Impaired fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling is associated with many human conditions, including growth disorders, degenerative diseases, and cancer. Current FGFR therapeutics are based on chemical inhibitors of FGFR tyrosine kinase activity (TKIs). However, FGFR TKIs are limited in their target specificity as they generally inhibit all FGFRs and other receptor tyrosine kinases. In the search for specific inhibitors of human FGFR1, we identified VZ23, a DNA aptamer that binds to FGFR1b and FGFR1c with a KD of 55 nM and 162 nM, respectively, but not to the other FGFR variants (FGFR2b, FGFR2c, FGFR3b, FGFR3c, FGFR4). In cells, VZ23 inhibited the activation of downstream FGFR1 signaling and FGFR1-mediated regulation of cellular senescence, proliferation, and extracellular matrix homeostasis. Consistent with the specificity toward FGFR1 observed in vitro, VZ23 did not inhibit FGFR2-4 signaling in cells. We show that the VZ23 inhibits FGFR1 signaling in the presence of cognate fibroblast growth factor (FGF) ligands and its inhibitory activity is linked to its capacity to form unusual G-quadruplex structure. Our data suggest that targeting FGFR1 with DNA aptamers could be an effective alternative to TKIs for treating impaired FGFR1 signaling in human craniosynostoses.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The FGFR3::TACC3 fusion has been reported in subsets of diverse cancers including urothelial and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). However, the morphology of FGFR3::TACC3-positive head and neck carcinomas has not been well studied and it is unclear if this fusion represents a random event, or if it might characterize a morphologically distinct tumor type. We describe nine FGFR3::TACC3 fusion-positive head and neck carcinomas affecting six males and three females aged 38 to 89 years (median, 59). The tumors originated in the sinonasal tract (n = 4), parotid gland (n = 2), and one case each in the oropharynx, submandibular gland, and larynx. At last follow-up (9-21 months; median, 11), four patients developed local recurrence and/or distant metastases, two died of disease at 11 and 12 months, one died of other cause, one was alive with disease, and two were disease-free. Three of six tumors harbored high risk oncogenic HPV infection (HPV33, HPV18, one unspecified). Histologically, three tumors revealed non-keratinizing transitional cell-like or non-descript morphology with variable mixed inflammatory infiltrate reminiscent of mucoepidermoid or DEK::AFF2 carcinoma (all were HPV-negative), and three were HPV-associated (all sinonasal) with multiphenotypic (1) and non-intestinal adenocarcinoma (2) pattern, respectively. One salivary gland tumor showed poorly cohesive large epithelioid cells with prominent background inflammation and expressed AR and GATA3, in line with a possible salivary duct carcinoma variant. Two tumors were conventional SCC. Targeted RNA sequencing revealed an in-frame FGFR3::TACC3 fusion in all cases. This series highlights heterogeneity of head and neck carcinomas harboring FGFR3::TACC3 fusions, which segregates into three categories: (1) unclassified HPV-negative category, morphologically distinct from SCC and other entities; (2) heterogeneous group of HPV-associated carcinomas; and (3) conventional SCC. A driver role of the FGFR3::TACC3 fusion in the first category (as a potential distinct entity) remains to be further studied. In the light of available FGFR-targeting therapies, delineation of these tumors and enhanced recognition is recommended.

