0000000000179107
AUTHOR
Valentina Vaira
MYC-driven epigenetic reprogramming favors the onset of tumorigensis by inducing a stem cell-like state
AbstractBreast cancer consists of highly heterogeneous tumors, whose cell of origin and driver oncogenes resulted difficult to be uniquely defined. Here we report that MYC acts as tumor reprogramming factor in mammary epithelial cells by inducing an alternative epigenetic program, which triggers loss of cell identity and activation of oncogenic pathways. Over-expression of MYC induces transcriptional repression of lineage-specifying transcription factors, causing decommissioning of luminal-specific enhancers. MYC-driven dedifferentiation supports the onset of a stem cell-like state by inducing the activation of de novo enhancers, which drive the transcriptional activation of oncogenic pathw…
PO-298 MYC favours the onset of tumour initiating cells by inducing epigenetic reprogramming of mammary epithelial cells towards a stem cell-like state
ABSTRACT Introduction Breast cancer consists of highly heterogenous tumours whose cell of origin resulted difficult to be defined. Recent findings highlighted the possibility that tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may arise from dedifferentiation of lineage-committed cells, by reactivation of multipotency in response to oncogenic insults. MYC is the most frequently amplified oncogene in breast cancer and the activation of MYC pathway has been associated with the basal-like subtype, which is characterised by poor survival and lack of a specific therapeutic strategy. Although MYC has been considered a driver oncogene in breast cancer, its mechanism of action in tumour initiation has been poorly a…
MYC-driven epigenetic reprogramming favors the onset of tumorigenesis by inducing a stem cell-like state
Breast cancer consists of highly heterogeneous tumors, whose cell of origin and driver oncogenes are difficult to be uniquely defined. Here we report that MYC acts as tumor reprogramming factor in mammary epithelial cells by inducing an alternative epigenetic program, which triggers loss of cell identity and activation of oncogenic pathways. Overexpression of MYC induces transcriptional repression of lineage-specifying transcription factors, causing decommissioning of luminal-specific enhancers. MYC-driven dedifferentiation supports the onset of a stem cell-like state by inducing the activation of de novo enhancers, which drive the transcriptional activation of oncogenic pathways. Furthermo…
Rare ATG7 genetic variants predispose patients to severe fatty liver disease
Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disorders and has a strong heritable component. The aim of this study was to identify new loci that contribute to severe NAFLD by examining rare variants.Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing in in-dividuals with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 301) and examined the enrichment of likely pathogenic rare variants vs. the general population. This was followed by validation at the gene level.Results: In patients with severe NAFLD, we observed an enrichment of the p.P426L variant (rs143545741 C>T; odds ratio [OR] 5.26, 95% CI 2.1-12.6; p = 0.003) of autophagy-rela…