Mads H Haugen1, Kjetil Boye2, Jahn Martin Nesland3, Solveig J Pettersen4, Eivind Valen Egeland4, Tripti Tamhane5, Klaudia Brix5, Gunhild M Maelandsmo6, Kjersti Flatmark7. 1. Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway; Focus Area HEALTH, Research Center MOLIFE - Molecular Life Science, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: mads.haugen@rr-research.no. 2. Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway; Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway. 3. Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway. 4. Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway. 5. Focus Area HEALTH, Research Center MOLIFE - Molecular Life Science, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany. 6. Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway. 7. Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, PO Box 4953 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The cysteine proteinase legumain is highly expressed in cancer. Legumain is a potential biomarker and has been suggested to be utilised for prodrug activation in cancer therapy. However, to define the suitability of legumain for such purposes, detailed knowledge of cell type-specific and subcellular expression together with proteolytic activity patterns in tumour tissue is necessary. METHODS: Expression of legumain was examined in a panel of 277 primary tumours from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients using immunohistochemistry. Tumour (cytoplasmic diffuse, cytoplasmic granulated, and nuclear) and stromal cell expression of legumain was quantified, and associations with clinicopathological parameters and outcome were analysed. Additionally, normal colon tissue and spontaneous mouse tumours were stained for legumain. RESULTS: Legumain was highly expressed in tumour and stromal cells. Nuclear legumain was detected in 30% of the tumours. In colon cancer patients, high legumain expression was associated with overall and metastasis-free survival (OS; MFS) in uni- and multivariate analysis. Nuclear legumain was associated with poor OS, but not MFS in the colon cancer subgroup. Cytoplasmic granulated or diffuse expression was not associated with OS or MFS. Normal epithelial cells exhibited granulated legumain mainly at the apical pole, and legumain was highly expressed in CD68 positive macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Legumain is a highly expressed proteinase in CRC and associated with poor outcome in colon cancer. Diversified localisation of legumain expression in tumour and stromal cells suggests multiple functions in CRC, representing both a challenge and an opportunity for use in therapeutic targeting.
BACKGROUND: The cysteine proteinase legumain is highly expressed in cancer. Legumain is a potential biomarker and has been suggested to be utilised for prodrug activation in cancer therapy. However, to define the suitability of legumain for such purposes, detailed knowledge of cell type-specific and subcellular expression together with proteolytic activity patterns in tumour tissue is necessary. METHODS: Expression of legumain was examined in a panel of 277 primary tumours from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients using immunohistochemistry. Tumour (cytoplasmic diffuse, cytoplasmic granulated, and nuclear) and stromal cell expression of legumain was quantified, and associations with clinicopathological parameters and outcome were analysed. Additionally, normal colon tissue and spontaneous mousetumours were stained for legumain. RESULTS:Legumain was highly expressed in tumour and stromal cells. Nuclear legumain was detected in 30% of the tumours. In colon cancerpatients, high legumain expression was associated with overall and metastasis-free survival (OS; MFS) in uni- and multivariate analysis. Nuclear legumain was associated with poor OS, but not MFS in the colon cancer subgroup. Cytoplasmic granulated or diffuse expression was not associated with OS or MFS. Normal epithelial cells exhibited granulated legumain mainly at the apical pole, and legumain was highly expressed in CD68 positive macrophages. CONCLUSIONS:Legumain is a highly expressed proteinase in CRC and associated with poor outcome in colon cancer. Diversified localisation of legumain expression in tumour and stromal cells suggests multiple functions in CRC, representing both a challenge and an opportunity for use in therapeutic targeting.
Authors: Laura E Edgington-Mitchell; Thomas Wartmann; Alicia K Fleming; Vasilena Gocheva; Wouter A van der Linden; Nimali P Withana; Martijn Verdoes; Luigi Aurelio; Daniel Edgington-Mitchell; TinaMarie Lieu; Belinda S Parker; Bim Graham; Thomas Reinheckel; John B Furness; Johanna A Joyce; Peter Storz; Walter Halangk; Matthew Bogyo; Nigel W Bunnett Journal: Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol Date: 2016-08-11 Impact factor: 4.052
Authors: Ye Zhen; Guo Chunlei; Shen Wenzhi; Zhao Shuangtao; Luo Na; Wang Rongrong; Luo Xiaohe; Niu Haiying; Luo Dehong; Jiang Shan; Tan Xiaoyue; Xiang Rong Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2015-11-26 Impact factor: 4.379