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Cluster of differentiation 73 (CD73), a cell surface enzyme that catalyzes adenosine monophosphate (AMP) breakdown to adenosine, is differentially expressed in cancers and has prognostic significance. We investigated its expression profile in neuroblastoma (NB), its association with NB clinical outcomes, and its influence in the regulation of cancer stem cells' (CSCs) stemness maintenance. RNA-Seq data mining (22 independent study cohorts, total n = 3836) indicated that high CD73 can predict good NB prognosis. CD73 expression (immunohistochemistry) gauged in an NB patient cohort (n = 87) showed a positive correlation with longer overall survival (OS, P = 0.0239) and relapse-free survival (RFS, P = 0.0242). Similarly, high CD73 correlated with longer OS and RFS in advanced disease stages, MYCN non-amplified (MYCN-na), and Stage-4-MYCN-na subsets. Despite no definite association in children < 2 years old (2Y), high CD73 correlated with longer OS (P = 0.0294) and RFS (P = 0.0315) in children > 2Y. Consistently, high CD73 was associated with better OS in MYCN-na, high-risk, and stage-4 subsets of children > 2Y. Multivariate analysis identified CD73 as an independent (P = 0.001) prognostic factor for NB. Silencing CD73 in patient-derived (stage 4, progressive disease) CHLA-171 and CHLA-172 cells revealed cell-line-independent activation of 58 CSC stemness maintenance molecules (QPCR profiling). Overexpressing CD73 in CHLA-20 and CHLA-90 cells with low CD73 and silencing in CHLA-171 and CHLA-172 cells with high CD73 showed that CD73 regulates epithelial to mesenchymal transition (E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin, Vimentin), stemness maintenance (Sox2, Nanog, Oct3/4), self-renewal capacity (Notch), and differentiation inhibition (leukemia inhibitory factor, LIF) proteins (confocal-immunofluorescence). These results demonstrate that high CD73 can predict good prognosis in NB, and further suggest that CD73 regulates stemness maintenance in cells that defy clinical therapy., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Neuroblastoma (NB) progression is branded with hematogenous metastasis and frequent relapses. Despite intensive multimodal clinical therapy, outcomes for patients with progressive disease remain poor, with negligible long-term survival. Therefore, understanding the acquired molecular rearrangements in NB cells with therapy pressure and developing improved therapeutic strategies is a critical need to improve the outcomes for high-risk NB patients. We investigated the rearrangement of MMP9 in NB with therapy pressure, and unveiled the signaling that facilitates NB evolution. Radiation-treatment (RT) significantly increased MMP9 expression/activity, and the induced enzyme activity was persistently maintained across NB cell lines. Furthermore, RT-triggered NFκB transcriptional activity and this RT-induced NFκB were required/adequate for MMP9 maintenance. RT-triggered NFκB-dependent MMP9 actuated a second-signaling feedback to NFκB, facilitating a NFκB-MMP9-NFκB positive feedback cycle (PFC). Critically, MMP9-NFκB feedback is mediated by MMP9-dependent activation of IKKβ and ERK phosphotransferase activity. Beyond its tumor invasion/metastasis function, PFC-dependent MMP9 lessens RT-induced apoptosis and favors survival pathway through the activation of NFκB signaling. In addition, PFC-dependent MMP9 regulates 19 critical molecular determinants that play a pivotal role in tumor evolution. Interestingly, seven of 19 genes possess NFκB-binding sites, demonstrating that MMP9 regulates these molecules by activating NFκB. Collectively, these data suggest that RT-triggered NFκB-dependent MMP9 actuates feedback to NFκB though IKKβ- and ERK1/2-dependent IκBα phosphorylation. This RT-triggered PFC prompts MMP9-dependent survival advantage, tumor growth, and dissemination. Targeting therapy-pressure-driven PFC and/or selective inhibition of MMP9 maintenance could serve as promising therapeutic strategies for treatment of progressive NB., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and comprises one-tenth of all childhood cancer deaths. The current clinical therapy for this deadly disease is multimodal, involving an induction phase with alternating regimens of high-dose chemotherapeutic drugs and load reduction surgery; a consolidation phase with more intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and stem cell transplant; and a maintenance phase with immunotherapy and immune-activating cytokine treatment. Despite such intensive treatment, children with neuroblastoma have unacceptable life quality and survival, warranting preventive measures to regulate the cellular functions that orchestrate tumor progression, therapy resistance, metastasis, and tumor relapse/recurrence. Globally, active efforts are underway to identify novel chemopreventive agents, define their mechanism(s) of action, and assess their clinical benefit. Some chemoprevention strategies (e.g., retinoids, difluoromethylornithine) have already been adopted clinically as part of maintenance phase therapy. Several agents are in the pipeline, while many others are in preclinical characterization. Here we review the classes of chemopreventive agents investigated for neuroblastoma, including cellular events targeted, mode(s) of action, and the level of development. Our review: (i) highlights the pressing need for new and improved chemopreventive strategies for progressive neuroblastoma; (ii) lists the emerging classes of chemopreventive agents for neuroblastoma; and (iii) recognizes the relevance of targeting dynamically evolving hallmark functions of tumor evolution (e.g., survival, differentiation, lineage transformation). With recent gains in the understanding of tumor evolution processes and preclinical and clinical efforts, it is our strong opinion that effective chemopreventive strategies for aggressive neuroblastoma are a near reality., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

