR1-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, Demonstrates a Predictable Safety Profile and Clinical Efficacy in Patients with Heavily Pretreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Oncofetal Protein SALL4 Is Highly Expressed in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Alongside with NAT10 and P53

Introduction: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by cytologic dysplasia and refractory cytopenias as a result of ineffective hematopoiesis. We have reported that oncofetal protein SALL4 can be used as a prognostic biomarker in MDS disease. SALL4 is a transcription factor that is important for development and embryonic stem cell properties. While SALL4 expression is down-regulated or absent in most adult tissues, SALL4 is re-expressed in various cancers. We have previously reported that aberrant expression of SALL4 can be detected in MDS and AML patients. Studies in murine models, as well as in human samples, have demonstrated that SALL4 is essential for leukemic cell survival and that SALL4 transgenic mice develop an MDS-like phenotype prior to transformation to AML, suggesting that SALL4 can be a driver of MDS/AML pathogenesis. However, SALL4 expression status and related pathway in bone marrow (BM) cells and relationship with somatic gene mutations in MDS patients has not been explored. In this study, we evaluated the expression of SALL4 and related factors using single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) and NanoString technology in MDS patients alongside with target sequence for MDS-related mutations. Materials and methods: We evaluated the expression of SALL4 using single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) utilizing 28 antibodies including surface lineage markers and intracellular proteins, such as p53, ki67, c-myc and pAKT to identify SALL4 expressed cells and related pathway in bone marrow (BM) for 10 MDS patients. SALL4 expression was also analyzed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) 14 patient samples utilizing two SALL4 probes designed for NanoString technology alongside with target sequence for MDS-related mutations. One probe only detects expression of SALL4A, which is full length SALL4, while the other probe can detect both SALL4A as well as its splicing variant SALL4B. We examined the expression of a panel of 17 known SALL4 downstream target genes. Results: First, we assessed an expression level of SALL4 using CyTOF in 10 MDS patients as compared with normal BM samples (N=5). We observed that Lin-CD34+CD38+ progenitor cells in 8 out of the 10 MDS patients had higher SALL4 expression levels, while the progenitor cells of normal BM cells did not express SALL4. Similar results were observed in Lin-CD34+CD38- hematopoietic stem cells, CD11b+ mature myeloid cells, CD19+ B cells, CD235+ erythroid cells. Conversely only 3 MDS patient had weak SALL4 expression in CD3+ T cells. Subsequently, we investigated the correlation with p53, ki67, c-myc and pAKT. SALL4 is only correlated with p53 (P=0.005), while others were not. Next, we also assessed an expression level of SALL4A and SALL4A&B in 14 MDS patient bone marrow (BM) samples using Nanostring nCounter. We observed that 12 out of 14 MDS patients had higher SALL4 expression levels as compared with control normal BM samples (N=3). Next, we evaluated whether MDS patients expressed SALL4A, SALL4B, or both. Of the 14 MDS patients, 8 predominantly expressed SALL4A Of these 8 MDS patients, 5 harbored RNA splicing-related mutations, such as SF3B1 (N=4), U2AF1 (N=1). Only 1 out of 7 patients who predominantly expressed SALL4B demonstrated a splicing related mutation. Subsequently, we investigated the correlation between SALL4 and its known downstream targets. An expression of SALL4A is moderately correlated with CBLb (γ=0.53), CDH1 (γ=0.42) and NAT10 (γ=0.41). The expression of SALLA&B is moderately correlated with NAT10 (γ=0.47) and RUNX1 (γ=0.46). NAT10 (N-acetyltransferase 10) has been reported to promote transcription of RNA polymerase I and is a critical regulator of p53 homeostasis. It was identified to be a potential SALL4 downstream target in our early Chip-seq studies. In the isogenic K562 cell lines with SALL4 overexpression, higher levels of NAT10 were observed, suggesting that NAT10 is one of the downstream targets of SALL4. Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated for the first time that 1) SALL4 was expressed in various MDS BM cells confirmed by CyTOF 2) there are SALL4 splicing variants in MDS patients, particularly with SF3B1 mutations 3) a novel SALL4/NAT10/p53 link has been identified in these MDS patients. Future studies on mechanism(s) and biological role(s) of SALL4 splicing variants in MDS are needed. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 297: HMGA1 induces FGF-19 to foster tumor-stromal cell crosstalk and drive tumor progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are highly lethal tumors characterized by a dense desmoplastic stroma comprised of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and fibrotic scar tissue. While stromal CAFs provide a barrier to therapy and release signals that foster tumor growth and invasion, the stroma also restrains tumor growth in murine models. The High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) chromatin remodeling gene encodes an oncofetal protein and epigenetic regulator that amplifies signals from the microenvironment to foster stem cell properties within intestinal epithelium. HMGA1 is also highly expressed during embryogenesis and in adult stem cells, but silenced postnatally in most differentiated cells. In diverse, aggressive cancers, HMGA1 becomes aberrantly re-expressed where high levels portend adverse clinical outcomes. In PDAC, HMGA1 protein is detected in late stage precursor lesions and invasive tumors, but not in normal pancreas nor in early precursor lesions. Furthermore, high HMGA1 levels correlate with poor differentiation status and decreased patient survival. Here, we discovered a novel epigenetic program mediated by HMGA1 that recruits CAFs to drive PDAC progression. We discovered that silencing HMGA1 in multiple PDAC cell lines halts proliferation and disrupts oncogenic properties, including migration, invasion, clonogenicity, and xenograft tumorigenesis. HMGA1 silencing also impairs three-dimensional sphere formation and depletes tumor initiator cells in limiting dilution assays. Through RNA sequencing analysis comparing PDAC cells overexpressing HMGA1 to those with HMGA1 silencing, we identified FGF-19 as a potential transcriptional target of HMGA1. HMGA1 binds specifically to the FGF-19 promoter and recruits the active histone mark, H3K4me3, to activate its expression. HMGA1 is also required for FGF-19 secretion from PDAC cells. Similar to HMGA1, silencing FGF-19 blocks oncogenic and cancer stem cell properties in vitro while disrupting tumorigenesis and depleting tumor initiator cells in vivo. In co-culture experiments, HMGA1 expressed in PDAC cells amplifies FGF-19 secretion, thereby stimulating CAF migration to tumor cells across a membrane. Silencing HMGA1 or FGF-19 prevents CAF recruitment to PDAC tumor cells. Furthermore, CAF recruitment is blocked by either FGF-19 blocking antibodies or an inhibitor to the FGF-19 receptor (FGR4). In murine models, silencing HMGA1 also decreases formation of a fibroblastic stroma. Moreover, overexpression of HMGA1 together with that of FGF-19 predict decreased survival in primary human PDAC. Our results reveal a novel paradigm whereby PDAC cells collaborate with stromal CAFs via HMGA1 and FGF-19 to drive tumor progression. These data also provide insight into mechanisms for tumor progression and illuminate FGF-19 as a rational therapeutic target in PDACs with up-regulation of HMGA1 and FGF-19. Citation Format: Lionel Chia, Shuai Shuai, Lingling Xian, Jung-Hyun Kim, Ruitao Zhang, Tait Huso, David Huso, Leslie Cope, Karen Reddy, Linda Resar. HMGA1 induces FGF-19 to foster tumor-stromal cell crosstalk and drive tumor progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 297.

