1. |
- Almstedt, Elin, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Integrative discovery of treatments for high-risk neuroblastoma
- 2020
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723 .- 2041-1723. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite advances in the molecular exploration of paediatric cancers, approximately 50% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma lack effective treatment. To identify therapeutic options for this group of high-risk patients, we combine predictive data mining with experimental evaluation in patient-derived xenograft cells. Our proposed algorithm, TargetTranslator, integrates data from tumour biobanks, pharmacological databases, and cellular networks to predict how targeted interventions affect mRNA signatures associated with high patient risk or disease processes. We find more than 80 targets to be associated with neuroblastoma risk and differentiation signatures. Selected targets are evaluated in cell lines derived from high-risk patients to demonstrate reversal of risk signatures and malignant phenotypes. Using neuroblastoma xenograft models, we establish CNR2 and MAPK8 as promising candidates for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma. We expect that our method, available as a public tool (targettranslator.org), will enhance and expedite the discovery of risk-associated targets for paediatric and adult cancers.
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2. |
- Weinstein, John N., et al.
(författare)
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The cancer genome atlas pan-cancer analysis project
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 45:10, s. 1113-1120
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network has profiled and analyzed large numbers of human tumors to discover molecular aberrations at the DNA, RNA, protein and epigenetic levels. The resulting rich data provide a major opportunity to develop an integrated picture of commonalities, differences and emergent themes across tumor lineages. The Pan-Cancer initiative compares the first 12 tumor types profiled by TCGA. Analysis of the molecular aberrations and their functional roles across tumor types will teach us how to extend therapies effective in one cancer type to others with a similar genomic profile. © 2013 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
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3. |
- Abenius, Tobias, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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System-scale network modeling of cancer using EPoC
- 2012
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Ingår i: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. - New York, NY : Springer New York. - 0065-2598. - 9781441972095 ; 736:5, s. 617-643
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One of the central problems of cancer systems biology is to understand the complex molecular changes of cancerous cells and tissues, and use this understanding to support the development of new targeted therapies. EPoC (Endogenous Perturbation analysis of Cancer) is a network modeling technique for tumor molecular profiles. EPoC models are constructed from combined copy number aberration (CNA) and mRNA data and aim to (1) identify genes whose copy number aberrations significantly affect target mRNA expression and (2) generate markers for long- and short-term survival of cancer patients. Models are constructed by a combination of regression and bootstrapping methods. Prognostic scores are obtained from a singular value decomposition of the networks. We have previously analyzed the performance of EPoC using glioblastoma data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) consortium, and have shown that resulting network models contain both known and candidate disease-relevant genes as network hubs, as well as uncover predictors of patient survival. Here, we give a practical guide how to perform EPoC modeling in practice using R, and present a set of alternative modeling frameworks.
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4. |
- Allen, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Origin of the U87MG glioma cell line : Good news and bad news
- 2016
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Ingår i: Science Translational Medicine. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1946-6234 .- 1946-6242. ; 8:354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human tumor-derived cell lines are indispensable tools for basic and translational oncology. They have an infinite life span and are easy to handle and scalable, and results can be obtained with high reproducibility. However, a tumor-derived cell line may not be authentic to the tumor of origin. Two major questions emerge: Have the identity of the donor and the actual tumor origin of the cell line been accurately determined? To what extent does the cell line reflect the phenotype of the tumor type of origin? The importance of these questions is greatest in translational research. We have examined these questions using genetic profiling and transcriptome analysis in human glioma cell lines. We find that the DNA profile of the widely used glioma cell line U87MG is different from that of the original cells and that it is likely to be a bona fide human glioblastoma cell line of unknown origin.
