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PubMed2026

The CTNNB1-TRIM28 complex governs hormone-induced RNA polymerase II dynamics in kidney epithelial cells.

Arginine vasopressin maintains water homeostasis by regulating epithelial water permeability through complex transcriptional mechanisms in kidney collecting duct cells. Although CTNNB1 (β-catenin) functions as a transcriptional coregulator in vasopressin-responsive gene transcription, its role remains poorly understood. To identify CTNNB1-dependent components mediating the vasopressin-responsive transcription, we profiled transcriptomic changes following Ctnnb1 knockdown in mouse kidney collecting duct cells using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). RNA-Seq and promoter enrichment analyses identified bromodomain-containing proteins (TRIM28, TRIM33, BRD4, CREBBP, and EP300) as components of a CTNNB1-dependent complex regulating RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) activity. Biochemical analyses revealed physical interactions between TRIM28, CTNNB1, Pol II, and CDK9. Functionally, Trim28 knockdown blunted vasopressin-induced expression of the Aqp2 gene. Quantitative genomic binding assays demonstrated that TRIM28 is required for robust genomic occupancy and stabilization of Pol II at the transcription start site of Aqp2. Additionally, dynamic formation of phase-separated nuclear TRIM28 condensates in response to vasopressin suggests that TRIM28-associated machinery functions at specialized chromatin hubs. These findings reveal that TRIM28 facilitates Pol II recruitment, pause release, and elongation upon vasopressin stimulation. Our study establishes the CTNNB1-TRIM28 machinery as a critical transcriptional scaffold that controls Pol II dynamics and chromatin structure, thereby driving osmotic water reabsorption and urine concentration.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Acetylation of lysine 49 on Ctnnb1 drives naïve pluripotency in murine stem cells by modulating Nanog function.

Naïve pluripotency represents the ground state of mammalian development. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing its establishment is crucial for elucidating the unique properties of embryonic cells and the regulatory mechanisms controlling cell fate determination. However, the key molecule to robustly achieve naïve pluripotency with minimal manipulation remains unclear. We found that the acetylation status of lysine 49 (K49) of Catenin beta-1 (Ctnnb1) plays a critical role in naïve pluripotency of murine stem cells. Deacetylated Ctnnb1 at K49 binds to transcription factor Nanog, impeding its repressor function and thereby promoting differentiation. Remarkably, treatment with IQ1, an inhibitor of interaction between acetyltransferase Ep300 and Ctnnb1, enhances acetylation at K49 of Ctnnb1, enabling the establishment and long-term maintenance of embryonic stem cells independently of the leukemia inhibitory factor, and also driving complete conversion of epiblast stem cells to the naïve state. This study reveals the critical role of Ctnnb1 in naïve pluripotency and introduces an effective strategy for its induction and maintenance.

Crebbp/Ep300↗

PubMed2025

The Proteomic Landscape of CTNNB1 Mutated Low-Grade Early-Stage Endometrial Carcinomas.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy in western countries. In recent years, mutations in CTNNB1 have been associated with worse prognosis in low-risk carcinomas. However, there is a lack of understanding of the proteomic implications of CTNNB1 mutations in this type of tumor. In this study, we performed shotgun proteomics using Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue samples of CTNNB1 mutated and wild-type low-risk endometrial carcinomas. A publicly available proteomic and transcriptomic database was used to validate results. Differential protein expression and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed dysregulation of pathways associated with cell keratinization, immune response modulation, and intracellular calcium regulation. CTNNB1 mutated tumors showed immune dysregulation at multiple levels including cytokine secretion, cell adhesion, and lymphocyte activation. These results were supported by tissue multiplex immunofluorescence analysis, demonstrating reduced CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and different immune spatial interaction patterns. Intracellular calcium dysfunction was associated with key transcript dysregulation. We found an increased expression of CAMK2A and ROR2, suggesting a potential role for non-canonical Wnt pathway activation in CTNNB1 mutated tumors.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Recurrent FGFR2 and PIK3CA Mutations in Sialoblastoma.

