Fascin-1 expression is associated with neuroendocrine prostate cancer and directly suppressed by androgen receptor

Endocrine cancerCàncer endocríCáncer endocrinoBackground Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is an aggressive form of prostate cancer, arising from resistance to androgen-deprivation therapies. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with NEPC development and invasiveness are still poorly understood. Here we investigated the expression and functional significance of Fascin-1 (FSCN1), a pro-metastasis actin-bundling protein associated with poor prognosis of several cancers, in neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer. Methods Differential expression analyses using Genome Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, clinical samples and cell lines were performed. Androgen or antagonist’s cellular treatments and knockdown experiments were used to detect changes in cell morphology, molecular markers, migration properties and in vivo tumour growth. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) data and ChIP assays were analysed to decipher androgen receptor (AR) binding. Results We demonstrated that FSCN1 is upregulated during neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer in vitro, leading to phenotypic changes and NEPC marker expression. In human prostate cancer samples, FSCN1 expression is restricted to NEPC tumours. We showed that the androgen-activated AR downregulates FSCN1 expression and works as a transcriptional repressor to directly suppress FSCN1 expression. AR antagonists alleviate this repression. In addition, FSCN1 silencing further impairs in vivo tumour growth. Conclusion Collectively, our findings identify FSCN1 as an AR-repressed gene. Particularly, it is involved in NEPC aggressiveness. Our results provide the rationale for the future clinical development of FSCN1 inhibitors in NEPC patients.This work was funded by CNRS (Centre national de recherche scientifique), INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale), Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, and supported by grants from Ligue nationale contre le Cancer (Comité de l’Aisne), Institut national du cancer (INCa_4419), ARTP (Association de Recherche sur les tumeurs de prostate). This work is supported by a grant from Contrat de Plan Etat-Région CPER Cancer 2015–2020. Work performed at the laboratory of TVT was supported by Spanish Plan Estatal de I + D + I (PID2019-108008RJ-I00), AECC (INVES20036TIAN), Ramón y Cajal investigator programme (RYC2020-029098-I), and FERO Foundation. CD was supported by Institut Pasteur de Lille, Conseil Régional des Hauts-de-France and Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM)

Human Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patient-Derived Xenografts and Tumoroids for Preclinical Drug Evaluation

Human metastatic cholangiocarcinoma; Xenografts; TumoroidsColangiocarcinoma metastàtic humà; Xenoempelts; TumoroidesColangiocarcinoma metastásico humano; Xenoinjertos; TumoroidesPurpose: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is usually diagnosed at advanced stages, with limited therapeutic options. Preclinical models focused on unresectable metastatic CCA are necessary to develop rational treatments. Pathogenic mutations in IDH1/2, ARID1A/B, BAP1, and BRCA1/2 have been identified in 30%–50% of patients with CCA. Several types of tumor cells harboring these mutations exhibit homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) phenotype with enhanced sensitivity to PARP inhibitors (PARPi). However, PARPi treatment has not yet been tested for effectiveness in patient-derived models of advanced CCA. Experimental Design: We have established a collection of patient-derived xenografts from patients with unresectable metastatic CCA (CCA_PDX). The CCA_PDXs were characterized at both histopathologic and genomic levels. We optimized a protocol to generate CCA tumoroids from CCA_PDXs. We tested the effects of PARPis in both CCA tumoroids and CCA_PDXs. Finally, we used the RAD51 assay to evaluate the HRD status of CCA tissues. Results: This collection of CCA_PDXs recapitulates the histopathologic and molecular features of their original tumors. PARPi treatments inhibited the growth of CCA tumoroids and CCA_PDXs with pathogenic mutations of BRCA2, but not those with mutations of IDH1, ARID1A, or BAP1. In line with these findings, only CCA_PDX and CCA patient biopsy samples with mutations of BRCA2 showed RAD51 scores compatible with HRD. Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients with advanced CCA with pathogenic mutations of BRCA2, but not those with mutations of IDH1, ARID1A, or BAP1, are likely to benefit from PARPi therapy. This collection of CCA_PDXs provides new opportunities for evaluating drug response and prioritizing clinical trials.This work was supported by grants from the Fundació Marató TV3 awarded to T. Macarulla, M. Melé, and S. Peiró; BeiGene research grant awarded to T. Macarulla and S. Peiró; AECC (INVES20036TIAN), Ramón y Cajal investigator program (RYC2020-029098-I), Proyecto de I+D+i (PID2019-108008RJ-I00), and FERO Foundation grant awarded to T.V. Tian; Proyecto de Investigación en Salud from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (PI20/00898) awarded to T. Macarulla; FIS/FEDER from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (PI12/01250; CP08/00223; PI16/00253 and CB16/12/00449) awarded to S. Peiró; and Ramón y Cajal investigator program (RYC-2017-22249) awarded to M. Melé. Q. Serra-Camprubí is a recipient of the Ph.D. fellowship from La Caixa Foundation (LCF/PR/PR12/51070001). A. Llop-Guevara was supported by the AECC (INVES20095LLOP) and V. Serra by the ISCIII (CPII19/00033). E.J. Arenas was funded by the AECC (POSTD211413AREN). J. Arribas is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (AC15/00062, CB16/12/00449, and PI22/00001). This publication is based upon the work of COST Action CA18122, European Cholangiocarcinoma Network, supported by the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, www.cost.eu), a funding agency for research and innovation networks. The authors would like to thank Dr. V.A. Raker for manuscript editing and Drs. N. Herranz and J. Mateo for scientific discussions. The authors acknowledge the infrastructure and support of the FERO Foundation, La Caixa Foundation, and the Cellex Foundation

Leer, crear, comunicar, acciones para la paz

Se desarrolla una experiencia interdisciplinar de educación para la convivencia y la paz dirigida a alumnas de séptimo de EGB. Los objetivos son: crear situaciones dinámicas de aprendizaje que favorezcan la convivencia basada en los valores de la paz, la justicia y la solidaridad; y motivar la experiencia lectora, como medio de apertura al mundo. El trabajo se desarrolla en siete unidades: Libros para la paz; Conocemos las bibliotecas de Madrid, Dosier de prensa: periódicos y periodistas, Un problema: las fuentes de energía; Songs for Peace; Revista La paz y la solidaridad; y Fiesta de la paz.Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación y CulturaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES

SIX1 represses senescence and promotes SOX2-mediated cellular plasticity during tumorigenesis

Six1 is a developmental transcriptional regulator frequently overexpressed in human tumors. Recent results show that SIX1 also acts as a repressor of cell senescence, an antiproliferative response with a key role in tumor suppression, among other physiological and pathological settings. Here, we set to study the impact of SIX1 gain of function in transformation and tumorigenesis of fibroblasts, in connection with senescence. Using transcriptomic, histological, and functional analyses in murine tumors and cells of fibroblast origin, we show that SIX1 has a strong pro-tumorigenic action in this model, linked to the repression of a senescence-related gene signature and the induction of an undifferentiated phenotype mediated, at least in part, by the regulation of the stemness factor Sox2. Moreover, functional analyses with human glioma cell lines also show that SIX1 controls SOX2 expression, senescence and self-renewal in this model. Collectively, our results support a general link of SIX1 with senescence and SOX2-mediated cell plasticity in tumors.This work was supported by grants SAF2015-65960P (MINECO-FEDER) to IP, and CP16/00039, PI16/01580 (Instituto Salud Carlos III-FEDER) to AM. JA-I is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship (PRE20160375) from the Department of Education, University and Research of the Basque Government.Peer reviewe