The ZNF217 gene amplified in breast cancers promotes immortalization of human mammary epithelial cells

The functional consequences of overexpression of a candidate oncogene on chromosome 20q13.2, ZNF217, were examined by transducing the gene into finite life span human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). In four independent experiments, ZNF217-transduced cultures gave rise to immortalized cells. HMECs that overcame senescence initially exhibited heterogeneous growth and continued telomere erosion, followed by increasing telomerase activity, stabilization of telomere length, and resistance to transforming growth factor beta growth inhibition. The incremental changes in telomerase activity and growth that occurred in ZNF217-transduced cultures after they overcame senescence were similar to the conversion pattern we have described previously in rare HMEC lines immortalized after exposure to a chemical carcinogen. Aberrant expression of ZNF217 may be selected for during breast cancer progression because it allows breast cells to overcome senescence and attain immortality.     

Prognostic and therapeutic impact of the chromosome 20q13.2 ZNF217 locus amplification in ovarian clear cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

The goal of this study was to examine the clinical significance of ZNF217 amplification and assess whether ZNF217 could be a potential therapeutic target in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC).

METHODS:

ZNF217 expression and amplification in OCCC was assessed by immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and clinical data collected via a retrospective chart review. ZNF217 gene knockdown using silencing RNA (siRNA) was used to assess ZNF217 functions in OCCC cell lines.

RESULTS:

Gene amplification was identified in 12 of 60 (20.0%) OCCCs. ZNF217 copy number correlated significantly with ZNF217 protein expression (r = 0.341; P<.01). ZNF217 amplification correlated significantly with shorter progression‐free (P = .0042) and overall (P = .0199) survival. There were nonsignificant trends between high ZNF217 protein expression and poor progression‐free (P = .2594) and overall (P = .2199) survival. Multivariate analysis revealed ZNF217 gene amplification to be an independent prognostic factor for progression‐free and overall survival after standard platinum agent‐based chemotherapy (P = .0339 and P = .031, respectively). Profound growth inhibition and apoptosis were observed in ZNF217 siRNA‐treated cancer cells with gene amplification compared with cancer cells with ZNF217 moderate expression without ZNF217 gene amplification or with low ZNF217 expression.

CONCLUSION:

These findings indicate that ZNF217 overexpression is critical to growth and survival of OCCCs with ZNF217 gene amplification. Furthermore, they suggest that ZNF217 siRNA‐induced phenotypes depend on amplification status of OCCCs. Therefore, ZNF217‐targeted therapy may benefit OCCC patients with ZNF217 amplification. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

ZNF217 is Overexpressed and Enhances Cell Migration and Invasion in Colorectal Carcinoma

Background: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217)in human colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Materials and Methods: The expression of ZNF217 in 60 CRCtissues and matched tumor adjacent tissues, collected between January 2013 and June 2014, was assessedimmunohistochemically. The relationship between the expression of ZNF217 and clinicopathlogical features wasanalyzed by Pearson chi-square test. In addition, siRNA was used to down-regulate the expression of ZNF217 inCRC cells. The effects of ZNF217 for cell migration and invasion were measured by wound healing assay andtranswell assay, respectively. Results: The expression level of ZNF217 was significantly higher in CRC tissuesthan in tumor adjacent tissues (p<0.05), positively correlating with tumor size, lymphatic metastasis and advancedTNM stage (p<0.05). Down-regulation of ZNF217 in CRC cells could significantly suppress cell migration andinvasion. Conclusions: ZNF217 is overexpressed in colorectal carcinoma tissues and is associated with tumormalignant clinicopathological features. ZNF217 may promote CRC progression by inducing cell migration andinvasion.     

Differences in 20q13.2 copy number between colorectal cancers with and without liver metastasis.