PURPOSE: Sialoblastoma is an extremely rare low-grade malignant salivary gland neoplasm that presents at birth or early infancy and has heterogeneous clinical behavior. Due to its rarity, the molecular landscape remains incompletely characterized. We aimed to expand the current understanding of the genetic alterations in sialoblastoma through comprehensive molecular analysis. METHODS: Five sialoblastoma cases were retrieved from four institutional archives. Clinical and pathologic review was performed, and targeted next-generation sequencing was conducted using clinically validated panels. Copy number analysis was performed on four cases. RESULTS: The cohort included five patients with tumors located in parotid gland (n = 2), minor salivary glands (n = 2), and submandibular gland (n = 1). Four patients were diagnosed before 6 months of age. Histologically, all tumors showed solid organoid nests with primitive basaloid cells, dense fibrous stroma, and mitotic activity ranging from 8 to 25 per 10 high-power fields. Recurrent FGFR2 p.C382R variants were identified in 80% (4/5) of cases. Additional alterations were seen in FGFR2 p.C382R mutated tumors, including PIK3CA hotspot mutations in two cases (p.R88Q, p.R38H) and a truncating FGFR2 variant (p.L776Rfs) in one. The single tumor that lacked FGFR2 mutations harbored a CTNNB1 p.I35T variant and showed more favorable histologic features. Copy number analysis revealed recurrent whole-chromosome gains of chromosomes 8, 10, and 11. CONCLUSION: A distinct subset of sialoblastoma has FGFR2 p.C382R hotspot mutation as the predominant driver mutation. Tumors with this mutation tend to have solid growth pattern, aggressive histologic features, and clinical behavior. The identification of concurrent genomic alterations expands the molecular landscape of this rare tumor. The detection of alternative drivers, such as CTNNB1 hotspot mutations typical of basal cell adenoma, also suggests that a subset of sialoblastoma may represent other salivary gland tumors presenting in infancy.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Deciphering Pseudoendocrine Sarcoma: A Clinicopathological, Molecular, and Epigenetic Study Suggesting Biological Links With Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas.

Pseudoendocrine sarcoma (PS) is a recently described neoplasm of uncertain differentiation, characterized by recurrent CTNNB1 mutations, frequent paravertebral location, and a neuroendocrine-like histomorphology. In this study, we report the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, transcriptomic, and epigenetic findings of 12 PS cases. The tumors affected 7 men and 5 women with a median age of 66 years and were located in the paraspinal/paravertebral region (n = 11) and the thigh (n = 1). Median tumor size was 82 mm (range, 32-170 mm). Histologically, the tumors comprised sheets and nests of epithelioid-to-ovoid cells with uniform nuclei and speckled chromatin, frequently associated with extracellular hyaline globules and fibrovascular cords/septa. Uncommon findings included microcalcifications, myxoid stroma, pseudopapillary, pseudoglandular, microcystic or corded architecture, and lumen and rosette-like structures. Necrosis was absent, and mitotic activity was low. On immunohistochemistry, the tumors showed aberrant nuclear staining for beta-catenin (8/8) and expression of CD56 (7/7), S100 (8/8), desmin (2/6), and androgen receptor (1/4). Pankeratin (AE1/AE3), progesterone receptor, synaptophysin, chromogranin, and INSM1 were negative. All tested cases harbored CTNNB1 mutations. Using a customized cohort, methylation profiling revealed that PS formed a common cluster with solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas (SPNP), distinct from all methylation classes from the Heidelberg sarcoma classifier and a subset of paragangliomas. Transcriptomic analysis showed that PS formed an independent cluster from a control group of tumors (including SPNP). Differential gene expression analysis showed enrichment in genes of the Wnt signaling pathway (HALLMARK gene sets) and biological processes related to sensory perception, among others (gene ontology - biological process [GO-BP]). Additionally, upregulated genes were related to various fetal cell types from the cell type signature data set (MSigDB), particularly of neuronal and epithelial lineage. Immunohistochemical assessment of potential markers identified through gene expression analysis revealed focal-to-diffuse expression of GLUT1 (6/6) and focal/multifocal expression of Brachyury (4/9) and HuD (3/7). Follow-up information, available for 10 cases (median duration of 18 months; range, 7-69 months), showed local recurrences and metastatic spread in 2 patients each. Evidence of response to radiotherapy was documented in one tumor. Altogether, this study expands knowledge on PS and suggests biological links with SPNP, including a potential shared cell of origin.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrated Clinicopathologic and Multiomic Profiling Reveals MEIS1-Rearranged Sarcoma as a Distinct Entity With 2 Prognostic Subgroups.

