Cancer Biomarkers - Volume 39, issue 4

Authors: Yao, Ningning | Hou, Qing | Liang, Yu | Cao, Xin | Sun, Bochen | Wei, Lijuan | Sun, Ruifang | Cao, Jianzhong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), an indicator of liver cell damage, was related to the prognosis of certain malignant tumors. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the predictive value of AST in patients with extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL). METHODS: We reviewed 183 cases diagnosed with ENKTL and selected 26 U/L as the optimum cut-off value of AST. We used the univariate and multivariate Cox regression to compare the different AST groups’ overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Prior to propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients in …the low AST subgroup had better OS and PFS than the high AST subgroup. Multivariate analysis revealed that AST was an independent indicator for prognosis. After PSM, the low AST subgroup maintained a significantly better OS and PFS than the high AST subgroup. CONCLUSION: AST might represent a significant prognostic marker for ENKTL patients. Show more

Keywords: Serum aspartate aminotransferase, extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma, nasal type, survival, prognosis

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230068

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 265-275, 2024

Authors: Zhao, Zhi Yi | Cao, Yin | Wang, Hong Liang | Liu, Ling Yun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNA expression profiles of bladder cancer (BC) patients, thereby establishing a gene signature-based risk model for predicting prognosis of patients with BC. METHODS: We downloaded the expression data of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as training cohort including 19 healthy control samples and 401 BC samples. The differentially expressed RNAs (DERs) were screened using limma package, and the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) regulatory network was constructed and visualized by the cytoscape. Candidate DERs were screened to construct the risk score model and nomogram …for predicting the overall survival (OS) time and prognosis of BC patients. The prognostic value was verified using a validation cohort in GSE13507. RESULTS: Based on 13 selected. lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNA screened using L1–penalized algorithm, BC patients were classified into two groups: high-risk group (including 201 patients ) and low risk group (including 200 patients). The high-risk group’s OS time ( hazard ratio [HR], 2.160; 95% CI, 1.586 to 2.942; P = 5.678e-07) was poorer than that of low-risk groups’ (HR, 1.675; 95% CI, 1.037 to 2.713; P = 3.393 e-02) in the training cohort. The area under curve (AUC) for training and validation datasets were 0.852. Younger patients (age ⩽ 60 years) had an improved OS than the patients with advanced age (age > 60 years) (HR 1.033, 95% CI 1.017 to 1.049; p = 2.544E-05). We built a predictive model based on the TCGA cohort by using nomograms, including clinicopathological factors such as age, recurrence rate, and prognostic score. CONCLUSIONS: The risk model based on 13 DERs patterns could well predict the prognosis for patients with BC. Show more

Keywords: Competing endogenous RNA, prognosis, nomogram, bladder cancer

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230216

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 277-287, 2024

Authors: Vo, Duc | Liu, Yan | Sood, Anil K. | Rezvani, Katy | Jazaeri, Amir A. | Liu, Jinsong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: High grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma is an aggressive tumor. Treatment includes platinum therapy, however it recurs in most patients due to therapy resistance. In this project, we study the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of five potential biomarkers/prognostic markers in high grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma: EGFR, HLA-G, CD70, c-MET, and NY-ESO1. A cohort of 274 patients is used. We compare the IHC expression with age, stage, ascites status, family history of cancer, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). EGFR expression is significantly correlated with family history and worse OS. HLA-G is associated with worse OS. To confirm the results of …EGFR and HLA-G, a second separated cohort of 248 patients is used. Positive EGFR expression again shows worse OS, while HLA-G expression has worse prognostic trend. CD70 has a worse OS trend. C-MET and NY-ESO1 do not have any clinical correlations. EGFR can potentially serve as target in future clinical immune therapy trials. Show more