Abstract 538: Exploiting the properties of VNAR domains for the development of novel efficacious protein drug conjugates targeting the oncofetal protein ROR1

Abstract The onco-embryonic receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1is a cell-surface protein expressed on a broad range of solid tumours and haematological malignancies but is largely absent from normal adult tissue. Increased ROR1 expression correlates with poor clinical outcome in a number of cancer indications, consistent with its functional role in tumorigenesis and disease progression. In addition, elevated expression has been associated with increased metastatic potential and drug resistance in breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The oncofetal expression pattern of ROR1 coupled with its role in cancer pathology and therapy resistance makes it a highly attractive target for a protein-drug conjugate approach. Shark-derived Variable New Antigen Receptor domains (VNARs) are the smallest antigen binding domain in the vertebrate kingdom. We have developed a platform to enable VNAR-based drug discovery and used it to identify a series of highly potent protein-drug conjugates that target ROR1. Through screening VNAR phage libraries, high affinity ROR1 specific binders were isolated that bind distinct regions of the extracellular domain and showed species cross reactivity (mouse, rat and human). By exploiting the modular nature of the VNAR domains, multiple different therapeutic formats have been engineered, including multimeric binders and Fc fusion proteins. Subsequent site-specific attachment of highly potent toxins yielded homogeneous VNAR-based drug conjugates which demonstrated potent ROR1-dependant killing of selected cancer cell-lines in vitro with IC50 values in the picomolar range. In a series of in vivo studies, VNAR-hFc fusions conjugated with novel linker payloads were well tolerated in mice and showed significant anti-tumor activity in mouse xenograft models of cancer, including complete and sustained tumour regressions in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of triple negative breast cancer. Lead VNAR-hFc conjugates have been successfully ‘humanized' guided by de novo structural biology. These engineered VNAR-hFc drug conjugates represent exciting new candidates for the treatment of a variety of both solid tumor and haematological cancer indications. Additionally, bi-paratopic and bi-specific ROR1 binders have been generated which fully leverage the modular design of VNAR-based therapeutics. These provide second generation drug conjugates which can be tailored to specific additional therapeutic applications, further extending the applicability of this approach. Citation Format: Graham Cotton, Jennifer Thom, Paul Trumper, Andrei Kamenski, Stacey Bell, Mark Wappett, Caroline Barelle, Marina Kovaleva, Alicia Campion, Elisa Persiani, Andrew Porter, Estelle McLean, Aidan McCann, Chiara Saladino, Aaron Cranston, Tim Harrison. Exploiting the properties of VNAR domains for the development of novel efficacious protein drug conjugates targeting the oncofetal protein ROR1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 538.

The oncofetal RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 is a druggable, post-transcriptional super-enhancer of E2F-driven gene expression in cancer.

The IGF2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is a non-catalytic post-transcriptional enhancer of tumor growth upregulated and associated with adverse prognosis in solid cancers. However, conserved effector pathway(s) and the feasibility of targeting IGF2BP1 in cancer remained elusive. We reveal that IGF2BP1 is a post-transcriptional enhancer of the E2F-driven hallmark in solid cancers. IGF2BP1 promotes G1/S cell cycle transition by stabilizing mRNAs encoding positive regulators of this checkpoint like E2F1. This IGF2BP1-driven shortening of the G1 cell cycle phase relies on 3′UTR-, miRNA- and m6A-dependent regulation and suggests enhancement of cell cycle progression by m6A-modifications across cancers. In addition to E2F transcription factors, IGF2BP1 also stabilizes E2F-driven transcripts directly indicating post-transcriptional ‘super’-enhancer role of the protein in E2F-driven gene expression in cancer. The small molecule BTYNB disrupts this enhancer function by impairing IGF2BP1-RNA association. Consistently, BTYNB interferes with E2F-driven gene expression and tumor growth in experimental mouse tumor models.

Pancreatic circulating tumor cell profiling identifies LIN28B as a metastasis driver and drug target

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) lethality is due to metastatic dissemination. Characterization of rare, heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can provide insight into metastasis and guide development of novel therapies. Using the CTC-iChip to purify CTCs from PDAC patients for RNA-seq characterization, we identify three major correlated gene sets, with stemness genes LIN28B/KLF4, WNT5A, and LGALS3 enriched in each correlated gene set; only LIN28B CTC expression was prognostic. CRISPR knockout of LIN28B—an oncofetal RNA-binding protein exerting diverse effects via negative regulation of let-7 miRNAs and other RNA targets—in cell and animal models confers a less aggressive/metastatic phenotype. This correlates with de-repression of let-7 miRNAs and is mimicked by silencing of downstream let-7 target HMGA2 or chemical inhibition of LIN28B/let-7 binding. Molecular characterization of CTCs provides a unique opportunity to correlated gene set metastatic profiles, identify drivers of dissemination, and develop therapies targeting the “seeds” of metastasis.

