Chasing Hippos: Implications of YAP1 and TAZ Expression in Pregnancy-associated Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The Hippo pathway is a molecular pathway recently associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is the most common malignancy diagnosed during gestation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying PABC are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Hippo pathway transducers TAZ and YAP1 expression in PABC in relation to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 21 PABC patients treated at Alexandra Hospital in Athens, Greece, were analyzed with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Strong nuclear TAZ/YAP1 stanning was found in 48% of the PABC patients analyzed. Hormone receptor negative patients had a statistically significant correlation with strong positive expression of TAZ/YAP1 co-transcription factors. No association was observed with overall and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The Hippo pathway is de-regulated in a subset of PABC patients, highlighting the complex molecular background of the disease, which certainly requires further investigation.

Multi-Gene Mutation Profiling by Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in Premenopausal Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer has distinct etiology, prognoses, and clinical outcomes at premenopausal ages. Determination of the frequency of germline and somatic mutations will refine our understanding of the genetic contribution to premenopausal breast cancer susceptibility. We applied a comprehensive next generation sequencing-based approach to analyze blood and/or tissue samples of 54 premenopausal breast cancer patients treated in our clinic. Genetic testing results were descriptively analyzed in correlation with clinicopathological data. In the present study, 42.5% of premenopausal breast cancer patients tested carried pathogenic mutations in cancer predisposition genes (CHEK2, BRCA1, TP53, and MUTYH). Germline variants of unknown/uncertain significance (VUSs) in eight different cancer susceptibility genes, namely BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, RAD51C, RAD51D, ATM, BRIP1, and PMS2, were also identified in 14 premenopausal patients (35%). Of the breast tumors tested, 61.8% harbored pathogenic somatic variants in tumor suppressor genes (TP53, NF1, RB), genes involved in DNA repair (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, RAD50), cell proliferation (PTEN, PIK3C FGFR3, AKT1, ROS1, ERBB2, NOTCH1), and cell adhesion (CTNNB1). This descriptive study employs the powerful NGS technology to highlight the high frequency of premenopausal cases attributable to genetic predisposition. Mutation identification in a larger cohort may further ensure that these patients receive tailored treatment according to their menopausal status.

BRCA1/2 Mutation Types Do Not Affect Prognosis in Ovarian Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: High grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most lethal type of epithelial ovarian cancer, with a prevalence of germline BRCA1/2 mutations as high as 20%. Our objective is to determine whether the location of mutations in the different domains of the BRCA1/2 genes affects the clinical outcome of HGSOC patients. METHODS: A total of 51 women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated ovarian cancer were identified. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: In our study cohort, 35 patients were carriers of germline mutations in BRCA1 and 16 in BRCA2. The median PFS time following completion of the primary therapy was 23.8 months (95% CI 20.1-27.5) and the median OS was 92.9 months (95% CI 69.8-116.1) in all BRCA carriers. After multivariate analysis, no significant association among the location or type of BRCA1/2 mutation with PFS or OS was identified. Notably, significant differences in PFS between carriers of identical mutations in the same BRCA gene were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Among HGSOC patients, BRCA1/2 carriers with mutations in different locations of the genes show no significant difference in survival outcomes, in terms of PFS and OS, suggesting the potential effect of other genetic abnormalities and co-contributing risk factors.

Hepatic Senescence Accompanies the Development of NAFLD in Non-Aged Mice Independently of Obesity.

Senescence is considered to be a cardinal player in several chronic inflammatory and metabolic pathologies. The two dominant mechanisms of senescence include replicative senescence, predominantly depending on age-induced telomere shortening, and stress-induced senescence, triggered by external or intracellular harmful stimuli. Recent data indicate that hepatocyte senescence is involved in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, previous studies have mainly focused on age-related senescence during NAFLD, in the presence or absence of obesity, while information about whether the phenomenon is characterized by replicative or stress-induced senescence, especially in non-aged organisms, is scarce. Herein, we subjected young mice to two different diet-induced NAFLD models which differed in the presence of obesity. In both models, liver fat accumulation and increased hepatic mRNA expression of steatosis-related genes were accompanied by hepatic senescence, indicated by the increased expression of senescence-associated genes and the presence of a robust hybrid histo-/immunochemical senescence-specific staining in the liver. Surprisingly, telomere length and global DNA methylation did not differ between the steatotic and the control livers, while malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress, was upregulated in the mouse NAFLD livers. These findings suggest that senescence accompanies NAFLD emergence, even in non-aged organisms, and highlight the role of stress-induced senescence during steatosis development independently of obesity.

The Role of the Hippo Pathway in Breast Cancer Carcinogenesis, Prognosis, and Treatment: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The Hippo pathway is a developmental pathway recently discovered in Drosophila melanogaster; in mammals it normally controls organ development and wound healing. Hippo signaling is deregulated in breast cancer (BC). MST1/2 and LATS1/2 kinases are the upstream molecular elements of Hippo signaling which phosphorylate and regulate the two effectors of Hippo signaling, YAP1 and TAZ cotranscriptional activators. The two molecular effectors of the Hippo pathway facilitate their activity through TEAD transcription factors. Several molecular pathways with known oncogenic functions cross-talk with the Hippo pathway. METHODS: A systematic review studying the correlation of the Hippo pathway with BC tumorigenesis, prognosis, and treatment was performed. RESULTS: Recent literature highlights the critical role of Hippo signaling in a wide spectrum of biological mechanisms in BC. DISCUSSION: The Hippo pathway has a crucial position in BC molecular biology, cellular behavior, and response to treatment. Targeting the Hippo pathway could potentially improve the prognosis and outcome of BC patients.

The impact of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Affecting one fourth of the global population, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest chronic liver disorder. It encompasses the simple liver fat accumulation to more progressive steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis characterized as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and in some cases cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD regularly coexists with metabolic disorders, such as obesity and mostly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A relatively new class of antidiabetic drugs, the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors exert their action by increasing the urinary glucose and calorie excretion leading to ameliorated plasma glucose levels and lower bodyweight. Recently, several animal studies and human clinical trial have emphasized the possible beneficial impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on NAFLD and its progression to NASH. In this present review, we summarize the current literature regarding the efficacy of the aforementioned category of drugs on anthropometric, laboratory, and histological features of patients with NAFLD. Conclusively, as SGLT2 inhibitors seem to be an appealing therapeutic opportunity for NAFLD management, we identify the open issues and questions to be addressed in order to clarify the impact in choosing antidiabetic medication to treat NAFLD patients associated with T2DM.

The Role of Senescence in the Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Progression to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

In recent years, cellular senescence has generated a lot of interest among researchers because of its involvement in both the normal aging process and common human diseases. During senescence, cells undergo alterations that include telomere shortening, nuclear area enlargement, and genomic and mitochondrial DNA damage, leading to irreversible cell cycle arrest, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Evidence suggests that the complex process of senescence is involved in the development of a plethora of chronic diseases including metabolic and inflammatory disorders and tumorigenesis. Recently, several human and animal studies have emphasized the involvement of senescence in the pathogenesis and development of liver steatosis including the progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as characterized by the additional emergence of inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, and liver fibrosis. The development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression to NASH are commonly accompanied by several pathophysiological events including metabolic dysregulation and inflammatory phenomena occurring within the liver that may contribute to or derive from cellular senescence, implying that the latter may be both a stimulus and a consequence of the disease. Conclusion: In this review, we summarize the current literature on the impact of cellular senescence in NAFLD/NASH and discuss the effectiveness and safety of novel senolytic drugs and therapeutic options available to delay or treat the disease. Finally, we identify the open questions and issues to be addressed in the near future.