Cellular Prion Protein Mediates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Survival and Invasion through Association with and Enhanced Signaling of Notch1.

Up-regulation of human prion protein (PrP) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a poor prognosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of PrP-mediated tumorigenesis is not completely understood. In this study, we found that PDAC cell lines can be divided into either PrP high expresser or PrP low expresser. In addition to filamin A (FLNA), PrP interacts with Notch1, forming a PrP/FLNA/Notch1 complex. Silencing PrP in high-expresser cells decreases Notch1 expression and Notch1 signaling. These cells exhibited decreased proliferation, xenograft growth, and tumor invasion but show increased tumor apoptosis. These phenotypes were rescued by ectopically expressed and activated Notch1. By contrast, overexpression of PrP in low expressers increases Notch1 expression and signaling, enhances proliferation, and increases tumor invasion and xenograft growth that can be blocked by a Notch inhibitor. Our data further suggest that PrP increases Notch1 stability likely through suppression of Notch proteosome degradation. Additionally, we found that targeting PrP combined with anti-Notch is much more effective than singularly targeted therapy in retarding PDAC growth. Finally, we show that coexpression of PrP and Notch1 confers an even poorer prognosis than PrP expression alone. Taken together, our results have unraveled a novel molecular pathway driven by interactions between PrP and Notch1 in the progression of PDAC, supporting a critical tumor-promoting role of Notch1 in PrP-expressing PDAC tumors.

A Predictive Genetic Signature for Response to Fluoropyrimidine-Based Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Clinical Stage II and III Rectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: Pre-operative chemoradiation (CRT) is currently the standard of care for patients with clinical stage II and III rectal cancer but only about 45% of patients achieve tumor downstaging and <20% of patients achieve a pathologic complete response. Better methods to stratify patients according to potential neoadjuvant treatment response are needed. We used microarray analysis to identify a genetic signature that correlates with a pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant CRT. We performed a gene network analysis to identify potential signaling pathways involved in determining response to neoadjuvant treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified 31 T3-4 N0-1 rectal cancer patients who were treated with neoadjuvant fluorouracil-based CRT. Eight patients were identified to have achieved a pCR to treatment while 23 patients did not. mRNA expression was analyzed using cDNA microarrays. The correlation between mRNA expression and pCR from pre-treatment tumor biopsies was determined. Gene network analysis was performed for the genes represented by the predictive signature. RESULTS: A genetic signature represented by expression levels of the three genes EHBP1, STAT1, and GAPDH was found to correlate with a pCR to neoadjuvant treatment. The difference in expression levels between patients who achieved a pCR and those who did not was greatest for EHBP1. Gene network analysis showed that the three genes can be connected by the gene ubiquitin C (UBC). CONCLUSION: This study identifies a 3-gene signature expressed in pre-treatment tumor biopsies that correlates with a pCR to neoadjuvant CRT in patients with clinical stage II and III rectal cancer. These three genes can be connected by the gene UBC, suggesting that ubiquitination is a molecular mechanism involved in determining response to treatment. Validating this genetic signature in a larger number of patients is proposed.

Lynch syndrome-associated colorectal carcinoma: frequent involvement of the left colon and rectum and late-onset presentation supports a universal screening approach.

The optimal strategy for screening patients with colorectal carcinoma for Lynch syndrome (LS) is a subject of continued debate in the literature with some advocating universal screening while others arguing for selective screening. We evaluated 1292 colorectal carcinomas for DNA mismatch repair protein abnormalities and identified 150 (11.6%) tumors demonstrating high-levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-H). MSI-H colorectal carcinomas were divided into sporadic (112/1292, 8.7%) and LS/probable LS-associated (38/1292, 2.9%) groups based on BRAF V600E mutation, MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, cancer history, and germline mismatch repair gene mutation. All MSI-H colorectal carcinomas were analyzed for grade, location, and tumor histology. The utility of the revised Bethesda guidelines and published predictive pathology models for MSI-H colorectal carcinomas (PREDICT and MSPath) were evaluated. Left-sided MSI-H colorectal carcinomas were more frequently associated with LS compared with right-sided MSI-H colorectal carcinomas (12/21, 57% versus 26/129, 20%, P = .0008). There was no significant difference in histology between sporadic MSI-H and LS/probable LS-associated colorectal carcinomas except for a slightly higher proportion of sporadic MSI-H tumors demonstrating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (81% versus 61%, P = .015). Neither pathology predictive model identified all LS-associated colorectal carcinomas (PREDICT: 33/38, 87%; MSPath: 35/38, 92%). 12/117 (10%) MSI-H colorectal carcinomas identified in patients >60 years were LS/probable LS-associated. Our results demonstrate that models of predicting MSI-H fail to identify LS-associated colorectal carcinoma given their reliance on right-sided location. A significant proportion (32%) of LS-associated colorectal carcinoma is identified in patients >60 years. Finally, our results demonstrate similar morphologic features between LS-associated and sporadic MSI-H colorectal carcinomas.