Frequent gains of 20q have been identified recently in many neoplasias, including breast, bladder, ovarian, pancreatic, and colon cancers. A high level of 20q13.2 amplification is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. We investigated the copy number of the 20q13.2 region including the ZNF217 oncogene in 17 nonmetastatic colorectal cancers (CRCs), 18 primary CRC tumors with liver metastasis, and 18 metastatic lesions by two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization to evaluate the significance of an increased copy number of 20q13.2 in CRC, especially in those cases with liver metastasis. The frequency of increased relative copy number of the 20q13.2 region was higher in primary and liver metastatic lesions of CRC than in CRC lesions without liver metastasis. In particular, a high-level increase (>3.0-fold) in the relative copy number of 20q13.2 was observed in 2 of 18 (11%) primary CRC lesions with liver metastasis, 7 of 18 (39%) liver metastatic lesions, and in none of the cases of primary CRC without liver metastasis. The absolute and relative copy number of chromosome 20q13.2 was higher in CRCs with metastasis than in CRCs without metastasis. The percentage of cells with high-level 20q13.2 amplification was also higher in both lesions with metastasis per specimen than without metastasis. Our results suggest that the level of 20q13.2 amplification correlates with the metastatic potential and tumor progression of CRC. The results also suggest that 20q13.2 amplification with ZNF217 is associated with increased metastatic potential.     

ZNF217 is a marker of poor prognosis in breast cancer that drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion

The Krüppel-like zinc finger protein ZNF217 is a candidate oncogene in breast cancer. In this study, we showed that high levels of expression of ZNF217 mRNA are associated with poor prognosis and the development of metastases in breast cancer. Overexpression of ZNF217 in breast cancer cells stimulated migration and invasion in vitro and promoted the development of spontaneous lung or node metastases in mice in vivo. ZNF217 also promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human mammary epithelial cells, and the TGF-β-activated Smad signaling pathway was identified as a major driver of ZNF217-induced EMT. In addition, a TGF-β autocrine loop sustained activation of the TGF-β pathway in ZNF217-overexpressing mammary epithelial cells, most likely because of ZNF217-mediated direct upregulation of TGFB2 or TGFB3. Inhibition of the TGF-β pathway led to the reversal of ZNF217-mediated EMT. Together, our findings indicate that ZNF217 mRNA expression may represent a novel prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. Therapeutic targeting of ZNF217 of the TGF-β signaling pathway may benefit the subset of patients whose tumors express high levels of ZNF217.     

miR-21通过靶基因ZNF326调控乳腺癌细胞侵袭、迁移的分子机制研究

目的:探讨微小RNA-21（miR-21）靶向锌指蛋白326(ZNF326)对乳腺癌细胞侵袭、迁移的影响及其分子机制。方法:采用qRT-PCR与Western blot法检测乳腺癌细胞株HCC70、MDA-MB-231、BT549、MDA-MB-468与正常细胞株HBL-100中miR-21与ZNF326的表达。以miR-21表达量最高的乳腺癌HCC70细胞为研究对象,分为NC组、anti-miR-con组、anti-miR-21组、pcDNA-control组、pcDNA-ZNF326组;共转染分组为anti-miR-21+si-con组、anti-miR-21+si-ZNF326组。MTT法检测细胞增殖能力,Transwell迁移及侵袭实验检测细胞迁移及侵袭能力。双荧光素酶报告基因系统验证miR-21与ZNF326的靶向调控关系。Western blot法检测CDK1、MMP-2蛋白的表达。结果:与正常细胞株HBL-100相比,乳腺癌细胞株HCC70、MDA-MB-231、BT549、MDA-MB-468中miR-21高表达,ZNF326 mRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著下降;分别与anti-miR-con组、pcDNA-control组比较,anti-miR-21组与pcDNA-ZNF326组HCC70细胞增殖能力显著下降,细胞迁移及侵袭能力明显降低,CDK1、MMP-2的表达水平明显降低;双荧光素酶实验结果表明miR-21能靶向结合ZNF326的3' UTR并调控其表达;与anti-miR-21+si-con组相比,anti-miR-21+si-ZNF326组HCC70细胞增殖、迁移及侵袭能力均明显增强,促进CDK1、MMP-2表达。结论:miR-21可靶向抑制ZNF326基因的表达,进而促进乳腺癌细胞增殖、迁移及侵袭。     

