Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a major health problem as it afflicts an increasing number of patients worldwide. Albeit most of the risk factors for HCC are known, this is a deadly syndrome with a life expectancy at the time of diagnosis of less than 1 year. Definition of the molecular principles governing the neoplastic transformation of the liver is an urgent need to facilitate the clinical management of patients, based on innovative methods to detect the disease in its early stages and on more efficient therapies. In the present study we have combined the analysis of a murine model and human samples of HCC to identify genes differentially expressed early in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis, using a microarray based approach. Expression of 190 genes was impaired in murine HCC from which 65 were further validated by low-density array RT PCR. The expression of the best 45 genes was then investigated in human samples resulting in 18 genes which expression was significantly modified in HCC. Among them, JUN, methionine adenosyltransferase 1A and 2A, phosphoglucomutase 1, and acyl CoA dehydrogenase short branched chain indicate defective cell proliferation as well as one carbon pathway, glucose and fatty acid metabolism, both in HCC and cirrhotic liver, a well known preneoplastic condition. These alterations were further confirmed in public transcriptomic datasets from other authors. In addition, vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein, an actin-associated protein involved in cytoskeleton remodelling, was also found to be increased in the liver and serum of cirrhotic and HCC patients. In addition to revealing the impairment of central metabolic pathways for liver homeostasis, further studies may probe the potential value of the reported genes for the early detection of HCC.
A signature of six genes highlights defects on cell growth and specific metabolic pathways in murine and human hepatocellular carcinoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesDUSP1 is involved in different cellular pathways including cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and resistance to chemotherapy. To gain insight into the cellular signaling pathways involving DUSP1 actions and the response to Cisplatin (CDDP) in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we have used a double strategy that combines microarray and SiRNA technology. This strategy provided a differential expression profile of genes involved in CDDP response in NSCLC cell line regulated by DUSP1 using H460 and H460cri and a time course to CDDP.
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Cell line, Time
View SamplesDUSP1 is involved in different cellular pathways including cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and resistance to chemotherapy. To understand more about the cellular responses regulated by DUSP1 in NSCLC cells, we interfered DUSP1 expression in the NSCLC cell line H460 and studied the changes in gene expression differentially regulated by this phosphatase.
DUSP1/MKP1 promotes angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer.
Specimen part, Cell line
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High-throughput sequencing analysis of the chromosome 7q32 deletion reveals IRF5 as a potential tumour suppressor in splenic marginal-zone lymphoma.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesThe chromosomal translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32) leading to cyclin-D1 over-expression plays an essential role in the development of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive tumor that remains incurable with current therapies. Cyclin-D1 has been postulated as an effective therapeutic target, but its evaluation has been hampered by our incomplete understanding of its oncogenic functions and by the lack of valid MCL murine models. To address these issues, we generated a cyclin-D1-driven mouse model whereby cyclin-D1 expression can be externally regulated. These mice developed lymphomas capable of recapitulating most features of human MCL. We found that cyclin-D1 inactivation was not sufficient to induce lymphoma regression in vivo. However, using a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays, we identified a novel pro-survival cyclin-D1 function in MCL cells. Specifically, we demonstrate that cyclin-D1 sequestrates the pro-apoptotic protein BAX, thereby favoring BCL2 anti-apoptotic function. Accordingly, cyclin-D1 inhibition sensitized the lymphoma cells to apoptosis through BAX release. Thus, genetic or pharmacologic targeting of cyclin-D1 combined with a pro-apoptotic BH3 mimetic synergistically killed murine lymphomas and human MCL cells. Our study identifies a novel role of cyclin-D1 in deregulating apoptosis and highlights the potential benefit of simultaneously targeting cyclin-D1 and survival pathways in patients with MCL.
A cyclin-D1 interaction with BAX underlies its oncogenic role and potential as a therapeutic target in mantle cell lymphoma.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesUsing high-resolution genomic microarray analysis, a distinct genomic profile was defined in 114 samples from patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). Notably, deletion or uniparental disomy of chromosome 7q were detected in 39% of SMZLs but in only 9 of 170 (5%) mature B-cell lymphomas (p<10-6). The presence of unmutated IgVH genes, genomic complexity, 17p13-P53 deletion and 8q gain including MYC gene, but not 7q deletion, were correlated with shorter overall survival. Extensive mapping analyses narrowed down the commonly deleted region to 2.7 Mb. in 7q32.1-q32.2 from SND1 to COPG2 genes. High-throughput sequencing analysis of the 7q32 deleted segment in SMZL cells did not identify bi-allelic deletions, insertions or clear pathogenic mutations, but detected six single nucleotide changes in IRF5 (n=2), TMEM209 (n=2), CALU (n=1) and ZC3HC1 (n=1). Comparative expression analysis found that IRF5, TMEM209 and CALU genes had down-regulated expression in lymphomas with 7q32 deletion vs. non-deleted tumors. Ectopic expression of IRF5 in marginal-zone lymphoma cells decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. These results indicate that small deletions, insertions and/or point mutations inactivating genes within 7q32 are not common events in SMZL. Further studies are required to evaluate the putative role of IRF5 in SMZL pathogenesis.
High-throughput sequencing analysis of the chromosome 7q32 deletion reveals IRF5 as a potential tumour suppressor in splenic marginal-zone lymphoma.
Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesMutant KRAS lung adenocarcinoma cells, H2009, were depleted of FOSL1 by a specific shRNA and its transcriptome was profiled
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Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe Wilms tumor 1 gene (WT1) encodes a transcription factor involved in cell growth and development. As we previously reported WT1 expression is hardly detectable in normal hepatic tissue but is induced in liver cirrhosis. Although WT1 has been found to be overexpressed in a number of malignancies, the role of WT1 in hepatocarcinogenesis has not been clarified. We found that WT1 is expressed in several human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines including PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2, and in HCC tumor tissue in 42% of patients. WT1 small interfering RNAs did not affect proliferation rate of HCC cells but abrogated their resistance to anoikis. Transcriptome analysis of PLC/PRF/5 cells after WT1 knockdown demonstrated upregulation of 251 genes and downregulation of 321. Ninety per cent of the former corresponded to metabolic genes mostly those characterizing the mature hepatocyte phenotype. On the contrary, genes that decreased upon WT1 inhibition were mainly related to defense against apoptosis, cell cycle and tumor progression. In agreement with these findings WT1 expression increased the resistance of liver tumor cells to doxorubicin, a compound used to treat HCC. Interestingly, doxorubicin strongly enhanced WT1 expression in both HCC cells and normal human hepatocytes. Among different chemotherapeutics, induction of WT1 transcription was restricted to topoisomerase 2 inhibitors. When WT1 expression was prohibited doxorubicin caused a marked increase in caspase-3 activation. In conclusion, WT1 is expressed in a substantial proportion of HCC contributing to tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy, suggesting that WT1 may be an important target for HCC treatment.
Wilms' tumor 1 gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma promotes cell dedifferentiation and resistance to chemotherapy.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesLymphatic endothelial cells were grown under normoxia, hypoxia (1% 0xygen) and conditioned medio from NSLCN growth under normoxia or hypoxia. Gene expression was measured and comparition between samples performed
Hypoxia alters the adhesive properties of lymphatic endothelial cells. A transcriptional and functional study.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
No associated publication
Specimen part, Subject, Time
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