Keywords: EGFR, HLA-G, CD70, c-MET, NY-ESO1, survival

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230200

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 289-298, 2024

Authors: Zhang, Yuke | Liu, Kai | Wang, Jianzhong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a relatively rare malignant bone tumor in teenagers; however, its molecular mechanisms are not yet understood comprehensively. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to use necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) and their relationships with immune-related genes to construct a prognostic signature for OS. METHODS: TARGET-OS was used as the training dataset, and GSE 16091 and GSE 21257 were used as the validation datasets. Univariate regression, survival analysis, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to screen for hub genes. The immune-related targets were screened using immune infiltration assays and immune checkpoints. The results were validated …using nomogram and decision curve analyses (DCA). RESULTS: Using univariate Cox regression analysis, TNFRSF1A was screened from 14 NRGs as an OS prognostic signature. Functional enrichment was analyzed based on the median expression of TNFRSF1A. The prognosis of the TNFRSF1A low-expression group in the Kaplan-Meier curve was notably worse. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the number of activated T cells and tumor purity increased considerably. Furthermore, the immune checkpoint lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) is a possible target for intervention. The nomogram accurately predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. DCA validated the model (C = 0.669). Conclusion: TNFRSF1A can be used to elucidate the potential relationship between the immune microenvironment and NRGs in OS pathogenesis. Show more

Keywords: Osteosarcoma, necroptosis, tumor immune microenvironment, TNFRSF1A, prognosis

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230086

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 299-312, 2024

Authors: Abd ELhafeez, Ahmed Saeed | Ghanem, Hala Mostafa | Swellam, Menha | Taha, AlShaimaa Mohamed

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: FAM170B-AS1 is usually expressed low in all organs except for testicular tissues. No study was performed to explore its role in breast cancer (BC). Contradictory results were reported about hsa-miR-1202 and hsa-miR-146a-5p in BC. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore the involvement of FAM170B-AS1 in BC using bioinformatics predictive tools, followed by a practical validation besides exploring the impact of hsa-miR-1202 and hsa-miR-146a-5p in BC. METHODS: This study enrolled 96 female patients with BC, 30 patients with benign breast diseases (BBD), and 25 control subjects. The …expressions of circulating FAM170B-AS1, hsa-miR-1202, and hsa-miR-146a-5p were quantified using qRT-PCR. These ncRNAs’ associations, predictive, and diagnostic roles in BC were statistically tested. The underlying miRNA/mRNA targets of FAM170B-AS1 in BC were bioinformatically predicted followed by confirmation based on the GEPIA and TCGA databases. RESULTS: The expression of FAM170B-AS1 was upregulated in sera of BC patients and hsa-miR-1202 was upregulated in sera of BBD and BC patients while that of hsa-miR-146a-5p was downregulated in BC. These FAM170B-AS1 was significantly associated with BC when compared to BBD. FAM170B-AS1 and hsa-miR-1202 were statistically associated with the BC’s stage, grade, and LN metastasis. FAM170B-AS1 and hsa-miR-146a-5p gave the highest specificity and sensitivity for BC. KRAS and EGFR were predicted to be targeted by FAM170B-AS1 through interaction with hsa-miR-143-3p and hsa-miR-7-5p , respectively. Based on the TCGA database, cancer patients having mutations in FAM170B show good overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reported that for the first time, FAM170B-AS1 may be a potential risk factor, predictive, and diagnostic marker for BC. In addition, FAM170B-AS1 might be involved in BC by interacting with hsa-miR-143-3p/KRAS and hsa-miR-7-5p/EGFR through enhancement or repression that may present a new therapeutic option for BC. Show more