Role of Oncofetal Protein CR-1 as aPotential Tumor Marker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cripto-1 (CR-1) is an oncofetal protein with its role as a key factor in early process of carcinoma has been evaluated in cases of various cancers. However, very few studies have reported its role in oral cancer, which is the sixth most common cancer around the world, particularly with high prevalence in developing countries. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most predominant (90%) of all the histological types of oral cancer. Late detection, associated with increased morbidity and mortality, is mainly attributed to non-availability of a suitable biomarker for the disease. In the present pilot study, we have evaluated the role of soluble CR-1, in serum as a potential tumor marker for OSCC. CR-1 was estimated using sandwich ELISA in serum samples of 50 biopsy proven OSCC patients (pre and post treatment) along with age and gender matched healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry was also done in corresponding tumor tissue sections to check the expression of CR-1. Pre-treatment CR-1 was found to be 2.25-fold higher in serum of OSCC patients as compared to control (p < 0.0001***), which was reduced to 1.6 folds post treatment (p = 0.0006***). CR-1 levels were comparatively higher in early stage of disease. Upon IHC 80% of the cases were found to be positive for CR-1. This study provides evidence that serum levels of CR-1 are elevated in patients of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, which decrease post treatment. Also, the association of expression of protein with tumor progression predicts CR-1 as a molecule that can be further evaluated as a potential tumor maker in OSCC.

A Multidisciplinary Review of the Roles of Cripto in the Scientific Literature Through a Bibliometric Analysis of its Biological Roles.

Cripto is a small glycosylphosphatidylinisitol (GPI)-anchored and secreted oncofetal protein that plays important roles in regulating normal physiological processes, including stem cell differentiation, embryonal development, and tissue growth and remodeling, as well as pathological processes such as tumor initiation and progression. Cripto functions as a co-receptor for TGF-β ligands such as Nodal, GDF1, and GDF3. Soluble and secreted forms of Cripto also exhibit growth factor-like activity and activate SRC/MAPK/PI3K/AKT pathways. Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 kDa (GRP78) binds Cripto at the cell surface and has been shown to be required for Cripto signaling via both TGF-β and SRC/MAPK/PI3K/AKT pathways. To provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific literature related to Cripto, we performed, for the first time, a bibliometric analysis of the biological roles of Cripto as reported in the scientific literature covering the last 10 years. We present different fields of knowledge in comprehensive areas of research on Cripto, ranging from basic to translational research, using a keyword-driven approach. Our ultimate aim is to aid the scientific community in conducting targeted research by identifying areas where research has been conducted so far and, perhaps more importantly, where critical knowledge is still missing.

SGN228-001: A phase I open-label dose-escalation, and expansion study of SGN-CD228A in select advanced solid tumors.

TPS3652 Background: SGN-CD228A is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets CD228, a cell-surface oncofetal protein with prevalent expression in several types of cancer and limited expression on normal tissues. SGN-CD228A consists of a humanized IgG1 anti-CD228 monoclonal antibody conjugated to an average of 8 molecules of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a PEGylated β-glucuronidase cleavable linker. MMAE is a well-studied and highly active chemotype with an established safety profile. The proposed mechanism of action involves binding CD228 on cell surfaces, ADC internalization, and trafficking to lysosomes. MMAE is then released through β-glucuronidase cleavage of the glucuronide MMAE linker. MMAE then binds tubulin, which disrupts microtubule networks and causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Methods: SGN228-001 (NCT04042480) is a phase 1, open label, multicenter, dose escalation, and expansion study enrolling up to 240 subjects to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK, and antitumor activity of SGN-CD228A in select advanced solid tumors. Eligible subjects are ≥18 years of age and have metastatic cutaneous melanoma, malignant pleural mesothelioma, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer, advanced non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer, or advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Subjects must have relapsed, refractory, or progressive disease, and should have no appropriate standard therapy available. Measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of ≤1, and adequate renal, hepatic, and hematologic function are required. The study includes dose escalation and dose expansion, with multiple disease-specific dose expansion cohorts and a biology cohort. Dose escalation will be conducted using the modified toxicity probability interval method (Ji 2010) to evaluate the safety and identify the maximum tolerated dose of SGN-CD228A. Following dose escalation, disease-specific expansion cohorts and a biology cohort (to evaluate exploratory biomarkers) are planned. Response assessments will be conducted every 6 weeks per RECIST v1.1 and all subjects will be followed for safety. Pharmacokinetics and markers of pharmacodynamics will be assessed regularly. Key efficacy endpoints include objective response rate, progression-free survival, and duration of objective response. Enrollment is ongoing in the US and planned in Europe. Clinical trial information: NCT04042480 .

