Whole blood GRHL2 expression as a prognostic biomarker in metastatic hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: As potent systemic therapies transition earlier in the prostate cancer disease course, molecular biomarkers are needed to guide optimal treatment selection for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). The value of whole blood RNA to detect candidate biomarkers in mHSPC remains largely undefined. METHODS: In this cohort study, we used a previously optimised whole blood reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay to assess the prognostic utility [measured by seven-month undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and time to castration-resistance (TTCR)] of eight prostate cancer-associated gene transcripts in 43 mHSPC patients. Transcripts with statistically significant associations (P<0.05) were further investigated in a metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) cohort (n=119) receiving contemporary systemic therapy, exploring associations with PSA >50% response (PSA50), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Clinical outcomes were prospectively collected in a protected digital database. Kaplan-Meier estimates and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models assessed associations between gene transcripts and clinical outcomes (mHSPC covariates: disease volume, docetaxel use and haemoglobin level; mCRPC covariates: prior exposure to chemotherapy or ARPIs, haemoglobin, performance status and presence of visceral disease). Follow-up was performed monthly during ARPI treatment, three-weekly during taxane chemotherapy, and three-monthly during androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) monotherapy. Serial PSA measurements were performed before each follow-up visit and repeat imaging was at the discretion of the investigator. RESULTS: Detection of circulating Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) transcript was associated with poor outcomes in mHSPC and mCRPC patients. Detectable GRHL2 expression in mHSPC was associated with a lower rate of seven-month undetectable PSA levels (25% vs. 65%, P=0.059), and independently associated with shorter TTCR (HR 7.3, 95% CI: 1.5-36, P=0.01). In the mCRPC cohort, GRHL2 expression predicted significantly lower PSA50 response rates (46% vs. 69%, P=0.01), and was independently associated with shorter PFS (HR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.8-5.2, P<0.001) and OS (HR 2.9, 95% CI: 1.6-5.1, P<0.001). Associations were most apparent in patients receiving ARPIs. CONCLUSIONS: Detectable circulating GRHL2 was a negative prognostic biomarker in our mHSPC and mCRPC cohorts. These data support further investigation of GRHL2 as a candidate prognostic biomarker in metastatic prostate cancer, in addition to expanding efforts to better understand a putative role in therapeutic resistance to AR targeted therapies.

Knockdown of GRHL2 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer by suppressing the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) transcription factor is implicated in many types of cancers. However, the role of GRHL2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been fully understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the expression and functional roles of GRHL2 in CRC. The expression of GRHL2 in normal human intestinal epithelial cells and colorectal cancer cells was measured by qRT-PCR and western blot. For knockdown of GRHL2, two small interfere RNAs (siRNAs) targeting GRHL2 or control siRNA was transfected into CRC cell lines (HCT116 and HT29). For GRHL2 overexpression, the GRHL2-overexpressing vector or empty lentiviral vector was infected into HCT116 and HT29 cells. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, and Bcl-2 was detected by western blot. We found that GRHL2 was upregulated in CRC cells compared to normal human intestinal epithelial cells. Knockdown of GRHL2 inactivated the PI3K/Akt pathway in HCT116 and HT29 cells. Knockdown of GRHL2 inhibited cell viability, elevated the apoptosis rates, suppressed the expression of PCNA and Bcl-2, and induced the expression of Bax in HCT116 and HT29 cells, and these effects were reversed by activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway blocked the effects of GRHL2 overexpression on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, GRHL2 acted as an oncoprotein through regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis in CRC cells. The PI3K/Akt pathway was closely involved in the effects of GRHL2. Therefore, GRHL2 might be a therapeutic target for the CRC treatment.

Expression of transcription factor grainyhead-like-2 in breast cancer tissues and its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#Objective: To detect the expression of GRHL2 (grainyhead-like-2) in breast cancer tissues and to explore its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients，aiming to find new therapeutic target for breast cancer. Method: A total of 88 pairs of BC tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues from patients with primary BC that treated and pathologically confirmed at the Second Department of General Surgery, Xinxiang Central Hospital from January 2010 to January 2017 were collected for this study. The expression of GRHL2 in BC tissues and para-cancerous tissues was examined with IHC, and the association between GRHL2 and clinicopathological characteristics of BC patients was analyzed. Moreover, the correlation between GRHL2 and prognosis of BC patients was investigated by analyzing TCGA clinic data for BC. Result: The expression of GRHL2 was significantly higher in BC tissues (75.00%) compared with para-cancerous tissues (36.36%) (P<0.01); Based on the results of GRHL2 expression in 114 cases of normal breast tissues and 1 097 cases of primary breast cancer tissues in TCGA database, the expression of GRHL2 in primary BC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal breast tissues (P<0.01). GRHL2 expression was associated with BC TNM stage,histological grade, HER2 status and lymphnode metastasis status (all P<0.05); TCGA database showed that the RFS of 1 979 BC patients with high GRHL2 expression was significantly shorter than that of the 1 972 cases of BC patients with low GRHL2 expression (HR=1.24, 95%CI:1.11-1.38, P<0.01); GRHL2 expression exerted no significant effect on RFS of TNBC patients or ER+ BC patients (TNBC: HR=1.30，95%CI: 0.89-1.88，P=0.170; ER+: HR=1.17, 95%CI:0.76-1.78， P=0.470); however, the RFS of HER2+ BC patients with high GRHL2 expression was significantly shorter than that of HER2+ BC patients with low GRHL2 expression (HR=1.72, 95%CI:1.11-2.68, P=0.015） . Conclusion：Expression level of GRHL2 was up-regulated in BC tissues, and was associated with BC TNM stage, histological grade, HER2 status and the lymphnode metastasis status. GRHL2 plays an important role in the generation and development of BC, indicating poor prognosis.

The basal chorionic trophoblast cell layer: An emerging coordinator of placenta development.

During gestation, fetomaternal exchange occurs in the villous tree (labyrinth) of the placenta. Development of this structure depends on tightly coordinated cellular processes of branching morphogenesis and differentiation of specialized trophoblast cells. The basal chorionic trophoblast (BCT) cell layer that localizes next to the chorioallantoic interface is of critical importance for labyrinth morphogenesis in rodents. Gcm1-positive cell clusters within this layer initiate branching morphogenesis thereby guiding allantoic fetal blood vessels towards maternal blood sinuses. Later these cells differentiate and contribute to the syncytiotrophoblast of the fetomaternal barrier. Additional cells within the BCT layer sustain continued morphogenesis, possibly through a repopulating progenitor population. Several mouse mutants highlight the importance of a structurally intact BCT epithelium, and a growing number of studies addresses its patterning and epithelial architecture. Here, we review and discuss emerging concepts in labyrinth development focussing on the biology of the BCT cell layer.