Clinicopathologic features of synchronous colorectal carcinoma: A distinct subset arising from multiple sessile serrated adenomas and associated with high levels of microsatellite instability and favorable prognosis.

Analysis of synchronous colorectal carcinomas can provide a unique model to examine the underlying molecular alterations in colorectal carcinoma, as synchronous tumors arise in a background of common genetic and environmental factors. We analyzed the clinicopathologic and molecular features of synchronous colorectal carcinomas compared with solitary carcinomas to correlate the histologic findings with molecular alterations and to identify the prognostic significance, if any, of synchronous colorectal carcinoma. Of the 4760 primary colorectal carcinomas resected for the years 2002 to 2012 at our institution, 58 patients (1.2%) harbored 2 invasive primary adenocarcinomas and comprise the synchronous colorectal carcinoma study group. A control group of consecutively resected solitary colorectal carcinomas from 109 patients was also analyzed. Compared with solitary colorectal carcinomas, synchronous colorectal carcinomas more frequently were identified in older patients (median age 70 vs. 60 y; P=0.001), involved the right colon (42/58, 72% vs. 47/109, 43%; P=0.0003), were more often microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) (21/58, 36% vs. 13/109, 12%; P=0.0005), and were more frequently associated with precursor sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) (13/58, 22% vs. 2/109, 2%; P=0.0001). A statistically significant difference in overall survival was identified between patients with synchronous and solitary colorectal carcinomas (5 y overall survival 92% vs. 56%, P=0.02). A unique subgroup of 13 synchronous colorectal carcinomas demonstrated tumors arising from SSAs (SSA-associated). All SSA-associated synchronous colorectal carcinomas were seen in patients above 65 years of age, and 12/13 (92%) occurred in women. Most patients (12/13, 92%) with SSA-associated synchronous colorectal carcinomas demonstrated involvement of the right colon, and tumors were frequently stage I or II (9/13, 69%) and low grade (11/13, 85%). In 12/13 (92%) SSA-associated synchronous colorectal carcinomas, both tumors exhibited loss of MLH1 and PMS2 immunohistochemical expression with concurrent BRAF V600E mutation. Nine of 13 (69%) patients with SSA-associated colorectal carcinoma harbored additional SSAs. Three of 13 (15%) patients with SSA-associated synchronous colorectal carcinoma met the World Health Organization criteria for serrated polyposis. Notably, no patient with SSA-associated synchronous colorectal carcinoma developed disease recurrence or died of disease at last follow-up. In conclusion, synchronous colorectal carcinomas are enriched with MSI-H tumors, particularly those arising from SSAs, which contributes to the overall improved survival for patients with synchronous tumors compared with patients with solitary tumors. We demonstrate that SSA-associated synchronous colorectal carcinomas have a striking predilection for elderly women, are associated with a favorable prognosis, and are MSI-H and BRAF V600E positive.

Endotherapy for superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: an American experience.

