ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood eye tumour. Dysregulation of DNA repair may not only influence pathogenesis but could also adversely impact on response to cytotoxic chemotherapy frequently used in RB therapy. We studied the expression of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1), a key multifunctional protein involved in DNA base excision repair in RB. METHODS: Expression of APE1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a series of 55 RBs and in retina. In tumours, APE1 expression was analysed in cytoplasm and nucleus independently and correlated with histopathological features, including invasion, differentiation and International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification groups. Relative APE1 mRNA and protein expressions were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot. The expression of APE1 in tumour groups was compared with retinal tissue. RESULTS: APE1 cytoplasmic expression was observed in 98% and nuclear positivity was observed in 83% of tumours analysed. Tumour cells invading the optic nerve showed predominant cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. An inverse correlation between cytoplasmic and nuclear positivity was observed. Real-time PCR revealed an increase in APE1 transcripts compared with retina. Western blot revealed a decreased protein concentration compared with retinal tissue. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of APE1 expression in RB. Our observation suggests that subcellular localisation of APE1 is altered in RB. APE1 could be a potential drug target in RB.
Subject(s)
DNA Repair , DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase/metabolism , Retinal Neoplasms/enzymology , Retinoblastoma/enzymology , Blotting, Western , Cell Nucleus/enzymology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cytoplasm/enzymology , DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase/genetics , Female , Gene Expression , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Infant , Male , Prognosis , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Retinal Neoplasms/genetics , Retinoblastoma/genetics , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant tumor of infancy and childhood. Unfavorable therapeutic response is still a quest in many tumors, including retinoblastoma. Hypoxic tumor microenvironment is one of the factors that determine the therapeutic response in many tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of hypoxia and its related proteins; Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) and survivin in RB and their association with clinicopathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the expression of HIF-1α and survivin by immunohistochemistry in 42 archival retinoblastoma tumors and CA IX; a hypoxia marker in 33 tumors in the same cohort. The expression was correlated with tumor groups based on invasion, differentiation and IIRC. RESULTS: Expression of HIF-1α, survivin and CA IX was observed in 83% (35/42), 86% (36/42), and 93% (31/33) of tumors respectively. We observed no significance between HIF-1α and CA IX expression in tumors with invasion, differentiation and in IIRC tumor groups. An increased survivin expression was observed in group E tumors than in group D tumors (P = 0.044). A significant association was observed between HIF-1α and survivin in differentiated (r = -0.582; P = < 0.01) and undifferentiated tumors groups (r = 0.513; P = <0.012). A similar significant association was observed between HIF-1α and CA IX in tumors with high immunoreactivity for HIF-1α (r = 0.833; P = <0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on these observations, we propose that HIF-1α pathway is deregulated in RB. The role of drug resistance and the potential of targeting HIF-1α, CA IX, and survivin in RB should further examined.
