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E. Vucic
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P2.01 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 461)
- Event: WCLC 2016
- Type: Poster Presenters Present
- Track: Biology/Pathology
- Presentations: 2
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 12/06/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)
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P2.01-015 - Differentially Expressed microRNAs in Lung Adenocarcinoma Invert Effects of Copy Number Aberrations of Prognostic Genes (ID 4771)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): E. Vucic
- Abstract
Background:
Across multiple cancer histologies, many significantly down-regulated genes reside within chromosomal regions with increased number of copies, and vice versa. These “paradoxical genes” have been usually ignored as a noise, but could be a consequence of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, including microRNA-mediated control of mRNA transcription.
Methods:
To identify paradoxical genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) we curated and analyzed gene expression and copy number aberrations across 1,064 LUAD samples, including newly-generated aCGH data from 65 samples. We then analyzed 9 LUAD microRNA expression studies to compile a list of consistently deregulated microRNAs. Finally, using microRNA:gene networks from mirDIP we examined possible association between microRNAs and paradoxical genes.
Results:
We identified 85 genes whose differential expression consistently contrasts the aberrations of their copy numbers. 70 genes were validated using TCGA-LUAD data. We showed that paradoxical expression of these genes is associated with 19 microRNAs, whose significant deregulation in LUAD has been consistently reported. Importantly, these genes form a clinically significant prognostic signature.Figure 1Figure 2
Conclusion:
Paradoxical gene expression, caused by microRNA deregulation, is preserved across patient cohorts, and forms a prognostic LUAD signature.
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P2.01-037 - Molecular Biology Underlying COPD and Lung Cancer Converge on FOXM1 Network (ID 5773)
14:30 - 14:30 | Author(s): E. Vucic
- Abstract
Background:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, inflammatory lung disease associated with an up to 10-fold increased risk of lung cancer (LC). COPD and LC share common etiologies including genetic susceptibilities and risk factors, such as smoking. This study systematically characterizes the molecular overlap between COPD and LC.
Methods:
Small airway gene expression data was obtained from subjects with spirometry measures (n=267) (GSE37147). Genome-wide, multi-omics data for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumor and non-malignant lung tissues from two cohorts (TCGA, n=515; BCCA, n=90) was analyzed. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify clusters (modules) of highly correlated genes across airway expression profiles. Combined module expression (eigengene scores) were used to: 1) identify modules negatively associated with FEV~1~ and 2) calculate module preservation in lung tumors. Signaling network, pathway and gene ontology analyses were performed using IID, pathDIP, ClueGo and PARADIGM. Known and predicted protein-protein physical interactions (PPIs) were obtained from IID. Network analysis and visualization was performed in NAViGaTOR.
Results:
A module of 31 genes significantly co-expressed across small airways was negatively associated with FEV~1~ and preserved in LUAD tumors. Genes in this module were enriched in functions associated with cell cycle progression, and known and/or predicted to physically interact in the protein complex critical to mediating G2/M progression. The forkhead transcription factor FOXM1 network was the most highly perturbed entity across 515 LUAD tumors. FOXM1 is an essential mitotic protein, known to regulate expression of genes involved in cell cycle progression, as well as stress response to ROS and DNA damage, angiogenesis and metastasis. COPD-related airway mRNA changes and genes highly altered at the DNA and mRNA level in LUAD tumors directly converge on the FOXM1 regulated mitotic complex proteins and/or FOXM1 transcription factor network.
Conclusion:
FOXM1 is overexpressed in multiple cancer types where it is correlated with poor prognosis and oncogenic transformation of epithelia through induction of genomic instability. The convergence of COPD and LUAD changes on this network may underlie increased LC risk in COPD patients, warranting further exploration as a target for COPD treatment and/or LC prevention or treatment.