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5. |
- Almstedt, Elin, 1988-
(författare)
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New targeted therapies for malignant neural tumors : From systematic discovery to zebrafish models
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Cancers in the neural system presents a major health challenge. The most aggressive brain tumor in adults, glioblastoma, has a median survival of 15 months and few therapeutic options. High-risk neuroblastoma, a childhood tumor originating in the sympathetic nervous system, has a 5-year survival under 50%, despite extensive therapy. Molecular characterization of these tumors has had some, but so far limited, clinical impact. In neuroblastoma, patients with ALK mutated tumors can benefit from treatment with ALK inhibitors. In glioblastoma, molecular subgroups have not yet revealed any subgroup-specific gene dependencies due to tumor heterogeneity and plasticity. In this thesis, we identify novel treatment candidates for neuroblastoma and glioblastoma. In paper I, we discover novel drug targets for high-risk neuroblastoma by integrating patient data, large-scale pharmacogenomic profiles, and drug-protein interaction maps. Using a novel algorithm, TargetTranslator, we identify more than 80 targets for this patient group. Activation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) or inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8) reduces tumor growth in zebrafish and mice models of neuroblastoma, establishing TargetTranslator as a useful tool for target discovery in cancer. In paper II, we screen approximately 1500 compounds across 100 molecularly characterized cell lines from patients to uncover heterogeneous responses to drugs in glioblastoma. We identify several connections between pathway activities and drug response. Sensitivity to proteasome inhibition is linked to oxidative stress response and p53 activity in cells, and can be predicted using a gene signature. We also discover sigma receptors as novel drug targets for glioblastoma and find a synergistic vulnerability in targeting cholesterol homeostasis.In paper III, we systematically explore novel targets for glioblastoma using an siRNA screen. Downregulation of ZBTB16 decreases cell cycle-related proteins and transcripts in patient-derived glioblastoma cells. Using a zebrafish assay, we find that ZBTB16 promotes glioblastoma invasion in vivo. In paper IV, we characterized the growth of seven patient-derived glioblastoma cell lines in orthotopic zebrafish xenografts. Using automated longitudinal imaging, we find that tumor engraftment strongly correlates with tumor initiation capacity in mice xenografts and that the heterogeneous response to proteasome inhibitors is maintained in vivo. In summary, this thesis identifies novel targets for glioblastoma and neuroblastoma using systematic approaches. Treatment candidates are evaluated in novel zebrafish xenograft models that are developed for high-throughput glioblastoma and neuroblastoma drug evaluation. Together, this thesis provides promising evidence of new therapeutic options for malignant neural tumors.
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6. |
- Almstedt, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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Real-time evaluation of glioblastoma growth in patient-specific zebrafish xenografts
- 2021
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Ingår i: Neuro-Oncology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1522-8517 .- 1523-5866. ; 24:5, s. 726-738
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of glioblastoma (GBM) are a central tool for neuro-oncology research and drug development, enabling the detection of patient-specific differences in growth, and in vivo drug response. However, existing PDX models are not well suited for large-scale or automated studies. Thus, here, we investigate if a fast zebrafish-based PDX model, supported by longitudinal, AI-driven image analysis, can recapitulate key aspects of glioblastoma growth and enable case-comparative drug testing.Methods: We engrafted 11 GFP-tagged patient-derived GBM IDH wild-type cell cultures (PDCs) into 1-day-old zebrafish embryos, and monitored fish with 96-well live microscopy and convolutional neural network analysis. Using light-sheet imaging of whole embryos, we analyzed further the invasive growth of tumor cells.Results: Our pipeline enables automatic and robust longitudinal observation of tumor growth and survival of individual fish. The 11 PDCs expressed growth, invasion and survival heterogeneity, and tumor initiation correlated strongly with matched mouse PDX counterparts (Spearman R = 0.89, p < 0.001). Three PDCs showed a high degree of association between grafted tumor cells and host blood vessels, suggesting a perivascular invasion phenotype. In vivo evaluation of the drug marizomib, currently in clinical trials for GBM, showed an effect on fish survival corresponding to PDC in vitro and in vivo marizomib sensitivity.Conclusions: Zebrafish xenografts of GBM, monitored by AI methods in an automated process, present a scalable alternative to mouse xenograft models for the study of glioblastoma tumor initiation, growth, and invasion, applicable to patient-specific drug evaluation.
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7. |
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8. |
- Barretina, Jordi, et al.