锌指蛋白883在胃癌组织中的表达及生物学功能

目的:探讨锌指蛋白883（ZNF883）在胃癌组织中的表达及预后意义,并观察其对胃癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响。方法:基于TCGA数据,通过GEPIA网络平台分析ZNF883 mRNA在胃癌组织和正常胃组织中的表达差异及其与患者生存率的相关性。通过蛋白免疫印记（Western blotting,WB）检测ZNF883蛋白在胃癌组织及对应癌旁组织中的表达水平。ZNF883 shRNA转染人胃癌细胞AGS和NCI-N87,WB检测敲低效率,CCK-8和Transwell小室检测细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭,并通过WB检测细胞周期蛋白D1（CCND1）、细胞周期依赖性激酶4（CDK4）和基质金属蛋白酶2/9（MMP2/9）蛋白表达。结果:TCGA数据分析发现ZNF883 mRNA在胃癌组织中的表达显著高于正常胃组织,其蛋白表达在胃癌组织中亦显著上调。生存分析证实ZNF883 mRNA高表达胃癌患者的无病生存率和总生存率均明显降低。敲低ZNF883显著抑制AGS和NCI-N87细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭。另外,敲低ZNF883显著减少胃癌细胞中CCND1、CDK4和MMP2/9蛋白水平。结论:ZNF883是一个新的胃癌驱动基因,胃癌组织中其高表达提示患者预后不良,ZNF883可能通过促进CCND1、CDK4和MMP2/9表达增强胃癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭。     

Expression and biological role of cytoglobin in human ovarian cancer

Loss of cytoglobin is found to be involved in the progression of several human cancers. However, its expression pattern and biological roles in human ovarian cancers are not clear. In this study, we examined cytoglobin expression in 118 archived ovarian cancer specimens using immunohistochemistry. A total of 72 specimens (61.0 %) showed cytoglobin downregulation. cytoglobin downregulation positively correlated with advanced FIGO stage and tumor grade. Cytoglobin plasmid transfection was performed in SKOV3 cell line and siRNA knockdown was carried out in SW626 cell line. MTT, colony formation assay and matrigel invasion assay were carried out to assess the role of cytoglobin on cell proliferation and invasion. Cytoglobin overexpression inhibited cell growth, invasion, cell cycle progression and cyclin D1 expression in SKOV3 cell line and its depletion promoted cell proliferation, invasion, cell cycle transition and cyclin D1 expression. In conclusion, cytoglobin is downregulated in ovarian cancers and associated with advanced stage. Our data provides evidence that cytoglobin regulates the ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion.     

Amplification and overexpression of aurora kinase A (AURKA) in immortalized human ovarian epithelial (HOSE) cells

Immortalization is an early and essential step of human carcinogenesis. Amplification of chromosome 20q has been shown to be a common event in immortalized cells and cancers. We have previously reported that gain and amplification of chromosome 20q is a non-random and common event in immortalized human ovarian surface epithelial (HOSE) cells. The chromosome 20q harbors genes including TGIF2 (20q11.2-q12), AIB1 (20q12), PTPN1 (20q13.1), ZNF217 (20q13.2), and AURKA (20q13.2-q13.3), which were previously reported to be amplified and overexpressed in ovarian cancers. Some of these genes may be involved in immortalization of HOSE cells and represent crucial premalignant changes in ovarian surface epithelium. Investigation of the involvement of these genes was examined in four pairs of pre-crisis (preimmortalized) and post-crisis (immortalized) HOSE cells. Overexpression of AURKA (Aurora kinase A), also known as BTAK and STK15, by both real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR) and Western blotting was detected in all the four immortalized HOSE cells examined while overexpression of AIB1 and ZNF217 was observed in two of four immortalized HOSE cells examined. Overexpression of TGIF2 and PTPN1 was not significant in our immortalized HOSE cell systems. The degree of overexpression of AURKA was shown to be closely associated with the amplification of chromosome 20q in immortalized HOSE cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with labeled P1 artificial clone (PAC) confirmed the amplification of the chromosomal region (20q13.2-13.3) where AURKA resides. DNA amplification of AURKA was also confirmed using semi-quantitative PCR. Our study showed that amplification and overexpression of AURKA is a common and significant event during immortalization of HOSE cells and may represent an important premalignant change in ovarian carcinogenesis.     

