Project description:The aim of this study was to compare effect of everolimus on growth of different renal cell carcinoma (RCC) populations and develop design for experiments to measure the early response of everolimus in clear cell RCC (ccRCC) cell lines including renal cancer stem cells. Gene expression profiling using microarray was performed to determine the early response to everolimus after 3 days of treatment with optimizied concentration of drug in two ccRCC cell lines 1) parental clear cell renal cell carcinoma ccRCC-PCSC (HKPCSC -human parental kidney cancer stem cells) and 2) ccRCC-CSC - clear cell renal cell carcinoma -cancer stem cells (HKCSC - human kidney cancer stem cells).
Project description:We performed a microRNA (miRNA) microarray on 10 metastatic RCC tumors and compared differential miRNA expresison to 19 primary clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC). We found there were 65 significantly dysregulated miRNAs; 9 miRNAs were significantly upregulated and 56 miRNAs were significantly downregulated in metastatic RCC when compared to primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma. miRNA microarray was performed on 10 metastatic RCC tumors
Project description:We performed a microRNA (miRNA) microarray on 10 metastatic RCC tumors and compared differential miRNA expresison to 19 primary clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC). We found there were 65 significantly dysregulated miRNAs; 9 miRNAs were significantly upregulated and 56 miRNAs were significantly downregulated in metastatic RCC when compared to primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Project description:<p>Metabolic reprogramming is critical for tumor initiation and progression. However, the exact impact of specific metabolic changes on cancer progression is poorly understood. Here, we integrate multimodal analyses of primary and metastatic clonally-related clear cell renal cancer cells (ccRCC) grown in physiological media to identify key stage-specific metabolic vulnerabilities. We show that a VHL loss-dependent reprogramming of branched-chain amino acid catabolism sustains the de novo biosynthesis of aspartate and arginine enabling tumor cells with the flexibility of partitioning the nitrogen of the amino acids depending on their needs. Importantly, we identify the epigenetic reactivation of argininosuccinate synthase (ASS1), a urea cycle enzyme suppressed in primary ccRCC, as a crucial event for metastatic renal cancer cells to acquire the capability to generate arginine, invade in vitro and metastasize in vivo. Overall, our study uncovers a novel mechanism of metabolic flexibility occurring during ccRCC progression, paving the way for the development of novel stage-specific therapies</p>
Project description:Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer in the adult population. Late diagnosis, resistance to therapeutics and recurrence of metastatic lesions account for the highest mortality rate among kidney cancer patients. Identifying novel biomarkers for early cancer detection and elucidating the mechanisms underlying ccRCC growth and progression will provide clues to treat this aggressive malignant tumor. Method: Expression studies of RING ligase praja2 and tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) in renal cell carcinoma was evaluated by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. Gene transcription profiling in RCC cells was evaluated by RNA sequencing and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Imunofluorescence assays were used to evaluate the intracellular distribution and clearance of membrane receptors in cells devoid of praja2. Ubiquitin modifications and protein-protein interaction networks were monitored by IP, western blot, mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis. Experiments in vitro and in vivo were performed to define the role of praja2 in RTKs turnover, metabolism, renal cell carcinoma growth and metastatic diffusion. Results: We report here that the ubiquitin ligase praja2 controls endocytosis and the signal strength of different types of receptors (EGFR, VEGFR, TfR). Praja2 forms a complex with- and ubiquitinates the adaptor protein AP2m required for the activity of ATPase and acidification of endosomes and lysosomes necessary for receptor endocytosis and clearance. Downregulation of praja2 blocks the endocytosis of several membrane receptors, including EGFR, VEGFR and TfR and amplifies mitogenic and proliferative signaling as shown in the clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Restoring praja2 expression in RCC cells reduces EGFR levels, rewires cancer cell metabolism and inhibits growth and metastatic diffusion. In vivo, praja2 knockout mice show upregulation of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) and pronounced histopathological renal alterations. Conclusion: Our findings identify praja2 as an important regulator of tyrosine kinase receptor(s) turnover and can be considered a bona fide oncosuppressor because it finely regulates signaling of several types of receptors and its loss supports kidney cancer growth and diffusion.