Microvessel-on-Chip Fabrication for the In Vitro Modeling of Nanomedicine Transport

Tumor-on-chip devices are becoming ideal platforms to recreate in vitro the particular physiological microenvironment of interest for onco-nanomedicine testing and development. This work presents a strategy to produce a round artificial microvessel on-a-chip device for the study of physiologically relevant nanomedicine transport dynamics. The microchannels have a diameter in the range of the tumor capillaries and a semicircular geometry. This geometry is obtained through an intermediate thermal nanoimprint step using a master mold with square-shaped channel structures produced by standard silicon micromachining or by stereolithography three-dimensional (3D) printing. The working microfluidic chip devices are made by casting polydimethylsiloxane on the imprinted intermediate mold. Artificial blood microvessels are created by seeding human endothelial cells into the round-shaped channels acting as the scaffold. The microchip is connected by 3D-printed reservoirs to a pressure controller, allowing for a fine fluidic control. Under physiological flow conditions, the dynamic interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with the artificial endothelium was assessed by high-magnification fluorescence microscopy. Overtime, internalization of NPs and clustering was observed and the accumulation rate into the endothelial cells could be characterized in real time.

Identification of Transcription Factor-Related Gene Signature and Risk Score Model for Colon Adenocarcinoma

The prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains poor. However, the specific and sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of COAD are absent. Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in many biological processes in cells. As the molecule of the signal pathway of the terminal effectors, TFs play important roles in tumorigenesis and development. A growing body of research suggests that aberrant TFs contribute to the development of COAD, as well as to its clinicopathological features and prognosis. In consequence, a few studies have investigated the relationship between the TF-related risk model and the prognosis of COAD. Therefore, in this article, we hope to develop a prognostic risk model based on TFs to predict the prognosis of patients with COAD. The mRNA transcription data and corresponding clinical data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO. Then, 141 differentially expressed genes, validated by the GEPIA2 database, were identified by differential expression analysis between normal and tumor samples. Univariate, multivariate and Lasso Cox regression analysis were performed to identify seven prognostic genes (E2F3, ETS2, HLF, HSF4, KLF4, MEIS2, and TCF7L1). The Kaplan-Meier curve and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC, 1-year AUC: 0.723, 3-year AUC: 0.775, 5-year AUC: 0.786) showed that our model could be used to predict the prognosis of patients with COAD. Multivariate Cox analysis also reported that the risk model is an independent prognostic factor of COAD. The external cohort (GSE17536 and GSE39582) was used to validate our risk model, which indicated that our risk model may be a reliable predictive model for COAD patients. Finally, based on the model and the clinicopathological factors, we constructed a nomogram with a C-index of 0.802. In conclusion, we emphasize the clinical significance of TFs in COAD and construct a prognostic model of TFs, which could provide a novel and reliable model for the prognosis of COAD.

Recognition of Tumor-Associated Antigens and Immune Subtypes in Glioma for mRNA Vaccine Development

Background

Although mRNA vaccines have been efficient for combating a variety of tumors, their effectiveness against glioma remains unclear. There is growing evidence that immunophenotyping can reflect the comprehensive immune status and microenvironment of the tumor, which correlates closely with treatment response and vaccination potency. The purpose of this research was to screen for effective antigens in glioma that could be used for developing mRNA vaccines and to further differentiate the immune subtypes of glioma to create an selection criteria for suitable patients for vaccination.

Methods

Gene expression profiles and clinical data of 698 glioma samples were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and RNA_seq data of 1018 glioma samples was gathered from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis was used to determine differential expression genes and prognostic markers, cBioPortal software was used to verify gene alterations, and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource was used to investigate the relationships among genes and immune infiltrating cells. Consistency clustering was applied for consistent matrix construction and data aggregation, Gene oncology enrichment was performed for functional annotation, and a graph learning-based dimensionality reduction method was applied to describe the subtypes of immunity.

Results

Four overexpressed and mutated tumor antigens associated with poor prognosis and infiltration of antigen presenting cells were identified in glioma, including TP53, IDH1, C3, and TCF12. Besides, four immune subtypes of glioma (IS1-IS4) and 10 immune gene modules were identified consistently in the TCGA data. The immune subtypes had diverse molecular, cellular, and clinical features. IS1 and IS4 displayed an immune-activating phenotype and were associated with worse survival than the other two subtypes, while IS2 and IS3 had lower levels of tumor immune infiltration. Immunogenic cell death regulators and immune checkpoints were also diversely expressed in the four immune subtypes.

Conclusion

TP53, IDH1, C3, and TCF12 are effective antigens for the development of anti-glioma mRNA vaccines. We found four stable and repeatable immune subtypes of human glioma, the classification of the immune subtypes of glioma may play a crucial role in the predicting mRNA vaccine outcome.

