| 1. |
- Ansell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Epidermal growth factor is a biomarker for poor cetuximab response in tongue cancer cells
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0904-2512 .- 1600-0714. ; 45:1, s. 9-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a target for treatment in tongue cancer. Here, EGFR ligands were evaluated for their potential uses as predictive biomarkers of cetuximab treatment response.Methods: In three tongue cancer cell lines the influences of epidermal growth factor (EGF), amphiregulin (AR), and epiregulin (EPR) on tumour cell proliferation and cetuximab response were evaluated by the addition of recombinant human (rh) proteins or the siRNA-mediated downregulation of endogenous ligand production.Results: EGF or AR downregulation suppressed the proliferation of all investigated cell lines. Furthermore, all cell lines displayed increased cetuximab resistance upon the addition of rhEGF, whereas EGF silencing resulted in an improved cetuximab response in one cell line.Conclusions: Our data suggest that EGF and AR are critical components of the EGFR signalling network required for full proliferative potential. Moreover, EGF is a potential predictive biomarker of poor cetuximab response and a possible treatment target.
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| 2. |
- Ansell, Anna, 1983-
(författare)
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Identification of Tumor Cell- and Stroma Derived Biomarkers of Treatment Response in Head and Neck Cancer
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses a major health problem in the world with approximately 600 000 new cases yearly. Treatment resistance is a major problem within this patient group and despite advances in treatment strategies the overall survival rate has unfortunately not increased.One of the major components of the tumor microenvironment is the cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which can modulate the treatment sensitivity, tumor growth, and the invasive potential of tumor cells.The aim of this thesis was to identify predictive markers for treatment response in HNSCC and to study the crosstalk between tumor cells and CAFs that may underlie treatment resistance.In paper I, we identified gene expression differences between one cisplatin sensitive cell line and two cisplatin resistant cell lines, by microarray analysis, and found that a high expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -7 was associated with resistance to cisplatin. In paper II, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligands EGF, amphiregulin, and epiregulin were evaluated regarding their potential use as predictive biomarkers for cetuximab treatment response in tongue cancer cell lines and it was shown that EGF may serve as a marker for poor cetuximab response. In paper III and IV, we investigated the influence of CAFs on the proliferation, migration, gene expression, and cetuximab response of tumor cells. It was found that CAFs induced resistance to cetuximab in a MMP-dependent manner. In addition, a microarray analysis, comparing tumor cells co-cultured with CAFs and tumor cells cultured alone, revealed that CAFs induced multiple gene expression changes in tumor cells some of which are related to epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Some of these changes were found to be dependent on cell-cell contact.Taken together, we here suggest MMP-7 and EGF to be predictive markers of cisplatin and cetuximab response, respectively. We also show that CAFs protect HNSCC cells from cetuximab treatment; however, the factor responsible for the protective effect is yet to be discovered.
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| 3. |
- Ansell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Matrix metalloproteinase-7 and -13 expression associate to cisplatin resistance in head and neck cancer cell lines.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Oral Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 1368-8375 .- 1879-0593. ; 45:10, s. 866-871
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Concomitant chemoradiotherapy is a common treatment for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Cisplatin is the backbone of chemotherapy regimens used to treat HNSCC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify predictive markers for cisplatin treatment outcome in HNSCC. The intrinsic cisplatin sensitivity (ICS) was determined in a panel of tumour cell lines. From this panel, one sensitive and two resistant cell lines were selected for comparative transcript profiling using microarray analysis. The enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) categories in sensitive versus resistant cell lines were assessed using the Gene Ontology Tree Machine bioinformatics tool. In total, 781 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed and 11 GO categories were enriched. Transcripts contributing to this enrichment were further analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) for identification of key regulator genes. IPA recognized 20 key regulator genes of which five were differentially expressed in sensitive versus resistant cell lines. The mRNA level of these five genes was further assessed in a panel of 25 HNSCC cell lines using quantitative real-time PCR. Among these key regulators, MMP-7 and MMP-13 are implicated as potential biomarkers of ICS. Taken together, genome-wide transcriptional analysis identified single genes, GO categories as well as molecular networks that are differentially expressed in HNSCC cell lines with different ICS. Furthermore, two novel predictive biomarkers for cisplatin resistance, MMP-7 and MMP-13, were identified.