High-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) is branded with hematogenous metastasis, relapses, and dismal long-term survival. Intensification of consolidation therapy with tandem/triple autologous stem cell (SC) rescue (with bone marrow [BM]/peripheral blood [PB] CD34 + selection) after myeloablative chemotherapy has improved long-term survival. However, the benefit is limited by the indication of NB cells in CD34 + PBSCs, CD34 expression in NB cells, and the risk of reinfusing NB cancer stem cells (NB CSCs) that could lead to post-transplant relapse. We investigated the association of CD34 surface expression (92 patients) with NB evolution/clinical outcomes. CD34 gene-level status in NB was assessed through RNA-Seq data mining (18 cohorts, n, 3324). Genetic landscape of CD34-expressing NB CSCs (CD133 + CD34 + ) was compared with CD34 - CSCs (CD133 + CD34 - ). RNA-seq data revealed equivocal association patterns of CD34 expression with patient survival. Our immunohistochemistry data revealed definite, but rare (mean, 0.73%; range 0.00-7.87%; median, 0.20%) CD34 positivity in NB. CD34 + significantly associated with MYCN amplification (p, 0.003), advanced disease stage (p, 0.016), and progressive disease (PD, p < 0.0009) after clinical therapy. A general high-is-worse tendency was observed in patients with relapsed disease. High CD34 + correlated with poor survival in patients with N-MYC-amplified HR-NB. Gene expression analysis of CD34 + -NB CSCs identified significant up (4631) and downmodulation (4678) of genes compared with NB CSCs that lack CD34. IPA recognized the modulation of crucial signaling elements (EMT, stemness maintenance, differentiation, inflammation, clonal expansion, drug resistance, metastasis) that orchestrate NB disease evolution in CD34 +  CSCs compared with CD34 - CSCs. While the function of CD34 in NB evolution requires further in-depth investigation, careful consideration should be exercised for autologous stem cell rescue with CD34 + selection in NB patients. Graphical abstract.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common cancer of infancy and accounts for nearly one tenth of pediatric cancer deaths. This mortality rate has been attributed to the > 50% frequency of relapse despite intensive, multimodal clinical therapy in patients with progressive NB. Given the disease's heterogeneity and developed resistance, attaining a cure after relapse of progressive NB is highly challenging. A rapid decrease in the timeline between successive recurrences is likely due to the ongoing acquisition of genetic rearrangements in undifferentiated NB-cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this review, we present the current understanding of NB-CSCs, their intrinsic role in tumorigenesis, their function in disease progression, and their influence on acquired therapy resistance and tumor evolution. In particular, this review focus on the intrinsic involvement of stem cells and signaling in the genesis of NB, the function of pre-existing CSCs in NB progression and therapy response, the formation and influence of induced CSCs (iCSCs) in drug resistance and tumor evolution, and the development of a CSC-targeted therapeutic approach., Competing Interests: DECLARATIONS Conflicts of interest All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

