Project description:Melanoma cell lines were genotyped to evaluate copy number differences between nodular melanoma (NM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM). Cell lines were also evaluated for copy number alterations in the SKP2/p27 axis. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to manufacturer's instructions using DNA extracted from 18 melanoma cell lines and 4 melanocyte controls. Affymetrix SNP6.0 Array data for melanoma cell lines Copy number analysis of Affymetrix SNP 6.0 arrays was performed on 18 melanoma cell lines including 2 primary superficial spreading melanoma, 2 primary nodular melanoma, 2 metastatic nodular melanoma, and 12 metastatic cell lines. Four melanocyte control lines were also evaluated including 2 immortalized melanocyte cell lines (Hermes 1 and 2B) and 2 normal melanocyte lines cultured from neonatal foreskin (HEM-N and HEM-LP) that were used to construct the baseline for copy number analysis.
Project description:Melanoma cell lines were genotyped to evaluate copy number differences between nodular melanoma (NM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM). Cell lines were also evaluated for copy number alterations in the SKP2/p27 axis. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to manufacturer's instructions using DNA extracted from 18 melanoma cell lines and 4 melanocyte controls.
Project description:Novel screening techniques are allowing the depiction of the portraits of molecular alterations across cancer types, enabling a better understanding of the progression mechanisms and providing new therapeutic targets. Here, we performed an unbiased genome-wide DNA methylation analysis to interrogate the epigenetic events characterizing melanoma progression and prognosis, on a discovery cohort of clinical specimens. Our data underscores the importance of epigenetic regulation in triggering metastatic dissemination through the inactivation of central cancer-related pathways. Inactivation of cell-adhesion and differentiation programs unleashes malignant dissemination, and subsequent activation of inflammatory and immune system programs impairs anti-tumoral defense pathways. Moreover, we identify several markers of tumor progression previously unrelated with melanoma, and determined a survival prognostic signature with potential clinical applicability. All findings were validated in independent clinical cohorts and cross-correlated with publicly available databases, highlighting the relevance of the identified DNA methylation alterations for melanoma progression.
Project description:In this experiment, FFPE samples of 41 primary cutaneous melanoma, 2 metastatic melanoma and 6 normal skin were used for DNA extraction and genotyping by Affymetrix OncoScan FFPE Assay, in order to define chromosomal alterations in copy number and loss of heterozygosity. Genomic damage was then correlated with clinical features of melanoma.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:<p>BRCA1 mutations are a hallmark of hereditary ovarian cancer, strongly linked to deficiencies in homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair and impaired DNA replication fork protection. However, its roles in cancer progression beyond maintaining genomic integrity remain poorly understood. Through metabolomics approaches, we found BRCA1-deficiency strikingly increased choline metabolism. Loss of BRCA1 promotes choline uptake through upregulating choline transporter-like protein 4 (CTL4). BRCA1 directly binds and recruits EZH2-mediated H3K27Me3 deposition to CTL4 promoter. CTL4 was therefore overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues with BRCA1 mutations. Furthermore, BRCA1-deficiency significantly promotes ovarian cancer invasion, while inhibition of CTL4 reverses the high metastatic potential of BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancer cells, suggesting the functionality and specificity of CTL4 as a therapeutic target. Additionally, we discovered that phosphocholine, the choline metabolite increased by CTL4 overexpression, interacted with and stabilized the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition inducer FAM3C in BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancer cells. Importantly, we identified a potent CTL4 inhibitor, DT-13, which significantly reduces choline metabolism and effectively suppresses metastasis in BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancers. Therefore, our study uncovers a mechanism underlying metastasis in BRCA1-deficient cancers and identifies CTL4 as a therapeutic target for metastatic ovarian cancer patients with BRCA1 mutations.</p>