Sarcomas with MEIS1 fusions represent a rare, recently recognized group of mesenchymal neoplasms with a predilection for genitourinary and gynecologic sites. A subset exhibits skeletal muscle differentiation resembling spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma. Existing literature is limited to case reports and small series, with scant comprehensive clinicopathologic, molecular, and outcome data. In this study, we analyzed a multi-institutional cohort of 20 MEIS1-rearranged sarcomas using integrated clinicopathologic review, genomic profiling, and DNA methylation analysis. The tumors occurred in 17 females and 3 males (median age, 41 years; range, 6-58 years), arising mainly in the uterus/vagina (n = 12), vulva/perineum (n = 4), bone (n = 2), and kidney (n = 2), with a median size of 9 cm (range, 2.5-20 cm). Histology showed mostly bland spindle cells in fascicles/storiform patterns, alternating cellularity, fibromyxoid stroma, prominent vascularity, and adipose metaplasia (45%). A subset of cases featured high-grade morphology with epithelioid cells and increased mitotic activity. Skeletal muscle markers were variably positive in 9 cases. Fusions involved MEIS1 with NCOA2 (16/20), NCOA1 (3/20), or FOXO1 (1/20). Recurrent additional genomic alterations included CTNNB1 mutations (31.6%) and MDM2 amplification (15%). DNA methylation profiling showed that MEIS1-rearranged sarcomas formed a unifying cluster comprising 2 subgroups, regardless of rhabdomyosarcomatous phenotype, clearly separated from other mesenchymal neoplasms, including various rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes and uterine sarcomas. The 2 DNA methylation (Meth) subgroups correlated with differences in genome-wide copy number variation (CNV) status (Meth-CNV high vs Meth-CNV low), with Meth-CNV high tumors characterized by high mitotic rate, frequent tumor necrosis, recurrent co-occurring CTNNB1 and MDM2 alterations, and recurrent chromosomal arm-level changes. Most importantly, this subgroup exhibited significantly worse overall survival (P = .027) and disease-free survival (median, 5 vs 99 months; P = .017). This study establishes MEIS1-rearranged sarcoma as a distinct entity with generally indolent but potentially aggressive behavior. The 2 methylation/CNV subgroups provide potential utility for prognostic stratification and highlight actionable molecular targets in high-risk cases.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Unravelling the biological nexus of smoking and postpartum depression: a meta-analysis and functional genomics approach.

PURPOSE: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent psychological condition among birthing women. While several psycho-socio-economic and neurobiological factors influence its development, its relationship with smoking behavior and nicotine addiction remains largely inconclusive. METHODS: In this combinatorial study, we first evaluate the relationship between smoking and depressive behaviors in postpartum women using data extracted from pertinent primary epidemiological studies. Additionally, to discern the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this association, we identified common genetic elements and evaluated their functional attributes using in silico analyses. RESULTS: Meta-analytical assessment of systematically collected data from 38 studies indicated that smoking women are twice as likely to develop PPD, compared to their non-smoking counterparts. While geocultural attributes did not affect this relationship, timing of smoking was a significant moderator, with current and gestational smoking statuses being more strongly linked with PPD outcome, compared to the past smoking habit. Further, depression scores in smoking postpartum women were higher than those in non-smoking controls. Analysis of the common protein-encoding genes underlying the pathophysiology of nicotine addiction and PPD revealed several critical hub proteins (viz., AKT1, JUN, CTNNB1, PTEN, EGFR, ESR1, SRC, STAT3, FN1, IL1B, IL6, TNF, TP53, GAPDH, INS, MYC, and ALB) which were predicted to alter multiple pathophysiological pathways associated with transcriptional expression, intra- and intercellular signaling transduction, metabolism, and immune functions. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that smoking is strongly associated with depressive behavior in postpartum women, although this association involve mediation of additional environmental and psychosocial elements. Moreover, network analysis of common genetic elements identified several potentially disrupted neurophysiological pathways in postpartum women with smoking and depressive behaviors which may aid in characterizing the underlying relationship between the two conditions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrated molecular and immune profiling identifies FOXA1 as a complementary co-target to MUC1 for bispecific immunotherapy in breast cancer.