• MeSH
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck virology   pathology   genetics   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Phenotype MeSH
• Oncogene Proteins, Fusion genetics   MeSH
• Papillomavirus Infections * pathology   complications   genetics   virology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Biomarkers, Tumor genetics   MeSH
• Head and Neck Neoplasms * pathology   virology   genetics   MeSH
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 * genetics   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology   genetics   virology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Fibroblasts, the most abundant cell type in the human body, play crucial roles in biological processes such as inflammation and cancer progression. They originate from the mesoderm or neural-crest-derived ectomesenchyme. Ectomesenchyme-derived fibroblasts contribute to facial formation and do not express HOX genes during development. The expression and role of the HOX genes in adult fibroblasts is not known. We investigated whether the developmental pattern persists into adulthood and under pathological conditions, such as cancer. We collected adult fibroblasts of ectomesenchymal and mesodermal origins from distinct body parts. The isolated fibroblasts were characterised by immunocytochemistry, and their transcriptome was analysed by whole genome profiling. Significant differences were observed between normal fibroblasts from the face (ectomesenchyme) and upper limb (mesoderm), particularly in genes associated with limb development, including HOX genes, e.g., HOXA9 and HOXD9. Notably, the pattern of HOX gene expression remained consistent postnatally, even in fibroblasts from pathological tissues, including inflammatory states and cancer-associated fibroblasts from primary and metastatic tumours. Therefore, the distinctive HOX gene expression pattern can serve as an indicator of the topological origin of fibroblasts. The influence of cell position and HOX gene expression in fibroblasts on disease progression warrants further investigation.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Fibroblasts * metabolism   cytology   MeSH
• Genes, Homeobox MeSH
• Homeodomain Proteins metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mesoderm * metabolism   cytology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Although dramatically increased survival rates of early diagnosed cases have been observed, late diagnosed patients and metastatic cancer may still be considered fatal. The present study's main focus was on cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which is an active component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulating the breast cancer ecosystem. Transcriptomic profiling and analysis of CAFs isolated from breast cancer skin metastasis, cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma unravelled major gene candidates such as IL6, VEGFA and MFGE8 that induced co‐expression of keratins‐8/‐14 in the EM‐G3 cell line derived from infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma. Western blot analysis of selected keratins (keratin‐8, ‐14, ‐18, ‐19) and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition‐associated markers (SLUG, SNAIL, ZEB1, E‐/N‐cadherin, vimentin) revealed specific responses pointing to certain heterogeneity of the studied CAF populations. Experimental in vitro treatment using neutralizing antibodies against IL-6, VEGF‐A and MFGE8 attenuated the modulatory effect of CAFs on EM‐G3 cells. The present study provided novel data in characterizing and understanding the interactions between CAFs and EM‐G3 cells in vitro. CAFs of different origins support the pro‐inflammatory microenvironment and influence the biology of breast cancer cells. This observation potentially holds significant interest for the development of novel, clinically relevant approaches targeting the TME in breast cancer. Furthermore, its implications extend beyond breast cancer and have the potential to impact a wide range of other cancer types.

• MeSH
• Antigens, Surface MeSH
• Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts * metabolism   MeSH
• Fibroblasts metabolism   MeSH
• Keratins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant MeSH
• MCF-7 Cells MeSH
• Milk Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Tumor Microenvironment genetics   MeSH
• Breast Neoplasms * drug therapy   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Transcriptome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Spinocelulární karcinomy hlavy a krku (HNSCC) jsou pátým nejčastějším solidním nádorem. Prozatím bohužel nebylo dosaženo zlepšení v přežívání pacientů s HNSCC, což je důsledek nedostatku markerů terapeutické odpovědi a vzniku rezistence k léčbě. Rezistence může být významně podpořena fibroblasty asociovanými s nádorem (CAF), které vylučují faktory umožňující přežívání nádorových buněk. Mnohé jsou obsaženy v exosomech. Exosomy uvolňované z CAFs v nádorovém mikroprostředí mohou zvyšovat invazivní chování nádorových buněk a jejich rezistenci. Uvnitř exosomů byla prokázána přítomnost mnoha typů RNA. V tomto projektu chceme prozkoumat obsah RNA v exosomech produkovaných CAF pomocí sekvenování nové generace. Chceme testovat význam exosomálních RNA jako biomarkerů pro klinicky relevantní charakteristiky pacientů s HNSCC indikovaných pro chirurgický zákrok a adjuvantní chemoterapii. Dále bychom chtěli sestavit panel exozomálních RNA, které lze detekovat v žilní krvi pacientů, které reflektují přítomnost maligního tumoru a fenotypu rezistentního k terapii.; Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are the fifth most common solid cancer. Unfortunately, no significant improvement has been achieved in HNSCC patient survival due to unpredictable therapy response and therapy resistance which may be significantly supported by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs can promote HNSCC by secreting factors with pro-survival effect. Many of these factors may be contained in exosomes. Exosomes released from CAFs in the tumour microenvironment may increase the invasive behaviour of cancer cells and therapy resistance. The presence of many types of RNA within exosomes has been proven. We want to investigate the RNA cargo within CAFs-derived exosomes by using Next-Gen Sequencing. We will test exosomal RNA as biomarkers for clinically relevant characteristics of HNSCC patients indicated for curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. We will compile a panel of exosomal RNAs which can be detected in the venous blood of HNSCC patients and reflect the presence of a malignant tumour and treatment-resistant phenotype.