BACKGROUND: EMR and ablation are increasingly being used alone or in combination for treatment of Barrett's neoplasia. Given a very low rate of lymph node metastasis, endotherapy has become an accepted treatment option for T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) with low-risk features. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of endoscopic management of T1a EAC in a large, tertiary-care center. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Tertiary-care referral center. PATIENTS: Patients treated endoscopically for low-risk T1a EAC at our center. INTERVENTION: EMR and endoscopic ablation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Death related to esophageal cancer, remission of adenocarcinoma, dysplasia, and intestinal metaplasia. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients underwent endotherapy for low-risk T1a EAC from 2006 to 2012. Mean (± SD) follow-up was 23 (± 16) months, mean (± SD) size of resected adenocarcinoma was 7.1 (± 4.3) mm, and mean (± SD) Barrett's esophagus length was 4.5 (± 3.9) cm. Band-assisted, cap-assisted, and lift and cut EMR were performed in 85%, 11%, and 4% of patients, respectively; 81% underwent additional ablative therapy (radiofrequency ablation 95%, cryotherapy 9%, photodynamic therapy 2%). Complete remission from cancer was achieved in 96%, complete remission from dysplasia in 87%, and complete remission from intestinal metaplasia in 59%. The overall survival was 89%; there were no deaths related to esophageal cancer. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study. CONCLUSION: Endotherapy for T1a EAC was safe and effective in our American cohort. Endotherapy should be considered primary therapy for appropriate patients with low-risk lesions. Complete Barrett's esophagus eradication after EMR is important to reduce the development of metachronous lesions.

Significance of Notch1-signaling pathway in human pancreatic development and carcinogenesis.

In animal studies, Notch1-signaling pathway plays an important role in the pancreatic embryogenesis by promoting pancreatic progenitor cells self-renewal and exocrine linage development. The persistent activation of Notch pathway could arrest the organ development and keep cells at an undifferentiated stage. Studies have shown that Notch1-signaling pathway is upregulated in invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here we examined the expression pattern of Notch1 and Hes1 in human fetal pancreatic tissues to elucidate the role of Notch1 in human pancreatic embryonic development. We also compared Notch1 expression in tissues from PDAC, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm. Our data show that Notch1/Hes1-signaling pathway is activated during early pancreatic embryogenesis and reaches the highest at birth. After pancreas is fully developed, Notch1/Hes1 pathway is inactivated even though Notch1 protein cell-surface expression is upregulated. We also showed that the expression of both Notch1 and Hes1 are present in 50% (33/66) of PDACs, but not in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasms. These findings indicate that Notch1 activation is only apparent in late stage of pancreatic carcinogenesis, suggesting that treatment with Notch-signaling inhibitors including γ-secretase should be selectively used for PDACs with confirmed Notch1-signaling activation.

Perspectives on current tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging of cancers of the colon and rectum.

Improvements in classifications of cancers based on discovery and validation of important histopathological parameters and new molecular markers continue unabated. Though still not perfect, recent updates of classification schemes in gastrointestinal oncology by the American Joint Commission on Cancer (tumor-node-metastasis [TNM] staging) and the World Health Organization further stratify patients and guide optimization of treatment strategies and better predict patient outcomes. These updates recognize the heterogeneity of patient populations with significant subgrouping of each tumor stage and use of tumor deposits to significantly "up-stage" some cancers; change staging parameters for subsets of IIIB and IIIC cancers; and introduce of several new subtypes of colon carcinomas. By the nature of the process, recent discoveries that are important to improving even routine standards of patient care, especially new advances in molecular medicine, are not incorporated into these systems. Nonetheless, these classifications significantly advance clinical standards and are welcome enhancements to our current methods of cancer reporting.

Down-regulation of phosphoglucose isomerase/autocrine motility factor expression sensitizes human fibrosarcoma cells to oxidative stress leading to cellular senescence.

Phosphoglucose isomerase/autocrine motility factor (PGI/AMF) is a housekeeping gene product present in all cells, is an essential enzyme of catabolic glycolysis and anabolic gluconeogenesis, and regulates tumor cell growth and metastasis. Because glycolytic enzyme up-regulation of expression contributes to glycolytic flux, leading to increased of cell growth and a resistance to cellular stress of normal fibroblasts whereas down-regulation of PGI/AMF leads to mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in tumor cells, we examined the involvement of PGI/AMF in overcoming cellular senescence in cancer cells. PGI/AMF cellular expression in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma was down-regulated by small interfering RNA methodology, which resulted in an increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence. Signaling analysis revealed that the senescence pathway involving p21 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor was up-regulated in PGI/AMF knockdown cells and that superoxide dismutase is the upstream regulator protein of p21-mediated cellular senescence. A specific inhibitor of PGI/AMF induced cellular senescence and p21 expression in tumor cells exposed to an oxidative stress environment. Taken together, the results presented here suggest that PGI/AMF is involved in oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence and should bring novel insights into the control of cellular growth leading to a new methodology for cancer treatment.

