Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may have prognostic value in bladder cancer for their key role in tumorigenesis and innate immunity.Methods: Bladder cancer transcriptome data and the corresponding clinical data were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The m6A-immune-related lncRNAs were identified using univariate cox regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. A risk model was established using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses, and analyzed using nomogram, time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The differences in infiltration scores, clinical features, and sensitivity to Talazoparib of various immune cells between low- and high-risk groups were investigated. Findings: Totally 618 m6A-immune-related lncRNAs and 490 immune-related lncRNAs were identified from TCGA, and 47 lncRNAs of their intersection demonstrated prognostic values. A risk model with 11 lncRNAs was established by Lasso COX regression, and can predict the prognosis of bladder cancer patients as demonstrated by time-dependent ROC and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Significant correlations were determined between risk score and tumor malignancy or immune cell infiltration. Meanwhile, significant differences were observed in tumor mutation burden and stemness-score between the low-risk group and high-risk group. Moreover, high-risk group patients were more responsive to Talazoparib. Interpretation: An m6A-immune-related lncRNA risk model was established in this study, which can be applied to predict prognosis, immune landscape and chemotherapeutic response in bladder cancer.Keywords: m6A (N6-methyladenosine), long noncoding RNA, bladder cancer (BLCA), prognosis, immune microenvironment.Funding Information: This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81902576, 81725016, 81872094, 81772718), Guangzhou Science and Technology Projects (202201010910), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project (2020M683082), and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020A1515010086).Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interests.
Abstract Background Recent studies have identified that circular RNAs (circRNAs) have an important role in cancer via their well-recognized sponge effect on miRNAs, which regulates a large variety of cancer-related genes. However, only a few circRNAs have been well-studied in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and their regulatory function remains largely elusive. Methods Bioinformatics approaches were used to characterize the differentially expressed circRNAs in our own circRNA-sequencing dataset, as well as two public circRNA microarray datasets. CircNTNG1 (hsa_circ_0002286) was identified as a potential tumor-suppressing circRNA. Transwell assay and CCK-8 assay were used to assess phenotypic changes. RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter assays and FISH experiment were used to confirm the interactions among circNTNG1, miR-19b-3p, and HOXA5 mRNA. GSEA was performed to explore the downstream pathway regulated by HOXA5. Immunoblotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation were used to study the mechanism of HOXA5. Results In all three circRNA datasets, circNTNG1, which was frequently deleted in RCC, showed significantly low expression in the tumor group. The basic properties of circNTNG1 were characterized, and phenotype studies also demonstrated the inhibitory effect of circNTNG1 on RCC cell aggressiveness. Clinically, circNTNG1 expression was associated with RCC stage and Fuhrman grade, and it also served as an independent predictive factor for both OS and RFS of RCC patients. Next, the sponge effect of circNTNG1 on miR-19b-3p and the inhibition of HOXA5 by miR-19b-3p were validated. GSEA analysis indicated that HOXA5 could inactivate the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and this inactivation was mediated by HOXA5-induced SNAI2 (Slug) downregulation. Finally, it was confirmed that the Slug downregulation was caused by HOXA5, along with the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A, binding to its promoter region and increasing the methylation level. Conclusions Based on the experimental data, in RCC, circNTNG1/miR-19b-3p/HOXA5 axis can regulate the epigenetic silencing of Slug, thus interfering EMT and metastasis of RCC. Together, our findings provide potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for future study in RCC.
Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, their involvement in sunitinib resistance remains largely unknown. Herein, we identified a novel circRNA, named circME1, which contributes to sunitinib resistance development in ccRCC. CircME1 also promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells. Further mechanism analysis showed that circME1 interacted with U1 snRNP at the promoter of its parental gene ME1, thereby upregulating the expression of ME1, enhancing aerobic glycolysis of ccRCC, and promoting its malignant phenotype. Furthermore, ME1 specific inhibitor could effectively repress the oncogenic functions of circME1. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the circME1/ME1 pathway is involved in ccRCC progression and sunitinib resistance development, which may be exploited for anticancer therapy.
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (EIF) 5A2 exerts important functions that regulate the development and progression of cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of EIF5A2 in prostate cancer (PCa) and its association with biological and prognostic significance. EIF5A2 mRNA and protein levels were analyzed in three paired samples of freshly resected PCa and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of EIF5A2 protein levels in 72 paraffin-embedded PCa tumor specimens. Subsequently, the association between EIF5A2 protein expression and clinicopathological parameters was assessed. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses showed both EIF5A2 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in PCa compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. Elevated EIF5A2 protein levels were observed in 73.6% (53/72) of the clinical PCa tissues using immunohistochemical staining. EIF5A2 expression was significantly associated with tumor stage (P=0.011) and biochemical recurrence status (P=0.032). Additionally, high levels of EIF5A2 predicted worse progression-free survival (P=0.007). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that high expression of EIF5A2 was an independent prognostic factor for poor progression-free survival (hazard ratios, 0.366; 95% confidence interval, 0.349-0.460; P=0.021). The present study demonstrated that EIF5A2 is overexpressed in prostate cancer and may be a potential predictor and therapeutic target in PCa patients.