Reversal of the malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer A2780 cells through transfection with wild-type PTEN gene

Objective

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) is a tumor suppressor gene identified on human chromosome 10q23. Substantial studies have demonstrated that PTEN can inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion of many cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether upregulation of PTEN gene by transfection wild-type PTEN gene to ovarian cancer cells can inhibit growth and migration and to explore the potential for PTEN gene therapy of ovarian cancers.

Method

Wild-type and phosphatase-inactive (C124A) PTEN plasmids were transfected into ovarian epithelial cancer A2780 cells, and their effects on cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell migration and cell invasion were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis, TUNEL assay, MTT assay, wound-healing assay and transwell assay.

Results

Both wild-type and mutant PTEN can upregulate the expression of PTEN gene dramatically; however, it is wild-type PTEN not phosphatase-inactive PTEN that can induce apoptosis and decrease cell migration, invasion and proliferation in ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that PTEN had played an important role in the cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion dependent on its phosphatase activity. Enhanced expression of PTEN by gene transfer is sufficient to reverse the malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer cells and transfection of ovarian cancer cells with wild-type PTEN gene might be another novel approach for therapeutic intervention in ovarian cancer.     

FAM83D promotes cell proliferation and motility by downregulating tumor suppressor gene FBXW7

Abstract Amplification of chromosome 20q is frequently found in various types of human cancers, including breast cancer. The list of candidate oncogenes in 20q has expanded over the past decade. Here, we investigate whether FAM83D (family with sequence similarity 83, member D) on chromosome 20q plays any role in breast cancer development. The expression level of FAM83D is significantly elevated in breast cancer cell lines and primary human breast cancers. High expression levels of FAM83D are significantly associated with poor clinical outcome and distant metastasis in breast cancer patients. We show that ectopic expression of FAM83D in human mammary epithelial cells promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion along with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Ablation of FAM83D in breast cancer cells induces apoptosis and consequently inhibits cell proliferation and colony formation. Mechanistic studies reveal that overexpression of FAM83D downregulates FBXW7 expression levels through a physical interaction, which results in elevated protein levels of oncogenic substrates downstream to FBXW7, such as mTOR, whose inhibition by rapamycin can suppress FAM83D-induced cell migration and invasion. The results demonstrate that FAM83D has prognostic value for breast cancer patients and is a novel oncogene in breast cancer development that at least in part acts through mTOR hyper-activation by inhibiting FBXW7.     

Frequent amplification of chromosomal region 20q12-q13 in ovarian cancer.

DNA amplification at chromosomal region 20q12-q13, which is common in breast cancer, has recently been described also in ovarian tumors. We studied the amplification of the recently identified candidate oncogenes in this region in 24 sporadic, 3 familial and 4 hereditary ovarian carcinomas, and in 8 ovarian cancer cell lines. High-level amplification of at least one of the five nonsyntenic regions at 20q12-q13.2 was found in 13 sporadic (54%) and in all four hereditary tumors. Typically, two or more distinct amplicons (separated by nonamplified DNA) were found coamplified in various combinations. The regions defined by the AIB1 and PTPN1 genes (at 20q12 and 20q13.1, respectively) were amplified in 25% and 29% of the sporadic tumors, also without simultaneous coamplification of other regions. Amplification of AIB1 (a steroid receptor coactivator gene) was associated with estrogen receptor positivity in sporadic ovarian carcinomas (P = 0.01) and showed a tendency to correlate with poor survival of patients. Of the genes amplified in breast cancer, the BTAK gene was amplified in 21%, the MYBL2 gene in 17%, and the ZNF217 gene in 12.5% of the sporadic tumors. The high frequency of gene amplification at 20q12-q13.2 suggests that the genes amplified therein may play a central role in the pathogenesis of sporadic and hereditary ovarian carcinoma.