Project description:Background Identification of the molecular determinants of invasion and metastatic potential may guide the development of a rational strategy for devising specific therapies that target the pathways leading to osteosarcoma. Methods In this study, we used pathway-focused GEarrays to screen for candidate genes related to tumor progression. Expression patterns of the selected genes were validated by real time PCR on 61 osteosarcoma patient tumor samples and correlated with clinical and pathological data. Results THBS3, SPARC and SPP1 were identified with pathway-focused GEarrays as genes differentially expressed in osteosarcoma. In particular, THBS3 was expressed at significantly high levels (p=0.0001) in biopsies from patients with metastasis at diagnosis, which is a predictor of worse overall survival, event-free survival and relapse free survival at diagnosis. After chemotherapy, patients with tumors over-expressing THBS3 have worse relapse free survival. High SPARC expression was found in 51 of 55 (96.3%) osteosarcoma samples and correlated with the worst event-free survival (p=0.03) and relapse free survival (p=0.07). Overexpression of SPP1 was found in 47 of 53 (89%) osteosarcomas correlating with better overall survival, event-free survival and relapse free survival at diagnosis. Conclusion With pathway-focused Gearrays, we identified three genes, which interestingly all encode for proteins involved in extracellular remodeling suggesting potential roles in osteosarcoma progression. This is the first report on the THBS3 gene working as a stimulator of tumor progression. Higher levels of THBS3 maintain the capacity of angiogenesis. High levels of SPARC are not required for tumor progression but are necessary for tumor growth and maintenance. SPP1 is not necessary for tumor progression in osteosarcoma and may be associated with inflammatory response and bone remodeling, functioning as a good biomarker. Keywords: disease state analysis using Superarray Pathway focused arrays
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:SaOS2 osteosarcoma cells were cultured with or without atorvastatin (10 µM) for 6, 15 or 24h (2 biological replcates). RNA were isolated and hybridized to RNG microarrays. Background Osteosarcoma is the most common primary tumor of bone. The rapid development of metastatic lesions and resistance to chemotherapy remain major mechanisms responsible for the failure of treatments and poor survival rate for patients. Methods We previously showed that the HMGCoA reductase inhibitors statins exhibit anti-tumoral effects on osteosarcoma cells. Here, using microarray analysis, we identify cyr61/CCN1 as a new target of statins. Modulations of expression of cyr61 were performed in human and murine osteosarcoma cell lines to investigate in vitro cell viability, migratory potential and invasiveness. Cyr61 expression was evaluated in 231 tissue cores from osteosarcoma patients using tissue microarray. Tumor behavior and metastases occurence were analysed by IM injection of modified osteosarcoma cells to BALB/c mice. Results Transcriptome comparisons revealed that statins down-regulate cyr61 expression in SaOS2 cells. Cyr61 silencing in human and murine osteosarcoma cell lines enhanced cell death, but reduced cell migration and cell invasion compared to parental cells whereas cyr61 overexpression had opposite effects. Tissue microarray analysis demonstrated that cyr61 protein expression is higher in human osteosarcoma compared to normal bone tissue and is further increased in metastatic tissues. In vivo, cyr61 overexpression in osteosarcoma cells enhanced lung metastases development whereas cyr61 silencing strongly reduced metastases in mice. Conclusion The results reveal that cyr61 expression increases with tumor grade in human osteosarcoma and demonstrate that cyr61 silencing inhibits in vitro osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration as well as in vivo lung metastases in mice. These data provide a novel molecular target for therapeutic intervention in metastatic osteosarcoma. Dye balance-experiment comparing atorvastatin versus untreated cells at 6, 15 and 24 hours using 2 biological replicates.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression. Two-condition experiment, Normoxic MSCs vs. Hypoxic MSCs.
Project description:SaOS2 osteosarcoma cells were cultured with or without atorvastatin (10 µM) for 6, 15 or 24h (2 biological replcates). RNA were isolated and hybridized to RNG microarrays. Background Osteosarcoma is the most common primary tumor of bone. The rapid development of metastatic lesions and resistance to chemotherapy remain major mechanisms responsible for the failure of treatments and poor survival rate for patients. Methods We previously showed that the HMGCoA reductase inhibitors statins exhibit anti-tumoral effects on osteosarcoma cells. Here, using microarray analysis, we identify cyr61/CCN1 as a new target of statins. Modulations of expression of cyr61 were performed in human and murine osteosarcoma cell lines to investigate in vitro cell viability, migratory potential and invasiveness. Cyr61 expression was evaluated in 231 tissue cores from osteosarcoma patients using tissue microarray. Tumor behavior and metastases occurence were analysed by IM injection of modified osteosarcoma cells to BALB/c mice. Results Transcriptome comparisons revealed that statins down-regulate cyr61 expression in SaOS2 cells. Cyr61 silencing in human and murine osteosarcoma cell lines enhanced cell death, but reduced cell migration and cell invasion compared to parental cells whereas cyr61 overexpression had opposite effects. Tissue microarray analysis demonstrated that cyr61 protein expression is higher in human osteosarcoma compared to normal bone tissue and is further increased in metastatic tissues. In vivo, cyr61 overexpression in osteosarcoma cells enhanced lung metastases development whereas cyr61 silencing strongly reduced metastases in mice. Conclusion The results reveal that cyr61 expression increases with tumor grade in human osteosarcoma and demonstrate that cyr61 silencing inhibits in vitro osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration as well as in vivo lung metastases in mice. These data provide a novel molecular target for therapeutic intervention in metastatic osteosarcoma.