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL VALIDATION OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR II mRNA-BINDING PROTEIN 3 (IMP3) AS A DIAGNOSTIC MARKER IN SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS

Introduction: Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are infrequent tumours accounting for 2-6.5% of all head and neck tumors. They show various clinical behaviours and different histological patterns resulting in a diagnostic dilemma. Insulin like growth factor II RNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) is an oncofetal protein that plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastases. Several studies proved the prognostic role of IMP3 in different human cancers. However, its role in SGTs still needs to be confirmed. Objectives: To evaluate IMP3 immunoexpression in benign and malignant SGTs. Material and Methods: IMP3 expression was measured in 44 SGT cases (20 benign and 24 malignant) and 10 normal salivary gland tissues (NSGT). Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was carried out by the Labeled Strept-Avidin Biotin complex method (LSAB). Results: IMP3 expression was detected in NSGT as well as benign and malignant SGTs with different intensities. The Lowest expression levels were detected in NSGT, while the highest ones were detected in Malignant SGTs. Conclusion: IMP3 could be used as a diagnostic marker in SGTs.

The Thyroid Hormone Inactivator Enzyme, Type 3 Deiodinase, Is Essential for Coordination of Keratinocyte Growth and Differentiation

Background: Thyroid hormones (THs) are key regulators of development, tissue differentiation, and maintenance of metabolic balance in virtually every cell of the body. Accordingly, severe alteration of TH action during fetal life leads to permanent deficits in humans. The skin is among the few adult tissues expressing the oncofetal protein type 3 deiodinase (D3), the TH inactivating enzyme. Here, we demonstrate that D3 is dynamically regulated during epidermal ontogenesis. Methods: To investigate the function of D3 in a postdevelopmental context, we used a mouse model of conditional epidermal-specific D3 depletion. Loss of D3 resulted in tissue hypoplasia and enhanced epidermal differentiation in a cell-autonomous manner. Results: Accordingly, wound healing repair and hair follicle cycle were altered in the D3-depleted epidermis. Further, in vitro ablation of D3 in primary culture of keratinocytes indicated that various markers of stratified epithelial layers were upregulated, thereby confirming the pro-differentiative action of D3 depletion and the consequent increased intracellular triiodothyronine levels. Notably, loss of D3 reduced the clearance of systemic TH in vivo, thereby demonstrating the critical requirement for epidermal D3 in the maintenance of TH homeostasis. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results show that the D3 enzyme is a key TH-signaling component in the skin, thereby providing a striking example of a physiological context for deiodinase-mediated TH metabolism, as well as a rationale for therapeutic manipulation of deiodinases in pathophysiological contexts.

Positive correlation of expression of L-type amino-acid transporter 1 with colorectal tumor progression and prognosis: Higher expression in sporadic colorectal tumors compared with ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia

The role of L-type amino-acid transporter 1 (LAT1), an oncofetal protein, in tumor progression is not well known, although it is important for the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. LAT1 expression was immunohistochemically analyzed and compared in sporadic (conventional) colorectal tumors and ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated neoplasia development and progression. LAT1 expression showed a significant stepwise increase in the order: conventional low-grade tubular adenoma, high-grade tubular adenoma, and invasive adenocarcinoma. Similarly, the same increasing trend in LAT1 expression was found in UC-associated low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma, whereas expression was significantly lower compared with that in an adenoma–adenocarcinoma series. LAT1 expression was predominant in the upper half of mucosal lesions in low-grade adenoma. This localized difference in LAT1 expression between the upper and lower halves of mucosal lesions disappeared in conventional high-grade adenoma and adenocarcinoma. LAT1 expression in the colorectal mucosa was significantly increased in the order: nontumor mucosa, quiescent phase of UC, and active phase of UC. Considering the histological pattern of Ki-67 labeling, LAT1 expression appeared partly related to cell proliferation, but this was not significant. In relation to the prognosis of patients with sporadic phase IV colorectal adenocarcinoma, this was significantly poorer in the group with high LAT1 expression compared with that with low LAT1 expression. This suggests LAT1 expression may be used as a companion biomarker for anti-cancer therapy targeting the LAT1 molecule in colorectal cancers.

Levels of oncofetal proteins in pathological tissues of patients with gastric cancer

Aim. Study of levels of CA-19.9, CA-125, CA-72.4 and He-4 in tissues of tumor, peritoneum and omentum in patients with gastric cancer T3–4аN0–3M1 and T3–4аN0–3M0.Materials and methods. The study included 62 patients: 21 (10♂, 11♀) — gastric cancer T3–4аN0–3M1 and peritoneal metastases; 24 (15♂, 9♀) — gastric cancer T3–4аN0–3M0 without metastases; 17 (6♂, 11♀) — non-cancer patients (controls). Levels of oncofetal proteins were measured by ELISA in tissues of the peritoneum, greater omentum, and gastric tumors (GT).Results. Levels of practically all studied factors were elevated in tissues of GT, omentum and peritoneum. Levels of He-4 and CA-19.9 in all tissues of patients with advanced cancer increased higher than in the majority of patients without metastases: in GT — respectively by 2.6 and 1.8 times (p&lt;0.05), in the omentum — respectively by 24.4 and 4.8 times, in the peritoneum — respectively by 2.1 and 8.5 times. Omental tissues of patients with advanced cancer showed a higher increase in levels of CA-72.4 and CA-125 as well — by 6.1 and 2.1 times, respectively. A small number of patients with T3–4аN0–3M0 gastric cancer, who had CA-19.9 in the omentum and peritoneum as high as in patients with T3–4аN0–3M1, developed metastases in the corresponding tissues 4–6 months after the study.Conclusion. The content of oncoprotein markers in tissues of the peritoneum and omentum is one of the factors associated with metastatic characteristics, and CA-19.9 level can serve as an informative laboratory test for the predictive assessment of the further disease development.

IGF2BP3 (IMP3) expression in angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, and benign vascular lesions

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-2 messenger RNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3 or IMP3) is an oncofetal protein that is expressed in various cancer types, and its expression is often associated with poor prognosis. IGF2BP3 expression has not been fully settled in vascular lesions.MethodsWe evaluated the expression of IGF2BP3 in malignant (angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma [EHE]) and benign (hemangioma, granulation tissue cappilaries, and pyogenic granuloma) vascular lesions using immunohistochemistry. IGF2BP3 expression was scored as negative (0% of endothelial/neoplastic cells), equivocal (1–25%), or positive (> 26%).ResultsEight of 30 (26.7%) cases of angiosarcoma and two of five (40%) cases of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma were positive for IGF2BP3. In contrast, hemangiomas (10 cases) and granulation tissue capillaries (12 cases) were all negative for IGF2BP3, and some cases of pyogenic granuloma (six of 14 cases) was scored as equivocal. In angiosarcoma, IGF2BP3 expression was independent of age, gender, location, morphological pattern, prognosis, presence of metastatic foci, and PD-L1 expression.ConclusionsIGF2BP3 is a useful marker to distinguish between malignant and benign vascular lesions.

LIN28B Underlies the Pathogenesis of a Subclass of Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is associated with poor prognosis despite current multimodal therapy. Targeting of EWS-FLI1, the fusion protein responsible for its pathogenesis, and its principal downstream targets has not yet produced satisfactory therapeutic options, fueling the search for alternative approaches. Here, we show that the oncofetal RNA-binding protein LIN28B regulates the stability of EWS-FLI1 mRNA in ~10% of EwSs. LIN28B depletion in these tumors leads to a decrease in the expression of EWS-FLI1 and its direct transcriptional network, abrogating EwS cell self-renewal and tumorigenicity. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of LIN28B mimics the effect of LIN28B depletion, suggesting that LIN28B sustains the emergence of a subset of EwS in which it also serves as an effective therapeutic target.