(författare)
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Subtype-specific genomic alterations define new targets for soft-tissue sarcoma therapy.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Nature genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 42:8, s. 715-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soft-tissue sarcomas, which result in approximately 10,700 diagnoses and 3,800 deaths per year in the United States, show remarkable histologic diversity, with more than 50 recognized subtypes. However, knowledge of their genomic alterations is limited. We describe an integrative analysis of DNA sequence, copy number and mRNA expression in 207 samples encompassing seven major subtypes. Frequently mutated genes included TP53 (17% of pleomorphic liposarcomas), NF1 (10.5% of myxofibrosarcomas and 8% of pleomorphic liposarcomas) and PIK3CA (18% of myxoid/round-cell liposarcomas, or MRCs). PIK3CA mutations in MRCs were associated with Akt activation and poor clinical outcomes. In myxofibrosarcomas and pleomorphic liposarcomas, we found both point mutations and genomic deletions affecting the tumor suppressor NF1. Finally, we found that short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based knockdown of several genes amplified in dedifferentiated liposarcoma, including CDK4 and YEATS4, decreased cell proliferation. Our study yields a detailed map of molecular alterations across diverse sarcoma subtypes and suggests potential subtype-specific targets for therapy.
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9. |
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10. |
- Baskaran, Sathishkumar, 1988-
(författare)
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New Molecular Approaches to Glioblastoma Therapy
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common high-grade brain tumor diagnosed in patients who are more than 50 years of age. The standard of care treatment is surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The median life expectancy of patients is only between 12 to 15 months after receiving current treatment regimes. Hence, identification of new therapeutic compounds and gene targets are highly warranted. This thesis describes four interlinked studies to attain this goal. In study 1, we explored drug combination effects in a material of 41 patient-derived GBM cell (GC) cultures. Synergies between three compounds, pterostilbene, gefitinib, and sertraline, resulted in effective killing of GC and can be predicted by biomarkers. In study 2, we performed a large-scale screening of FDA approved compounds (n=1544) in a larger panel of GCs (n=106). By combining the large-scale drug response data with GCs genomics data, we built a novel computational model to predict the sensitivity of each compound for a given GC. A notable finding was that GCs respond very differently to proteasome inhibitors in both in-vitro and in-vivo. In study 3, we explored new gene targets by RNAi (n=1112) in a panel of GC cells. We found that loss of transcription factor ZBTB16/PLZF inhibits GC cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion. These effects were due to downregulation of c-MYC and Cyclin B1 after the treatment. In study 4, we tested the genomic stability of three GCs upon multiple passaging. Using molecular and mathematical analyses, we showed that the GCs undergo both systematic adaptations and sequential clonal takeovers. Such changes tend to affect a broad spectrum of pathways. Therefore, a systematic analysis of cell culture stability will be essential to make use of primary cells for translational oncology.Taken together, these studies deepen our knowledge of the weak points of GBM and provide several targets and biomarkers for further investigation. The work in this thesis can potentially facilitate the development of targeted therapies and result in more accurate tools for patient diagnostics and stratification.
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11. |
- Baskaran, Sathishkumar, et al.
(författare)
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Primary glioblastoma cells for precision medicine : a quantitative portrait of genomic (in)stability during the first 30 passages
- 2018
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Ingår i: Neuro-Oncology. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. - 1522-8517 .- 1523-5866. ; 20:8, s. 1080-1091
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Primary glioblastoma cell (GC) cultures have emerged as a key model in brain tumor research, with the potential to uncover patient-specific differences in therapy response. However, there is limited quantitative information about the stability of such cells during the initial 20-30 passages of culture.Methods: We interrogated 3 patient-derived GC cultures at dense time intervals during the first 30 passages of culture. Combining state-of-the-art signal processing methods with a mathematical model of growth, we estimated clonal composition, rates of change, affected pathways, and correlations between altered gene dosage and transcription.Results: We demonstrate that GC cultures undergo sequential clonal takeovers, observed through variable proportions of specific subchromosomal lesions, variations in aneuploid cell content, and variations in subpopulation cell cycling times. The GC cultures also show significant transcriptional drift in several metabolic and signaling pathways, including ribosomal synthesis, telomere packaging and signaling via the mammalian target of rapamycin, Wnt, and interferon pathways, to a high degree explained by changes in gene dosage. In addition to these adaptations, the cultured GCs showed signs of shifting transcriptional subtype. Compared with chromosomal aberrations and gene expression, DNA methylations remained comparatively stable during passaging, and may be favorable as a biomarker.Conclusion: Taken together, GC cultures undergo significant genomic and transcriptional changes that need to be considered in functional experiments and biomarker studies that involve primary glioblastoma cells.