In breast cancer immunotherapy, Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a well-established target with promising preclinical results; however, single targeting of MUC1 has demonstrated limited efficacy in clinical trials, largely due to tumor heterogeneity, diverse glycosylation patterns, and an immunosuppressive TME. Identification of complementary co-targets enables bi-specific or dual-target immunotherapy, limiting antigen escape, improving specificity, and reducing relapse. Here, we employed a comprehensive multi-layered analytical approach to evaluate MUC1 expression, clinical relevance, and methylation status, followed by systematic screening of MUC1-correlated genes. Antigenicity prediction and protein-protein interaction analyses identified Forkhead Box A1 (FOXA1) as a potential functional partner. Expression analysis revealed concordant patterns of MUC1 and FOXA1 across breast cancer samples, while network mapping demonstrated shared interactions with adhesion-associated proteins, including CTNNB1, CTNND1, and CDH1, suggesting roles in epithelial organization and tumor progression. Further validation using gene expression datasets from Indian breast cancer cohorts confirmed consistent expression and correlation patterns, supporting reproducibility across populations. Immune profiling revealed an inverse association between MUC1-FOXA1 co-expression and immune-related gene signatures, with high co-expression linked to reduced infiltration of dendritic cells, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, indicative of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Negative correlations with MHC Class I genes further suggested impaired antigen presentation. Epitope prediction identified high-affinity peptides from both targets with strong MHC Class I binding potential. Collectively, these findings support the associated role of MUC1 and FOXA1 as dual immunotherapeutic targets in breast cancer.

Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha↗

PubMed2025

A base editor facilitates simultaneous purine and pyrimidine substitutions for ex vivo and in vivo mutagenesis screens.

Genetic mutations are closely linked to human diseases, yet the relationship between many mutations and their corresponding phenotypes remains poorly understood. Furthermore, tools to study the connection between nucleotide variations and phenotypes are limited. To address this issue, we developed ACGBEmax by fusing the dual-functional deaminase, engineered N-methylpurine DNA glycosylase, and evolved SOS response associated peptidase domain with nCas9(D10A). ACGBEmax enables the precise conversion of A, C, and G to other bases in mammalian cells, thereby generating an extensive range of base mutations types. We used ACGBEmax to generate HPRT variants, identifying mutations conferring resistance to 6-thioguanine. Additionally, we performed in situ mutagenesis of Ctnnb1 in mouse liver, identifying both known and potential oncogenic mutations. Our results prove that ACGBEmax is a powerful tool for generating a wide spectrum of mutation types at specific gene loci, highlighting its significant potential for applications in functional screening and the directed evolution of protein variants.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Identifying the regulatory network of the key lipid metabolism transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor in oysters.

