Project description:Purpose: The uncommonness of gallbladder cancer in the developed world has contributed to the generally poor understanding of the disease. The development of new and effective treatment has been and continues to be a major public health imperative. Methods: We report mutational and copy number analysis of 44 predominantly early-staged gallbladder tumors and 5-gallbladder cancer cell lines by a combination of directed and whole exome sequencing at an average coverage of 100X and above. Using gallbladder cancer cell lines and xenograft mouse models we performed phospho-proteome array profiling, followed by an in-depth functional characterization. Results: We describe recurrent activating ERBB2 somatic mutation in 6 of 44 gallbladder primary tumors with an overall mutation frequency of 13%, along with KRAS activating mutations in 3 of 44 samples. Consistent with whole exome findings, a phospho-proteomic array profile of 49-tyrosine kinase revealed constitutive phosphorylation of ERBB2 and EGFR that were found to heterodimerize. We demonstrate that treatment with ERBB2-specific, EGFR-specific shRNA or with covalent EGFR family inhibitor BIBW-2992 inhibits transformation, survival, migration, invasion, and tumor forming characteristics of gallbladder cancer cells harboring wild type or KRAS (G13D) but not KRAS (G12V) mutation. Furthermore, we show in vivo reduction in tumor size is paralleled by a reduction in the amounts of phospho-ERK in KRAS (G13D) but not in KRAS (G12V) xenografts, validating the in vitro findings Conclusion: Findings from this study implicate ERBB2 as an important therapeutic target in early stage gallbladder cancer. We also present the first evidence that the presence of KRAS (G12V), but not KRAS (G13D) mutation, may preclude gallbladder cancer patients to respond to anti-EGFR treatment, similar to the clinical algorithm commonly practiced to opt for anti-EGFR treatment in colorectal cancer.
Project description:To further understand the molecular mechanisms in the development of gallbladder cancer, we employed this microarray to identify lncRNAs associated with gallbladder cancer.
Project description:The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is dysregulated in various liver diseases. Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) encompass gallbladder carcinoma, intrahepatic, perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Previously we have shown that the two major endocannabinoids (ECs), anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) exerted opposing effects on BTCs cell lines in which 2-AG promoted tumor proliferation. The underlying mechanism and regulation of 2-AG on miRNAs expression in BTCs remain inconclusive.
Project description:Sox17 expression is important for development of gallbladder and bile duct systems in embryo, and it is reported that gallbladder hypoplasia in Sox17 hetero genic embryo. Additionally it was reported that hepatitis was occurred in Sox17 hetero genic newborn by gallbladder hypoplasia. So, we examined Sox17 gene cascade and the role for the formation of gallbladder and bile duct systems by microarray analysis on Sox17 hetero genic gallbladder in day 15 of pregnancy when Sox17 express and gallbladder epithelium alternated morphology. We detected that expression of Sonic hedgehog (shh) signal genes decreased in sox17+/- gallbladder and cysticduct as compared with the wildtype gallbladders.These arry analysis in gallbladder and cysticduct reveal expression of shh in developmental gallbladder is downstream in sox17+/- and gene expression in sox17+/- gallbladder was similar in cysticduct .
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in the progression of cancer. However, little is known on the miRNAs expression profiles of gallbladder cancer.We performed this microarray to identify miRNAs associated with gallbladder cancer.
Project description:To further understand the molecular mechanisms in the development of gallbladder cancer, we employed this microarray to identify lncRNAs associated with gallbladder cancer. 9 pairs of gallbladder cancer tissues and paired normal gallbladder tissues were collected after colecystectomy.
Project description:Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a rare cancer entity in Western Europe and the US with an incidence of less than 3/100.000 and a survival rate <10%. Radical surgery is the only potentially curative treatment option but most patients diagnosed with GBC are not resectable. Thus, there is a great need for the development of new treatment options, including targeted therapy for GBC. To dissect the epigenetic regulation during GBC development, we performed global miRNA profiling of 40 GBC and 8 normal gallbladder tissues. MiRNAs that are associated with survival were functionally analysed by cell proliferation and colony formation assays. In addition, we performed whole genome gene expression analysis of cells expressing miRNA mimics or control and performed biochemical assays to dissect miR-145 signalling. The GBC miRNA profiles exhibited large differences compared to normal gallbladder tissues with 49% of miRNAs being differentially expressed (FDR<0.001). In addition, 8 miRNAs were found to be down- and 16 to be up regulated in the GBCs with poor outcome (p<0.05). The most down regulated miRNA was miR-145-5p and the top up regulated miRNA was miR-575. Overexpression of miR-145 led to a significant reduction of cell proliferation and colony formation, whereas, opposite effects were observed for miR-575. Gene expression profiling of cells overexpressing miR-145 revealed activation of the STAT1 signalling pathway by inhibition of PTPRF in cholangiocellular but not hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Thereby, PTPRF directly bound to STAT1 and reduced STAT1 phosphorylation. This study identified pro- and anti-tumorigenic miRNAs in GBC and provides new mechanistic insight in the tumour suppressive function of miR-145 loss leading to active STAT1 signalling.