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Modern Pathology : An Official Journal... Apr 2022Osteoma is a benign bone forming tumor predominantly arising on the surface of craniofacial bones. While the vast majority of osteomas develops sporadically, a small...
Osteoma is a benign bone forming tumor predominantly arising on the surface of craniofacial bones. While the vast majority of osteomas develops sporadically, a small subset of cases is associated with Gardner syndrome, a phenotypic variant of familial adenomatous polyposis caused by mutations in the APC gene resulting in aberrant activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling. In a sequencing analysis on a cohort of sporadic, non-syndromal osteomas, we identified hotspot mutations in the CTNNB1 gene (encoding β-catenin) in 22 of 36 cases (61.1%), harbouring allelic frequencies ranging from 0.04 to 0.53, with the known S45P variant representing the most frequent alteration. Based on NanoString multiplex expression profiling performed in a subset of cases, CTNNB1-mutated osteomas segregated in a defined "WNT-cluster", substantiating functionality of CTNNB1 mutations which are associated with β-catenin stabilization. Our findings for the first time convincingly show that osteomas represent genetically-driven neoplasms and provide evidence that aberrant WNT/β-catenin signaling plays a fundamental role in their pathogenesis, in line with the well-known function of WNT/β-catenin in osteogenesis. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis underlying osteoma development and establishes a helpful diagnostic molecular marker for morphologically challenging cases.
Topics: Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; Genes, APC; Humans; Mutation; Osteoma; beta Catenin
PubMed: 34725446
DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00956-x -
Cancer Reports (Hoboken, N.J.) Sep 2023Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The incidence of HCC is affected by genetic and non-genetic factors. Genetically,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The incidence of HCC is affected by genetic and non-genetic factors. Genetically, mutations in the genes, tumor protein P53 (TP53), catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1), AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARIC1A), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), mannose 6-phosphate (M6P), smooth muscle action against decapentaplegic (SMAD2), retinoblastoma gene (RB1), cyclin D, antigen presenting cells (APC), AXIN1, and E-cadherin, have been shown to contribute to the occurrence of HCC. Non-genetic factors, including alcohol consumption, exposure to aflatoxin, age, gender, presence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), increase the risk of HCC.
RECENT FINDINGS
The severity of the disease and its occurrence vary based on geographical location. Furthermore, men and minorities have been shown to be disproportionately affected by HCC, compared with women and non-minorities. Ethnicity has been reported to significantly affect tumorigenesis and clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with HCC. Generally, differences in gene expression and/or the presence of comorbid medical diseases affect or influence the progression of HCC. Non-Caucasian HCC patients are significantly more likely to have poorer survival outcomes, compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Finally, there are a number of factors that contribute to the success rate of treatments for HCC.
CONCLUSION
Assessment and treatment of HCC must be consistent using evidence-based guidelines and standardized outcomes, as well as international clinical practice guidelines for global consensus. Standardizing the assessment approach and method will enable comparison and improvement of liver cancer research through collaboration between researchers, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups. In this review, we will focus on discussing epidemiological factors that result in deviations and changes in treatment approaches for HCC.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Prevalence; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37344125
DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1821 -
JAMA Oncology Nov 2022Germline sequence variations in APC, BMPR1A, CDH1, CHEK2, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, PMS2, PTEN, SMAD4, STK11, and TP53 genes are associated with susceptibility to...
IMPORTANCE
Germline sequence variations in APC, BMPR1A, CDH1, CHEK2, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, PMS2, PTEN, SMAD4, STK11, and TP53 genes are associated with susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancers. As a rare cancer, the evaluation of appendiceal cancer (AC) predisposition has been limited.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and spectrum of inherited cancer susceptibility gene sequence variations in patients with AC and the utility of germline genetic testing for this population.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cohort study included patients with AC who underwent germline genetic testing of 14 cancer susceptibility genes performed by a clinical testing laboratory between March 1, 2012, and December 31, 2016. Data were analyzed from March to August 2022. Clinical, individual, and family histories were obtained from clinician-completed test requisition forms. Multigene panel testing was performed by targeted custom capture and sequencing and chromosome rearrangement analysis.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The main outcomes were germline sequence variation prevalence and spectrum in patients with AC.