Rising seawater temperatures driven by global warming have led to summer mass mortality events that pose significant challenges for the oyster industry. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) serves as a key transcriptional regulator of lipid metabolism and plays an essential role in thermal adaptation. However, the upstream regulatory mechanisms of PPAR remain poorly understood in marine organisms. In this study, we identified two PPAR subtypes (PPARα and PPARβ/δ) in oysters and compared transcriptomic data in different tissues and under various environmental stressors, with PPARα exhibiting higher expression levels and responsiveness to environmental stresses. We observed significantly higher PPARα gene expression levels and promoter activity in the relatively cold-tolerant Crassostrea gigas compared to C. angulata. The low expression of the inhibitory transcription factor CTNNB1 in C. gigas may contribute to higher gene expression of PPARα. Additionally, the expression genome-wide association study (eGWAS) identified 9 significant SNPs and 124 candidate regulatory genes associated with PPARα expression, including ubiquitination, phosphorylation, signaling pathways, lipid metabolism, and glucose metabolism. We provided the first experimental validation of the PPARα ubiquitination-degradation pathway in marine organisms via Co-IP, which was mediated by the E3 ligase RFWD3. The protein kinase SNF1 and signaling-related proteins PIKA and KCNK2 indirectly modulated PPARα downstream pathway activation to varying degrees. This study presents the first systematic investigation of PPARα expression regulation in marine organisms. It identifies key molecular regulators and provides novel insights into lipid metabolic regulation and molecular targets for genetic improvement of heat tolerance in oysters under global warming.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Genomic profiling of aggressive pathologic features in lung adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Pathologic features involving LVI (lympho-vascular invasion), PNI (perineural invasion), STAS (spread through air spaces), and Grade 3 pattern (from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer grading system) are related to having an aggressive phenotype and linked to poor prognosis. However, few studies have conducted in-depth analyses of these features simultaneously with genomic profiling. METHODS: A total of 1559 sequencing of adenocarcinoma samples were included in the common driver mutations analysis, 1306 samples were brought into genomic mapping analysis. OncoSG's East Asian ancestry dataset was implemented for Tumor-Node-Metastasis-Biomarker (TNMB) classification and prognostic assessment. RESULTS: EGFR was more significantly prevalent in LVI negativity (P = 0.021), STAS negativity (P = 0.002), and moderate grade (P < 0.001). ALK was significantly interrelated with LVI (P = 0.028), STAS (P < 0.001), and poor grade (P < 0.001); ROS1 and STAS positivity (P = 0.031), poor grade (P = 0.016) were significantly related. KRAS (P = 0.003) and BRAF-V600E (P = 0.002) were only significantly intertwined with poor grade. Apart from common driver mutations, TP53, CHEK2, KEAP1, PTEN, RB1, NF1 were significantly enriched in LVI samples (P < 0.05). TP53, PTEN, CTNNB1, HGF, NF1 were more prominent in STAS (P < 0.01). TP53, LRP1B, NF1 were significantly more prevalent in Grade 3 pattern (P < 0.001). The mixture of STK11, PTEN, and TOP2A generated by exclusive mutations may be a potential predictor of TNMB categorization towards survival. The HR of stage II compared I of TNMB was 2.28 (95 % CI 1.36-3.86, P < 0.001), while stage III compared II was 1.95 (95 % CI 1.04-3.21, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrated the correlation of pathologic features with common driver mutations, key mutations and canonical oncogenic signaling pathways. The data highlighted the similarities and differences among these features horizontally, and provide new insights in TNMB classification and prognostic assessment.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Yes-Associated Protein (YAP)1 and β-Catenin Immunohistochemistry as a Surrogate Marker for GTF2I-Mutant Type A/AB Thymomas.

Thymomas are rare thymic epithelial tumors classified by the World Health Organization into type A/AB thymomas, which commonly harbor GTF2I mutations and behave indolently, and type B thymomas and thymic carcinomas, in which these mutations are less common. Type A and AB thymomas are uniquely enriched for a recurrent somatic hotspot mutation in GTF2I p. L424H; yet, this gene is rarely included in clinical sequencing panels, limiting its diagnostic utility. Yes-associated protein (YAP)1, the principal effector of the Hippo signaling pathway, and β-catenin, the central transcriptional effector of the Wnt pathway, have emerging roles in thymoma biology; however, their relationship to GTF2I mutation status and histologic subtype has not been systematically characterized. We analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas thymoma data set and an institutional cohort of 38 thymic epithelial tumors to evaluate YAP1 and β-catenin immunohistochemistry (IHC) as surrogate markers for GTF2I mutation status and histologic classification. In The Cancer Genome Atlas data set, YAP1 and CTNNB1 mRNA expression were markedly elevated in type A/AB thymomas relative to type B and carcinoma subtypes, and GTF2I-mutant tumors exhibited significantly higher YAP1 mRNA expression than GTF2I-wildtype tumors. Targeted next-generation sequencing of our institutional cohort confirmed enrichment of the canonical GTF2I p. L424H hotspot in indolent subtypes. By IHC, both nuclear YAP1 positivity and cytoplasmic β-catenin localization were significantly more frequent in indolent thymomas. Cytoplasmic β-catenin demonstrated high specificity (94%) for indolent histology, supporting its use in diagnostically challenging cases such as type A versus type B3 distinction on small biopsies. YAP1 IHC showed a high negative predictive value for GTF2I mutations, such that a YAP1-negative result reliably excludes a GTF2I-mutant tumor. These findings implicate crosstalk between Hippo and Wnt signaling in GTF2I-mutant thymomas and position YAP1 and β-catenin IHC as accessible, cost-effective surrogates for molecular subtyping in a tumor where standard sequencing panels have limited coverage.