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12. |
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13. |
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14. |
- Boot, James, et al.
(författare)
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Global hypo-methylation in a proportion of glioblastoma enriched for an astrocytic signature is associated with increased invasion and altered immune landscape
- 2022
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Ingår i: eLIFE. - : eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. - 2050-084X. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We describe a subset of glioblastoma, the most prevalent malignant adult brain tumour, harbouring a bias towards hypomethylation at defined differentially methylated regions. This epigenetic signature correlates with an enrichment for an astrocytic gene signature, which together with the identification of enriched predicted binding sites of transcription factors known to cause demethylation and to be involved in astrocytic/glial lineage specification, point to a shared ontogeny between these glioblastomas and astroglial progenitors. At functional level, increased invasiveness, at least in part mediated by SRPX2, and macrophage infiltration characterise this subset of glioblastoma.
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15. |
- Cancer, Matko, et al.
(författare)
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BET and Aurora Kinase A inhibitors synergize against MYCN-positive human glioblastoma cells
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cell Death and Disease. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2041-4889. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Patients usually undergo surgery followed by aggressive radio- and chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ). Still, median survival is only 12-15 months after diagnosis. Many human cancers including GBMs demonstrate addiction to MYC transcription factor signaling and can become susceptible to inhibition of MYC downstream genes. JQ1 is an effective inhibitor of BET Bromodomains, a class of epigenetic readers regulating expression of downstream MYC targets. Here, we show that BET inhibition decreases viability of patient-derived GBM cell lines. We propose a distinct expression signature of MYCN-elevated GBM cells that correlates with significant sensitivity to BET inhibition. In tumors showing JQ1 sensitivity, we found enrichment of pathways regulating cell cycle, DNA damage response and repair. As DNA repair leads to acquired chemoresistance to TMZ, JQ1 treatment in combination with TMZ synergistically inhibited proliferation of MYCN-elevated cells. Bioinformatic analyses further showed that the expression of MYCN correlates with Aurora Kinase A levels and Aurora Kinase inhibitors indeed showed synergistic efficacy in combination with BET inhibition. Collectively, our data suggest that BET inhibitors could potentiate the efficacy of either TMZ or Aurora Kinase inhibitors in GBM treatment.
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16. |
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17. |
- Castell, Alina, et al.
(författare)
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MYCMI-7 : A Small MYC-Binding Compound that Inhibits MYC: MAX Interaction and Tumor Growth in a MYC-Dependent Manner
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cancer Research Communications. - : American Association For Cancer Research (AACR). - 2767-9764. ; 2:3, s. 182-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Deregulated expression of MYC family oncogenes occurs frequently in human cancer and is often associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis. While MYC is a highly warranted target, it has been considered "undruggable," and no specific anti-MYC drugs are available in the clinic. We recently identified molecules named MYCMIs that inhibit the interaction between MYC and its essential partner MAX. Here we show that one of these molecules, MYCMI-7, efficiently and selectively inhibits MYC:MAX and MYCN:MAX interactions in cells, binds directly to recombinant MYC, and reduces MYC-driven transcription. In addition, MYCMI-7 induces degradation of MYC and MYCN proteins. MYCMI-7 potently induces growth arrest/apoptosis in tumor cells in a MYC/MYCN-dependent manner and downregulates the MYC pathway on a global level as determined by RNA sequencing. Sensitivity to MYCMI-7 correlates with MYC expression in a panel of 60 tumor cell lines and MYCMI-7 shows high efficacy toward a collection of patient-derived primary glioblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ex vivo cultures. Importantly, a variety of normal cells be- come G1 arrested without signs of apoptosis upon MYCMI-7 treatment. Finally, in mouse tumor models of MYC-driven AML, breast cancer, and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma, treatment with MYCMI-7 downregu- lates MYC/MYCN, inhibits tumor growth, and prolongs survival through apoptosis with few side effects. In conclusion, MYCMI-7 is a potent and selective MYC inhibitor that is highly relevant for the development into clinically useful drugs for the treatment of MYC-driven cancer.Significance: Our findings demonstrate that the small-molecule MYCMI-7 binds MYC and inhibits interaction between MYC and MAX, thereby ham- pering MYC-driven tumor cell growth in culture and in vivo while sparing normal cells.
