BACKGROUND: The thalidomide disaster resulted in tremendous congenital malformations in more than 10,000 children in the late 1950s and early 1960s. SUMMARY: Although numerous putative mechanisms were proposed to explain thalidomide teratogenicity, it was confirmed only recently that thalidomide, rather its derivative 5-hydroxythalidomide (5HT) in a complex with the cereblon protein, interferes with early embryonic transcriptional regulation. 5HT induces selective degradation of SALL4, a principal transcriptional factor of early embryogenesis. Genetic syndromes caused by pathogenic variants of the SALL4 gene phenocopy thalidomide embryopathy with congenital malformations ranging from phocomelia, reduced radial ray, to defects of the heart, kidneys, ear, eye, and possibly cerebral midline and pituitary. SALL4 interacts with TBX5 and a handful of other transcriptional regulators and downregulates the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. Cranial midline defects, microcephaly, and short stature due to growth hormone deficiency have been occasionally reported in children carrying SALL4 pathogenic variants associated with generalized stunting of growth rather than just the loss of height attributable to the shortening of leg bones in many children with thalidomide embryopathy. KEY MESSAGES: Thus, SALL4 joins the candidate gene list for monogenic syndromic pituitary insufficiency. In this review, we summarize the journey from the thalidomide disaster through the functions of the SALL4 gene to its link to the hormonal regulation of growth.
PURPOSE: Infant and young childhood medulloblastoma (iMB) is usually treated without craniospinal irradiation (CSI) to avoid neurocognitive late effects. Unfortunately, many children relapse. The purpose of this study was to assess salvage strategies and prognostic features of patients with iMB who relapse after CSI-sparing therapy. METHODS: We assembled a large international cohort of 380 patients with relapsed iMB, age younger than 6 years, and initially treated without CSI. Univariable and multivariable Cox models of postrelapse survival (PRS) were conducted for those treated with curative intent using propensity score analyses to account for confounding factors. RESULTS: The 3-year PRS, for 294 patients treated with curative intent, was 52.4% (95% CI, 46.4 to 58.3) with a median time to relapse from diagnosis of 11 months. Molecular subgrouping was available for 150 patients treated with curative intent, and 3-year PRS for sonic hedgehog (SHH), group 4, and group 3 were 60%, 84%, and 18% (P = .0187), respectively. In multivariable analysis, localized relapse (P = .0073), SHH molecular subgroup (P = .0103), CSI use after relapse (P = .0161), and age ≥ 36 months at initial diagnosis (P = .0494) were associated with improved survival. Most patients (73%) received salvage CSI, and although salvage chemotherapy was not significant in multivariable analysis, its use might be beneficial for a subset of children receiving salvage CSI < 35 Gy (P = .007). CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of patients with relapsed iMB are salvaged after initial CSI-sparing approaches. Patients with SHH subgroup, localized relapse, older age at initial diagnosis, and those receiving salvage CSI show improved PRS. Future prospective studies should investigate optimal CSI doses and the role of salvage chemotherapy in this population.
- MeSH
- chronická nemoc MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- kraniospinální iradiace * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lokální recidiva nádoru MeSH
- meduloblastom * radioterapie MeSH
- nádory mozečku * radioterapie MeSH
- nádory mozku * terapie MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- proteiny hedgehog MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Bazocelulárny karcinóm je jednou z celosvetovo najčastejšie sa vyskytujúcich malignít. V indikácii lokálnej liečby bazocelulárneho karcinómu zohráva centrálnu úlohu imiquimod a fotodynamická terapia. Uvedené modality sú rezervované pre superficiálne nízkorizikové podtypy, čo významne redukuje mieru ich využiteľnosti v klinickej praxi. S úmyslom preklenutia súčasných limitácií prebieha v oblasti lokálnej liečby bazocelulárneho karcinómu rozsiahly výskum. Predkladaný prehľad stručne sumarizuje aktuálne terapeutické možnosti, ich obmedzenia a príklady nových prístupov v liečbe tohto vysoko prevalentného ochorenia.
Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In the indication of topical treatment of basal cell carcinoma, imiquimod and photodynamic therapy play a central role. These modalities are reserved for low-risk superficial subtypes, which reduces their degree of applicability in clinical practice. With the intention of overcoming current limitations, extensive research is conducted in the field of topical treatment of basal cell carcinoma. This article briefly summarizes the current therapeutic modalities, their limitations, and examples of new approaches in the treatment of this highly prevalent disease.