High-dimensional profiling reveals phenotypic heterogeneity and disease-specific alterations of granulocytes in COVID-19

Accumulating evidence shows that granulocytes are key modulators of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their dysregulation could significantly impact COVID-19 severity and patient recovery after virus clearance. In the present study, we identify selected immune traits in neutrophil, eosinophil, and basophil subsets associated with severity of COVID-19 and with peripheral protein profiles. Moreover, computational modeling indicates that the combined use of phenotypic data and laboratory measurements can effectively predict key clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Finally, patient-matched longitudinal analysis shows phenotypic normalization of granulocyte subsets 4 mo after hospitalization. Overall, in this work, we extend the current understanding of the distinct contribution of granulocyte subsets to COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing evidence suggests that the innate immune responses play an important role in the disease development. A dysregulated inflammatory state has been proposed as a key driver of clinical complications in COVID-19, with a potential detrimental role of granulocytes. However, a comprehensive phenotypic description of circulating granulocytes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)−infected patients is lacking. In this study, we used high-dimensional flow cytometry for granulocyte immunophenotyping in peripheral blood collected from COVID-19 patients during acute and convalescent phases. Severe COVID-19 was associated with increased levels of both mature and immature neutrophils, and decreased counts of eosinophils and basophils. Distinct immunotypes were evident in COVID-19 patients, with altered expression of several receptors involved in activation, adhesion, and migration of granulocytes (e.g., CD62L, CD11a/b, CD69, CD63, CXCR4). Paired sampling revealed recovery and phenotypic restoration of the granulocytic signature in the convalescent phase. The identified granulocyte immunotypes correlated with distinct sets of soluble inflammatory markers, supporting pathophysiologic relevance. Furthermore, clinical features, including multiorgan dysfunction and respiratory function, could be predicted using combined laboratory measurements and immunophenotyping. This study provides a comprehensive granulocyte characterization in COVID-19 and reveals specific immunotypes with potential predictive value for key clinical features associated with COVID-19.

Cell-Free DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Dogs With Tumors

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is derived from apoptosis/necrosis, active cellular secretion, and lysis of circulating cancer cells or micrometastases. In humans, cfDNA is widely used in cancer diagnosis, but veterinary research has yet to be actively conducted to establish it as a cancer biomarker. This retrospective study analyzed cfDNA levels in samples collected from dogs with neoplastic disease (n = 38), clinically ill dogs without neoplasia (n = 47), and healthy dogs (n = 35). cfDNA levels and clinical data were compared among groups, and prognostic analyses were performed within the neoplastic group. Furthermore, continual cfDNA measurements were performed during the chemotherapy of six dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with neoplasia showed significantly higher cfDNA concentrations than dogs without neoplasm, and the cfDNA oncentration in the lymphoid neoplasia group was significantly elevated among all neoplastic groups. Dogs with neoplasia and a plasma cfDNA concentration above 1,247.5 μg/L had shorter survival rates than those with levels below this threshold (26.5 vs. 86.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). In cases with complete remission in response to chemotherapy, the cfDNA concentration was significantly decreased compared with the first visit, whereas the cfDNA concentration was increased in cases with disease progression or death. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between lymph node diameter and cfDNA concentration in dogs with multicentric lymphoma (R² = 0.26, P < 0.01). These data suggest that changes in cfDNA concentration could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for canine neoplasia. Furthermore, increased plasma DNA levels might be associated with shorter survival time, and cfDNA concentrations may reflect the response to chemotherapy.

The miR-27a/FOXJ3 Axis Dysregulates Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Simple Summary

Cellular and mitochondrial metabolism can be dysregulated during tumorigenesis. miR-27a plays a central role in redirecting cell metabolism in colorectal cancer. In this study, we searched for new miR-27a targets that could influence mitochondria and identified FOXJ3 a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. We validated FOXJ3 as an miR-27a target in an in vitro cell model system that was genetically modified for miR-27a expression and showed that the miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis down-modulates mitochondrial biogenesis and regulates other members of the pathway. The miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis also influences mitochondrial dynamics, superoxide production, respiration capacity, and membrane potential. A mouse xenograft model confirmed that miR-27a downregulates FOXJ3 in vivo and a survey of the TCGA-COADREAD dataset supported the inverse relationship of FOXJ3 with miR-27a and the impact on mitochondrial biogenesis. The miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis is a major actor in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, and its discovery may contribute to therapeutic strategies aimed at restraining tumor growth by targeting mitochondrial activities.