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18. |
- Constantinou, Myrianni, et al.
(författare)
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Lineage specification in glioblastoma is regulated by METTL7B
- 2024
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Ingår i: Cell Reports. - : Elsevier. - 2211-1247. ; 43:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults; they are highly aggressive and heterogeneous and show a high degree of plasticity. Here, we show that methyltransferase-like 7B (METTL7B) is an essential regulator of lineage specification in glioblastoma, with an impact on both tumor size and invasiveness. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of these tumors and of cerebral organoids derived from expanded potential stem cells overexpressing METTL7B reveal a regulatory role for the gene in the neural stem cell-to-astrocyte differentiation trajectory. Mechanistically, METTL7B downregulates the expression of key neuronal differentiation players, including SALL2, via post-translational modifications of histone marks.
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19. |
- Cvijovic, Marija, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Bridging the gaps in systems biology
- 2014
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Ingår i: Molecular Genetics and Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1617-4615 .- 1617-4623. ; 289:5, s. 727-734
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systems biology aims at creating mathematical models, i.e., computational reconstructions of biological systems and processes that will result in a new level of understanding-the elucidation of the basic and presumably conserved "design" and "engineering" principles of biomolecular systems. Thus, systems biology will move biology from a phenomenological to a predictive science. Mathematical modeling of biological networks and processes has already greatly improved our understanding of many cellular processes. However, given the massive amount of qualitative and quantitative data currently produced and number of burning questions in health care and biotechnology needed to be solved is still in its early phases. The field requires novel approaches for abstraction, for modeling bioprocesses that follow different biochemical and biophysical rules, and for combining different modules into larger models that still allow realistic simulation with the computational power available today. We have identified and discussed currently most prominent problems in systems biology: (1) how to bridge different scales of modeling abstraction, (2) how to bridge the gap between topological and mechanistic modeling, and (3) how to bridge the wet and dry laboratory gap. The future success of systems biology largely depends on bridging the recognized gaps.
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20. |
- Dalmo, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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Growth-Inhibitory Activity of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 in Human Glioblastoma Cell Lines Is Heterogeneous and Dependent on Reduced SOX2 Expression
- 2020
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Research. - 1541-7786 .- 1557-3125. ; 18:7, s. 981-991
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastoma multiforme continues to have a dismal prognosis. Even though detailed information on the genetic aberrations in cell signaling and cell-cycle checkpoint control is available, no effective targeted treatment has been developed. Despite the advanced molecular defects, glioblastoma cells may have remnants of normal growth-inhibitory pathways, such as the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway. We have evaluated the growth-inhibitory effect of BMP4 across a broad spectrum of patient samples, using a panel of 40 human glioblastoma initiating cell (GIC) cultures. A wide range of responsiveness was observed. BMP4 sensitivity was positively correlated with a proneural mRNA expression profile, high SOX2 activity, and BMP4-dependent upregulation of genes associated with inhibition of the MAPK pathway, as demonstrated by gene set enrichment analysis. BMP4 response in sensitive cells was mediated by the canonical BMP receptor pathway involving SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation and SMAD4 expression. SOX2 was consistently downregulated in BMP4-treated cells. Forced expression of SOX2 attenuated the BMP4 sensitivity including a reduced upregulation of MAPK-inhibitory genes, implying a functional relationship between SOX2 downregulation and sensitivity. The results show an extensive heterogeneity in BMP4 responsiveness among GICs and identify a BMP4-sensitive subgroup, in which SOX2 is a mediator of the response.
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21. |
- Dalmo, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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Targeting SOX2 in glioblastoma cells reveals heterogeneity in SOX2 dependency
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal disease with no curative treatment. SOX2 is a stem cell transcription factor which is widely expressed across human GBM tumors. Downregulation of SOX2 inhibits tumor formation and its depletion leads to a complete stop of cell proliferation. Despite its known important role in GBM, there is a lack of SOX2 overexpression studies in human GBM cells cultured under stem cell conditions. Previous work in our lab suggests that SOX2 levels need to be precisely maintained for GBM cells to thrive. In this project, we have investigated how altered SOX2 expression affects primary human GBM lines. We found that elevated SOX2 expression inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in three out of four GBM cell lines. Global gene expression in the resistant line was shifted towards that of the proliferation-inhibited lines upon SOX2 induction. However, SOX2 induction also led to an increase in a GBM stem cell injury response phenotype, which was not present in proliferation-inhibited lines. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SOX2 knockout revealed a SOX2 independence in the resistant cell line, where SOX2-negative cells could be propagated both in vitro and in vivo.