Bazocelulárny karcinóm je jednou z celosvetovo najčastejšie sa vyskytujúcich malignít. V indikácii lokálnej liečby bazocelulárneho karcinómu zohráva centrálnu úlohu imiquimod a fotodynamická terapia. Uvedené modality sú rezervované pre superficiálne nízkorizikové podtypy, čo významne redukuje mieru ich využiteľnosti v klinickej praxi. S úmyslom preklenutia súčasných limitácií prebieha v oblasti lokálnej liečby bazocelulárneho karcinómu rozsiahly výskum. Predkladaný prehľad stručne sumarizuje aktuálne terapeutické možnosti, ich obmedzenia a príklady nových prístupov v liečbe tohto vysoko prevalentného ochorenia.
Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In the indication of topical treatment of basal cell carcinoma, imiquimod and photodynamic therapy play a central role. These modalities are reserved for low-risk superficial subtypes, which reduces their degree of applicability in clinical practice. With the intention of overcoming current limitations, extensive research is conducted in the field of topical treatment of basal cell carcinoma. This article briefly summarizes the current therapeutic modalities, their limitations, and examples of new approaches in the treatment of this highly prevalent disease.
Primary cilia are key regulators of embryo development and tissue homeostasis. However, their mechanisms and functions, particularly in the context of human cells, are still unclear. Here, we analyzed the consequences of primary cilia modulation for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) proliferation and differentiation. We report that neither activation of the cilia-associated Hedgehog signaling pathway nor ablation of primary cilia by CRISPR gene editing to knockout Tau Tubulin Kinase 2 (TTBK2), a crucial ciliogenesis regulator, affects the self-renewal of hPSCs. Further, we show that TTBK1, a related kinase without previous links to ciliogenesis, is upregulated during hPSCs-derived neural rosette differentiation. Importantly, we demonstrate that while TTBK1 fails to localize to the mother centriole, it regulates primary cilia formation in the differentiated, but not the undifferentiated hPSCs. Finally, we show that TTBK1/2 and primary cilia are implicated in the regulation of the size of hPSCs-derived neural rosettes.
- MeSH
- centrioly metabolismus MeSH
- cilie metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pluripotentní kmenové buňky * metabolismus MeSH
- protein-serin-threoninkinasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny hedgehog * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumour in white populations. Multidisciplinary experts from European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), European Dermatology Forum, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes, and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology developed updated recommendations on diagnosis and treatment of BCC. BCCs were categorised into 'easy-to-treat' (common) and 'difficult-to-treat' according to the new EADO clinical classification. Diagnosis is based on clinico-dermatoscopic features, although histopathological confirmation is mandatory in equivocal lesions. The first-line treatment of BCC is complete surgery. Micrographically controlled surgery shall be offered in high-risk and recurrent BCC, and BCC located on critical anatomical sites. Topical therapies and destructive approaches can be considered in patients with low-risk superficial BCC. Photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment for superficial and low-risk nodular BCCs. Management of 'difficult-to-treat' BCCs should be discussed by a multidisciplinary tumour board. Hedgehog inhibitors (HHIs), vismodegib or sonidegib, should be offered to patients with locally advanced and metastatic BCC. Immunotherapy with anti-PD1 antibodies (cemiplimab) is a second-line treatment in patients with a progression of disease, contraindication, or intolerance to HHI therapy. Radiotherapy represents a valid alternative in patients who are not candidates for or decline surgery, especially elderly patients. Electrochemotherapy may be offered when surgery or radiotherapy is contraindicated. In Gorlin patients, regular skin examinations are required to diagnose and treat BCCs at an early stage. Long-term follow-up is recommended in patients with high-risk BCC, multiple BCCs, and Gorlin syndrome.
