Irene Gómez

The hypoxia-controlled FBXL14 ubiquitin ligase targets Snail1 for proteasome degradation

The transcription factor SNAIL1 is a master regulator of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. SNAIL1 is a very unstable protein, and its levels are regulated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP1 that interacts with SNAIL1 upon its phosphorylation by GSK-3β. Here we show that SNAIL1 polyubiquitylation and degradation may occur in conditions precluding SNAIL1 phosphorylation by GSK-3β, suggesting that additional E3 ligases participate in the control of SNAIL1 protein stability. In particular, we demonstrate that the F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXl14 interacts with SNAIL1 and promotes its ubiquitylation and proteasome degradation independently of phosphorylation by GSK-3β. In vivo, inhibition of FBXl14 using short hairpin RNA stabilizes both ectopically expressed and endogenous SNAIL1. Moreover, the expression of FBXl14 is potently down-regulated during hypoxia, a condition that increases the levels of SNAIL1 protein but not SNAIL1 mRNA. FBXL14 mRNA is decreased in tumors with a high expression of two proteins up-regulated in hypoxia, carbonic anhydrase 9 and TWIST1. In addition, Twist1 small interfering RNA prevents hypoxia-induced Fbxl14 down-regulation and SNAIL1 stabilization in NMuMG cells. Altogether, these results demonstrate the existence of an alternative mechanism controlling SNAIL1 protein levels relevant for the induction of SNAIL1 during hypoxia.

Cancer-associated fibroblast and M2 macrophage markers together predict outcome in colorectal cancer patients.

Tumor epithelial cells within a tumor coexist with a complex microenvironment in which a variety of interactions between its various components determine the behavior of the primary tumors. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAF) and M2 macrophages, characterized by high expression of different markers, including α‐SMA, FSP1 and FAP, or CD163 and DCSIGN, respectively, are involved in the malignancy of different tumors. In the present study, expression of the above markers in CAF and M2 macrophages was analyzed using RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry in the normal mucosa and tumor tissue from a cohort of 289 colorectal cancer patients. Expression of CAF and M2 markers is associated with the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer patients. Moreover, the combination of CAF and M2 markers identifies three groups of patients with clear differences in the progression of the disease. This combined variable could be a decisive factor in the survival of advanced‐stage patients. Taken together, these analyses demonstrate the prognostic involvement of interrelationships between DCSIGN, CD163, α‐SMA, FSP1 and FAP markers in the survival of colon cancer patients.

SNAI1 expression in colon cancer related with CDH1 and VDR downregulation in normal adjacent tissue

SNAI1, ZEB1, E-cadherin (CDH1), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes regulate the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) that initiates the invasion process of many tumor cells. We hypothesized that this process could also affect the behavior of normal cells adjacent to the tumor. To verify this hypothesis, the expression level of these genes was determined by quantitative RT–PCR in tumor, normal adjacent, and normal distant tissues from 32 colorectal cancer (CC) patients. In addition, we extended the study to human HaCaT normal keratinocytes and SW480-ADH colon cancer cells co-cultured with SW480-ADH cells overexpressing the mouse Snai1 gene. Of 18 CC cases with SNAI1 expression in tumor tissue, five also had SNAI1 in normal adjacent tissue (NAT). Expression of SNAI1 in tumor tissue correlated with downregulation of CDH1 and VDR genes in both tumor (P=0.047 and P=0.014, respectively) and NAT lacking SNAI1 expression (P=0.054 and P=0.003). ZEB1 expression was directly related to VDR expression in tumor tissue (r=0.39; P=0.027) and inversely to CDH1 in NAT (r=−0.46; P=0.010). CDH1 and VDR were also downregulated in SW480-ADH and MaCaT cells, respectively, when they were co-cultured with Snai1-expressing cells. Furthermore, cytokine analysis showed differences in the conditioned media obtained from the two cell types. These results indicate that histologically normal tissue adjacent to tumor tissue expressing the EMT-inducing gene SNAI1 shows alterations in the expression of epithelial differentiation genes such as CDH1 and VDR.

TWIST1 Is Expressed in Colorectal Carcinomas and Predicts Patient Survival

TWIST1 is a transcription factor that belongs to the family of basic helix-loop-helix proteins involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion processes. The TWIST1 protein possesses oncogenic, drug-resistant, angiogenic and invasive properties, and has been related with several human tumors and other pathologies. Colorectal cancer is one of the tumors in which TWIST1 is over-expressed, but its involvement in the clinical outcome of the disease is still unclear. We tested, by RT-PCR, the expression levels of TWIST1 in normal and tumor paired-sample tissues from a series of 151 colorectal cancer patients, in order to investigate its prognostic value as a tumor marker. TWIST1 expression was restricted to tumor tissues (86.1%) and correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM). Adjusted analysis showed that the expression levels of TWIST1 correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Importantly, TWIST1 expression levels predicted OS specifically at stages I and II. Moreover, patients with stage II tumors and high TWIST1 levels showed even shorter survival than patients with stage III tumors. These results suggest that TWIST1 expression levels could be a tumor indicator in stage II patients and help select patients at greater risk of poor prognosis who might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Differences in Repair of DNA Cross-links between Lymphocytes and Epithelial Tumor Cells from Colon Cancer Patients Measured In vitro with the Comet Assay