Abstract

miR-27a plays a driver role in rewiring tumor cell metabolism. We searched for new miR-27a targets that could affect mitochondria and identified FOXJ3, an apical factor of mitochondrial biogenesis. We analyzed FOXJ3 levels in an in vitro cell model system that was genetically modified for miR-27a expression and validated it as an miR-27a target. We showed that the miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis down-modulates mitochondrial biogenesis and other key members of the pathway, implying multiple levels of control. As assessed by specific markers, the miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis also dysregulates mitochondrial dynamics, resulting in fewer, short, and punctate organelles. Consistently, in high miR-27a-/low FOXJ3-expressing cells, mitochondria are functionally characterized by lower superoxide production, respiration capacity, and membrane potential, as evaluated by OCR assays and confocal microscopy. The analysis of a mouse xenograft model confirmed FOXJ3 as a target and suggested that the miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis affects mitochondrial abundance in vivo. A survey of the TCGA-COADREAD dataset supported the inverse relationship of FOXJ3 with miR-27a and reinforced cellular component organization or biogenesis as the most affected pathway. The miR-27a/FOXJ3 axis acts as a central hub in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. Its discovery paves the way for new therapeutic strategies aimed at restraining tumor growth by targeting mitochondrial activities.

The Feasibility of Using Biomarkers Derived from Circulating Tumor DNA Sequencing as Predictive Classifiers in Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose

To investigate the feasibility of biomarkers based on dynamic circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to classify small cell lung cancer (SCLC) into different subtypes.

Materials and Methods

Tumor and longitudinal plasma ctDNA samples were analyzed by next-generation sequencing of 1,021 genes. PyClone was used to infer the molecular tumor burden index (mTBI). Pre-treatment tumor tissues [T1] and serial plasma samples were collected (pre-treatment [B1], after two [B2], six [B3] cycles of chemotherapy and at progression [B4]).

Results

Overall concordance between T1 and B1 sequencing (n=30) was 66.5%, and 89.5% in the gene of RB1. A classification method was designed according to the changes of RB1 mutation, named as subtype Ⅰ (both positive at B1 and B2), subtype Ⅱ (positive at B1 but negative at B2), and subtype Ⅲ (both negative at B1 and B2). The median progressive-free survival for subtype Ⅰ patients (4.5 months [95%CI: 2.6-5.8]) was inferior to subtype Ⅱ (not reached, p<0.0001) and subtype Ⅲ (10.8 months [95%CI: 6.0-14.4], p=0.002). The median overall survival for subtype Ⅰ patients (16.3 months [95%CI: 5.3-22.9]) was inferior to subtype Ⅱ (not reached, p=0.01) and subtype Ⅲ (not reached, p=0.02). Patients with a mTBI dropped to zero at B2 had longer median overall survival (not reached vs. 19.5 months, p=0.01). The changes of mTBI from B4 to B1 were sensitive to predict new metastases, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85.7%.

Conclusion

Monitoring ctDNA based RB1 mutation and mTBI provided a feasible tool to predict the prognosis of SCLC.

Longitudinal FRET Imaging of Glucose and Lactate Dynamics and Response to Therapy in Breast Cancer Cells

PURPOSE

The reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. The ability to noninvasively assay glucose and lactate concentrations in cancer cells would improve our understanding of the dynamic changes in metabolic activity accompanying tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapy. Unfortunately, common approaches for measuring these nutrient levels are invasive or interrupt cell growth. This study transfected FRET reporters quantifying glucose and lactate concentration into breast cancer cell lines to study nutrient dynamics and response to therapy.

PROCEDURES

Two FRET reporters, one assaying glucose concentration and one assaying lactate concentration, were stably transfected into the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Correlation between FRET measurements and ligand concentration were measured using a confocal microscope and a cell imaging plate reader. Longitudinal changes in glucose and lactate concentration were measured in response to treatment with CoCl₂, cytochalasin B, and phloretin which, respectively, induce hypoxia, block glucose uptake, and block glucose and lactate transport.

RESULTS

The FRET ratio from the glucose and lactate reporters increased with increasing concentration of the corresponding ligand (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). The FRET ratio from both reporters was found to decrease over time for high initial concentrations of the ligand (p < 0.01). Significant differences in the FRET ratio corresponding to metabolic inhibition were found when cells were treated with glucose/lactate transporter inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

FRET reporters can track intracellular glucose and lactate dynamics in cancer cells, providing insight into tumor metabolism and response to therapy over time.