The upsurge of marine-derived therapeutics for cancer treatment is evident, with many drugs in clinical use and in clinical trials. Seaweeds harbor large amounts of polyphenols and their anti-cancer benefit is linear to their anti-oxidant activity. Our studies identified three superlative anti-cancer seaweed polyphenol drug candidates (SW-PD). We investigated the acquisition of oncogenic burden in radiation-resilient pancreatic cancer (PC) that could drive tumor relapse, and elucidated the efficacy of SW-PD candidates as adjuvants in genetically diverse in vitro systems and a mouse model of radiation-residual disease. QPCR profiling of 88 oncogenes in therapy-resilient PC cells identified a 'shared' activation of 40 oncogenes. SW-PD pretreatment inflicted a significant mitigation of acquired (shared) oncogenic burden, in addition to drug- and cell-line-specific repression signatures. Tissue microarray with IHC of radiation-residual tumors in mice signified acquired cellular localization of key oncoproteins and other critical architects. Conversely, SW-PD treatment inhibited the acquisition of these critical drivers of tumor genesis, dissemination, and evolution. Heightened death of resilient PC cells with SW-PD treatment validated the translation aspects. The results defined the acquisition of oncogenic burden in resilient PC and demonstrated that the marine polyphenols effectively target the acquired oncogenic burden and could serve as adjuvant(s) for PC treatment.

Most high-risk neuroblastomas that initially respond to therapy will ultimately relapse. Currently, no curative treatment is available. Acquired genetic/molecular rearrangement in therapy-resistant cells contributes to tumor relapse. Recently, we identified significant RD3 loss in progressive disease (PD) and defined its association with advanced disease-stage and poor clinical outcomes. Here, we investigated whether RD3 loss is an acquired process in cells that survive intensive multi-modal clinical therapy (IMCT) and its significance in disease evolution. RD3 status (mRNA, protein) during diagnosis (Dx) and PD after IMCT was investigated in NB patient cohort (n = 106), stage-4 NB cell lines (n = 15) with known treatment status and validated with independent data from another set of 15 cell-lines. Loss of RD3 in metastatic disease was examined using a mouse model of PD and metastatic-site-derived aggressive cells (MSDACs) ex vivo. RD3 silencing/expression assessed changes in metastatic state. Influence of RD3 loss in therapy resistance was examined through independent in vitro and in vivo studies. A significant loss of RD3 mRNA and protein was observed in resistant cells derived from patients with PD after IMCT. This is true to the effect within and between patients. Results from the mouse model identified significant transcriptional/translational loss of RD3 in metastatic tumors and MSDACs. RD3 re-expression in MSDACs and silencing RD3 in parental cells defined the functional relevance of RD3-loss in PD pathogenesis. Analysis of independent studies with salvage therapeutic agents affirmed RD3 loss in surviving resistant cells and residual tumors. The profound reductions in RD3 transcription indicate the de novo regulation of RD3 synthesis in resistant cells after IMCT. Defining RD3 loss in PD and the benefit of targeted reinforcement could improve salvage therapy for progressive neuroblastoma.

Background: MYCN amplification directly correlates with the clinical course of neuroblastoma and poor patient survival, and serves as the most critical negative prognostic marker. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) remains the gold standard for clinical diagnosis of MYCN status in neuroblastoma, its limitations warrant the identification of rapid, reliable, less technically challenging, and inexpensive alternate approaches., Methods: In the present study, we examined the concordance of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR, in combination with immunohistochemistry, IHC) with FISH for MYCN detection in a panel of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human neuroblastoma samples., Results: In 112 neuroblastoma cases, ddPCR analysis demonstrated a 96-100% concordance with FISH. Consistently, IHC grading revealed 92-100% concordance with FISH. Comparing ddPCR with IHC, we observed a concordance of 95-98%., Conclusions: The results demonstrate that MYCN amplification status in NB cases can be assessed with ddPCR, and suggest that ddPCR could be a technically less challenging method of detecting MYCN status in FFPE specimens. More importantly, these findings illustrate the concordance between FISH and ddPCR in the detection of MYCN status. Together, the results suggest that rapid, less technically demanding, and inexpensive ddPCR in conjunction with IHC could serve as an alternate approach to detect MYCN status in NB cases, with near-identical sensitivity to that of FISH.

