BackgroundAltered cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer but the association between utilisation of particular metabolic pathways in tumours and patient outcome is poorly understood. We sought to investigate the association between fatty acid metabolism and outcome in breast and other cancers.MethodsCox regression analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of a gene expression dataset from primary breast tumours with well annotated clinical and survival information was used to identify genesets associated with outcome. A geneset representing fatty acid oxidation (FAO) was then examined in other datasets. A doxycycline-inducible breast cancer cell line model overexpressing the rate-limiting enzyme in FAO, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A) was generated and analysed to confirm the association between FAO and cancer-associated characteristics in vitro.ResultsWe identified a gene expression signature composed of 19 genes associated with fatty acid oxidation (FAO) that was significantly associated with patient outcome. We validated this observation in eight independent breast cancer datasets, and also observed the FAO signature to be prognostic in other cancer types. Furthermore, the FAO signature expression was significantly downregulated in tumours, compared to normal tissues from a variety of anatomic origins. In breast cancer, the expression of CPT1A was higher in oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, compared to ER-negative tumours and cell lines. Importantly, overexpression of CPT1A significantly decreased the proliferation and wound healing migration rates of MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells, compared to basal expression control.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that FAO is downregulated in multiple tumour types, and activation of this pathway may lower cancer cell proliferation, and is associated with improved outcomes in some cancers.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4626-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
30The systematic identification of genetic events driving cellular transformation and tumor progression in the absence 31 of a highly recurrent oncogenic driver mutation is a challenge in cutaneous oncology. In cutaneous squamous cell 32 carcinoma (cuSCC), the high UV-induced mutational burden poses a hurdle to achieve a complete molecular 33 landscape of this disease. Here, we utilized the Sleeping Beauty transposon mutagenesis system to statistically 34 define drivers of keratinocyte transformation and cuSCC progression in vivo in the absence of UV-IR, and identified 35 established tumor suppressor genes, as well as previously unknown oncogenic drivers of cuSCC. Functional analysis 36 confirms an oncogenic role for the ZMIZ genes, and tumor suppressive roles for KMT2C, CREBBP and NCOA2, in the 37 initiation or progression of human cuSCC. Taken together, our in vivo screen demonstrates an extremely 38 heterogeneous genetic landscape of cuSCC initiation and progression, which could be harnessed to better 39 understand skin oncogenic etiology and prioritize therapeutic candidates. 40
A central challenge in cancer genomics is the systematic identification of single and cooperating tumor suppressor genes driving cellular transformation and tumor progression in the absence of oncogenic driver mutation(s). Multiple in vitro and in vivo gene inactivation screens have enhanced our understanding of the tumor suppressor gene landscape in various cancers. However, these studies are limited to single or combination gene effects, specific organs, or require sensitizing mutations. In this study, we developed and utilized a Sleeping Beauty transposon mutagenesis system that functions only as a gene trap to exclusively inactivate tumor suppressor genes. Using whole body transposon mobilization in wild type mice, we observed that cumulative gene inactivation can drive tumorigenesis of solid cancers. We provide a quantitative landscape of the tumor suppressor genes inactivated in these cancers, and show that despite the absence of oncogenic drivers, these genes converge on key biological pathways and processes associated with cancer hallmarks.
The systematic identification of genetic events driving cellular transformation and tumor progression in the absence of a highly recurrent oncogenic driver mutation is a challenge in cutaneous oncology. In cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC), the high UV-induced mutational burden poses a hurdle to achieve a complete molecular landscape of this disease. Here, we utilized the Sleeping Beauty transposon mutagenesis system to statistically define drivers of keratinocyte transformation and cuSCC progression in vivo in the absence of UV-IR, and identified both known tumor suppressor genes and novel oncogenic drivers of cuSCC. Functional analysis confirms an oncogenic role for the ZMIZ genes, and tumor suppressive roles for KMT2C, CREBBP and NCOA2, in the initiation or progression of human cuSCC. Taken together, our in vivo screen demonstrates an extremely heterogeneous genetic landscape of cuSCC initiation and progression, which can be harnessed to better understand skin oncogenic etiology and prioritize therapeutic candidates.
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