The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic effect of amplified in AIB1 and EIF5A2 expression on postoperative intravesical recurrence for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and improve postoperative risk stratification and prediction of intravesical chemotherapy benefit.We evaluated immunohistochemical expression of AIB1 and EIF5A2 in 109 UTUC patients to determine the predictive significance in intravesical recurrence. A prognostic model was developed based on univariate and multivariate analyses.Intravesical recurrence occurred in 18 out of the 109 (16.5%) patients during the follow-up period. Significant associations of high expression of AIB1 and EIF5A2 with shortened bladder recurrence interval (median: 24 months vs 46 months, P=0.021; 28 months vs 39 months, P=0.002) were demonstrated. In different subsets of UTUC patients, high expression of AIB1 was a prognostic indicator in high grade (P=0.006) and pT2-4 (P=0.007), and high expression of EIF5A2 for high grade (P=0.014), pT2-4 (P=0.002) and pN0 (P=0.009). Moreover, in multivariate analysis, AIB1 and EIF5A2 expression (P=0.034 and 0.022, respectively) together with pN stage (P=0.009) provided significant independent predictors for intravesical recurrence after surgery for UTUC. Surgical approach with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) was an informative factor toward good oncologic outcomes for intravesical recurrence (P=0.056). Based on a prognostic model with these factors, patients with UTUC were classified into the low-risk group and the high-risk group. In a subset analysis, the patients in the high-risk group were found to have a favorable response to intravesical chemotherapy (P=0.047). A nomogram based on the multivariate analysis was developed to predict intravesical recurrence accurately and guide postoperative intravesical instillations. The concordance index (c-index) of this model was 0.806.High expression of AIB1 and EIF5A2 were independent predictors for intravesical recurrence after RNU and might be able to predict which patients benefit from postoperative intravesical chemotherapy.
Silica (SiO2) glass, an essential material in human civilization, possesses excellent formability near its glass-transition temperature (Tg > 1100 °C). However, bulk SiO2 glass is very brittle at room temperature. Here we show a surprising brittle-to-ductile transition of SiO2 glass nanofibers at room temperature as its diameter reduces below 18 nm, accompanied by ultrahigh fracture strength. Large tensile plastic elongation up to 18% can be achieved at low strain rate. The unexpected ductility is due to a free surface affected zone in the nanofibers, with enhanced ionic mobility compared to the bulk that improves ductility by producing more bond-switching events per irreversible bond loss under tensile stress. Our discovery is fundamentally important for understanding the damage tolerance of small-scale amorphous structures.
Abstract The impact of amino acids on tumor immunotherapy is gradually being uncovered. In this study, we screened various essential and non-essential amino acids and found that methionine enhances mRNA methylation and reduced the activation of Type I interferon pathway in bladder cancer. Through RNA sequencing, point mutations, MB49 mouse tumor models, and single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that high methionine levels elevate the expression of m 6 A reader YTHDF1, promoting the degradation of RIG-I, thereby inhibiting the RIG-I/MAVS-mediated IFN-I pathway and reducing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. Additionally, immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry revealed that YTHDF1 binds to the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF5B, which acts on PD-L1 mRNA to enhance its translation and promote immune evasion. By intravesical administration of oncolytic bacteria VNP20009, we effectively depleted methionine locally, significantly prolonging mouse survival and enhancing immune cell infiltration and differentiation within tumors. Multiplex immunofluorescence assays in bladder cancer immunotherapy patients confirmed our findings. Our research elucidates two mechanisms by which methionine inhibits bladder cancer immunotherapy and proposes a targeted methionine depletion strategy that advances research while minimizing nutritional impact on patients.
Objective To review the clinical features,management and prognosis of renal Ewing's sarcoma (ES) of a single case report. Methods A single case of renal ES was reported.A 33-year-old male presented with a mass in the left kidney found during a three day medical examination.B-ultrasound examination showed a lesion with rich blood flow signals and well defined margins in the inferior portion of the left kidney.The CT scan revealed a solid mass of 5.1 cm × 4.7 cm in the inferior portion of the kidney with un-even enhancement by contrast.A possible diagnosis of renal carcinoma was given prior to surgery.No metastasis was proven.A literature review of ES was then conducted. Results A left retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy was successfully performed.Gross pathologic examination showed a solid tumor with necrosis,localized at the inferior pole of the left kidney.The histopathological examination revealed the tumor consisted of small round tumor cells,which were positive for CD99,vimentin and PAS,but negative for WT-1.A diagnosis of ES of the kidney was then determined.The patient received alternating short cycle ( CTX + VCR + THP) and long cycle ( IFO + VP-16) adjuvant chemotherapy for 6 cycles after the operation.There has been no evidence of recurrence at the 14-month follow up. Conclusions ES of the kidney is a rare disease with no specific clinical feature in most cases.Diagnosis of renal ES must be confirmed with histological features.Surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the main method of therapy for renal ES.The prognosis of renal ES is poor.
Key words:
Kidney neoplasms; Sarcoma, Ewing's; Pathology, clinical