RESULTS
Among the 131 patients with AC in the cohort (90 female [68.7%]), a total of 16 deleterious sequence variations were identified in 15 patients (11.5%). Similarly, when limited to the 74 patients with AC as the first and only primary tumor, a total of 8 patients (10.8%) had at least 1 deleterious sequence variation in a cancer susceptibility gene. Overall, 6 patients (4.6%) had a deleterious sequence variation observed in MUTYH (5 with monoallelic MUTYH and 1 with biallelic MUTYH). All 4 patients with Lynch syndrome (3.1%) had a sequence variation in the MLH1 gene, of whom 3 were aged 50 years or older at AC diagnosis. Five patients (3.8%) had deleterious sequence variations in other cancer predisposition genes (1 with APC [c.3920T>A, p.I1307K], 2 with CHEK2 [c.470T>C, p.I157T], 1 with SMAD4 [c.263 287dup, p.L98IFS*14], and 1 with TP53 [c.524G>A, p.R175H]).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this cohort study, 1 in every 10 patients with AC who underwent testing for hereditary cancer predisposition carried an inherited gene sequence variation associated with cancer susceptibility. Given the high frequency and broad spectrum of germline gene sequence variations, these data suggest that genetic evaluation might be warranted for all patients diagnosed with this rare malignant tumor. A systemic sequencing effort for all patients with AC may also identify cancer vulnerabilities to exploit for therapeutic development in a cancer type for which clinical trials are limited.
PubMed: 36368039
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.5425 -
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Sep 2023A 36-year-old man was diagnosed with multiple gastric polyps by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Subsequent colonoscopy identified two tubular adenomas, and computed...
A 36-year-old man was diagnosed with multiple gastric polyps by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Subsequent colonoscopy identified two tubular adenomas, and computed tomography revealed subcutaneous tumors. Based on these findings, we suspected that gastric polyposis was associated with the APC gene, either attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) or gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS). A genetic analysis demonstrated that he had a frameshift variant at codon 1928 of APC, suggesting AFAP. In this era of less Helicobacter pylori infection and frequent use of proton pump inhibitors, diagnoses of AFAP and GAPPS should be considered in patients with prominent gastric fundic gland polyposis.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli; Stomach Neoplasms
PubMed: 36725040
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1101-22 -
PLoS Genetics Feb 2023Structural variations (SVs) are a key type of cancer genomic alterations, contributing to oncogenesis and progression of many cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC)....
Structural variations (SVs) are a key type of cancer genomic alterations, contributing to oncogenesis and progression of many cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, SVs in CRC remain difficult to be reliably detected due to limited SV-detection capacity of the commonly used short-read sequencing. This study investigated the somatic SVs in 21 pairs of CRC samples by Nanopore whole-genome long-read sequencing. 5200 novel somatic SVs from 21 CRC patients (494 SVs / patient) were identified. A 4.9-Mbp long inversion that silences APC expression (confirmed by RNA-seq) and an 11.2-kbp inversion that structurally alters CFTR were identified. Two novel gene fusions that might functionally impact the oncogene RNF38 and the tumor-suppressor SMAD3 were detected. RNF38 fusion possesses metastasis-promoting ability confirmed by in vitro migration and invasion assay, and in vivo metastasis experiments. This work highlighted the various applications of long-read sequencing in cancer genome analysis, and shed new light on how somatic SVs structurally alter critical genes in CRC. The investigation on somatic SVs via nanopore sequencing revealed the potential of this genomic approach in facilitating precise diagnosis and personalized treatment of CRC.
Topics: Humans; Genomics; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Genome; Whole Genome Sequencing; Colorectal Neoplasms; Genomic Structural Variation; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
PubMed: 36812239
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010514 -
Oncogene Sep 2022Large-scale fecal shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed the high abundance of Parvimonas micra in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We investigated the role and...