In melanoma and other cancers, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis and cancer stem cell maintenance are regulated by transcription factors including the Snail family. Slug (Snail2) protein generally supports migration and apoptosis resistance. However, its role in melanoma is not completely understood. The present study investigated the transcriptional regulation of the SLUG gene in melanoma. It demonstrated that SLUG is under the control of the Hedgehog/GLI signaling pathway and is activated predominantly by the transcription factor GLI2. The SLUG gene promoter contains a high number of GLI-binding sites. Slug expression is activated by GLI factors in reporter assays and inhibited by GANT61 (GLI inhibitor) and cyclopamine (SMO inhibitor). SLUG mRNA levels are lowered by GANT61 as assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed abundant binding of factors GLI1-3 in the four subregions of the proximal SLUG promoter. Notably, melanoma-associated transcription factor (MITF) is an imperfect activator of the SLUG promoter in reporter assays, and downregulation of MITF had no effect on endogenous Slug protein levels. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the above findings and showed MITF-negative regions in metastatic melanoma that were positive for GLI2 and Slug. Taken together, the results demonstrated a previously unrecognized transcriptional activation mechanism of the SLUG gene, which may represent its main regulation of expression in melanoma cells.
- MeSH
- apoptóza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- melanom * genetika MeSH
- proteiny hedgehog * genetika MeSH
- signální transdukce MeSH
- transkripční faktory genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Medulloblastoma (MB) comprises a group of heterogeneous paediatric embryonal neoplasms of the hindbrain with strong links to early development of the hindbrain1-4. Mutations that activate Sonic hedgehog signalling lead to Sonic hedgehog MB in the upper rhombic lip (RL) granule cell lineage5-8. By contrast, mutations that activate WNT signalling lead to WNT MB in the lower RL9,10. However, little is known about the more commonly occurring group 4 (G4) MB, which is thought to arise in the unipolar brush cell lineage3,4. Here we demonstrate that somatic mutations that cause G4 MB converge on the core binding factor alpha (CBFA) complex and mutually exclusive alterations that affect CBFA2T2, CBFA2T3, PRDM6, UTX and OTX2. CBFA2T2 is expressed early in the progenitor cells of the cerebellar RL subventricular zone in Homo sapiens, and G4 MB transcriptionally resembles these progenitors but are stalled in developmental time. Knockdown of OTX2 in model systems relieves this differentiation blockade, which allows MB cells to spontaneously proceed along normal developmental differentiation trajectories. The specific nature of the split human RL, which is destined to generate most of the neurons in the human brain, and its high level of susceptible EOMES+KI67+ unipolar brush cell progenitor cells probably predisposes our species to the development of G4 MB.
- MeSH
- antigen Ki-67 metabolismus MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace * genetika MeSH
- buněčný rodokmen MeSH
- histondemethylasy MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- meduloblastom * klasifikace genetika patologie MeSH
- metencephalon * embryologie patologie MeSH
- mozeček embryologie patologie MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- nádory mozečku * klasifikace genetika patologie MeSH
- proteiny hedgehog metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny T-boxu metabolismus MeSH
- represorové proteiny MeSH
- svalové proteiny MeSH
- transkripční faktory Otx nedostatek genetika MeSH
- transkripční faktory PEBP2A genetika MeSH
- transkripční faktory MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Primary cilium is a cellular organelle with growing significance confirmed in tumour biology. Primary cilia have been associated with fine tuning of numerous cell signalling pathways and the role of this structure in cancer initiation and progression is recently at the forefront of attention. Here, we investigated possible alterations in the occurrence of primary cilia and changes of associated signalling in ameloblastoma, which represents the most common odontogenic tumour. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemistry to assess the number and morphology of primary cilia in ameloblastoma tissues. The gene expression of key SHH pathway members was analysed by qPCR. As a functional experiment, we treated a primary ameloblastoma cell line by a SHH pathway inhibitor Sonidegib (LDE225). RESULTS: We uncovered differences in primary cilia distribution and appearance in histological subtypes of ameloblastoma with the highest number of ciliated cells in plexiform and follicular subtypes. SHH protein was located close to primary cilia in ameloblastoma epithelial cells and the expression of molecules downstream of SHH signalling was upregulated. Moreover, the inhibition of SHH pathway by Sonidegib caused downregulation of SHH effector gene GLI1 and cell cycle regulator CCND1 in ameloblastoma primary cell line. The inhibition of SHH signalling also altered the expression of molecules involved in intraflagellar transport. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study uncovered alterations in number of ciliated cells and associated signalling in ameloblastoma, which indicate SHH inhibitors as potential therapeutic target to treat this disease.
- MeSH
- ameloblastom * metabolismus MeSH
- cilie metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- odontogenní nádory * metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny hedgehog metabolismus MeSH
- signální transdukce MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
