Interaction of cellular-localized signature modules in response to prostate cancer

Rapid progress in high-throughput biotechnologies (e.g. microarrays) and exponential accumulation of gene functional knowledge makes it promising for systematic understanding of complex human diseases at the functional modules level. Current modular categorizations can be defined and selected more specifically and precisely in terms of both biological processes and cellular locations, aiming at uncovering the modular molecular networks highly relevant to cancers. Based on Gene Ontology, we identifed the functional modules enriched with differentially expressed genes and characterized by biological processes and specific cellular locations. Then, according to the ranking of the disease discriminating abilities of the pre-selected functional modules, we further defined and filtered signature modules which have higher relevance to the cancer under study. Applications of the proposed method to the analysis of a prostate cancer dataset revealed insightful biological modules.     

Interaction of cellular-localized signature modules in response to prostate cancer

Rapid progress in high-throughput biotechnologies (e.g. microarrays) and exponential accumulation of gene functional knowledge makes it promising for systematic understanding of complex human diseases at the functional modules level. Current modular categorizations can be defined and selected more specifically and precisely in terms of both biological processes and cellular locations, aiming at uncovering the modular molecular networks highly relevant to cancers. Based on Gene Ontology, we identifed the functional modules enriched with differentially expressed genes and characterized by biological processes and specific cellular locations. Then, according to the ranking of the disease discriminating abilities of the pre-selected functional modules, we further defined and filtered signature modules which have higher relevance to the cancer under study. Applications of the proposed method to the analysis of a prostate cancer dataset revealed insightful biological modules.     

Identification of a factor that links apoptotic cells to phagocytes

Apoptotic cells are rapidly engulfed by phagocytes to prevent the release of potentially noxious or immunogenic intracellular materials from the dying cells, thereby preserving the integrity and function of the surrounding tissue. Phagocytes engulf apoptotic but not healthy cells, indicating that the apoptotic cells present a signal to the phagocytes, and the phagocytes recognize the signal using a specific receptor. Here, we report a factor that links apoptotic cells to phagocytes. We found that milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 (MFG-E8), a secreted glycoprotein, was produced by thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. MFG-E8 specifically bound to apoptotic cells by recognizing aminophospholipids such as phosphatidylserine. MFG-E8, when engaged by phospholipids, bound to cells via its RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartate) motif--it bound particularly strongly to cells expressing alpha(v)beta(3) integrin. The NIH3T3 cell transformants that expressed a high level of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin were found to engulf apoptotic cells when MFG-E8 was added. MFG-E8 carrying a point mutation in the RGD motif behaved as a dominant-negative form, and inhibited the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that MFG-E8 secreted from activated macrophages binds to apoptotic cells, and brings them to phagocytes for engulfment.     

CTAB调控乳腺癌干细胞抑制迁移

乳腺癌转移是限制其临床治疗的主要因素.十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)作为一种潜在的抗癌化合物具有明显的抗肿瘤作用.使用划痕和Transwell实验证明了CTAB可抑制ZR-75-1细胞迁移.乳腺癌干细胞是导致乳腺癌转移的一个重要因素.通过免疫荧光、流式细胞术和细胞成球实验证明CTAB降低了乳腺癌干细胞比例,并且抑制了干性标记物CD44和CD133的表达.实验证明CTAB抑制乳腺癌干细胞并且抑制乳腺癌细胞迁移.     

Whole-genome analysis informs breast cancer response to aromatase inhibition

To correlate the variable clinical features of oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer with somatic alterations, we studied pretreatment tumour biopsies accrued from patients in two studies of neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy by massively parallel sequencing and analysis. Eighteen significantly mutated genes were identified, including five genes (RUNX1, CBFB, MYH9, MLL3 and SF3B1) previously linked to haematopoietic disorders. Mutant MAP3K1 was associated with luminal A status, low-grade histology and low proliferation rates, whereas mutant TP53 was associated with the opposite pattern. Moreover, mutant GATA3 correlated with suppression of proliferation upon aromatase inhibitor treatment. Pathway analysis demonstrated that mutations in MAP2K4, a MAP3K1 substrate, produced similar perturbations as MAP3K1 loss. Distinct phenotypes in oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer are associated with specific patterns of somatic mutations that map into cellular pathways linked to tumour biology, but most recurrent mutations are relatively infrequent. Prospective clinical trials based on these findings will require comprehensive genome sequencing.     

Serum microRNA-155 as a potential biomarker for breast cancer screening

MicroRNAs(miRs) have been shown to be differentially expressed in the serum of cancer patients and controls,and can thus be used as biomarkers for cancer screening.We detected the expression level of miR-155 in the serum of female breast cancer patients and healthy controls to investigate whether serum miR-155 could discriminate patients with early-stage breast cancer.Serum samples were collected from 20 female patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and 10 healthy controls.Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-155.The expression level of miR-155 was significantly increased in the serum of breast cancer patients compared with in the serum of normal controls.MiR-155 may be useful as a blood-based biomarker for breast cancer screening.     