GTF2I↗

PubMed2026

Genomic insights into stroke recovery: cross-phenotype associations.

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability with variable recovery. While clinical factors such as initial severity play a role, genetic factors are increasingly recognized as important contributors to stroke recovery. Genotype studies are generally focused on a single post-stroke behavioural domain, but some genes might relate to broad mechanisms of plasticity. This study therefore aimed to identify cross-phenotypic genetic variants associated across two or more stroke recovery domains. DNA from Stroke, Stress, Rehabilitation, and Genetics study participants was genotyped, resulting in 9 814 610 variants. In order to examine cross-phenotypic results, we first conducted genome-wide association studies on the six recovery domains: motor (grip force), cognition (Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), stress (Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen), functional status (Stroke Impact Scale-Activities of Daily Living), and disability (modified Rankin Scale 0-2 versus 3-6), some of which were tested longitudinally, yielding nine phenotypes. Models were adjusted for age, sex, initial severity (NIH Stroke Scale score), and ancestry. Cross-phenotype associations were identified by evaluating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated (P < 5e-5) with multiple phenotypes. To determine how these genetic variants may relate to biological mechanisms of recovery, we conducted gene enrichment analyses. Participants (n = 565, 59% male) had mild-moderate initial stroke severity (median acute NIH Stroke Scale score = 4). After accounting for the correlation structure among the nine phenotypes, we observed 319 cross-phenotypic SNPs, 3.45 times the expected number. Five of the cross-phenotypic SNPs were linked to genes relevant to neural development, function and plasticity, e.g. ERICH1 (rs11778883-C), FOX3 (rs55726768-G), LIFR-AS1 (rs76401391-T), RPS6KA2 (rs113518460-C) and TUBGCP2 (rs147150392-C), as were enrichments in RAB5-EEA1, CTNNA1-CTNNB1, CIN85-SH3GL2 and ELMO1-DOCK2 complexes. Multiple gene enrichments were found, e.g. Stroke Impact Scale-Activities of Daily Living and Patient Health Questionnaire 8 at 3 months were enriched for CREB phosphorylation, which is important for long-term potentiation. We identified cross-phenotypic SNPs associated with multiple behavioural domains of stroke recovery. Some of these genes encode, or regulate, druggable proteins. These genetic factors are not well captured by clinical or neuroimaging assessments and so provide a unique window into stroke recovery. These findings, if validated, suggest that some genes may be broadly important to stroke recovery.

GWAS↗

PubMed2010

Mouse Prkar1a haploinsufficiency leads to an increase in tumors in the Trp53+/- or Rb1+/- backgrounds and chemically induced skin papillomas by dysregulation of the cell cycle and Wnt signaling.

PRKAR1A inactivation leads to dysregulated cAMP signaling and Carney complex (CNC) in humans, a syndrome associated with skin, endocrine and other tumors. The CNC phenotype is not easily explained by the ubiquitous cAMP signaling defect; furthermore, Prkar1a(+/-) mice did not develop skin and other CNC tumors. To identify whether a Prkar1a defect is truly a generic but weak tumorigenic signal that depends on tissue-specific or other factors, we investigated Prkar1a(+/-) mice when bred within the Rb1(+/-) or Trp53(+/-) backgrounds, or treated with a two-step skin carcinogenesis protocol. Prkar1a(+/-) Trp53(+/-) mice developed more sarcomas than Trp53(+/-) mice (P < 0.05) and Prkar1a(+/-) Rb1(+/-) mice grew more (and larger) pituitary and thyroid tumors than Rb1(+/-) mice. All mice with double heterozygosity had significantly reduced life-spans compared with their single-heterozygous counterparts. Prkar1a(+/-) mice also developed more papillomas than wild-type animals. A whole-genome transcriptome profiling of tumors produced by all three models identified Wnt signaling as the main pathway activated by abnormal cAMP signaling, along with cell cycle abnormalities; all changes were confirmed by qRT-PCR array and immunohistochemistry. siRNA down-regulation of Ctnnb1, E2f1 or Cdk4 inhibited proliferation of human adrenal cells bearing a PRKAR1A-inactivating mutation and Prkar1a(+/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts and arrested both cell lines at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. In conclusion, Prkar1a haploinsufficiency is a relatively weak tumorigenic signal that can act synergistically with other tumor suppressor gene defects or chemicals to induce tumors, mostly through Wnt-signaling activation and cell cycle dysregulation, consistent with studies in human neoplasms carrying PRKAR1A defects.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Integrated data mining and network pharmacology to explore the prescription patterns from a senior TCM oncologist's clinical practice in treating chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome.

