RESUMO
Over the last decade, the rho-associated kinases and several metastasis-associated microRNAs have emerged as important contributors of tumor invasion. However, despite prominence, our understanding of their involvement in the metastatic potential of Ewing Sarcoma (EWS) is incomplete. The expression profiles of ROCK1 or ROCK2 and miR-124-3p, miR-138-5p, miR-139-5p, miR-335-5p and miR-584-5p (all of which were previously predicted or validated to regulate these kinases) were evaluated through qRT-PCR and associated with clinical parameters. In vitro assays to evaluate colony formation and invasion/migration capacieties were performed on SK-ES-1 cells transfected with pre-miR mimics. ROCK1 expression was significantly reduced in EWS tissues, though there was no association with pathological parameters. miR-124-3p, miR-139-5p and miR-335-3p were also found significantly downregulated and positively correlated with ROCK1. Stratification indicated an association between lower levels of miR-139-5p and miR-584-5p with disease progression (p < 0.05), while reduced expression of the former and miR-124-3p were associated with reduced survival. In vitro miR-139-5p overexpression yielded inconsistent results: while mir-139-5p restoration significantly reduced invasion, the clonogenic capacity of cells was increased. Our study demonstrated that down-regulation of miR-124-3p, miR-139-5p and miR-584-5p are associated with disease progression in EWS and may serve as a risk assessment biomarkers though, as seen for mir-139-5p, their specific role remain to be elucidated for considering tailoring treatment options.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Ósseas/patologia , MicroRNAs/genética , Sarcoma de Ewing/patologia , Quinases Associadas a rho/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Neoplasias Ósseas/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular/genética , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Progressão da Doença , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Masculino , Invasividade Neoplásica/genética , Sarcoma de Ewing/genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
miRNAs have been identified as key regulators of almost all cellular processes, therefore, their dysregulation is involved with several diseases, including cancer. miRNAs specifically related to the metastastic cascade are called metastamiRs and can be involved with different steps of this process, including loss of adhesion. Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant pediatric bone tumor that often presents metastatic disease at diagnosis; therefore, a deeper study of adhesion-associated miRNAs could shed light on its pathophysiology. Online databases were used to select four miRNAs (miR-139; miR-181b; miR-584; miR-708) predicted or validated to target proteins related to adherent junctions and focal adhesion pathways, and their expression levels and possible associations with clinical features evaluated in primary OS samples. Our results showed downregulation of miR-139-5p and miR-708-5p in OS samples compared to non-neoplastic controls. Moreover, lower expression of miR-708-5p was associated with poor overall survival and higher expression of miR-181b-5p related to worst chemotherapy response (low HUVOS level). Based on these results, we selected miR-139-5p and miR-708-5p for further functional testing. Inducing the expression of miR-139-5p diminished the clonogenic capacity of the HOS cell line, while upregulation of miR-708-5p was related to a lower cellular adhesion. In summary, this work identified new signatures of microRNA dysregulation that may serve as useful prognostic markers in this aggressive pediatric bone tumor.
Assuntos
Junções Aderentes/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Neoplasias Ósseas/secundário , Adesões Focais/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , MicroRNAs/genética , Osteossarcoma/patologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Neoplasias Ósseas/genética , Neoplasias Ósseas/cirurgia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Osteossarcoma/genética , Osteossarcoma/cirurgia , Prognóstico , Taxa de Sobrevida , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Recent innovations in the genomic understanding of medulloblastomas have provided new ways to explore this highly invasive malignant brain cancer arising from the cerebellum. Among the four different medulloblastoma subgroups described to date, the sonic hedgehog (SHH) genetic pathway is the pathway activated in the tumorigenesis of medulloblastoma. SHH-related medulloblastomas are usually of nodular/desmoplastic histology and frequently occur in children under the age of three, an age group highly susceptible to the acute and long-term effects of treatment. Several new drugs aimed at SHH modulation are currently under development. This review focuses on the role of arsenic trioxide, a drug well established in clinical practice and probably an under-explored agent in medulloblastoma management, in the SHH pathway.