IDH mutation impairs histone demethylation and results in a block to cell differentiation

Recurrent mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and IDH2 have been identified in gliomas, acute myeloid leukaemias (AML) and chondrosarcomas, and share a novel enzymatic property of producing 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) from α-ketoglutarate. Here we report that 2HG-producing IDH mutants can prevent the histone demethylation that is required for lineage-specific progenitor cells to differentiate into terminally differentiated cells. In tumour samples from glioma patients, IDH mutations were associated with a distinct gene expression profile enriched for genes expressed in neural progenitor cells, and this was associated with increased histone methylation. To test whether the ability of IDH mutants to promote histone methylation contributes to a block in cell differentiation in non-transformed cells, we tested the effect of neomorphic IDH mutants on adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Introduction of either mutant IDH or cell-permeable 2HG was associated with repression of the inducible expression of lineage-specific differentiation genes and a block to differentiation. This correlated with a significant increase in repressive histone methylation marks without observable changes in promoter DNA methylation. Gliomas were found to have elevated levels of similar histone repressive marks. Stable transfection of a 2HG-producing mutant IDH into immortalized astrocytes resulted in progressive accumulation of histone methylation. Of the marks examined, increased H3K9 methylation reproducibly preceded a rise in DNA methylation as cells were passaged in culture. Furthermore, we found that the 2HG-inhibitable H3K9 demethylase KDM4C was induced during adipocyte differentiation, and that RNA-interference suppression of KDM4C was sufficient to block differentiation. Together these data demonstrate that 2HG can inhibit histone demethylation and that inhibition of histone demethylation can be sufficient to block the differentiation of non-transformed cells.     

HER2 over-expression and response to different chemotherapy regimens in breast cancer

Purpose： To exam the relationship between HER2 over-expression and different adjuvant chemotherapies in breast cancer. Patients and Methods： A total of 1625 primary breast cancer patients who received post-surgery adjuvant chemotherapy in Tianjin Cancer Hospital, China, from July 2002 to November 2005 were included in the study. Among them, 600 patients were given CMF （CTX＋MTX＋5-Fu） regimen, 600 given CEF （CTX＋E-ADM＋5-Fu） regimen, and 425 given anthracyclines plus taxanes regimen, with mean follow-up time of 42 months. Results： In CMF treatment group, the 3-year disease free survival （DFS） in HER2 over-expressed patients was lower than that of the HER2-negative ones （89.80% vs 91.24%, P=0.0348）; in node-positive subgroup, the 3-year DFS was 84.72% in HER2 over-expressed patients, and 90.18% in the HER-2-negative ones （P=0.0271）. Compared to CMF regimen, anthracyclines and anthracyclines plus taxanes regimens are more effective （P〈0.05） in node-positive HER2 over-expression than those in the node-negative. Conclusion： HER2 over-expression is an independent index for predicting poor prognosis and short DFS for breast cancer patients. HER2 over-expressed patients are resistant to CMF regimen chemotherapy, but sensitive to anthracyclines-based or anthracyclines plus taxanes regimen. HER2 expression can be taken as a marker for therapies in breast cancer.     

Structures of a histone deacetylase homologue bound to the TSA and SAHA inhibitors.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) mediate changes in nucleosome conformation and are important in the regulation of gene expression. HDACs are involved in cell-cycle progression and differentiation, and their deregulation is associated with several cancers. HDAC inhibitors, such as trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), have anti-tumour effects, as they can inhibit cell growth, induce terminal differentiation and prevent the formation of tumours in mice models, and they are effective in the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia. Here we describe the structure of the histone deacetylase catalytic core, as revealed by the crystal structure of a homologue from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus, that shares 35.2% identity with human HDAC1 over 375 residues, deacetylates histones in vitro and is inhibited by TSA and SAHA. The deacetylase, deacetylase-TSA and deacetylase-SAHA structures reveal an active site consisting of a tubular pocket, a zinc-binding site and two Asp-His charge-relay systems, and establish the mechanism of HDAC inhibition. The residues that make up the active site and contact the inhibitors are conserved across the HDAC family. These structures also suggest a mechanism for the deacetylation reaction and provide a framework for the further development of HDAC inhibitors as antitumour agents.     

The molecular mechanism of different sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to TRAIL

Although Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis of various cancer cells, some caner cell lines are resistant to TRAIL-induced cell death. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying TRAIL-resistance, two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 (resistant to TRAIL) and MDA-MB-231 (sensitive to TRAIL), were used as a model system to analyze the different sensitivities to TRAIL cytotoxicity. PKCδ inhibitor rottlerin, but not MEK and ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 nor PI3K inhibitor LY294002, was shown to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells significantly, suggesting that PKCδ might play an important role in the resistance of MCF-7 cells to TRAIL. In contrast, rottlerin, U0126, and Ly294002 had no effect on MDA-MB-231 apoptosis induced by TRAIL under the same conditions. Further experiment showed that the combination of rottlerin and TRAIL cleaved PARP in the MCF-7 cells synergistically, but not in the MDA-MB-231 cells. The role of PKCδ in TRAIL-resistant MCF-7 cells was confirmed by knocking down the endogenous PKCδ expression using RNAi technology. Furthermore, caspase-3 reconstitution in MCF-7 cells was unable to alter PKCδ expression, suggesting that innate caspase-3 deficient in the cells does not cause PKCδ high expression. These data provide evidence for the first time that PKCδ plays a critical role in breast cancer cell lines to TRAIL cytotoxicity.     

Growth of human breast cancer cells inhibited by a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist

About one-third of human breast cancers require hormones for their continued growth and endocrine ablation or anti-hormone therapy can cause regression of these tumours. As a consequence, ovariectomy in premenopausal women or administration of an anti-oestrogen (tamoxifen) in postmenopausal women represent major options for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Alternatively, chronic administration of agonistic analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) causes regression of mammary tumours in experimental animals, and such treatment has shown promise in a small series of premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. It has been assumed that these results were achieved by suppressing the pituitary-ovarian axis, as the treatment causes a reduction in circulating levels of gonadal steroids similar to that produced by castration. However, LHRH agonists can exert major effects on tissues other than the pituitary in animals and in the human. Such findings, coupled with reports of LHRH in human breast milk and immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of LHRH-like activity in some human breast tumours, prompted us to test whether LHRH agonists could have direct antitumour effects. We now report major direct effects of LHRH and its agonists on the growth of breast tumour cells in culture.