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a common and refractory adverse effect of chemotherapy lacking specific therapeutic strategies currently. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown empirical efficacy in clinical HFS management. This study integrated data mining and network pharmacology to systematically elucidate the medication principles and molecular mechanisms underlying Professor Gang Xie's prescriptions for HFS. All medical records from Professor Xie's specialist clinic (January 2020 to March 2025) were retrospectively collected and standardized in Excel. Prescriptions were analyzed through frequency statistics, association and clustering. Active ingredients of core herb pairs and their disease-related targets were identified using TCMSP, HERB, GeneCards, PharmGKB and GEO databases. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed. Molecular docking validated interactions between key bioactive compounds and targets. This study involved 217 prescriptions containing 150 herbs. Core herb combinations comprised Radix Astragali (Huangqi), Poria (Fuling), and Radix Pseudostellariae (Taizishen), predominantly classified as spleen-tonifying agents with warm properties, targeting lung, spleen, and stomach meridians. Network analysis identified 67 bioactive compounds and 899 disease targets. Quercetin, kaempferol, acacetin and luteolin were identified the key ingredients. The core targets (TP53, STAT3, PIK3CA, HSP90AA1, AKT1, CTNNB1, PI3KR1, MAPK1) were enriched in MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinity between key compounds and targets. Professor Xie's therapeutic strategy for HFS emphasizes "spleen fortification, phlegm elimination, and stasis resolution." The core herb combination likely exerts anti-HFS effects via modulation of MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways, providing a pharmacological basis for TCM-driven HFS management.

Network Pharmacology↗

PubMed2025

Pathway-specific genomic alterations in pancreatic cancer across diverse cohorts.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive malignancy with rising incidence and poor survival rates. While Hispanic/Latino (H/L) patients have a lower overall incidence compared to Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients, they are diagnosed at younger ages, often present with more advanced disease, and experience worse survival outcomes. The molecular drivers underlying these disparities remain poorly understood. Key oncogenic pathways, including TP53, WNT, PI3K, TGF-Beta, and RTK/RAS, play crucial roles in tumor progression, therapy resistance, and response to targeted treatments. However, their ethnicity-specific alterations and prognostic implications in PC remain largely unexplored. This study aims to characterize pathway-specific mutations in PC among H/L and NHW patients, assess tumor mutation burden, and identify ethnicity-specific oncogenic drivers using publicly available datasets. The findings may provide critical insights to optimize precision medicine strategies and enhance targeted therapies for underrepresented populations. METHODS: A bioinformatics analysis was performed using publicly available PC datasets to evaluate mutation frequencies in genes associated with the TGF-Beta, RTK/RAS, WNT, PI3K, and TP53 pathways. The study included 4,248 patients, with 407 identified as H/L and 3,841 as NHW. Patients were stratified by ethnicity to assess differences in mutation prevalence. Chi-squared tests were conducted to compare mutation rates between groups, while Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate overall survival differences based on pathway-specific alterations. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the TGF-Beta pathway between H/L and NHW patients. TGF-Beta mutations were less prevalent in H/L patients (18.4% vs. 24.4%, p = 8.6e-3). Additionally, genes related to the TGF-Beta pathway showed significant alterations, with SMAD2 (1.5% vs. 0.4%, p = 6.3e-3) and SMAD4 (15% vs. 19.9%, p = 0.02) exhibiting notable differences. Although RTK/RAS, WNT, PI3K, and TP53 pathway mutations were not statistically significant overall, borderline significance was observed in genes associated with these pathways, including ERBB4 (3.4% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.03), ALK (2.7% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.01), HRAS (1.2% vs. 0.1%, p = 1.3e-4), and RIT1 (0.7% vs. 0.1%, p = 0.03) in the RTK/RAS pathway, as well as CTNNB1 (2.9% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.01) in the WNT pathway. Survival analysis revealed no significant differences in overall survival among H/L patients. However, NHW patients with TP53 pathway alterations exhibited borderline significant differences in survival outcomes.