Regulation of phosphoglucose isomerase/autocrine motility factor activities by the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase family-14.

Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI; EC 5.3.1.9) is a ubiquitous cytosolic enzyme essential for glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. PGI is a multifunctional dimeric protein that extracellularly acts as a cytokine [autocrine motility factor (AMF)] eliciting mitogenic, motogenic, and differentiation functions through binding to its cell surface receptor gp78/AMF receptor (AMFR). AMFR contains a seven-transmembrane domain with RING-H2 and leucine zipper motifs showing ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) activity and is exposed on the endoplasmic reticulum surface. Augmented expressions of both PGI/AMF and AMFR have been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis, and an intracellular binding partner of PGI/AMF is expected to regulate in part its diverse biological functions. Thus, we screened a cDNA library using a yeast two-hybrid system to search for interacting protein(s) and report on the finding of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-14 (PARP-14) to be a binding partner with PGI/AMF. PARP-14-PGI/AMF interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunolocalization. We also report that PGI/AMF degradation is mainly regulated by the ubiquitin-lysosome system and RNA interference experiments revealed that PARP-14 inhibits PGI/AMF ubiquitination, thus contributing to its stabilization and secretion. This newly characterized PARP-14 protein should assist in understanding the regulation of PGI/AMF intracellular function(s) and may provide a new therapeutic target for inhibition of PGI/AMF inducing tumor cell migration and invasion during metastasis.

Down-regulation of phosphoglucose isomerase/autocrine motility factor results in mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition of human lung fibrosarcoma cells.

Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) is one of the glycolytic enzymes and is a multifunctional enzyme that functions in glucose metabolism inside the cell while acting as a cytokine outside the cell, with properties that include autocrine motility factor (AMF) regulating tumor cell motility. Although there are many studies indicating that PGI/AMF has been implicated in progression of metastasis, no direct studies of the significance of exogenous PGI/AMF on tumor progression have been reported. Here, we report on the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), which is the reverse phenomenon of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that is associated with loss of cell polarity, loss of epithelia markers, and enhancement of cell motility essential for tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Mesenchymal human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells, which have naturally high levels of endogenous and exogenous PGI/AMF, were stably transfected with PGI/AMF small interfering RNA (siRNA). The siRNA targeting human PGI/AMF down-regulated the endogenous PGI/AMF expression and completely extinguished the secretion of PGI/AMF in a human fibrosarcoma HT1080, whereas the control siRNA showed no effects. The PGI/AMF siRNA caused cells to change shape dramatically and inhibited cell motility and invasion markedly. Suppression of PGI/AMF led to a contact-dependent inhibition of cell growth. Those PGI/AMF siRNA-transfected cells showed epithelial phenotype. Furthermore, tumor cells with PGI/AMF deficiency lost their abilities to form tumor mass. This study identifies that MET in HT1080 human lung fibrosarcoma cells was initiated by down-regulation of the housekeeping gene product/cytokine PGI/AMF, and the results depicted here suggest a novel therapeutic target/modality for mesenchymal cancers.

Electrophysiological characterization and modeling of the structure activity relationship of the human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hCNT3).

We characterized the electrophysiology, kinetics, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of the human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hCNT3) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes by measuring substrate-induced inward currents using a two-microelectrode voltage-clamp system. At membrane potentials between -30 and -150 mV, sodium activation of gemcitabine transport was sigmoidal, with a K0.5 of 8.5+/-0.3 mM for Na+ and a Hill coefficient of 2.2+/-0.25 independent of membrane potential. We measured the Imax and K0.5 for substrate at -50 mV for the nucleoside analog drugs gemcitabine (638+/-58 nA, 59.7+/-17.5 microM), ribavirin (546+/-37 nA, 61.0+/-13.2 microM), AZT (420+/-4 nA, 310+/-9 microM), and 3-deazauridine (506+/-30 nA, 50.8+/-9.90 microM). K0.5 and Imax for substrate were dependent on membrane potential (both increasing as the membrane became more hyperpolarized) for all four drugs. hCNT3 also exhibited pre-steady-state currents. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) was examined using comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis of the inward currents induced by 27 nucleoside analogs with substitutions at both the ribose and the nucleobase. Two statistically significant QSAR models identified electrostatic interaction as the major force in hCNT3 transport and attributed a critical role to the 3'-hydroxyl position of hCNT3 substrates. Steric hindrance at the 3-position and positive charge at the 5-position of the pyrimidine ring were favorable for transport. Two hCNT3 pharmacophore models revealed the minimal features required for hCNT3 transport as two hydrogen bond acceptors at 3'-OH and 5'-O and the hydrophobic center occupied by the base ring.