Design and Optimization of the Circulatory Cell-Driven Drug Delivery Platform

Achievement of high targeting efficiency for a drug delivery system remains a challenge of tumor diagnoses and nonsurgery therapies. Although nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have made great progress in extending circulation time, improving durability, and controlling drug release, the targeting efficiency remains low. And the development is limited to reducing side effects since overall survival rates are mostly unchanged. Therefore, great efforts have been made to explore cell-driven drug delivery systems in the tumor area. Cells, particularly those in the blood circulatory system, meet most of the demands that the nanoparticle-based delivery systems do not. These cells possess extended circulation times and innate chemomigration ability and can activate an immune response that exerts therapeutic effects. However, new challenges have emerged, such as payloads, cell function change, cargo leakage, and in situ release. Generally, employing cells from the blood circulatory system as cargo carriers has achieved great benefits and paved the way for tumor diagnosis and therapy. This review specifically covers (a) the properties of red blood cells, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells; (b) the loading strategies to balance cargo amounts and cell function balance; (c) the cascade strategies to improve cell-driven targeting delivery efficiency; and (d) the features and applications of cell membranes, artificial cells, and extracellular vesicles in cancer treatment.

Purification of Colon Carcinoma Cells from Primary Colon Tumor Using a Filtration Method via Porous Polymeric Filters

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer-initiating cells (CICs) are key factors for tumor generation and metastasis. We investigated a filtration method to enhance CSCs (CICs) from colon carcinoma HT-29 cells and primary colon carcinoma cells derived from patient colon tumors using poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid)/silk screen (PLGA/SK) filters. The colon carcinoma cell solutions were permeated via porous filters to obtain a permeation solution. Then, the cell cultivation media were permeated via the filters to obtain the recovered solution, where the colon carcinoma cells that adhered to the filters were washed off into the recovered solution. Subsequently, the filters were incubated in the culture media to obtain the migrated cells via the filters. Colon carcinoma HT-29 cells with high tumorigenicity, which might be CSCs (CICs), were enhanced in the cells in the recovered solution and in the migrated cells based on the CSC (CIC) marker expression, colony-forming unit assay, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) production. Although primary colon carcinoma cells isolated from colon tumor tissues contained fibroblast-like cells, the primary colon carcinoma cells were purified from fibroblast-like cells by filtration through PLGA/SK filters, indicating that the filtration method is effective in purifying primary colon carcinoma cells.

Absolute lymphocyte count is an independent predictor of survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab

OBJECTIVE

Programmed cell death-1 antibody therapy has demonstrated improved progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, there are limited studies on biomarkers that can predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. We examined the influence of peripheral inflammatory biomarkers on the clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab.

METHODS

Data of 38 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, who were treated with nivolumab monotherapy after receiving at least one molecular targeted therapy from November 2016 to February 2021, were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS

Median progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in patients with low absolute lymphocyte count (<1300/μl) versus those with high absolute lymphocyte count (progression-free survival: P = 0.0102; overall survival: P = 0.0026). Median overall survival was shorter in patients with high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (≥3.0) versus those with low neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.0344). Multivariate analysis showed that absolute lymphocyte count was an independent factor for progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.332, 95% confidence interval = 1.012-5.375, P = 0.0468) and overall survival (hazard ratio = 4.153, 95% confidence interval = 1.108-15.570, P = 0.0347). Increased absolute lymphocyte count, 1 month after nivolumab initiation, was a positive predictive factor for progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 0.419, 95% confidence interval = 0.189-0.926, P = 0.0317) and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.285, 95% confidence interval = 0.091-0.890, P = 0.0308).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that peripheral absolute lymphocyte count, before nivolumab initiation, is a predictor of poor response in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Additionally, increased absolute lymphocyte count, 1 month post-nivolumab initiation, can be a predictor of the effects of nivolumab.

Mitonuclear Interactions Produce Diverging Responses to Mild Stress in Drosophila Larvae

Mitochondrial function depends on direct interactions between respiratory proteins encoded by genes in two genomes, mitochondrial and nuclear, which evolve in very different ways. Serious incompatibilities between these genomes can have severe effects on development, fitness and viability. The effect of subtle mitonuclear mismatches has received less attention, especially when subject to mild physiological stress. Here, we investigate how two distinct physiological stresses, metabolic stress (high-protein diet) and redox stress [the glutathione precursor N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)], affect development time, egg-to-adult viability, and the mitochondrial physiology of Drosophila larvae with an isogenic nuclear background set against three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes: one coevolved (WT) and two slightly mismatched (COX and BAR). Larvae fed the high-protein diet developed faster and had greater viability in all haplotypes. The opposite was true of NAC-fed flies, especially those with the COX haplotype. Unexpectedly, the slightly mismatched BAR larvae developed fastest and were the most viable on both treatments, as well as control diets. These changes in larval development were linked to a shift to complex I-driven mitochondrial respiration in all haplotypes on the high-protein diet. In contrast, NAC increased respiration in COX larvae but drove a shift toward oxidation of proline and succinate. The flux of reactive oxygen species was increased in COX larvae treated with NAC and was associated with an increase in mtDNA copy number. Our results support the notion that subtle mitonuclear mismatches can lead to diverging responses to mild physiological stress, undermining fitness in some cases, but surprisingly improving outcomes in other ostensibly mismatched fly lines.