Large-scale fecal shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed the high abundance of Parvimonas micra in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We investigated the role and clinical significance of P. micra in colorectal tumorigenesis. The abundance of P. micra was examined in 309 fecal samples and 165 colon biopsy tissues of CRC patients and healthy subjects. P. micra was significantly enriched in fecal samples from 128 CRC patients compared to 181 healthy subjects (P < 0.0001); and in colon tissue biopsies from 52 CRC patients compared to 61 healthy subjects (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that P. micra is an independent risk factor of poor survival in CRC patients (Hazard Ratio: 1.93). P. micra strain was isolated from feces of a CRC patient. Apc mice gavaged with P. micra showed significantly higher tumor burden and tumor load (both P < 0.01). Consistently, gavage of P. micra significantly promoted colonocyte proliferation in conventional mice, which was further confirmed by germ-free mice. P. micra colonization up-regulated genes involved in cell proliferation, stemness, angiogenesis and invasiveness/metastasis; and enhanced Th17 cells infiltration and expression of Th17 cells-secreted cytokines (Il-17, Il-22, and Il-23) in the colon of Apc, conventional and germ-free mice. P. micra-conditioned medium significantly promoted the differentiation of CD4 T cells to Th17 cells (IL-17CD4 phenotype) and enhanced the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway. In conclusion, P. micra promoted colorectal tumorigenesis in mice by inducing colonocyte proliferation and altering Th17 immune response. P. micra may act as a prognostic biomarker for poor survival of CRC patients.
Topics: Animals; Carcinogenesis; Cell Proliferation; Colorectal Neoplasms; Firmicutes; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Interleukin-17; Mice
PubMed: 35882981
DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02395-7 -
Cancer Discovery Mar 2023Molecular features underlying colorectal cancer disparities remain uncharacterized. Here, we investigated somatic mutation patterns by race/ethnicity and sex among 5,856...
UNLABELLED
Molecular features underlying colorectal cancer disparities remain uncharacterized. Here, we investigated somatic mutation patterns by race/ethnicity and sex among 5,856 non-Hispanic white (NHW), 535 non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and 512 Asian/Pacific Islander (API) patients with colorectal cancer (2,016 early-onset colorectal cancer patients: sequencing age <50 years). NHB patients with early-onset nonhypermutated colorectal cancer, but not API patients, had higher adjusted tumor mutation rates than NHW patients. There were significant differences for LRP1B, FLT4, FBXW7, RNF43, ATRX, APC, and PIK3CA mutation frequencies in early-onset nonhypermutated colorectal cancers between racial/ethnic groups. Heterogeneities by race/ethnicity were observed for the effect of APC, FLT4, and FAT1 between early-onset and late-onset nonhypermutated colorectal cancer. By sex, heterogeneity was observed for the effect of EP300, BRAF, WRN, KRAS, AXIN2, and SMAD2. Males and females with nonhypermutated colorectal cancer had different trends in EP300 mutations by age group. These findings define genomic patterns of early-onset nonhypermutated colorectal cancer by race/ethnicity and sex, which yields novel biological clues into early-onset colorectal cancer disparities.
SIGNIFICANCE
NHBs, but not APIs, with early-onset nonhypermutated colorectal cancer had higher adjusted tumor mutation rates versus NHWs. Differences for FLT4, FBXW7, RNF43, LRP1B, APC, PIK3CA, and ATRX mutation rates between racial/ethnic groups and EP300, KRAS, AXIN2, WRN, BRAF, and LRP1B mutation rates by sex were observed in tumors of young patients. See related commentary by Shen et al., p. 530 . This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Sex Characteristics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Colorectal Neoplasms; Mutation; Genes, Neoplasm
PubMed: 36520636
DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-22-0764 -
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Dec 2020Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) is a distinct subtype of appendiceal neoplasm that exhibits unique clinical and pathologic features. We aimed to reveal the molecular...
Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) is a distinct subtype of appendiceal neoplasm that exhibits unique clinical and pathologic features. We aimed to reveal the molecular profiles of GCC compared with other appendiceal tumors, such as adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors. A total of 495 appendiceal tumor samples (53 GCCs, 428 adenocarcinomas, and 14 neuroendocrine tumors) were tested with next-generation sequencing (NGS) on a 592-gene panel and IHC. Microsatellite instability (MSI)/mismatch repair (MMR) status was tested with a combination of NGS, IHC, and fragment analyses. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was evaluated by NGS, and PD-L1 expression was tested by IHC (SP142). The most prevalent mutated genes within GCCs were (24.0%), (15.4%), (9.4%), and (7.5%). Pathway-specific alterations were dominantly observed in cell cycle, MAPK, epigenetic, and TGFβ signaling pathways. GCCs as compared with adenocarcinomas exhibited significantly lower mutation rates in , and , and significantly higher mutation rates in , and GCCs as compared with neuroendocrine tumors showed significantly lower mutation rates in , and In GCCs, MSI high/MMR deficient, TMB high (≥17 mutations/Mb), and PD-L1 expression were seen in 0.0%, 0.0%, and 2.0% of tumors, respectively. No significant differences were observed in any immunotherapy-related markers examined when compared with adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors. In conclusion, GCCs had considerably distinct mutational profiles compared with appendiceal adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors. Understanding these molecular characteristics may be critical for the development of novel and more effective treatment strategies for GCC.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Alleles; Appendiceal Neoplasms; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoid Tumor; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation; Mutation Rate; Neuroendocrine Tumors
PubMed: 33037134
DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-20-0318 -
Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology... 2021The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project has identified HER2 mutations or amplification in 7% of colon cancers. In addition to HER2 mutations, colon cancer patients also...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project has identified HER2 mutations or amplification in 7% of colon cancers. In addition to HER2 mutations, colon cancer patients also possess co-occurring mutations in genes such as APC. Here, we investigated the role of HER2 and APC mutations on the crypt-villus architecture of the intestinal epithelium, localization of secretory cells, and expression of intestinal stem cell markers.
METHODS
We generated a HER2 transgenic mouse (HER2 Tg) possessing an activating mutation commonly found in colorectal cancer patients, HER2, using transcription activator-like effector nucleases-based gene editing technology. We expressed the HER2 transgene in mouse small intestine and colon using Lgr5-Cre and Villin-Cre recombinases. In addition, we analyzed Lgr5-Cre; APC; HER2 Tg mice by morphologic and gene expression assays on intestinal sections and organoids derived from the epithelium.
RESULTS
HER2 expression resulted in hypertrophic crypt formation with expanded zones of proliferation. Proximal intestinal villi showed increased abundance of multiple differentiated lineages including extensive intermediate cell differentiation, as evidenced by MUC2/MMP7 co-immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. HER2 expression in the context of APC loss resulted in further enhancement and expansion of the proliferative crypt compartment.
CONCLUSIONS
We established an epithelial intrinsic role for HER2 on enhanced cellular proliferation. Additionally, we determined that HER2 and APC mutations, when combined, promote enhanced proliferation of intestinal crypts.
Topics: Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; Animals; Gene Editing; Hyperplasia; Intestinal Mucosa; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Mucin-2; Mutation; Receptor, ErbB-2
PubMed: 33930605
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.04.012 -
International Journal of Cell Biology 2023Defective Wnt signaling is found to be associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. In the canonical pathway, the Frizzled receptor (Fzd) and the lipoprotein... (Review)
Review
Defective Wnt signaling is found to be associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. In the canonical pathway, the Frizzled receptor (Fzd) and the lipoprotein receptor-related proteins 5/6 (LRP5/LRP6) create a seven-pass transmembrane receptor complex to which the Wnt ligands bind. This interaction causes the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli gene product (APC), casein kinase 1 (CK1), and GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta) to be recruited by the scaffold protein Dishevelled (Dvl), which in turn deactivates the -catenin destruction complex. This inactivation stops the destruction complex from phosphorylating -catenin. As a result, -catenin first builds up in the cytoplasm and then migrates into the nucleus, where it binds to the Lef/Tcf transcription factor to activate the transcription of more than 50 Wnt target genes, including those involved in cell growth, survival, differentiation, neurogenesis, and inflammation. The treatments that are currently available for neurodegenerative illnesses are most commonly not curative in nature but are only symptomatic. According to all available research, restoring Wnt/-catenin signaling in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, would improve the condition of several patients with neurological disorders. The importance of Wnt activators and modulators in patients with such illnesses is to mainly restore rather than overstimulate the Wnt/-catenin signaling, thereby reestablishing the equilibrium between Wnt-OFF and Wnt-ON states. In this review, we have tried to summarize the significance of the Wnt canonical pathway in the pathophysiology of certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other similar diseases, and as to how can it be restored in these patients.
PubMed: 37780577
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9296092