Neuroblastoma (NB) deriving from neural crest cells is the most common extra-cranial solid cancer at infancy. NB originates within the peripheral sympathetic ganglia in adrenal medulla and along the midline of the body. Clinically, NB exhibits significant heterogeneity stretching from spontaneous regression to rapid progression to therapy resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are small (19-22 nt in length) non-coding RNAs that regulate human gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and are known to regulate cellular signaling, growth, differentiation, death, stemness, and maintenance. Consequently, the function of miRs in tumorigenesis, progression and resistance is of utmost importance for the understanding of dysfunctional cellular pathways that lead to disease evolution, therapy resistance, and poor clinical outcomes. Over the last two decades, much attention has been devoted to understanding the functional roles of miRs in NB biology. This review focuses on highlighting the important implications of miRs within the context of NB disease progression, particularly miRs' influences on NB disease evolution and therapy resistance. In this review, we discuss the functions of both the "oncomiRs" and "tumor suppressor miRs" in NB progression/therapy resistance. These are the critical components to be considered during the development of novel miR-based therapeutic strategies to counter therapy resistance., Competing Interests: DECLARATIONS Conflicts of interest All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

The 195-amino-acid-long human Retinal Degeneration Protein 3 (RD3) is critical in the regulation of guanylate cyclase (GC) signaling and photoreceptor cell survival. Recently, we identified significant loss of RD3 in high-risk neuroblastoma and the influential role of RD3 in tumor progression. However, the functional characterization of RD3 in tumor systems has been hampered by the dearth of information on its localization in normal tissue and by the lack of antibodies suitable for staining FFPE tissue, primarily due to the inaccessibility of the epitopes. In this study, we validated a custom-synthesized RD3 antibody and investigated the expression/localization of RD3 in assorted human tissues. We observed stratified expression of RD3 in different cell types and subcellular location of retina. We demonstrated extensive positive RD3 immunoreactivity in various normal tissues and particularly strong dot-like perinuclear staining in the lining epithelial cells, suggesting that RD3 may play an important role in the normal functioning of epithelial cells. RD3 expression is limited in the CNS. While neuroblastoma is often RD3-positive, the adrenal medulla, where many neuroblastomas originate, is RD3-negative. Meta-analysis of RD3 transcriptional expression across normal tissues confirmed tissue-specific RD3 mRNA levels. Our results revealed the tissue-specific expression/localization profile of RD3 for the first time.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most common plasticizer used in polyvinyl chloride-based plastics. DEHP is not covalently bound to the plastics and is easily released to the environment, resulting in human exposure. In this study, the adult rats were exposed to DEHP and its effects on the uterus was evaluated. Healthy adult female rats were treated with DEHP orally (with dose level 0, 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 30 days. No significant changes in the body weight and wet uterine weight were observed. Ovarian hormones and their receptor levels in the uterus were increased. Histological studies exhibited the structural abnormalities such as decrease in diameter, thinning of the layers and disruption in the glandular epithelium.

Therapy-resistant pancreatic cancer (PC) cells play a crucial role in tumor relapse, recurrence, and metastasis. Recently, we showed the anti-PC potential of an array of seaweed polyphenols and identified efficient drug deliverables. Herein, we investigated the benefit of one such deliverable, Hormophysa triquerta polyphenol (HT-EA), in regulating the dissemination physiognomy of therapy-resistant PC cells in vitro,and residual PC in vivo. Human PC cells exposed to ionizing radiation (IR), with/without HT-EA pre-treatment were examined for the alterations in the tumor invasion/metastasis (TIM) transcriptome (93 genes, QPCR-profiling). Utilizing a mouse model of residual PC, we investigated the benefit of HT-EA in the translation regulation of crucial TIM targets (TMA-IHC). Radiation activated 30, 50, 15, and 38 TIM molecules in surviving Panc-1, Panc-3.27, BxPC3, and MiaPaCa-2 cells. Of these, 15, 44, 12, and 26 molecules were suppressed with HT-EA pre-treatment. CXCR4 and COX2 exhibited cell-line-independent increases after IR, and was completely suppressed with HT-EA, across all PC cells. HT-EA treatment resulted in translational repression of IR-induced CXCR4, COX2, β-catenin, MMP9, Ki-67, BAPX, PhPT-1, MEGF10, and GRB10 in residual PC. Muting CXCR4 or COX2 regulated the migration/invasion potential of IR-surviving cells, while forced expression of CXCR4 or COX2 significantly increased migration/invasion capabilities of PC cells. Further, treatment with HT-EA significantly inhibited IR-induced and CXCR4/COX2 forced expression-induced PC cell migration/invasion. This study (i) documents the TIM blueprint in therapy-resistant PC cells, (ii) defines the role of CXCR4 and COX2 in induced metastatic potential, and (iii) recognizes the potential of HT-EA in deterring the CXCR4/COX2-dependent dissemination destiny of therapy-resistant residual PC cells.