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Arsenicais/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Cerebelares/tratamento farmacológico , Proteínas Hedgehog/metabolismo , Meduloblastoma/tratamento farmacológico , Óxidos/administração & dosagem , Adolescente , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Trióxido de Arsênio , Arsenicais/farmacologia , Neoplasias Cerebelares/metabolismo , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Lactente , Meduloblastoma/metabolismo , Óxidos/farmacologia , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a conserved kinase that mediates various mitotic events. Compelling data have repeatedly demonstrated its upregulation in different neoplasia, being frequently associated with poor prognosis. However, in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), no studies have yet been conducted. PROCEDURE: PLK1 expression and association with biological features were evaluated in 65 consecutively diagnosed childhood ALL samples by quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, the effects of a specific PLK1 inhibitor, BI 2536, was tested against a panel of nine ALL cell lines at nanomolar concentrations (10, 50, 100 nM). RESULTS: The mRNA expression of PLK1 showed great variability in pediatric ALL, but no difference was evidenced compared to normal bone marrow. Additionally, no association was found between PLK1 mRNA expression with any clinical or biological features. Alternatively, high mRNA expression of PLK1 was present in ALL cell lines. In vitro treatment with BI 2536 strongly diminished growth, while presenting significant reduction in colony formation capacity and increased apoptosis rates. Moreover, strong G2/M arrest was detected suggesting important impaired proliferation after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PLK1 mRNA expression level is not associated with prognosis in childhood ALL; however, considering the great variability observed in the sample and the in vitro experiments presented herein, BI 2536 treatment might serve as a promising therapeutic to enhance the efficacy of conventional treatment modalities in some childhood ALL cases.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação Leucêmica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/metabolismo , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/mortalidade , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas , Pteridinas/farmacologia , Adolescente , Medula Óssea/metabolismo , Medula Óssea/patologia , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/biossíntese , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Feminino , Pontos de Checagem da Fase G2 do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Lactente , Células Jurkat , Pontos de Checagem da Fase M do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/patologia , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/terapia , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/biossíntese , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/biossíntese , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , RNA Neoplásico/biossíntese , Estudos Retrospectivos , Taxa de Sobrevida , Quinase 1 Polo-LikeRESUMO
Despite advances in neurosurgery and aggressive treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation, the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains poor. Vast evidence has indicated that the nuclear factor NF- κ B is constitutively activated in cancer cells, playing key roles in growth and survival. Recently, Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) has shown to be a selective NF- κ B inhibitor with antiproliferative properties in GBM. In the present study, the ability of DHMEQ to surmount tumor's invasive nature and therapy resistance were further explored. Corroborating results showed that DHMEQ impaired cell growth in dose- and time-dependent manners with G2/M arrest when compared with control. Clonogenicity was also significantly diminished with increased apoptosis, though necrotic cell death was also observed at comparable levels. Notably, migration and invasion were inhibited accordingly with lowered expression of invasion-related genes. Moreover, concurrent combination with TMZ synergistically inhibited cell growth in all cell lines, as determined by proliferation and caspase-3 activation assays, though in those that express O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, the synergistic effects were schedule dependent. Pretreatment with DHMEQ equally sensitized cells to ionizing radiation. Taken together, our results strengthen the potential usefulness of DHMEQ in future therapeutic strategies for tumors that do not respond to conventional approaches.
RESUMO
Genetic instability is frequent in human cancer. Unscheduled tetraploidization can trigger cell transformation and tumorigenesis. We made a cytogenetic analysis by Giemsa-trypsin banding of a stage I, biphasic Wilms tumor diagnosed in a 10-month-old male. An evident karyotypic heterogeneity was found. Four different subclones of tumor cells were observed, with DNA content varying from diploid to near-tetraploid complements. The genetic events involved in the acquisition of aneuploidy in Wilms tumor remain unclear. We hypothesize that initial tetraploidization caused aberrant cell division, leading to abnormal chromosomal segregation, cell transformation and tumorigenesis.
Assuntos
Aneuploidia , Tumor de Wilms/genética , Humanos , Lactente , Cariotipagem , MasculinoRESUMO
Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare, aggressive soft tissue tumor of unknown histogenesis showing predominantly epithelioid cytomorphology. We conducted a conventional and molecular cytogenetic study of a 27-year-old male with epithelioid sarcoma with angiomatoid features. Cytogenetic analysis of epithelioid sarcoma metaphase spreads by GTG-banding revealed a diploid chromosome complement with structural and numerical aberrations. Comparative genomic hybridization analysis demonstrated the amplification of 3p24-pter, 4p15.2-p16 and 18q23, while chromosome losses involved 3p13-p14, 3q24-q26.1, 9q21, and 11q21. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assessment showed normal hybridization patterns for the C-MYC and CCND1 loci; CCND1 RNA overexpression was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Genetic evaluation of this rare condition may be useful in determining if epithelioid sarcoma is associated with a distinct genetic background.
