Research Papers:
Epigenetic alterations leading to TMPRSS4 promoter hypomethylation and protein overexpression predict poor prognosis in squamous lung cancer patients
PDF | HTML | Supplementary Files | How to cite
Metrics: PDF 2142 views | HTML 2548 views | ?
Abstract
Maria Villalba1,2,*, Angel Diaz-Lagares3,*, Miriam Redrado2, Arrate L. de Aberasturi1,2, Victor Segura4, Maria Elena Bodegas1, Maria J. Pajares1,2, Ruben Pio2,5, Javier Freire6, Javier Gomez-Roman6, Luis M. Montuenga1,2, Manel Esteller3, Juan Sandoval7,#, Alfonso Calvo1,2,#
1Department of Histology and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
2IDISNA and Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
3Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet, Catalonia, Spain
4IDISNA and Bioinformatics Unit, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
5Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
6Department of Pathology, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
7Department of Personalized Medicine, Epigenomics Unit, Medical Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain
*Both authors should be considered as first authors
#Both authors should be considered as senior authors
Correspondence to:
Juan Sandoval, e-mail: [email protected]
Alfonso Calvo, e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords: TMPRSS4, epigenetics, promoter hypomethylation, squamous cell carcinoma, prognosis
Abbreviations: NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; ADC, adenocarcinoma; TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas; TSS, Transcription Start Site
Received: December 02, 2015 Accepted: February 18, 2016 Published: March 14, 2016
ABSTRACT
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, which highlights the need of innovative therapeutic options. Although targeted therapies can be successfully used in a subset of patients with lung adenocarcinomas (ADC), they are not appropriate for patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). In addition, there is an unmet need for the identification of prognostic biomarkers that can select patients at risk of relapse in early stages. Here, we have used several cohorts of NSCLC patients to analyze the prognostic value of both protein expression and DNA promoter methylation status of the prometastatic serine protease TMPRSS4. Moreover, expression and promoter methylation was evaluated in a panel of 46 lung cancer cell lines. We have demonstrated that a high TMPRSS4 expression is an independent prognostic factor in SCC. Similarly, aberrant hypomethylation in tumors, which correlates with high TMPRSS4 expression, is an independent prognostic predictor in SCC. The inverse correlation between expression and methylation status was also observed in cell lines. In vitro studies showed that treatment of cells lacking TMPRSS4 expression with a demethylating agent significantly increased TMPRSS4 levels. In conclusion, TMPRSS4 is a novel independent prognostic biomarker regulated by epigenetic changes in SCC and a potential therapeutic target in this tumor type, where targeted therapy is still underdeveloped.
All site content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
PII: 8045