• Keywords
• sekvenování nové generace, Spinocelulární karcinomy v oblasti hlavy a krku, exosomes, Exosomy, head and neck cancer, fibroblasty asociované s nádorem, kódující a nekódující RNA, cancer-associated fibroblasts, coding and non-coding RNA, Next-Gen Sequencing,

• NML Publication type
• závěrečné zprávy o řešení grantu AZV MZ ČR

BACKGROUND: High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common and aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. It is primarily diagnosed at stage III or IV when the 5-year survival rate ranges between 20% and 40%. Here, we aimed to validate the hypothesis, based on HGSOC cell lines, that proposed the existence of two distinct groups of HGSOC cells with high and low oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism, respectively, which are associated with their responses to glucose and glutamine withdrawal. METHODS: We isolated and cultivated primary cancer cell cultures from HGSOC and nontransformed ovarian fibroblasts from the surrounding ovarium of 45 HGSOC patients. We tested the metabolic flexibility of the primary cells, particularly in response to glucose and glutamine depletion, analyzed and modulated endoplasmic reticulum stress, and searched for indices of the existence of previously reported groups of HGSOC cells with high and low OXPHOS metabolism. RESULTS: The primary HGSOC cells did not form two groups with high and low OXPHOS that responded differently to glucose and glutamine availabilities in the cell culture medium. Instead, they exhibited a continuum of OXPHOS phenotypes. In most tumor cell isolates, the responses to glucose or glutamine withdrawal were mild and surprisingly correlated with those of nontransformed ovarian fibroblasts from the same patients. The growth of tumor-derived cells in the absence of glucose was positively correlated with the lipid trafficking regulator FABP4 and was negatively correlated with the expression levels of HK2 and HK1. The correlations between the expression of electron transport chain (ETC) proteins and the oxygen consumption rates or extracellular acidification rates were weak. ER stress markers were strongly expressed in all the analyzed tumors. ER stress was further potentiated by tunicamycin but not by the recently proposed ER stress inducers based on copper(II)-phenanthroline complexes. ER stress modulation increased autophagy in tumor cell isolates but not in nontransformed ovarian fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the metabolism of primary HGSOC cells rejects the previously proposed hypothesis that there are distinct groups of HGSOC cells with high and low OXPHOS metabolism that respond differently to glutamine or glucose withdrawal and are characterized by ETC protein levels.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecologic cancers. In recent years, research has focused on the genetic characteristics of the tumors to detail their prognosis and tailor therapy. In the case of EC, genetic mutations have been shown to underlie their formation. It is very important to know the mechanisms of EC formation related to mutations induced by estrogen, among other things. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), composed of nucleotide transcripts with very low protein-coding capacity, are proving to be important. Their expression patterns in many malignancies can inhibit tumor formation and progression. They also regulate protein coding at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), several varieties of which are associated with normal endometrium as well as its tumor, also play a particularly important role in gene expression. MiRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) affect many pathways in EC tissues and play important roles in cancer development, invasion, and metastasis, as well as resistance to anticancer drugs through mechanisms such as suppression of apoptosis and progression of cancer stem cells. It is also worth noting that miRNAs are highly precise, sensitive, and robust, making them potential markers for diagnosing gynecologic cancers and their progression. Unfortunately, as the incidence of EC increases, treatment becomes challenging and is limited to invasive tools. The prospect of using microRNAs as potential candidates for diagnostic and therapeutic use in EC seems promising. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are released from many types of cells, including cancer cells. They contain proteins, DNA, and various types of RNA, such as miRNAs. The noncoding RNA components of exosomes vary widely, depending on the physiology of the tumor tissue and the cells from which they originate. Exosomes contain both DNA and RNA and have communication functions between cells. Exosomal miRNAs mediate communication between EC cells, tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and play a key role in tumor cell proliferation and tumor microenvironment formation. Oncogenes carried by tumor exosomes induce malignant transformation of target cells. During the synthesis of exosomes, various factors, such as genetic and proteomic data are upregulated. Thus, they are considered an interesting therapeutic target for the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer by analyzing biomarkers contained in exosomes. Expression of miRNAs, particularly miR-15a-5p, was elevated in exosomes derived from the plasma of EC patients. This may suggest the important utility of this biomarker in the diagnosis of EC. In recent years, researchers have become interested in the topic of prognostic markers for EC, as there are still too few identified markers to support the limited treatment of endometrial cancer. Further research into the effects of ncRNAs and exosomes on EC may allow for cancer treatment breakthroughs.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Cíl: Srovnání cervikálního stromatu u pacientek s pokročilými stadii karcinomu děložního hrdla s kontrolní skupinou: v období před léčbou srovnat hematologické parametry u pacientek se stejnými parametry v kontrolní skupině; ověřit souvislost stromálních markerů s s prognostickými faktory karcinomu děložního hrdla. Materiál a metody: Prospektivně bylo hodnoceno 16 pacientek s diagnózou pokročilého invazivního karcinomu děložního hrdla. Kontrolní skupinu tvořilo 22 pacientek (s děložním myomem). Bylo provedeno imunohistochemické vyšetření k detekci hladkosvalového aktinu alfa (SMA – alpha-smooth muscle actin) a fibroblasty aktivujícího proteinu alfa (FAP – fibroblast activation protein alpha). Výsledky imunohistochemického vyšetření a hematologické parametry byly vyhodnoceny pomocí Fisherova exaktního testu a Mann-Whitneyho testu. Výsledky: Silné imunobarvení FAP bylo častější u pacientek s karcinomem děložního hrdla v porovnání s pacientkami s děložním myomem (p = 0,0002). Co se týká SMA, silné imunobarvení bylo také ve větší míře zjištěno ve skupině pacientek s karcinomem oproti kontrolní skupině (p < 0,00001). Poměr neutrofily/lymfocyty (NLR) byl vyšší u pacientek s neoplazií děložního hrdla ve srovnání s kontrolní skupinou (p = 0,0019). Souvislost mezi zkoumanými parametry a prognostickými faktory nebyla prokázána. Závěr: Silné imunohistochemické barvení FAP a SMA je ve srovnání s kontrolní skupinou častější u pacientek s karcinomem děložního hrdla. Poměr NLR u nich byl rovněž vyšší.

Objective: To compare cervical stroma in advanced cervical cancer with the control group; to compare, in the pre-treatment period, hemogram parameters in patients with advanced cervical cancer with the same parameters as the control group; and to verify if there is an association of stromal markers with prognostic factors in cervical cancer. Materials and methods: We prospectively evaluated 16 patients diagnosed with advanced invasive cervical cancer. A control group of 22 patients was used (uterine leiomyoma). Immunohistochemistry was performed to verify the stromal immunostaining of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP). Immunostainings and hemogram parameters were compared using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney Test, respectively. Results: Strong FAP immunostaining was more frequent in patients with cervical cancer when compared with patients with leiomyoma (P = 0.0002). Regarding SMA, strong immunostaining was also found more in the group of cancer patients compared to the control group (P < 0.00001). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were higher in the cancer patient group compared to the control group (P = 0.0019). There was no association of the parameters studied with prognostic factors. Conclusions: Strong FAP and SMA immunostaining was found more in patients with cervical cancer when compared to the control group. NLR values were also higher in cervical cancer.

