title: DNA methylation of the SLC16A3 promoter regulates expression of the human lactate transporter MCT4 in renal cancer with consequences for clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) is a metabolic target in tumor biology because it mediates lactate transport across membranes resulting in antiapoptotic effects. Cell experiments support the importance of MCT4 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In this study, we assessed the prognostic potential of MCT4 expression in ccRCC and its epigenetic regulation by DNA methylation as novel predictive marker for patient outcome using independent ccRCC cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  MCT4 protein expression was quantified in 207 ccRCC and corresponding nontumor tissues. Data of an independent ccRCC cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed on MCT4 mRNA (n = 482) and DNA methylation (n = 283) level. The findings on MCT4 expression and DNA methylation in the SLC16A3 promoter were validated in a third cohort (n = 64). Promoter activity assays were conducted in four RCC cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCT4 protein expression was upregulated (P < 0.0001) in ccRCC and showed significant association with cancer-related death. Upregulation of MCT4 mRNA expression (P < 0.00001) was confirmed in the TCGA cohort. Single CpG sites correlated inversely with mRNA expression and were associated with overall survival in Kaplan-Meier analyses [HR = 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.24-0.64; P[log-rank] = 1.23e(-04)]. Promoter activity studies confirmed MCT4 regulation by DNA methylation. The significant correlation between MCT4 protein and gene expression or DNA methylation at single CpG sites was validated in a third cohort. Again, higher methylation at individual CpG sites was associated with prolonged survival [HR = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.40; P[log-rank] = 6.91e(-05)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified SLC16A3 promoter DNA methylation as a novel epigenetic mechanism for MCT4 regulation in ccRCC with first evidence of a biological rationale for prognosis and clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Authors' Affiliations: Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany; University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fisel
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kruck
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bedke
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennenlotter
authors.forename: Anne T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Nies
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scharpf
authors.forename: Falko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fend
authors.forename: Arnulf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stenzl
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaeffeler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D027981:Symporters; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C106260:SLC16A3 protein, human; C406962:SLC16A4 protein, human; D027981:Symporters