Induction of cystine-glutamate transporter xc- by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transactivator protein tat in retinal pigment epithelium.

PURPOSE: The transactivator protein Tat encoded by the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) genome reduces glutathione levels in mammalian cells. Because the retina contains large amounts of glutathione, a study was undertaken to determine the influence of Tat on glutathione levels, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, and the expression and activity of the cystine-glutamate transporter xc- in the human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 and in retina from Tat-transgenic mice. METHODS: The transport function of xc- was measured as glutamate uptake in the absence of Na+. mRNA levels for xCT and 4F2hc, the two subunits of system xc-, were monitored by RT-PCR and Northern blot and protein levels by Western blot. The expression pattern of xCT and 4F2hc in the mouse retina was analyzed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Expression of Tat in ARPE-19 cells led to a decrease in glutathione levels and an increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. The transport function of xc- was upregulated, and this increase was accompanied by increases in the levels of mRNAs for xCT and 4F2hc and in corresponding protein levels. The influence of Tat on the expression of xc- was independent of the cellular status of glutathione. Most of these findings were confirmed in the retina of Tat-transgenic mice. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of HIV-1 Tat in the retina decreases glutathione levels and increases gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. Tat also upregulates the expression of system xc-. Glutathione levels may be decreased and the expression of xc- enhanced in the retina of patients with HIV-1 infection, leading to oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.

Identification of a novel Na+- and Cl--coupled transport system for endogenous opioid peptides in retinal pigment epithelium and induction of the transport system by HIV-1 Tat.

The endogenous opioid peptides enkephalins, dynorphins and endorphins consist of five or more amino acids. These peptides participate in a multitude of biological functions in mammalian cells by interacting with different subtypes of opiate receptors located on the plasma membrane and in the nucleus. Here we report on the identification of a new peptide transport system in the human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells that transports a variety of endogenous opioid peptides with high affinity. We identified this novel, hitherto unrecognized, transport system when we were analysing the differential effects of Tat, the transacting factor encoded by HIV-1, on various transport processes in RPE cells. This transport system is markedly induced by Tat. This opioid transport system is energized by transmembrane Na+ and Cl- gradients and is distinct from any of the previously identified transport systems for opioid peptides in mammalian cells. Free amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides and non-peptide opiate receptor antagonists are excluded by this newly identified transport system. The affinities of endogenous opioid peptides for this system are in the range of 0.4-40 microM. The identification of the high-affinity Na+- and Cl--coupled transport system in mammalian cells that is specific for endogenous opioid peptides and is induced by HIV-1 Tat is of significance not only to the biology of opioid peptides but also to the pathology of HIV-1 infection in humans.

[Differential expression of the genes in leukemia cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the genes differentially expressed in leukemia cell apoptosis induced by recombinant soluble tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (rsTRAIL). METHODS: Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for the cloning and identification of the genes differentially expressed in the apoptotic Jurkat cells induced by TRAIL. Slot blot and Northern blot were used for the expression pattern analysis of the genes. Automatic DNA sequencing was used for DNA sequence analysis. RESULTS: Six cDNA fragments differentially expressed in the Jurkat leukemia cells treated with TRAIL were found, in which four were inhibited and two were activated during the Jurkat cell apoptosis treated with TRAIL. Among which the five genes of A14, X1, D1, A23 and C5 were found at the first time by DNA sequencing and GeneBank database searching. So that they were registered in GeneBank as AW731601, AW731602, AW731603, AW731604 and BE239235, respectively. It was found that the gene D1 was expressed higher in Jurkat leukemia cells and MCF-7 breast cancer cells than that in K562 leukemia, 825 gastric cancer and 7721 liver cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Five novel cDNA fragments were found, and among which D1 might be a tumor specific gene.