Genomic, Pathway Network, and Immunologic Features Distinguishing Squamous Carcinomas

Cell Rep. 2018 Apr 3;23(1):194-212.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.063.

Abstract

This integrated, multiplatform PanCancer Atlas study co-mapped and identified distinguishing molecular features of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from five sites associated with smoking and/or human papillomavirus (HPV). SCCs harbor 3q, 5p, and other recurrent chromosomal copy-number alterations (CNAs), DNA mutations, and/or aberrant methylation of genes and microRNAs, which are correlated with the expression of multi-gene programs linked to squamous cell stemness, epithelial-to-mesenchymal differentiation, growth, genomic integrity, oxidative damage, death, and inflammation. Low-CNA SCCs tended to be HPV(+) and display hypermethylation with repression of TET1 demethylase and FANCF, previously linked to predisposition to SCC, or harbor mutations affecting CASP8, RAS-MAPK pathways, chromatin modifiers, and immunoregulatory molecules. We uncovered hypomethylation of the alternative promoter that drives expression of the ΔNp63 oncogene and embedded miR944. Co-expression of immune checkpoint, T-regulatory, and Myeloid suppressor cells signatures may explain reduced efficacy of immune therapy. These findings support possibilities for molecular classification and therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: bladder carcinoma with squamous differentiation; cervical squamous cell carcinoma; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; genomics; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; human papillomavirus; lung squamous cell carcinoma; proteomics; transcriptomics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / classification*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genomics / methods
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic

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