Immune profile and mitotic index of metastatic melanoma lesions enhance clinical staging in predicting patient survival.
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ABSTRACT: Although remission rates for metastatic melanoma are generally very poor, some patients can survive for prolonged periods following metastasis. We used gene expression profiling, mitotic index (MI), and quantification of tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) and CD3+ cells in metastatic lesions to search for a molecular basis for this observation and to develop improved methods for predicting patient survival. We identified a group of 266 genes associated with postrecurrence survival. Genes positively associated with survival were predominantly immune response related (e.g., ICOS, CD3d, ZAP70, TRAT1, TARP, GZMK, LCK, CD2, CXCL13, CCL19, CCR7, VCAM1) while genes negatively associated with survival were cell proliferation related (e.g., PDE4D, CDK2, GREF1, NUSAP1, SPC24). Identification of genes associated with survival of metastatic melanoma
Project description:Although remission rates for metastatic melanoma are generally very poor, some patients can survive for prolonged periods following metastasis. We used gene expression profiling, mitotic index (MI), and quantification of tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) and CD3+ cells in metastatic lesions to search for a molecular basis for this observation and to develop improved methods for predicting patient survival. We identified a group of 266 genes associated with postrecurrence survival. Genes positively associated with survival were predominantly immune response related (e.g., ICOS, CD3d, ZAP70, TRAT1, TARP, GZMK, LCK, CD2, CXCL13, CCL19, CCR7, VCAM1) while genes negatively associated with survival were cell proliferation related (e.g., PDE4D, CDK2, GREF1, NUSAP1, SPC24). Identification of genes associated with survival of metastatic melanoma Survival Analysis was performed using Statistical Analysis of Microarrays B D denotes same patient with multiple reccurences
Project description:Purpose: Herein we demonstrate that UV-induced melanomas of low metastatic potential in mice that overexpress HGF and harbor deletion of the Ink4a/p16 locus (HP strain) are converted to highly metastatic forms by virtue of hemizygous deletion of the metastasis suppressor genes Nme1 and Nme2 (HPN strain). The striking difference in metastatic activity between HP and HPN melanomas strains provided a powerful system for identifying molecular profiles associated with metastatic activity. Methods: Primary and metastatic melanoma RNAseq profiling. Results: RNA-seq analysis of primary melanomas identified a 32-gene expression signature that was strongly associated with the HPN genotype and lung metastatic activity (HPN lung metastasis signature, or HPN-LMS). Expression of the HPN-LMS was highly predictive of overall survival in human cohorts of cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) and uveal melanoma (UVM) patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Conclusions: Three HPN-LMS genes (ARRDC3, NYNRIN, RND3) associated with longer survival in SKCM and/or UVM patients exhibited strong anti-invasion activity in human melanoma cells, consistent with roles as effectors of the metastasis suppressor functions of Nme1 and Nme2. The HP/HPN mouse paradigm has thus yielded a network of potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for clinical management of metastatic melanoma.
Project description:Acquired BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance in melanoma results in a new transcriptional state associated with increased risk of metastasis. Here, we identified non-canonical EphA2 signaling as a driver of the resistance-associated metastatic state. We used mass spectrometry-based proteomic and phenotypic assays to demonstrate that the expression of active non-canonical EphA2-S897E in melanoma cells led to a mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition (MAT) driven by Cdc42 activation. The induction of MAT promoted melanoma cell invasion, survival under shear stress, adhesion to endothelial cells under continuous flow conditions, increased permeability of endothelial cell monolayers and stimulated melanoma transendothelial cell migration. In vivo, melanoma cells expressing EphA2-S897E or active Cdc42 showed superior lung retention following tail-vain injection. Analysis of BRAF inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant melanoma cells demonstrated resistance to be associated with an MAT switch, upregulation of Cdc42 activity, increased invasion, and transendothelial migration. The drug resistant metastatic state was dependent upon histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) activity. Silencing of HDAC8 lead to inhibition of EphA2 and AKT phosphorylation, reduced invasion and impaired melanoma cell-endothelial cell interactions. In summary, we have demonstrated that the metastatic state associated with acquired BRAF inhibitor resistance is dependent on non-canonical EphA2 signaling, leading to increased melanoma-endothelial cell interactions and enhanced tumor dissemination.