Assuntos
Aberrações Cromossômicas , Sarcoma/genética , Adulto , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Hibridização in Situ Fluorescente , Masculino , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Sarcoma/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence of galactosaemia in the state of São Paulo and the benefit/cost (B/C) ratio of the introduction of neonatal screening for galactosaemia, comparing it with a selective approach. METHODS: An enzymatic-colorimetric assay was used for the screening of total galactose (TG) in a sample of 10% of the births in São Paulo in one year and positive cases were confirmed by the activity of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT). Detected and referred cases were genotyped using enzyme restriction studies for Q188R, N314D and S135L mutations of the GALT gene. The economic analysis was determined by calculating the B/C ratio and by analysis of sensitivity as a function of the incidence of the disease detected and the variation of the interest rate in the economy. RESULTS: 59 953 newborns were screened for TG, with 3 cases of galactosaemia being identified (0.26% false positives), corresponding to a frequency of 1:19 984 liveborns (95% confidence interval: 1:7494 to 1:59 953). One classical case and one Duarte 2 variant referred to as a selective approach were confirmed. With an incidence of 1:19 984, the B/C ratio was 1.04 for the 11.75% interest rate in effect in Brazil, with values already decapitalized. With a maximum possible incidence of 1:7494, the B/C ratio was 2.79. DISCUSSION: There is an economic advantage in introducing neonatal screening for galactosaemia in the national neonatal screening programme. This advantage could increase with a reduction of the current interest rates in the economy.
Assuntos
Galactosemias/economia , Galactosemias/epidemiologia , Triagem Neonatal/economia , Análise Química do Sangue/economia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Colorimetria/economia , Análise Custo-Benefício , Análise Mutacional de DNA/economia , Feminino , Galactose/sangue , Galactosemias/diagnóstico , Humanos , Incidência , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , UDPglucose-Hexose-1-Fosfato Uridiltransferase/sangue , UDPglucose-Hexose-1-Fosfato Uridiltransferase/genéticaRESUMO
Cadherins are cell-to-cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in the establishment of adherent-type junctions by mediating calcium-dependent cellular interactions. The CDH1 gene encodes the transmembrane glycoprotein E-cadherin which is important in maintaining homophilic cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. E-cadherin interacts with catenin proteins to maintain tissue architecture. Structural defects or loss of expression of E-cadherin have been reported as a common feature in several human cancer types. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and their correlation with clinical features in microdissected brain tumor samples from 81 patients, divided into 62 astrocytic tumors grades I to IV and 19 medulloblastomas, and from 5 white matter non-neoplasic brain tissue samples. E-cadherin (CDH1) gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Kaplan-Meir, and log-rank tests were performed for statistical analyses. We observed a decrease in expression among pathological grades of neuroepithelial tumors. Non-neoplasic brain tissue showed a higher expression level of CDH1 gene than did neuroepithelial tumors. Expression of E-cadherin gene was higher in astrocytic than embryonal tumors (P = 0.0168). Low-grade malignancy astrocytomas (grades I-II) showed higher CDH1 expression than did high-grade malignancy astrocytomas (grades III-IV) and medulloblastomas (P < 0.0001). Non-neoplasic brain tissue showed a higher expression level of CDH1 gene than grade I malignancy astrocytomas, considered as benign tumors (P = 0.0473). These results suggest that a decrease in E-cadherin gene expression level in high-grade neuroepithelial tumors may be a hallmark of malignancy in dedifferentiated tumors and that it may be possibly correlated with their progression and dissemination.
Assuntos
Caderinas/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Neoplasias Neuroepiteliomatosas/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Neuroepiteliomatosas/patologia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase ReversaRESUMO
Cadherins are cell-to-cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in the establishment of adherent-type junctions by mediating calcium-dependent cellular interactions. The CDH1 gene encodes the transmembrane glycoprotein E-cadherin which is important in maintaining homophilic cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. E-cadherin interacts with catenin proteins to maintain tissue architecture. Structural defects or loss of expression of E-cadherin have been reported as a common feature in several human cancer types. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and their correlation with clinical features in microdissected brain tumor samples from 81 patients, divided into 62 astrocytic tumors grades I to IV and 19 medulloblastomas, and from 5 white matter non-neoplasic brain tissue samples. E-cadherin (CDH1) gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Kaplan-Meir, and log-rank tests were performed for statistical analyses. We observed a decrease in expression among pathological grades of neuroepithelial tumors. Non-neoplasic brain tissue showed a higher expression level of CDH1 gene than did neuroepithelial tumors. Expression of E-cadherin gene was higher in astrocytic than embryonal tumors (P = 0.0168). Low-grade malignancy astrocytomas (grades I-II) showed higher CDH1 expression than did high-grade malignancy astrocytomas (grades III-IV) and medulloblastomas (P < 0.0001). Non-neoplasic brain tissue showed a higher expression level of CDH1 gene than grade I malignancy astrocytomas, considered as benign tumors (P = 0.0473). These results suggest that a decrease in E-cadherin gene expression level in high-grade neuroepithelial tumors may be a hallmark of malignancy in dedifferentiated tumors and that it may be possibly correlated with their progression and dissemination.