The link between centrosome defects and cancer unveiled by CROCC deficiency in rhabdoid colorectal cancer

The century-old hypothesis on the role of centrosome in cancer remains unresolved. We show that reduced dosage of CROCC, a centrosomal-linker component required for centrosome cohesion and separation, due to mutation or allelic loss at 1p36.13 results in impaired centrosome phenotypes and monopolar mitotic forms characterizing a lethal subset of human colorectal cancers with rhabdoid phenotype. Interfering with CROCC in near-diploid colon cancer cells disrupts bipolar mitotic spindle architecture, and causes unequal DNA segregation errors to daughter cells resulting in a highly aggressive rhabdoid-like phenotype in vitro. Conversely, CROCC restoration in a metastatic cellular model harboring 1p36.13 deletion results in correction of centrosome segregation errors and cell death, revealing a mechanism of tolerance to gross mitotic errors and tetraploidization, two hallmarks of chromosomal instability. Together, our data shed light on a previously unknown link between centrosome cohesion apparatus and lethal cancer phenotypes providing new insight into pathways underlying genome instability

JAK/Stat5-mediated subtype-specific lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus G6D (LY6G6D) expression drives mismatch repair proficient colorectal cancer

Human microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal cancers (CRCs) are immunologically "cold" tumour subtypes characterized by reduced immune cytotoxicity. The molecular linkages between immune-resistance and human MSS CRC is not clear

Cancer-Associated Immune Resistance and Evasion of Immune Surveillance in Colorectal Cancer

Data from molecular profiles of tumors and tumor associated cells provide a model in which cancer cells can acquire the capability of avoiding immune surveillance by expressing an immune-like phenotype. Recent works reveal that expression of immune antigens (PDL1, CD47, CD73, CD14, CD68, MAC387, CD163, DAP12, and CD15) by tumor cells "immune resistance," combined with prometastatic function of nonmalignant infiltrating cells, may represent a strategy to overcome the rate-limiting steps of metastatic cascade through (a) enhanced interactions with protumorigenic myeloid cells and escape from T-dependent immune response mediated by CD8+ and natural killer (NK) cells; (b) production of immune mediators that establish a local and systemic tumor-supportive environment (premetastatic niche); (c) ability to survive either in the peripheral blood as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or at the metastatic site forming a cooperative prometastatic loop with foreign "myeloid" cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, respectively. The development of cancer-specific "immune resistance" can be orchestrated either by cooperation with tumor microenvironment or by successive rounds of genetic/epigenetic changes. Recognition of the applicability of this model may provide effective therapeutic avenues for complete elimination of immune-resistant metastatic cells and for enhanced antitumor immunity as part of a combinatorial strategy

Aberrant BLM cytoplasmic expression associates with DNA damage stress and hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents in colorectal cancer

Bloom syndrome is a rare and recessive disorder characterized by loss-of-function mutations of the BLM gene, which encodes a RecQ 3'-5' DNA helicase. Despite its putative tumor suppressor function, the contribution of BLM to human sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly understood

Specific expression patterns of epithelial to mesenchymal transition factors in gestational molar disease

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a well-known and re-emerging model in pathology, has not been completely investigated in the field of gestational pathology. This study aims at improving the comprehension of this process in molar disease, even looking for new possible immunohistochemical markers. We have analysed the immunohistochemical expression of Twist1 and Snai2, two of the most important transcription factors involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition, in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 23 spontaneous abortive pregnancies, 22 molar pregnancies (10 partial and 12 complete) and 7 term placentas. Twist1 and Snai2 were highly expressed in stromal villi cells of molar disease. Particularly, Twist1 was highly expressed in complete moles compared to both abortive pregnancies (p < 0.001) and partial moles (p < 0.05). Also Snai2 was more expressed by complete moles, differentiating them from non-molar abortions (p < 0.05). On the basis of the known cadherins and claudins expression in these pathologies, our new findings reinforce the hypothesis of the involvement of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in early molar pregnancies and above all in complete moles. Furthermore, we highlighted that in molar disease not only the trophoblast, but even the villi stromal cells, are involved. Thanks to their specificity, furthermore, these Twist1 and Snai2 could be used as additional immunohistochemical tool in the diagnosis of complete molar disease, with Twist1 as the first choice

Diagnostic management of occult nodal lymphangioleiomyomatosis detected during pelvic cancer staging. Localized finding or systemic disease?

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a neoplastic disease that generally arises in the lung (pLAM) and may be associated with "Tuberous sclerosis complex" (TSC). Occasionally, LAM can arise at the extrapulmonary sites (eLAM), such as the mediastinum, the retroperitoneum or the lymph nodes. 25-30% of the patients affected by pLAM develop eLAM. In asymptomatic patients, the presence of mediastinal and retroperitoneal eLAM preceded that of pLAM by usually 1-2 years. Nevertheless, some authors reported that the nodal eLAM, detected during pelvic cancer staging, arise in patents without pLAM and/or TSC. In this paper we review the Literature of this rare condition suggesting its diagnostic management

Targeting Angiogenesis and Tumor Microenvironment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Role of Aflibercept

In the last decades, we have progressively observed an improvement in therapeutic options for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment with a progressive prolongation of survival. mCRC prognosis still remains poor with low percentage of 5-year survival. Targeted agents have improved results obtained with standard chemotherapy. Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in colorectal cancer growth, proliferation, and metastasization and it has been investigated as a potential target for mCRC treatment. Accordingly, novel antiangiogenic targeted agents bevacizumab, regorafenib, and aflibercept have been approved for mCRC treatment as the result of several phase III randomized trials. The development of a tumor permissive microenvironment via the aberrant expression by tumor cells of paracrine factors alters the tumor-stroma interactions inducing an expansion of proangiogenic signals. Recently, the VELOUR study showed that addition of aflibercept to FOLFIRI regimen as a second-line therapy for mCRC improved significantly OS, PFS, and RR. This molecule represents a valid second-line therapeutic option and its peculiar ability to interfere with placental growth factor (PlGF)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) axis makes it effective in targeting angiogenesis, inflammatory cells and in overcoming resistances to anti-angiogenic first-line treatment. Here, we discuss about Aflibercept peculiar ability to interfere with tumor microenvironment and angiogenic pathway