Purpose: The more common approach to comet assay studies with cancer patients involves indirect measurement of the effect of antineoplastic drug or radiation regimen by assessing DNA damage in surrogate cells, such as peripheral blood lymphocytes of cancer patients, to predict how tumor cells may be affected. The aim of the present study was to compare the capability of different cells isolated from a series of 23 colon cancer patients to repair the damage induced by a cancer drug. Experimental Design: We adapted the in vitro comet repair assay for nucleotide excision repair to measure the ability of lymphocytes and normal and tumor epithelial colon cells to remove DNA cross-links induced by oxaliplatin. The excision repair rate was measured quantitatively by the tail parameters: tail DNA, tail length, extent tail moment, and olive tail moment. Results: Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed significant differences in recognition and excision activity between different cell types (P < 0.001) for all the comet parameters studied. Hence, colon cells showed higher recognition and excision activity than lymphocytes and tumor cells displayed the highest repair capability. We found no significant correlation between the repair activity of tumor colon cells and lymphocytes in any of the comet parameters considered. Conclusions: Our data support the view that lymphocyte repair activity is not predictive of the repair ability of the tumor and that lymphocytes cannot act as surrogate cells. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(17):5466–72)

Prognostic Impact of ΔTAp73 Isoform Levels and Their Target Genes in Colon Cancer Patients

Purpose: Cumulative data support the role of ΔTAp73 variants in tumorigenic processes such as drug resistance. We evaluate the impact of TP73 isoforms and their putative target genes ABCB1, HMGB1, and CASP1 on the survival of colon cancer patients and the correlation between their expressions. Experimental Design: We determined in 77 colon cancer patients the expression of ΔEx2p73, ΔEx2/3p73, ΔNp73, TAp73, ABCB1, HMGB1, and CASP1 by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. Tumor characteristics, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were examined in each patient. Functional experiments were carried out to check whether ectopic expression of ΔNp73 modifies the proliferation, drug resistance, migration, and invasion properties of colon tumor cells and the expression of ABCB1, HMGB1, and CASP1. Results: Positive correlations were observed between the expression levels of ΔTAp73 variants and HMGB1. Furthermore, a trend was observed for ABCB1. Overexpression of ΔEx2/3p73 and ΔNp73 isoforms was significantly associated with advanced stages (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively) and predicted shortened OS (P = 0.04 and P = 0.05, respectively). High levels of ABCB1 and HMGB1 were associated with shorter OS (P = 0.04 and P = 0.05, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that, in addition to the tumor stage, ABCB1 and HMGB1 had independent relationships with OS (P = 0.008). Ectopic expression of ΔNp73 was associated with an increase in proliferation and drug resistance. Conclusions: The positive correlation between ΔTAp73 variants and HMGB1 and ABCB1 expression supports them as TP73 targets. The fact that upregulation of ΔTAp73 isoforms was associated with shortened OS, increase in proliferation, and drug resistance confirms their oncogenic role and plausible value as prognostic markers. ABCB1 and HMGB1, putative ΔTAp73 target genes, strongly predict OS in an independent manner, making clear the importance of studying downstream TP73 targets that could predict the outcome of colon cancer patients better than ΔTAp73 variants themselves do. Clin Cancer Res; 17(18); 6029–39. ©2011 AACR.

Differential regulation of TP73 isoforms by 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 and survivin in human colon and breast carcinomas

We evaluate whether 1,25(OH)2D3 downregulates TP73 variants in colon and breast carcinomas, the role of survivin in this context, and the significance of this network in the clinic. Tumor cells were treated/untreated with 1,25(OH)2D3 and transiently transfected with survivin. Levels of survivin and TP73 variants were evaluated by quantitative RT‐PCR and Western blotting. In 75 colon and 60 breast cancer patients, the expressions of survivin and TP73 isoforms were determined. Tumor characteristics were examined in each patient. Survivin protein levels were also evaluated in a subgroup of patients and cell lines. Decrease in survivin and TAp73 transcripts and protein and ΔNp73 mRNA was detected after 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Ectopic survivin expression led to an increase in the TAp73, ΔNp73, ΔEx2p73, and ΔEx2‐3p73 transcripts. In cancer patients, direct correlations were observed between TP73 variants and survivin levels. 1,25(OH)2D3 negatively regulate survivin and TP73 variants in colon and breast cancer cells. Positive regulation of TP73 isoforms by survivin may exist, which reinforces the possibility that the downregulation of TP73 forms by 1,25(OH)2D3 is survivin‐dependent.