Previous Extrapulmonary Malignancies Impact Outcomes in Patients With Surgically Resected Lung Cancer

Background: As the overall survival of patients with cancer continues to improve, the incidence of second primary malignancies seems to be increasing. Previous studies have shown controversial results regarding the survival of patients with primary lung cancer with previous extrapulmonary malignancies. This study aimed to determine the clinical picture and outcomes of this particular subgroup of patients. Materials and Methods: We included 2,408 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer at our institute between January 1, 2011 and December 30, 2017 in this retrospective study. Medical records were extracted and clinicopathological parameters and postoperative prognoses were compared between patients with lung cancer with and without previous extrapulmonary malignancies. Results: There were 200 (8.3%) patients with previous extrapulmonary malignancies. Breast cancer (30.5%), gastrointestinal cancer (17%), and thyroid cancer (9%) were the most common previous extrapulmonary malignancies. Age, sex, a family history of lung cancer, and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels were significantly different between the two groups. Patients with previous breast or thyroid cancer had significantly better overall survival than those without previous malignancies. Conversely, patients with other previous extrapulmonary malignancies had significantly poorer overall survival (p < 0.001). The interval between the two cancer diagnoses did not significantly correlate with clinical outcome. Conclusion: Although overall survival was lower in patients with previous extrapulmonary malignancies, previous breast or thyroid cancer did not increase mortality. Our findings may help surgeons to predict prognosis in this subgroup of patients with primary lung cancer.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Cell Synchronization Protocols Based on Inhibition of DNA Synthesis

Synchronous cell populations are commonly used for the analysis of various aspects of cellular metabolism at specific stages of the cell cycle. Cell synchronization at a chosen cell cycle stage is most frequently achieved by inhibition of specific metabolic pathway(s). In this respect, various protocols have been developed to synchronize cells in particular cell cycle stages. In this review, we provide an overview of the protocols for cell synchronization of mammalian cells based on the inhibition of synthesis of DNA building blocks-deoxynucleotides and/or inhibition of DNA synthesis. The mechanism of action, examples of their use, and advantages and disadvantages are described with the aim of providing a guide for the selection of suitable protocol for different studied situations.

Non-Coding RNA Polymorphisms (rs2910164 and rs1333049) Associated With Prognosis of Lung Cancer Under Platinum-Based Chemotherapy

Purpose: Lung cancer is the largest cause of cancer deaths in the world. Platinum-based chemotherapy is a foundation of first-line chemotherapy. However, the prognosis of lung cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy is still a challenge. Single nucleotide polymorphism of non-coding RNA has the potential to be a biomarker, but its effectiveness has yet to be comprehensively assessed. In this study, we explored the association between polymorphisms of non-coding RNA and prognosis of lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.

Materials and Methods: For 446 lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms of microRNA and long noncoding RNA were genotyped by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier method, and long-rank test have been performed to assess the association of overall and progression-free survival with polymorphisms.

Results: In the additive and dominant models, genetic polymorphism of ANRIL rs1333049 (G > C) was significantly associated with progression-free survival. Additive model: CC vs GC vs GG [HR = 0.84, p = 0.021, 95% CI (0.73–0.97)]; Recessive model: CC vs GG + GC [HR = 0.77, p = 0.026, 95% CI (0.61–0.97)]. In the dominant model, compared with the CC genotype patients, lower risk of death [HR = 0.81, p = 0.036, 95% CI (0.66–0.99)] and lower risk of progression [HR = 0.81, p = 0.040, 95% CI (0.67–0.99)] have been observed on the patients with CG or GG genotype in miR-146A rs2910164.

Conclusion: Our research demonstrated the potential of using ANRIL rs1333049 (G > C) and miR-146A rs2910164 (C > G) as biomarkers to support the prediction of a better prognosis for lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.

A novel prognostic signature based on immune-related genes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presents a great clinical challenge and has a poor prognosis, with immune-related genes playing a crucial role. We aimed to develop an immune-related prognostic signature for improving prognosis prediction in DLBCL. Samples from the GSE31312 dataset were randomly allocated to discovery and internal validation cohorts. Univariate Cox, random forest, LASSO regression and multivariate Cox analyses were utilized to develop a prognostic signature, which was verified in the internal validation cohort, entire validation cohort and external validation cohort (GSE10846). The tumor microenvironment was investigated using the CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE tools. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was further applied to analyze the entire GSE31312 cohort. We identified four immune-related genes (CD48, IL1RL, PSDM3, RXFP3) significantly associated with overall survival. Based on discovery and validation cohort analyses, this four-gene signature could classify patients into high- and low-risk groups, with significantly different prognoses. Activated memory CD4 T cells and activated dendritic cells were significantly decreased in the high-risk group, and these patients had lower immune scores. GSEA revealed enrichment of signaling pathways, such as T cell receptor, antigen receptor-mediated, antigen processing and presentation of peptide antigen via MHC class I, in the low-risk group. In conclusion, a robust signature based on four immune-related genes was successfully constructed for predicting prognosis in DLBCL patients.

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs on Akt Signaling for Prevention of Tumorigenesis

Cholesterol has been reported to be accumulated in cancer cells. The metabolic dysregulation of the cholesterol is associated with tumor development and progression. The cholesterol-lowering drugs have been found to be involved in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. Akt, a serine/threonine kinase, can modulate the role of several downstream proteins involved in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metabolism, and apoptosis. Since its involvement in several signaling pathways, its dysregulation is commonly reported in several cancers. Thus, targeting Akt could be an effective approach for cancer prevention and therapy. Cholesterol-lowering drugs have been found to affect the expression of Akt, and its activation in the cancer cells and thus have shown anticancer activity in different type of cancers. These drugs act on various signaling pathways such as PTEN/Akt, PI3k/Akt, Akt/NF-κB, Akt/FOXO1, Akt/mTOR, etc., which will be discussed in this article. This review article will discuss the significance of cholesterol in cancer cells, cholesterol-lowering drugs, the role of Akt in cancer cells, and the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs on Akt in the prevention of therapy resistance and metastasis.

p53 transcriptionally regulates SQLE to repress cholesterol synthesis and tumor growth

Cholesterol is essential for membrane biogenesis, cell proliferation, and differentiation. The role of cholesterol in cancer development and the regulation of cholesterol synthesis are still under active investigation. Here we show that under normal-sterol conditions, p53 directly represses the expression of SQLE, a rate-limiting and the first oxygenation enzyme in cholesterol synthesis, in a SREBP2-independent manner. Through transcriptional downregulation of SQLE, p53 represses cholesterol production in vivo and in vitro, leading to tumor growth suppression. Inhibition of SQLE using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or terbinafine (a SQLE inhibitor) reverses the increased cell proliferation caused by p53 deficiency. Conversely, SQLE overexpression or cholesterol addition promotes cell proliferation, particularly in p53 wild-type cells. More importantly, pharmacological inhibition or shRNA-mediated silencing of SQLE restricts nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-induced liver tumorigenesis in p53 knockout mice. Therefore, our findings reveal a role for p53 in regulating SQLE and cholesterol biosynthesis, and further demonstrate that downregulation of SQLE is critical for p53-mediated tumor suppression.

Recent Advances in Repurposing Disulfiram and Disulfiram Derivatives as Copper-Dependent Anticancer Agents

Copper (Cu) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by acting as a co-factor that regulates the activity of many enzymes and structural proteins in cancer cells. Therefore, Cu-based complexes have been investigated as novel anticancer metallodrugs and are considered as a complementary strategy for currently used platinum agents with undesirable general toxicity. Due to the high failure rate and increased cost of new drugs, there is a global drive towards the repositioning of known drugs for cancer treatment in recent years. Disulfiram (DSF) is a first-line antialcoholism drug used in clinics for more than 65 yr. In combination with Cu, it has shown great potential as an anticancer drug by targeting a wide range of cancers. The reaction between DSF and Cu ions forms a copper diethyldithiocarbamate complex (Cu(DDC)₂ also known as CuET) which is the active, potent anticancer ingredient through inhibition of NF-κB and ubiquitin-proteasome system as well as alteration of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, DSF/Cu inhibits several molecular targets related to drug resistance, stemness, angiogenesis and metastasis and is thus considered as a novel strategy for overcoming tumour recurrence and relapse in patients. Despite its excellent anticancer efficacy, DSF has proven unsuccessful in several cancer clinical trials. This is likely due to the poor stability, rapid metabolism and/or short plasma half-life of the currently used oral version of DSF and the inability to form Cu(DDC)₂ at relevant concentrations in tumour tissues. Here, we summarize the scientific rationale, molecular targets, and mechanisms of action of DSF/Cu in cancer cells and the outcomes of oral DSF ± Cu in cancer clinical trials. We will focus on the novel insights on harnessing the immune system and hypoxic microenvironment using DSF/Cu complex and discuss the emerging delivery strategies that can overcome the shortcomings of DSF-based anticancer therapies and provide opportunities for translation of DSF/Cu or its Cu(DDC)₂ complex into cancer therapeutics.