Keywords: Bioinformatics, diagnostic, EGFR, KRAS, risk factor

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230396

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 313-333, 2024

Authors: Pei, Wenceng | Jiang, Minren | Liu, Haiyan | Song, Jiahong | Hu, Jian

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Liver hepatocellular cancer (LIHC) and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) are common malignancies with high lethal ratios worldwide. Great progress has been achieved by using diverse therapeutic strategies; however, these diseases still have an unfavourable prognosis. Ferroptosis inducer drugs, unlike apoptosis-related drugs, can overcome the resistance to cancer therapy caused by traditional chemicals. However, the relationship between overall survival (OS) and ferroptosis-related genes, as well as the mechanisms involved, are largely unclear. METHODS: The expression levels of AIFM2, GPX4, ACSL4, FTH1, NOS1, and PTGS2 in LIHC and STAD were obtained from UALCAN. The correlations of OS with …these gene expression levels were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database. The OS associated with genetic mutations of those genes compared to that of unchanged genes was analysed using the TIMER website. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of ferroptosis-related genes and their coexpressed genes in LIHC and STAD were conducted using the STRING and DAVID databases. The relationship of PTGS2 and ACSL4 to immune cell infiltration was analysed using the TIMER website. The viability and GPX5 expression levels in LIHC cells treated with RSL3 and As2 O3 were detected by MTT methods and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Our results showed that GPX4, FTH1 and AIFM2 were overexpressed in LIHC and STAD. High levels of GPX4, FTH1 and AIFM2 were prominently correlated with better prognosis in LIHC. However, GPX and FTH1 in STAD did not show significant correlations with OS. AIFM2 in STAD had the opposite trend with OS compared with that in LIHC. Moreover, a high mutation rate of these genes (35.74%) was also observed in LIHC patients, and genetic mutation of these genes was correlated with shorter OS. In contrast, the genetic mutation of these genes did not change OS in STAD. Enrichment analysis showed that the respiratory electron transport chain, cell chemotaxis and T-cell migration were related to ferroptosis. ASCL4 and PTGS2 coexpressed with cytokines associated with immune cell infiltration. Compared to RSL3 or As2 O3 alone, As2O3 plus RSL3 significantly inhibited the growth of Huh7 cells. GPX4 was downregulated to an undetectable level when in combination with RSL3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that ferroptosis-related genes might play an important role in LIHC and STAD and might be risk factors for overall survival in LIHC and STAD. Show more

Keywords: Liver hepatocellular cancer, stomach adenocarcinoma, ferroptosis, prognosis, enrichment analysis

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230114

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 335-347, 2024

Authors: Dang, Tianfeng | Yu, Jieqing | Yu, Yanqing | Jiang, Junjie | Shi, Yang | Yu, Simin | Peng, Congli | Min, Xiang | Xiong, Yuanping | Long, Ping | Zhou, Wensheng | Dai, Daofeng

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: GPX4 has attracted much attention as a key molecule of cell ferroptosis, but its role in cell apoptosis is rarely reported, and its role in apoptosis of thyroid cancer (TC) cell has not been reported. The analysis of TCGA database showed that both GPX4 and FKBP8 were highly expressed in TC tumor tissues; The expression of GPX4 and FKBP8 were positively correlated. The immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed that GPX4 and FKBP8 were highly expressed in TC tumor tissues. In addition, the high expression of GPX4 and FKBP8 were both significantly correlated with the poor prognosis of TC. Silencing GPX4 significantly …inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis of TC cells, and reduced tumor growth in mice. The co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed a physical interaction between GPX4 and FKBP8 observed in the TC cells. Knockdown of FKBP8 significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of TC cells. Rescue experiments suggested that knockdown of FKBP8 could reverse the strengthens of cell proliferation and apoptosis and the higher expression of FKBP8 and Bcl-2 caused by overexpression of GPX4. Our results suggest that the GPX4/FKBP8/Bcl-2 axis promotes TC development by inhibiting TC cell apoptosis, which provides potential molecular targets for TC therapeutic strategies. Show more

Keywords: Apoptosis, cell proliferation, molecular targets, programmed cell death, thyroid cancer

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230220

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 349-360, 2024

Authors: Chen, Cheng | Wang, Caiming | Liu, Wei | Chen, Jiacheng | Chen, Liang | Luo, Xiangxiang | Wu, Jincai

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cms1 ribosomal small subunit homolog (CMSS1) is an RNA-binding protein that may play an important role in tumorigenesis and development. OBJECTIVE: RNA-seq data from the GEPIA database and the UALCAN database were used to analyze the expression of CMSS1 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the patients. METHODS: LinkedOmics was used to identify genes associated with CMSS1 expression and to identify miRNAs and transcription factors significantly associated with CMSS1 by GSEA. RESULTS: The expression level of CMSS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was …significantly higher than that in normal tissues. In addition, the expression level of CMSS1 in advanced tumors was significantly higher than that in early tumors. The expression level of CMSS1 was higher in TP53-mutated tumors than in non-TP53-mutated tumors. CMSS1 expression levels were strongly correlated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with LIHC, and high CMSS1 expression predicted poorer OS (P < 0.01) and DFS (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, our results suggested that CMSS1 is associated with the composition of the immune microenvironment of LIHC. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that CMSS1 is a potential molecular marker for the diagnosis and prognostic of LIHC. Show more

Keywords: CMSS1, hepatocellular carcinoma, . bioinformatics, diagnosis, prognosis

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-230209

Citation: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 361-370, 2024