PI3K pathway↗

PubMed2026

Tumor Mutational Concordance and Recurrence Timing in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic recurrence includes true recurrence from clonal relapse and multicentric recurrence from de novo tumorigenesis. Recurrence timing is used to distinguish these types; however, its accuracy remains unclear. This study aimed to classify recurrent tumors based on somatic mutational concordance and assess the validity of recurrence timing. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on paired primary and recurrent HCC tumors from 49 patients enrolled in a prospective institutional omics project. Tumors with ≥ 10 shared somatic mutations were classified as true recurrence. Clinicopathological features, recurrence timing, driver mutation patterns, and survival outcomes were compared between recurrence types. Mutational concordance was quantified using shared variant counts and the Jaccard similarity index. RESULTS: Of the 49 patients, 22 (44.9%) showed true recurrence and 27 (55.1%) had multicentric recurrence. Multicentric recurrence tumors harbored no shared variants or only a single shared variant with the primary tumor. True recurrence was associated with significantly higher concordance in histological differentiation and Edmondson-Steiner grading and greater retention of CTNNB1, TP53, ARID1A, and KEAP1 mutations. The number of shared variants (median: 115 vs. 0, and p < 0.001) and the Jaccard index (median: 0.44 vs. 0.00 and p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the true recurrence group. Recurrence timing was inconsistently correlated with mutational concordance, although a 3-year cutoff yielded significant separation. CONCLUSION: Recurrence timing alone insufficiently reflects clonal relationships. Genomic profiling offers a reliable framework for distinguishing between recurrence types and guiding HCC management.

clonal relapse↗

PubMed2026

Molecular profiling of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma and amphicrine-like carcinoma: high frequency of homologous recombination deficiency and molecular heterogeneity.

BACKGROUND: The 6th edition of the WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumours distinguishes amphicrine-like carcinomas (ALCs) from mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs). Acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) with an intimately admixed and not separated neuroendocrine component comprising >30% of the tumour are classified as amphicrine-like ACCs (AL-ACCs). We characterised the genomic landscape of pancreatic ACCs and AL-ACCs to validate current classification and identify therapeutic targets. METHODS: Among 2,151 pancreatic biopsy and resection cases that underwent targeted next-generation sequencing using the OncoPanel AMC v4.3 or v4.5 (DNA-based hybrid capture, targeting 323 genes (v4.3) or 343 genes (v4.5)), eight ACCs, seven AL-ACCs originally diagnosed as MiNENs under the 5th edition of the WHO classification scheme, and four neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) were identified, diagnosed between 2020 and 2026. RESULTS: Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-associated alterations, involving BRCA1/2, ATM and FANCD2, were identified in 87.5% (7/8) of ACCs and 29% of AL-ACCs. One ACC had an ATRX nonsense mutation. Genomic heterogeneity was observed in molecular profiling of AL-ACCs; two demonstrated a 'true hybrid' signature with co-occurrence of lineage-specific drivers: MEN1 deletion and splice site mutation (neuroendocrine-associated), APC, SMAD4 and CTNNB1 alterations (exocrine-associated). Two others exhibited 'ACC-like' signatures, including missense BRCA1 and nonsense TP53 mutations and MDM4 and AKT3 amplifications, located on chromosome 1q, despite their neuroendocrine differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic ACCs frequently harbour HRD-related alterations, suggesting potential for PARP-inhibitor therapy. AL-ACCs comprise molecularly heterogeneous groups, including true hybrid and ACC-like patterns. Larger studies are required to elucidate the molecular distinction between true hybrid AL-ACCs and those with single-lineage alterations to refine their classification.

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