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22. |
- Darmanis, Spyros, et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneous Multiplexed Measurement of RNA and Proteins in Single Cells
- 2016
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Ingår i: Cell Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2211-1247. ; 14:2, s. 380-389
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Significant advances have been made in methods to analyze genomes and transcriptomes of single cells, but to fully define cell states, proteins must also be accessed as central actors defining a cell's phenotype. Methods currently used to analyze endogenous protein expression in single cells are limited in specificity, throughput, or multiplex capability. Here, we present an approach to simultaneously and specifically interrogate large sets of protein and RNA targets in lysates from individual cells, enabling investigations of cell functions and responses. We applied our method to investigate the effects of BMP4, an experimental therapeutic agent, on early-passage glioblastoma cell cultures. We uncovered significant heterogeneity in responses to treatment at levels of RNA and protein, with a subset of cells reacting in a distinct manner to BMP4. Moreover, we found overall poor correlation between protein and RNA at the level of single cells, with proteins more accurately defining responses to treatment.
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23. |
- Dijksterhuis, Jacomijn P., et al.
(författare)
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High levels of WNT-5A in human glioma correlate with increased presence of tumor-associated microglia/monocytes
- 2015
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Ingår i: Experimental Cell Research. - : Elsevier. - 0014-4827 .- 1090-2422. ; 339:2, s. 280-288
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Malignant gliomas are among the most severe types of cancer, and the most common primary brain tumors. Treatment options are limited and the prognosis is poor. WNT-5A, a member of the WNT family of lipoglycoproteins, plays a role in oncogenesis and tumor progression in various cancers, whereas the role of WNT-5A in glioma remains obscure. Based on the role of WNT-5A as an oncogene, its potential to regulate microglia cells and the glioma-promoting capacities of microglia cells, we hypothesize that WNT-5A has a role in regulation of immune functions in glioma. We investigated WNT-5A expression by in silico analysis of the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) transcript profiling of human glioblastoma samples and immunohistochemistry experiments of human glioma tissue microarrays (TMA). Our results reveal higher WNT-5A protein levels and mRNA expression in a subgroup of gliomas (WNT-5A(high)) compared to non-malignant control brain tissue. Furthermore, we show a significant correlation between WNT-5A in the tumor and presence of major histocompatibility complex Class II-positive microglia/monocytes. Our data pinpoint a positive correlation between WNT-5A and a proinflammatory signature in glioma. We identify increased presence of microglia/monocytes as an important aspect in the inflammatory transformation suggesting a novel role for WNT-5A in human glioma.
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24. |
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25. |
- Fedele, Vita, et al.
(författare)
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Epigenetic Regulation of ZBTB18 Promotes Glioblastoma Progression
- 2017
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Research. - : AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. - 1541-7786 .- 1557-3125. ; 15:8, s. 998-1011
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastoma (GBM) comprises distinct subtypes characterized by their molecular profile. Mesenchymal identity in GBM has been associated with a comparatively unfavorable prognosis, primarily due to inherent resistance of these tumors to current therapies. The identification of molecular determinants of mesenchymal transformation could potentially allow for the discovery of new therapeutic targets. Zinc Finger and BTB Domain Containing 18 (ZBTB18/ZNF238/RP58) is a zinc finger transcriptional repressor with a crucial role in brain development and neuronal differentiation. Here, ZBTB18 is primarily silenced in the mesenchymal subtype of GBM through aberrant promoter methylation. Loss of ZBTB18 contributes to the aggressive phenotype of glioblastoma through regulation of poor prognosis-associated signatures. Restitution of ZBTB18 expression reverses the phenotype and impairs tumor-forming ability. These results indicate that ZBTB18 functions as a tumor suppressor in GBM through the regulation of genes associated with phenotypically aggressive properties.
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