Project description:Acquired BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance in melanoma results in a new transcriptional state associated with increased risk of metastasis. Here, we identified non-canonical EphA2 signaling as a driver of the resistance-associated metastatic state. We used mass spectrometry-based proteomic and phenotypic assays to demonstrate that the expression of active non-canonical EphA2-S897E in melanoma cells led to a mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition (MAT) driven by Cdc42 activation. The induction of MAT promoted melanoma cell invasion, survival under shear stress, adhesion to endothelial cells under continuous flow conditions, increased permeability of endothelial cell monolayers and stimulated melanoma transendothelial cell migration. In vivo, melanoma cells expressing EphA2-S897E or active Cdc42 showed superior lung retention following tail-vain injection. Analysis of BRAF inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant melanoma cells demonstrated resistance to be associated with an MAT switch, upregulation of Cdc42 activity, increased invasion, and transendothelial migration. The drug resistant metastatic state was dependent upon histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) activity. Silencing of HDAC8 lead to inhibition of EphA2 and AKT phosphorylation, reduced invasion and impaired melanoma cell-endothelial cell interactions. In summary, we have demonstrated that the metastatic state associated with acquired BRAF inhibitor resistance is dependent on non-canonical EphA2 signaling, leading to increased melanoma-endothelial cell interactions and enhanced tumor dissemination.
Project description:Acquired BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance in melanoma results in a new transcriptional state associated with increased risk of metastasis. Here, we identified non-canonical EphA2 signaling as a driver of the resistance-associated metastatic state. We used mass spectrometry-based proteomic and phenotypic assays to demonstrate that the expression of active non-canonical EphA2-S897E in melanoma cells led to a mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition (MAT) driven by Cdc42 activation. The induction of MAT promoted melanoma cell invasion, survival under shear stress, adhesion to endothelial cells under continuous flow conditions, increased permeability of endothelial cell monolayers and stimulated melanoma transendothelial cell migration. In vivo, melanoma cells expressing EphA2-S897E or active Cdc42 showed superior lung retention following tail-vain injection. Analysis of BRAF inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant melanoma cells demonstrated resistance to be associated with an MAT switch, upregulation of Cdc42 activity, increased invasion, and transendothelial migration. The drug resistant metastatic state was dependent upon histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) activity. Silencing of HDAC8 lead to inhibition of EphA2 and AKT phosphorylation, reduced invasion and impaired melanoma cell-endothelial cell interactions. In summary, we have demonstrated that the metastatic state associated with acquired BRAF inhibitor resistance is dependent on non-canonical EphA2 signaling, leading to increased melanoma-endothelial cell interactions and enhanced tumor dissemination.
Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS: We performed an integrated analysis to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs with altered expression in liver tumors from 3 mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and human tumor tissues. METHODS: We analyzed miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of liver tissues from mice with diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, conditional expression of lymphotoxin alpha and lymphotoxin beta , or inducible expression of a Myc transgene (Tet-O-Myc mice), as well as male C57BL/6 mice (controls). miRNA mimics were expressed and miRNAs and mRNAs were knocked down in human (Huh7, Hep3B, JHH2) hepatoma cell lines; cells were analyzed for viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Cells were grown as xenograft tumors in nude mice and analyzed. We combined in-silico target gene prediction with mRNA profiles from all 3 mouse models. We quantified miRNA levels in 146 fresh-frozen tissues from patients (125 HCCs, 17 matched non-tumor tissues, and 4 liver samples from patients without cancer) and published human data sets and tested correlations with patient survival times using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Levels of NUSAP1 mRNA were quantified in 237 HCCs and 5 non-tumor liver samples using the Taqman assay. RESULTS: Levels of the microRNA 193a-5p (MIR193A-5p) were reduced in liver tumors from all 3 mouse tumor models and in human HCC samples, compared with non-tumor liver tissues. Expression of a MIR193A-5p mimic in hepatoma cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion and their growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. We found nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) to be a target of MIR193A-5p; HCC cells and tissues with low levels of MIR193A-5p had increased expression of NUSAP1. Increased levels of NUSAP1 in HCC samples correlated with shorter survival times of patients. Knockdown of NUSAP1 in Huh7 cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. Hydrodynamic tail-vein injections of a small hairpin RNA against NUSAP1 reduced growth of AKT1-MYC-induced tumors in mice. CONCLUSIONS: MIR193A-5p appears to prevent liver tumorigenesis by reducing levels of NUSAP1. Levels of MIR193A-5p are reduced in mouse and human HCC cells and tissues, leading to increased levels of NUSAP1, associated with shorter survival times of patients. Integrated analyses of miRNAs and mRNAs in tumors from mouse models can lead to identification of therapeutic targets in humans.
Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS: We performed an integrated analysis to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs with altered expression in liver tumors from 3 mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and human tumor tissues. METHODS: We analyzed miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of liver tissues from mice with diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, conditional expression of lymphotoxin alpha and lymphotoxin beta , or inducible expression of a Myc transgene (Tet-O-Myc mice), as well as male C57BL/6 mice (controls). miRNA mimics were expressed and miRNAs and mRNAs were knocked down in human (Huh7, Hep3B, JHH2) hepatoma cell lines; cells were analyzed for viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Cells were grown as xenograft tumors in nude mice and analyzed. We combined in-silico target gene prediction with mRNA profiles from all 3 mouse models. We quantified miRNA levels in 146 fresh-frozen tissues from patients (125 HCCs, 17 matched non-tumor tissues, and 4 liver samples from patients without cancer) and published human data sets and tested correlations with patient survival times using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Levels of NUSAP1 mRNA were quantified in 237 HCCs and 5 non-tumor liver samples using the Taqman assay. RESULTS: Levels of the microRNA 193a-5p (MIR193A-5p) were reduced in liver tumors from all 3 mouse tumor models and in human HCC samples, compared with non-tumor liver tissues. Expression of a MIR193A-5p mimic in hepatoma cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion and their growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. We found nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) to be a target of MIR193A-5p; HCC cells and tissues with low levels of MIR193A-5p had increased expression of NUSAP1. Increased levels of NUSAP1 in HCC samples correlated with shorter survival times of patients. Knockdown of NUSAP1 in Huh7 cells reduced proliferation, survival, migration, and growth as xenograft tumors in nude mice. Hydrodynamic tail-vein injections of a small hairpin RNA against NUSAP1 reduced growth of AKT1-MYC-induced tumors in mice. CONCLUSIONS: MIR193A-5p appears to prevent liver tumorigenesis by reducing levels of NUSAP1. Levels of MIR193A-5p are reduced in mouse and human HCC cells and tissues, leading to increased levels of NUSAP1, associated with shorter survival times of patients. Integrated analyses of miRNAs and mRNAs in tumors from mouse models can lead to identification of therapeutic targets in humans.
Project description:Malignant melanoma is a complex genetic disease and the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Melanoma progression and metastatic dissemination fundamentally relies on the process of angiogenesis. Melanomas produce an array of angiogenic modulators that mediate pathological angiogenesis. Such tumor-associated modulators arbitrate the enhanced proliferative, survival and migratory responses exhibited by endothelial cells, in the hypoxic tumor environment. The current study focuses on melanoma-induced survival of endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions. Melanoma conditioned media were capable of enabling prolonged endothelial cell survival under hypoxia, in contrast with the conditioned media derived from melanocytes, breast and pancreatic tumors. To identify the global changes in gene expression and further characterize the pro-survival pathway induced in endothelial cells, we performed microarray analysis on endothelial cells treated with melanoma conditioned medium under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Huvec cells were grown in melanoma conditioned medium or DMEM 10% FCS for 12 h under hypoxic or normoxic conditions. In order to identify the transcripts modulated by melanoma CM, samples treated with MCM were compared to those grown in DMEM alone.
Project description:Analysis of DNA from fixed tissues specimens of 58 primary uveal melanomas, with known clinical outcome, to determine gene copy number variations that were associated with survival. Abstract: Uveal melanomas can be stratified into subgroups with high or low risk of metastatic death, according to the presence of gross chromosomal abnormalities. Where a monosomy 3 uveal melanoma is detected, patient survival at three years is reduced to 50%. However, approximately 5% of patients with a disomy 3 tumour ultimately develop metastasis, and a further 5% of monosomy 3 uveal melanoma patients’ exhibit disease-free survival for more than five years. Despite extensive knowledge of the chromosomal abnormalities occurring in uveal melanoma, the genes driving metastasis are not well defined. Gene copy number variations occurring in a well-characterised cohort of 58 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded uveal melanoma samples were identified using the Affymetrix SNP 6.0 whole genome microarray. Four genetic sub-groups of primary uveal melanoma were represented in the patient cohort: 1) disomy 3 with long-term survival; 2) metastasizing disomy 3; 3) metastasizing monosomy 3; and 4) monosomy 3 with long-term survival. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis identified three genes that were associated with differences in patient survival. Patients with an amplification of CNKSR3 (6q) or RIPK1 (6p) demonstrated longer survival than those with gene deletions or no copy number change (log rank, p=0.022 and p<0.001, respectively). Conversely, those patients with an amplification of PENK (8q) showed reduced survival (log rank p<0.001). CNKSR3, RIPK1 and PENK are novel candidate metastasis regulatory genes in uveal melanoma. This is the first report of amplification of a specific gene on 6p that is associated with improved uveal melanoma patient survival and suggests that the development of uveal melanomas with a propensity to metastasise may be limited by genes on 6p. 58 samples in total. Ten disomy 3 with long-term survival. Fifteen disomy 3 with metastasising. Seventeen monosomy 3 with long-term survival. Sixteen monosomy 3 metastasising.
Project description:A high percentage of uveal melanoma patients develop metastatic tumors that predominately occur in the liver. To identify genes associated with metastasis in this pathology, we studied 63 molecular profiles derived from gene expression microarrays performed from enuceated primary tumors. Metastasis free survival analysis was performed to obtain clinical and genomic variables associated to metastasis occurrence. We also compared within the 57 tumors with at least 36 months follow-up, 28 uveal melanoma from patients who developed liver metastases (meta1 group) with 29 tumors arising from patients without metastases (or later metastases, i.e. after 36 months) (meta0 group). The transcriptome of 63 uveal melanoma from enucleation of untreated patients were analyzed using Affymetrix U133plus2 Arrays.