Levels of oncofetal proteins in pathological tissues of patients with gastric cancer.

449 Background: Spread to the peritoneal cavity and lymphatic system is the most important factor of gastric cancer prognosis. Successful implantation of cancer cells in a distant place is possible only when cancer cells accept a special kind of molecular invitation sent by some organs. Our purpose was to study levels of CA-19.9, CA-125, CA-72.4 and He-4 in tissues of tumors, peritoneum and omentum in patients with gastric cancer (GC) T3-4aN0-3M1 and T3-4aN0-3M0. Methods: Levels of CA-19.9, CA-125 and CA-72.4 were determined by ELISA in primary tumors, the omentum and peritoneum of patients from main groups 1 (M0) – GC T3-4aN0-3M0 (n = 24) and 2 (M1) – GC T3-4aN0-3M1 (n = 21) and in the stomach, omentum and peritoneum of non-cancer controls (n = 17). Results: Levels of CA-19.9, CA-125 and CA-72.4 were increased, compared to control values, in all studied samples from 1.6 times (CA-72.4) to 180.1 times (СA-19.9). Only CA-19.9 levels differed depending on the metastatic spread: 1.8 times (p˂0.05) higher in T3-4aN0-3M1 than in T3-4aN0-3M0. In the omentum tissues, CA-19.9 levels in T3-4aN0-3M1 exceeded the control values by 20 times; in 20 patients with T3-4aN0-3M0, the value was only 4.1 times higher than in controls and 4.8 times lower than in T3-4aN0-3M1, while in 4 patients it did not differed significantly from the value in T3-4aN0-3M1. In the peritoneal tissues, CA-19.9 levels in T3-4aN0-3M1 exceeded the control values by 19.2 times; in 21 patients with T3-4aN0-3M0, the value was only 2.2 times higher than in controls and 8.5 times lower than in T3-4aN0-3M1, while in 3 patients it did not differed significantly from the value in T3-4aN0-3M1. Conclusions: Saturation of peritoneal and omentum tissues with marker oncoproteins is one of the factors associated with metastatic characteristics of gastric cancer, while the CA-19.9 level can serve as informative laboratory tests to predict the nature of the further disease development.

HMGA2 Antisense Long Non-coding RNAs as New Players in the Regulation of HMGA2 Expression and Pancreatic Cancer Promotion.

Background: Natural antisense long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory RNAs transcribed from the opposite strand of either protein coding or non-coding genes, able to modulate their own sense gene expression. Hence, their dysregulation can lead to pathologic processes. Cancer is a complex class of diseases determined by the aberrant expression of a variety of factors, among them, the oncofetal chromatin architectural proteins High Mobility Group A (HMGA) modulate several cancer hallmarks. Thus, we decided to investigate the presence of natural antisense lncRNAs in HMGA1 and HMGA2 loci, and their possible involvement in gene expression regulation.Methods: We used FANTOM5 data resources, FANTOM-CAT genome browser and Zenbu visualization tool, which employ 1,829 human CAGE and RNA-sequencing libraries, to determine expression, ontology enrichment, and dynamic regulation of natural antisense lncRNAs in HMGA1 and HMGA2 loci. We then performed qRT-PCR in different cancer cell lines to validate the existence of HMGA2-AS1 transcripts. We depleted HMGA2-AS1 transcripts with siRNAs and investigated HMGA2 expression by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Moreover, we evaluated cell viability and migration by MTS and transwell assays, and EMT markers by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics approaches to evaluate HMGA2 and HMGA2-AS1 correlation and overall survival in tumor patients.Results: We found the presence of a promoter-associated lncRNA (CATG00000088127.1) in the HMGA1 gene and three antisense genes (RPSAP52, HMGA2-AS1, and RP11-366L20.3) in the HMGA2 gene. We studied the uncharacterized HMGA2-AS1 transcripts, validating their existence in cancer cell lines and observing a positive correlation between HMGA2 and HMGA2-AS1 expression in a cancer-derived patient dataset. We showed that HMGA2-AS1 transcripts positively modulate HMGA2 expression and migration properties of PANC1 cells through HMGA2. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high level of HMGA2-AS1 is a negative prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer patients.Conclusions: Our results describe novel antisense lncRNAs associated with HMGA1 and HMGA2 genes. In particular, we demonstrate that HMGA2-AS1 is involved in the regulation of its own sense gene expression, mediating tumorigenesis. Thus, we highlight a new layer of complexity in the regulation of HMGA2 expression, providing new potential targets for cancer therapy.