• MeSH
• Actins analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Endopeptidases MeSH
• Clinical Studies as Topic MeSH
• Leiomyoma pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Membrane Proteins analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms * pathology   MeSH
• Serine Endopeptidases analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Gelatinases analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH

Gliomagenesis induces profound changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the brain. In this study, we identified a cellular population responsible for the increased deposition of collagen I and fibronectin in glioblastoma. Elevated levels of the fibrillar proteins collagen I and fibronectin were associated with the expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is predominantly found in pericyte-like cells in glioblastoma. FAP+ pericyte-like cells were present in regions rich in collagen I and fibronectin in biopsy material and produced substantially more collagen I and fibronectin in vitro compared to other cell types found in the GBM microenvironment. Using mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that 3D matrices produced by FAP+ pericyte-like cells are rich in collagen I and fibronectin and contain several basement membrane proteins. This expression pattern differed markedly from glioma cells. Finally, we have shown that ECM produced by FAP+ pericyte-like cells enhances the migration of glioma cells including glioma stem-like cells, promotes their adhesion, and activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. Taken together, our findings establish FAP+ pericyte-like cells as crucial producers of a complex ECM rich in collagen I and fibronectin, facilitating the dissemination of glioma cells through FAK activation.

• MeSH
• Endopeptidases MeSH
• Extracellular Matrix * metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Fibronectins * metabolism   MeSH
• Glioblastoma pathology   metabolism   MeSH
• Glioma * pathology   metabolism   MeSH
• Collagen Type I metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Membrane Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Tumor Microenvironment physiology   MeSH
• Brain Neoplasms * pathology   metabolism   MeSH
• Pericytes * metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Cell Movement physiology   MeSH
• Serine Endopeptidases metabolism   MeSH
• Gelatinases metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

V roce 2023 vydávaná 5. edice WHO klasifikace nádorů kůže doznala v sekci mezenchymálních nádorů několika změn, přičemž mezi nejvýznamnější, jako již tradičně, patří zařazení nově identifikovaných nádorových jednotek, kterými se tento přehledový článek bude zabývat především. Konkrétně se jedná o tři nové kožní mezenchymální tumory s melanocytární diferenciací a rearanžemi genů CRTC1::TRIM11, ACTIN::MITF a MITF::CREM. Dále byly nově zařazeny EWSR1::SMAD3- rearanžované fibroblastické tumory, superficiální CD34 pozitivní fibroblastické tumory a NTRK-rearanžované vřetenobuněčné neoplazie. Z dalších změn budou krátce zmíněny pouze ty nejvýznamnější.

The section on mesenchymal tumors in 5th edition of WHO classification of skin tumors has undergone several changes, the most important of which, as usual, is the inclusion of newly identified tumor entities, which will be the main focus of this review article. These specifically include three novel cutaneous mesenchymal tumors with melanocytic differentiation, and rearrangements of the CRTC1::TRIM11, ACTIN::MITF, and MITF::CREM genes. In addition, EWSR1::SMAD3-rearranged fibroblastic tumors, superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumors, and NTRK-rearranged spindle cell neoplasms were newly included. Of the other changes, only the most important ones will be briefly mentioned

• Keywords
• mezenchymální nádory,
• MeSH
• Antigens, CD34 analysis   MeSH
• Diagnosis, Differential MeSH
• Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts classification   pathology   MeSH
• Carcinoma classification   pathology   MeSH
• Melanocytes pathology   MeSH
• Skin Neoplasms * genetics   classification   pathology   MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH