| 1. |
- Liu, Meng, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Targeting the protein prenyltransferases efficiently reduces tumor development in mice with K-RAS-induced lung cancer
- 2010
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424. ; 107:14, s. 6471-6476
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- RAS and RHO proteins, which contribute to tumorigenesis and metastasis, undergo posttranslational modification with an isoprenyl lipid by protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) or protein geranylgeranyltransferase-I (GGTase-I). Inhibitors of FTase and GGTase-I were developed to block RAS-induced malignancies, but their utility has been difficult to evaluate because of off-target effects, drug resistance, and toxicity. Moreover, the impact of FTase deficiency and combined FTase/GGTase-I deficiency has not been evaluated with genetic approaches. We found that inactivation of FTase eliminated farnesylation of HDJ2 and H-RAS, prevented H-RAS targeting to the plasma membrane, and blocked proliferation of primary and K-RAS(G12D)-expressing fibroblasts. FTase inactivation in mice with K-RAS-induced lung cancer reduced tumor growth and improved survival, similar to results obtained previously with inactivation of GGTase-I. Simultaneous inactivation of FTase and GGTase-I markedly reduced lung tumors and improved survival without apparent pulmonary toxicity. These data shed light on the biochemical and therapeutic importance of FTase and suggest that simultaneous inhibition of FTase and GGTase-I could be useful in cancer therapeutics.
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| 2. |
- Dalin, Martin, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Massive parallel sequencing questions the pathogenic role of missense variants in dilated cardiomyopathy
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 228, s. 742-748
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Germline genetic variants are an important cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, recent sequencing studies have revealed rare variants in DCM-associated genes also in individuals without known heart disease. In this study, we investigate variant prevalence and genotype-phenotype correlations in Swedish DCM patients, and compare their genetic variants to those detected in reference cohorts. Methods and results: We sequenced the coding regions of 41 DCM-associated genes in 176 unrelated patients with idiopathic DCM and found 102 protein-altering variants with an allele frequency of <0.04% in reference cohorts; the majority were missense variants not previously described in DCM. Fifty-five (31%) patients had one variant, and 24 (14%) patients had two or more variants in the analysed genes. Detection of genetic variants in any gene, and in LMNA, MYII7 or TTN alone, was associated with early onset disease and reduced transplant-free survival. As expected, nonsense and frameshift variants were more common in DCM patients than in healthy individuals of the reference cohort 1000 Genomes Europeans. Surprisingly however, the prevalence, conservation and pathogenicity scores, and localization of missense variants were similar in DCM patients and healthy reference individuals. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify correlations between genotype and prognosis when sequencing a large number of genes in unselected DCM patients. The similar distribution of missense variants in DCM patients and healthy reference individuals questions the pathogenic role of many variants, and suggests that results from genetic testing of DCM patients should be interpreted with caution.
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| 3. |
- Dalin, Martin, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Myocardial KRASG12D expression does not cause cardiomyopathy in mice
- 2014
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Ingår i: Cardiovascular Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0008-6363 .- 1755-3245. ; 101:2, s. 229-235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimsGerm-line mutations in genes encoding components of the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway cause developmental disorders called RASopathies. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common myocardial pathology and a leading cause of death in RASopathy patients. KRAS mutations are found in Noonan and cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes. KRAS mutations, unlike mutations of RAF1 and HRAS, are rarely associated with HCM. This has been attributed to the fact that germ-line KRAS mutations cause only a moderate up-regulation of the MAPK pathway. Highly bioactive KRAS mutations have been hypothesized to cause severe cardiomyopathy incompatible with life. The aim of this study was to define the impact of KRASG12D expression in the heart.Methods and resultsTo generate mice with endogenous cardiomyocyte-specific KRASG12D expression (cKRASG12D mice), we bred mice with a Cre-inducible allele expressing KRASG12D from its endogenous promoter (Kras2LSL) to mice expressing Cre under control of the cardiomyocyte-specific α-myosin heavy chain promoter (αMHC-Cre). cKRASG12D mice showed high levels of myocardial ERK and AKT signalling. However, surprisingly, cKRASG12D mice were born in Mendelian ratios, appeared healthy, and had normal function, size, and histology of the heart.ConclusionMice with cardiomyocyte-specific KRAS G12D expression do not develop heart pathology. These results challenge the view that the level of MAPK activation correlates with the severity of HCM in RASopathies and suggests that MAPK-independent strategies may be of interest in the development of new treatments for these syndromes. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2013.
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| 4. |
- Le Gal, Kristell, et al.
(författare)
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Antioxidants can increase melanoma metastasis in mice.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Science Translational Medicine. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1946-6242 .- 1946-6234. ; 7:308
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antioxidants in the diet and supplements are widely used to protect against cancer, but clinical trials with antioxidants do not support this concept. Some trials show that antioxidants actually increase cancer risk and a study in mice showed that antioxidants accelerate the progression of primary lung tumors. However, little is known about the impact of antioxidant supplementation on the progression of other types of cancer, including malignant melanoma. We show that administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) increases lymph node metastases in an endogenous mouse model of malignant melanoma but has no impact on the number and size of primary tumors. Similarly, NAC and the soluble vitamin E analog Trolox markedly increased the migration and invasive properties of human malignant melanoma cells but did not affect their proliferation. Both antioxidants increased the ratio between reduced and oxidized glutathione in melanoma cells and in lymph node metastases, and the increased migration depended on new glutathione synthesis. Furthermore, both NAC and Trolox increased the activation of the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RHOA, and blocking downstream RHOA signaling abolished antioxidant-induced migration. These results demonstrate that antioxidants and the glutathione system play a previously unappreciated role in malignant melanoma progression.
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| 5. |
- Sjögren, Anna-Karin, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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GGTase-I deficiency reduces tumor formation and improves survival in mice with K-RAS-induced lung cancer
- 2007
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Ingår i: J Clin Invest. - 0021-9738. ; 117:5, s. 1294-304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I (GGTase-I) is responsible for the posttranslational lipidation of CAAX proteins such as RHOA, RAC1, and cell division cycle 42 (CDC42). Inhibition of GGTase-I has been suggested as a strategy to treat cancer and a host of other diseases. Although several GGTase-I inhibitors (GGTIs) have been synthesized, they have very different properties, and the effects of GGTIs and GGTase-I deficiency are unclear. One concern is that inhibiting GGTase-I might lead to severe toxicity. In this study, we determined the effects of GGTase-I deficiency on cell viability and K-RAS-induced cancer development in mice. Inactivating the gene for the critical beta subunit of GGTase-I eliminated GGTase-I activity, disrupted the actin cytoskeleton, reduced cell migration, and blocked the proliferation of fibroblasts expressing oncogenic K-RAS. Moreover, the absence of GGTase-I activity reduced lung tumor formation, eliminated myeloproliferative phenotypes, and increased survival of mice in which expression of oncogenic K-RAS was switched on in lung cells and myeloid cells. Interestingly, several cell types remained viable in the absence of GGTase-I, and myelopoiesis appeared to function normally. These findings suggest that inhibiting GGTase-I may be a useful strategy to treat K-RAS-induced malignancies.
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| 6. |
- Yan, G., et al.
(författare)
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Silencing RhoA inhibits migration and invasion through Wnt/β-catenin pathway and growth through cell cycle regulation in human tongue cancer
- 2014
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Ingår i: Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica. - : China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.. - 1672-9145 .- 1745-7270. ; 46:8, s. 682-690
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) has been identified as a critical regulator of tumor aggressive behavior. In this study, we assessed the role of RhoA in the mechanisms underlying growth, migration, and invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue (TSCC). Stable RhoA knockdown of TSCC cell lines SCC-4 and CAL27 were achieved using Lentiviral transfection. The effects of RhoA depletion on cell migration, invasion, and cell proliferation were determined. The possible underlying mechanism of RhoA depletion on TSCC cell line was also evaluated by determining the expression of Galectin-3 (Gal-3), β-catenin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in vivo. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanism of TSCC growth was studied by analysis of cyclin D1/2, p21 CIP1/WAF1, and p27Kip1 protein levels. Immunohistochemical assessments were performed to further prove the alteration of Gal-3 and β-catenin expression. We found that, in mice injected with human TSCC cells in the tongue, RhoA levels were higher in primary tumors and metastasized lymph nodes compared with those in the normal tissues. Silencing of RhoA significantly reduced the tumor growth, decreased the levels of Gal-3, β-catenin, MMP-9, and cyclin D1/2, and increased the levels of p21 CIP1/WAF1 and p27Kip1. In vitro, RhoA knockdown also led to inhibition of cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. Our data suggest that RhoA plays a significant role in TSCC progression by regulating cell migration and invasion through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and cell proliferation through cell cycle regulation, respectively. RhoA might be a novel therapeutic target of TSCC. © 2014 The Author .