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| 4. |
- Ansell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Matrix metalloproteinase-7 and -13 predict response to cisplatin in head and neck cancer
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Purpose: To identify gene ontology categories and key regulators with impact on the intrinsic cisplatin sensitivity (ICS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Experimental design: The ICS was determined in 35 HNSCC cell lines. Three of these cell lines, one sensitive and two resistant, were selected for microarray analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) categories were assessed using the gene ontology tree machine (GOTM) tool, and transcripts included in these categories were further analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) for detection of key regulator genes. A group of key regulators were verified at protein level by Western blot analysis and on mRNA level using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results: 781 transcripts were detected as significantly differently expressed for the resistant cell lines compared to the sensitive cell line. A total of ten different categories were enriched in GOTM by these transcripts and a transcriptional profile was made from the 20 key regulators identified in the IPA analysis. Five key regulator genes, apolipoprotein E (APOE), catenin beta1 (CTNNB1), matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and thrombospondin 1 (THBS1), were verified in 25 HNSCC cell lines on mRNA level using qPCR. The results confirmed MMP-7 (p=0.0013) and implied MMP-13 (p=0.058) as potential biomarkers of ICS. Conclusions: We conclude that genome-wide transcriptional analysis and appropriate bioinformatics enable the identification of genes with impact on treatment response. Furthermore, we propose MMP-7 and MMP-13 as predictive markers of cisplatin resistance in HNSCC.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Ansell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular cross-talk between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts
- 2013
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the main components of the tumor stroma and are known to increase tumor growth and stimulate invasion and metastasis. Increasing evidence suggests that CAFs may also be an important determinant of the response to various treatments. In this study we aimed to characterize the molecular cross-talk between CAFs and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells.HNSCC cell lines were co-cultured with their patient-matched CAFs for seven days, after which the gene expression of tumor cells was investigated by Affymetrix microarray. 58 protein coding genes were found to be differentially expressed (Q≤0.05) in tumor cells cocultured with CAFs when compared to tumor cells cultured alone. The top functions of these genes were cancer, cellular movement, and embryonic development as analyzed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Nine genes were upregulated by ≥1.5-fold while the expression of 35 genes was found to be reduced by ≤ 0.67-fold. Several of the differentially expressed genes have been associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The change in the expression of POSTN, GREM1, COL1A2, VIM, and MMP7 was verified by qPCR analysis. Moreover, the influence of CAFs on the proliferation, migration and cetuximab sensitivity of tumor cells was investigated, and was found to vary among the tumor cell-CAF pairs.In conclusion, we demonstrate that CAF-derived signals cause changes in the expression of multiple genes, several of which are associated with an EMT phenotype of tumor cells. Furthermore, CAFs modulate the proliferation, migration and cetuximab treatment response of tumor cells.
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| 7. |
- Ansell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Polymorphism of FGFR4 in cancer development and sensitivity to cisplatin and radiation in head and neck cancer
- 2009
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Ingår i: Oral Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 1368-8375 .- 1879-0593. ; 45:1, s. 23-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate the predisposition of the FGFR4 Gly/Arg polymorphism for development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and, furthermore, to examine if the FGFR4 Arg(388) allele can be associated with resistance to chemo-and radiotherapy.When analysing 110 tumour biopsies a significant 1.7-fold increased risk to develop HNSCC in individuals carrying the Gly(388) allele (p = 0.026) was found. Moreover a 2-fold increased risk for mates harbouring the Gly(388) allele (p = 0.031) to develop HNSCC was detected. In 39 HNSCC cell lines the role of the Arg(388) allele for radiation and cisplatin sensitivity was investigated. Our results show no rote of the Arg(388) allele for the radiosensitivity (p = 0.996) but indicate a tendency to increased cisplatin sensitivity (p = 0.141). When screening the transmembrane and kinase domains in the FGFR4 gene a novel mutation, probably generating a truncated protein lacking exons 14-18, was found in six of eight selected cell lines.Taken together, we have here identified a marker that predicts the risk to develop HNSCC and possibly the sensitivity to cisplatin as well as a novel. mutation in the FGFR4 gene.