Background: Circulating miRNAs have momentous clinical relevance as prognostic biomarkers and in the progression of solid tumors. Recognizing novel candidates of neuroblastoma-specific circulating miRNAs would allow us to identify potential prognostic biomarkers that could predict the switch from favorable to high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma (HR-NB)., Results: Utilizing mouse models of favorable and HR-NB and whole miRnome profiling, we identified high serum levels of 34 and low levels of 46 miRNAs in animals with HR-NB. Preferential sequence homology exclusion of mouse miRNAs identified 25 (11 increased; 14 decreased) human-specific prognostic marker candidates, of which, 21 were unique to HR-NB. miRNA QPCR validated miRnome profile. Target analysis defined the candidate miRNAs' signal transduction flow-through and demonstrated their converged roles in tumor progression. miRNA silencing studies verified the function of select miRNAs on the translation of at least 14 target proteins. Expressions of critical targets that correlate tumor progression in tissue of multifarious organs identify the orchestration of HR-NB. Significant (>10 fold) increase in serum levels of miR-381, miR-548h, and miR-580 identify them as potential prognostic markers for neuroblastoma progression., Conclusion: For the first time, we identified serum-circulating miRNAs that predict the switch from favorable to HR-NB and, further imply that these miRNAs could play a functional role in tumor progression.

Phthalates, a class of chemicals used as plasticizers, are economically important due to several industrial applications. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used phthalate plasticizer, and it has been described as a potent antiandrogen in males. In this study, lactating dams were exposed via oral gavage to corn oil (vehicle) and DEHP (1, 10, and 100 mg/kg body weight) from postnatal day 1 to 21, and the effects were evaluated in the ovary and uterus of F(1) progeny. DEHP exposure significantly decreased the body weight and organ weight in a dose-dependent manner. Serum levels of estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone were decreased but anogenital distance was unaffected. The mRNA expressions of luteinizing hormone receptor, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor (ERα and ERβ), progesterone receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, aromatase, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein were altered in the ovary of F1 progeny rats. Our finding suggest that lactational exposure to DEHP has transgenerational effect on female reproductive system., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Breast cancer chemoprevention has become increasingly important in India as it faces a potential breast cancer epidemic over the next decade. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric is a well known chemopreventive agent that possesses various therapeutic properties including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we have investigated the inhibitory effects of BDMC-A, an analog of curcumin, on invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis markers using in vitro with MCF-7 cells and in silico studies, hence proved that BDMC-A has more potential than curcumin. Mechanistic studies revealed that BDMC-A might have exerted its activity by inhibiting metastatic and angiogenic pathways by modulating the expression of proteins upstream to NF-κB (TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β and c-Src), and NF-κB signaling cascade (c-Rel, COX-2, MMP-9, VEGF, IL-8) and by upregulating TIMP-2 levels. An in silico molecular docking study with NF-κB revealed that the docking score and interaction of BDMC-A with NF-κB-DNA binding was more efficient when compared to curcumin. Our overall results showed that BDMC-A more effectively inhibited invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis markers compared to curcumin. The activity can be attributed to the presence of hydroxyl group in the ortho position in its structure. Further research are going on to prove its potential as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)