Identification of Mutation Landscape and Immune Cell Component for Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma Highlights Potential Therapeutic Targets and Prognostic Markers

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a primary malignancy, and there is a lack of effective treatment for advanced patients. Although numerous studies exist to reveal the carcinogenic mechanism of LIHC, few studies have integrated multi-omics data to systematically analyze pathogenesis and reveal potential therapeutic targets. Here, we integrated genomic variation data and RNA-seq profiles obtained by high-throughput sequencing to define high- and low-genomic instability samples. The mutational landscape was reported, and the advanced patients of LIHC were characterized by high-genomic instability. We found that the tumor microenvironment underwent metabolic reprograming driven by mutations accumulate to satisfy tumor proliferation and invasion. Further, the co-expression network identifies three mutant long non-coding RNAs as potential therapeutic targets, which can promote tumor progression by participating in specific carcinogenic mechanisms. Then, five potential prognostic markers (RP11-502I4.3, SPINK5, CHRM3, SLC5A12, and RP11-467L13.7) were identified by examining the association of genes and patient survival. By characterizing the immune landscape of LIHC, loss of immunogenicity was revealed as a key factor of immune checkpoint suppression. Macrophages were found to be significantly associated with patient risk scores, and high levels of macrophages accelerated patient mortality. In summary, the mutation-driven mechanism and immune landscape of LIHC revealed by this study will serve precision medicine.

c-FOS drives reversible basal to squamous cell carcinoma transition

While squamous transdifferentiation within subpopulations of adenocarcinomas represents an important drug resistance problem, its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, using surface markers of resistant basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and patient single-cell and bulk transcriptomic data, we uncover the dynamic roadmap of basal to squamous cell carcinoma transition (BST). Experimentally induced BST identifies activator protein 1 (AP-1) family members in regulating tumor plasticity, and we show that c-FOS plays a central role in BST by regulating the accessibility of distinct AP-1 regulatory elements. Remarkably, despite prominent changes in cell morphology and BST marker expression, we show using inducible model systems that c-FOS-mediated BST demonstrates reversibility. Blocking EGFR pathway activation after c-FOS induction partially reverts BST in vitro and prevents BST features in both mouse models and human tumors. Thus, by identifying the molecular basis of BST, our work reveals a therapeutic opportunity targeting plasticity as a mechanism of tumor resistance.

Development of a FOXM1-DBD Binding Assay for High-Throughput Screening Using TR-FRET Assay

Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) technology has been widely employed for the analysis of transcription factors such as Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1). However, the application of high-throughput screening (HTS) in performing, such analyses are limited as it uses time consuming electrophoresis procedure and radioisotopes. In this study, we developed a FOXM1-DNA binding domain (DBD) binding assay based on time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET) that enables HTS for the inhibitors of FOXM1-DNA interaction. This assay was robust, highly reproducible and could be easily miniaturized into 384-well plate format. The signal-to-background (S/B) ratio and Z' factor were calculated as 7.46 and 0.74, respectively, via a series of optimization of the assay conditions. A pilot library screening of 1019 natural compounds was performed using the FOXM1-DBD binding assay. Five hit compounds, namely, AC1LXM, BRN5, gangaleoidin, leoidin, and roemerine were identified as the inhibitors of FOXM1. In a cell viability assay, it was demonstrated that cell proliferation of FOXM1 overexpressed cell lines was suppressed in cell lines such as MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 by five hit compounds. These results indicate that developed FOXM1-DBD binding assay can be applied to highly efficiency HTS of compound libraries.

Weakly Acidic pH and Reduction Dual Stimuli-Responsive Gel Particles

This paper reports the facile preparation of dual stimuli-responsive gel particles that simultaneously respond to weakly acidic and reducing stimuli and the application of these gel particles as a drug delivery carrier. The dual stimuli-responsive gel particles composed of a pH-responsive polymer network cross-linked with reduction stimuli-responsive disulfide cross-links, and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) cross-links were prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization. The resulting gel particles were colloidally stable at physiological ionic strength and had a diameter of approximately 200 nm with a narrow size distribution. The resulting gel particles slightly swelled in an acidic environment. On the other hand, the gel particles drastically swelled under simultaneous weakly acidic and reducing conditions because of the ionization of tertiary amino groups in the gel network and a decrease in the cross-linking density resulting from cleavage of the disulfide cross-links. When cells were treated with the gel particles, they were taken up by cells via the endocytosis pathway and distributed in the cytosol after endosomal escape by the proton sponge effect. In addition, a hydrophobic drug, doxorubicin (Dox), was loaded into the gel particles through hydrophobic interactions. Dox was released from the gel particles under weakly acidic and reducing conditions, while the Dox release was inhibited at neutral pH. The weakly acidic pH- and reduction stimuli-responsive release of Dox from gel particles was attributed to the drastic swelling of these particles. The fascinating properties of the dual stimuli-responsive gel particles suggest that they can provide a useful platform for designing intracellular drug delivery carriers.