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Daniel, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Circulating cell-free tumor DNA analysis in pediatric cancers
- 2020
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Ingår i: Molecular Aspects of Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0098-2997. ; 72:April
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Analysis of circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) has shown promising results within several clinical applications, including cancer detection, mutation profiling, treatment monitoring and early detection of relapse. Here, we discuss the potential and limitations of ctDNA analysis in pediatric cancer detection, therapy decision making and research. Biological properties associated to ctDNA are highlighted and related to technical constraints in downstream analyses. The effects of ctDNA release and clearance dynamics are illustrated and we argue that reporting ctDNA as a fraction of mutated compared to normal wild-type DNA may be problematic from a biological point of view. We have summarized experimental details, data and conclusions from 50 pediatric ctDNA studies. We discuss the genomic landscape of several pediatric entities and how their specific mutation profiles affects ctDNA analysis, often requiring custom-made technical solutions. Finally, we outline future aspects of ctDNA analysis and what is needed to fully implement it into clinical routine in pediatric oncology. © 2019 The Authors
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| 8. |
- Dalin, Martin, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Androgen Receptor Signaling in Salivary Gland Cancer
- 2017
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 9:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Salivary gland cancers comprise a small subset of human malignancies, and are classified into multiple subtypes that exhibit diverse histology, molecular biology and clinical presentation. Local disease is potentially curable with surgery, which may be combined with adjuvant radiotherapy. However, metastatic or unresectable tumors rarely respond to chemotherapy and carry a poorer prognosis. Recent molecular studies have shown evidence of androgen receptor signaling in several types of salivary gland cancer, mainly salivary duct carcinoma. Successful treatment with anti-androgen therapy in other androgen receptor-positive malignancies such as prostate and breast cancer has inspired researchers to investigate this treatment in salivary gland cancer as well. In this review, we describe the prevalence, biology, and therapeutic implications of androgen receptor signaling in salivary gland cancer.
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| 9. |
- Dalin, Martin, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-dimensional genomic analysis of myoepithelial carcinoma identifies prevalent oncogenic gene fusions
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Myoepithelial carcinoma (MECA) is an aggressive salivary gland cancer with largely unknown genetic features. Here we comprehensively analyze molecular alterations in 40 MECAs using integrated genomic analyses. We identify a low mutational load, and high prevalence (70%) of oncogenic gene fusions. Most fusions involve the PLAG1 oncogene, which is associated with PLAG1 overexpression. We find FGFR1-PLAG1 in seven (18%) cases, and the novel TGFBR3-PLAG1 fusion in six (15%) cases. TGFBR3-PLAG1 promotes a tumorigenic phenotype in vitro, and is absent in 723 other salivary gland tumors. Other novel PLAG1 fusions include ND4-PLAG1; a fusion between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. We also identify higher number of copy number alterations as a risk factor for recurrence, independent of tumor stage at diagnosis. Our findings indicate that MECA is a fusion-driven disease, nominate TGFBR3-PLAG1 as a hallmark of MECA, and provide a framework for future diagnostic and therapeutic research in this lethal cancer.
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| 10. |
- Linxweiler, Maximilian, et al.
(författare)
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The Immune Microenvironment and Neoantigen Landscape of Aggressive Salivary Gland Carcinomas Differ by Subtype.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. - 1078-0432. ; 26:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) are rare, aggressive cancers with high rates of recurrence and distant metastasis. These factors, and a lack of active systemic therapies, contribute to poor clinical outcome. Response rates with immune checkpoint blockade have been low, although clinical data remain sparse. To improve the efficacy of therapies, a more comprehensive understanding of relevant molecular alterations and immunologic processes is needed.To characterize the immune microenvironment and neoantigen landscape of SGCs, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in 76 tumors representing the three most lethal histologies: adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), myoepithelial carcinoma (MECA), and salivary duct carcinoma (SDC). We analyzed transcriptomic profiles, tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations, and measures of T-cell activation/dysfunction. In 37 cases also undergoing exome sequencing, we analyzed somatic mutations and neoantigens.SDCs exhibited high levels of immune infiltration, with corresponding higher levels of T-cell dysfunction, and higher mutational load. In contrast, ACCs were characterized by an immune-excluded microenvironment, the presence of M2-polarized macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and very low mutational load. MECAs were more heterogeneous, with both immune-low and immune-high phenotypes represented. Across all SGCs, levels of immune infiltration were associated with mutation- and fusion-derived neoantigens, and with aggressive clinical behavior.These findings provide new insights into the immune microenvironment and neoantigen landscape of SGCs, showing that mechanisms of immune escape appear to differ by histology. These data nominate potential immunologic vulnerabilities and may help guide the next steps of investigation in precision immunotherapy for these difficult-to-treat cancers.
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