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| 8. |
- Ansell - Schultz, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced retromer function results in the accumulation of amyloid-beta oligomers
- 2018
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. - : Academic Press. - 1044-7431 .- 1095-9327. ; 93, s. 18-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimers disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of multiple cognitive functions. Accumulation of amyloid beta oligomers (oA beta) play a major role in the neurotoxicity associated with the disease process. One of the early affected brain regions is the hippocampus, wherein a reduction of the vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 35 (VPS35), the core protein comprising the retromer complex involved in cellular cargo sorting, has been identified. To investigate the role of the retromer function on the accumulation and clearance of oA beta, we reduced retromer function by selectively inhibiting VPS35 gene expression using siRNA in differentiated neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. As cell-to-cell transfer of oA beta to new brain regions is believed to be important for disease progression we investigated the effect of VPS35 reduction both in cells with direct uptake of oA beta and in cells receiving oA beta from donor cells. We demonstrate that reduced retromer function increases oA beta accumulation in both cell systems, both the number of cells containing intracellular oA beta and the amount within them. This effect was shown at different time points and regardless if the AD originated from the extracellular milieu or via a direct neuronal cell-to-cell transfer. Interestingly, not only did reduced VPS35 cause oA beta accumulation, but oA beta treatment alone also lead to a reduction of VPS35 protein content. The accumulated oA beta seems to co-localize with VPS35 and early endosome markers. Together, these findings provide evidence that reduced retromer function decreases the ability for neurons to transport and clear neurotoxic oA beta received through different routes resulting in the accumulation of oA beta. Thus, enhancing retromer function may be a potential therapeutic strategy to slow down the pathophysiology associated with the progression of AD.
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| 9. |
- Farnebo, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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DNA repair genes XPC, XPD, XRCC1, and XRCC3 are associated with risk and survival of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
- 2015
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Ingår i: DNA Repair. - : Elsevier. - 1568-7864 .- 1568-7856. ; 31, s. 64-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are a heterogenous group of tumors with a high rate of early recurrences, second primary tumors, and mortality. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment over the past decades, the overall 5-year survival rate remains around 50%. Since the head-and neck-region is continuously exposed to potentially DNA-damaging exogenous and endogenous factors, it is reasonable to expect that the DNA repair genes play a part in the development, progression, and outcome of HNSCC. The aim of this study was to investigate the SNPs XPC A499V, XPD K751Q XRCC1 R399Q and XRCC3 T241M as potential risk factors and indicators of survival among Caucasian patients. One-hundred-sixty-nine patients as well as 344 healthy controls were included and genotyped with PCR-RFLP. We showed that XPC A499V was associated with increased risk of HNSCC, especially laryngeal carcinoma. Among women, XPD K751Q was associated with increased risk of oral SCC. Furthermore, XPD homozygous mutant individuals had the shortest survival time, a survival time that increased however after full dose radiotherapy. Wild-type individuals of XRCC3 T241M demonstrated an earlier age of onset. HPV-positive never smokers had lower frequencies of p53 mutation. Among HNSCC patients, HPV-positivity was significantly associated with XRCC1 R399Q homozygous mutant genotype. Moreover, combinations of putative risk alleles seemed to act synergistically, increasing the risk of HNSCC. In conclusion, our results suggest that SNPs of the DNA repair genes XPC, XPD, XRCC1, and XRCC3 may affect risk and survival of HNSCC. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Farnebo, Lovisa, et al.
(författare)
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Proteins and single nucleotide polymorphisms involved in apoptosis, growth control, and DNA repair predict cisplatin sensitivity in head and neck cancer cell lines
- 2009
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Medicine. - : Spandidos Publications. - 1107-3756 .- 1791-244X. ; 24:4, s. 549-556
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possibility of using a panel of proteins and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in apoptosis, growth control, and DNA repair as predictive markers for cisplatin sensitivity. For this purpose the intrinsic cisplatin sensitivity (ICS) was determined in 39 cell lines derived from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck using a colony-forming assay. In these cell lines and in normal oral keratinocytes (NOK), the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Hsp70, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, survivin, and COX-2 was determined. Moreover, the p53, MDM2, FGFR4, XPC, XPD, XRCC1, and XRCC3 genes were analyzed for the presence of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pearsons correlation test showed that EGFR was the only protein that was significantly correlated to the ICS (r=0.388, p=0.015). The combination of EGFR, Hsp70, Bax, and Bcl-2 gave the strongest correlation (r=0.566, p andlt;= 0.001), whereas Bax alone had the second highest influence on the ICS. Furthermore, all four SNPs within genes involved in DNA repair, i.e. XPC, XPD, XRCC1, and XRCC3, tended to influence the ICS. In order to find the combination of factors, on both protein and gene levels, with the highest correlation to ICS, a multivariate statistical calculation was performed. Our results indicate that SNPs in DNA repair genes (XRCC3(241) and XPD751) influence the ICS and together with the expression of EGFR, Hsp70, Bax, and Bcl-2, they could predict the cisplatin sensitivity of head and neck cancer cell lines (r=0.614, p andlt;= 0.001).
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