Overexpression of p62/IMP2 can Promote Cell Migration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.

p62/IMP2 is an oncofetal protein that was first reported as a tumor-associated antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In our previous studies, we demonstrated a high frequency of p62/IMP2 autoantibodies appearing in various types of cancer. Therefore, we hypothesize that p62/IMP2 plays an important role in the progression of HCC, although the mechanism remains to be explored. In this study, we evaluated the expression of p62/IMP2 protein both in human tissues and liver cancer cell lines by immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis and found that p62/IMP2 protein is overexpressed in human HCC tissue in comparison to normal human liver tissue. To explore the role that p62/IMP2 plays in HCC, p62/IMP2 was knocked out in two p62/IMP2-positive liver cancer cell lines (SNU449 and HepG2). Due to the low expression level of p62/IMP2 in SNU449, we overexpressed p62/IMP2 in this cell line. We subsequently demonstrated that high expression of p62/IMP2 in both cell lines can promote cell migration and invasion abilities in vitro by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We also used the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, XAV 939, and a phosphoproteome assay to confirm our findings. Conclusion: Our results suggest that p62/IMP2 is an essential regulator of Wnt signaling pathways and plays an important role in HCC progression and metastasis.

SIX1 Regulates Aberrant Endometrial Epithelial Cell Differentiation and Cancer Latency Following Developmental Estrogenic Chemical Exposure.

Early-life exposure to estrogenic chemicals can increase cancer risk, likely by disrupting normal patterns of cellular differentiation. Female mice exposed neonatally to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) develop metaplastic and neoplastic uterine changes as adults. Abnormal endometrial glands express the oncofetal protein sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1) and contain cells with basal [cytokeratin (CK)14+/18-] and poorly differentiated features (CK14+/18+), strongly associating SIX1 with aberrant differentiation and cancer. Here, we tested whether SIX1 expression is necessary for abnormal endometrial differentiation and DES-induced carcinogenesis by using Pgr-cre to generate conditional knockout mice lacking uterine Six1 (Six1 d/d). Interestingly, corn oil (CO) vehicle-treated Six1 d/d mice develop focal endometrial glandular dysplasia and features of carcinoma in situ as compared with CO wild-type Six1 (Six1 +/+) mice. Furthermore, Six1 d/d mice neonatally exposed to DES had a 42% higher incidence of endometrial cancer relative to DES Six1 +/+ mice. Although DES Six1 d/d mice had >10-fold fewer CK14+/18- basal cells within the uterine horns as compared with DES Six1 +/+ mice, the appearance of CK14+/18+ cells remained a feature of neoplastic lesions. These findings suggest that SIX1 is required for normal endometrial epithelial differentiation, CK14+/18+ cells act as a cancer progenitor population, and SIX1 delays DES-induced endometrial carcinogenesis by promoting basal differentiation of CK14+/18+ cells. In human endometrial biopsies, 35% of malignancies showed CK14+/18+ expression, which positively correlated with tumor stage and grade and was not present in normal endometrium. IMPLICATIONS: Aberrant epithelial differentiation is a key feature in both the DES mouse model of endometrial cancer and human endometrial cancer. The association of CK14+/18+ cells with human endometrial cancer provides a novel cancer biomarker and could lead to new therapeutic strategies.