Partial response of metastatic cardia neuroendocrine carcinoma with the combined therapy involving PD-1 blockade after failed multi-line chemotherapies: a case report and literature review

Cardia neuroendocrine cancer is a rare malignant tumor. The treatment regimens mainly refer to the small-cell lung cancer diagnosis and treatment guidelines and there is no standard treatment guideline specifically for neuroendocrine cancer. The use of albumin paclitaxel plus carboplatin combined with sintilimab for refractory cardia neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) has never been reported. This article reported a case that a 68-year-old man presented with belching without obvious reasons who was diagnosed with refractory cardia NEC by gastroscopy and pathological results. After failure of multi-line therapy including etoposide plus cisplatin as the first-line therapy, surufatinib plus toripalimab as the second-line therapy, FOLFIRI combined with bevacizumab as the third-line therapy, he received three cycles of albumin paclitaxel plus carboplatin combined with sintilimab as the fourth-line therapy and still obtained partial response of good efficiency. After the patient received this treatment regimen, the symptoms of dysphagia disappeared and the change trends of neuron-specific enolase were decreased. The computed tomography (CT) examination after three cycles of treatment was performed to show that the measured lesions have shrunk by more than 30% compared to the baseline CT. Additionally, there were no other adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, except for grade III bone marrow suppression. At present, the patient is still being treated. This is the first case report that the albumin paclitaxel plus carboplatin combined with sintilimab has achieved good efficacy after failure of multi-line treatment of cardia NEC. It is very necessary to further explore the effectiveness and safety of this regimen in the treatment of NEC.

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is a rare genetic disorder associated with basal cell carcinomas (BCC), skeletal anomalies, and jaw cysts, and a number of ocular abnormalities. We describe a case of a 12-year-old boy diagnosed with NBCCS found to have several ophthalmic manifestations including a myelinated retinal nerve fiber. We conducted a literature review targeting the ocular and systemic manifestations of NBCCS, with a focus on the ophthalmic findings that have not been well characterized.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a literature search from 1960 to 2021 utilizing specific keywords and criteria and excluded non-clinical articles. A total of 46 articles were ultimately used for the literature review.

RESULTS

In NBCCS, BCCs typically present before the age of 30 and gradually become numerous. Certain ocular features, less common in the general population, are much more common with NBCCS. Depending on the study, prevalence of these features in patients with NBCCS ranges from 26-80% for hypertelorism and 7-36% for myelinated retinal nerve fiber layer. Prevalence of nystagmus in patients with NBCCS was found to be approximately 6%. Systemic findings such as bilamellar calcification of the falx cerebri, palmar pits, and odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are also prevalent.

CONCLUSION

NBCCS may affect numerous organ systems, and thus requires a multidisciplinary team to manage. BCCs and jaw cysts are commonly occurring clinical features that have various surgical excisional options. The ocular anomalies of NBCCS are individually rare, and certain anomalies may present in the amblyogenic period of development and contribute to visual impairment.

Stingless Bee Propolis: New Insights for Anticancer Drugs

Natural products are important sources of biomolecules possessing antitumor activity and can be used as anticancer drug prototypes. The rich biodiversity of tropical and subtropical regions of the world provides considerable bioprospecting potential, including the potential of propolis produced by stingless bee species. Investigations of the potential of these products are extremely important, not only for providing a scientific basis for their use as adjuvants for existing drug therapies but also as a source of new and potent anticancer drugs. In this context, this article organizes the main studies describing the anticancer potential of propolis from different species of stingless bees with an emphasis on the chemical compounds, mechanisms of action, and cell death profiles. These mechanisms include apoptotic events; modulation of BAX, BAD, BCL2-L1 (BCL-2 like 1), and BCL-2; depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane; increased caspase-3 activity; poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage; and cell death induction by necroptosis via receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) activation. Additionally, the correlation between compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential is demonstrated that help in the prevention of cancer development. In summary, we highlight the important antitumor potential of propolis from stingless bees, but further preclinical and clinical trials are needed to explore the selectivity, efficacy, and safety of propolis.

Targeting lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 triggers autophagic program in esophageal cancer

Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process to maintain cellular homeostasis. However, dysfunctional autophagy contributes to a context-dependent role in cancer. Here, we clarified the exact role of autophagy modulated by the scavenger receptor lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in esophageal cancer (EC). A comprehensive analysis in various cancers displayed that LOX-1 was upregulated the most in EC tissues and associated with poor prognosis of patients. Deletion of LOX-1 ex vivo and in vivo suppresses EC development by inducing autophagic cell death. Receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) was identified as a signal adapter of LOX-1, which incented RAS/MEK/ERK pathway and TFEB nuclear export signal and safeguarded tumorigenesis. A sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan extracted from brown seaweed was found to bind with LOX-1 and mediate its proteasomal degradation but not the lysosome pathway, leading to autophagy-related cell death in EC. These results reveal a central contribution of LOX-1 to EC development and provide genetic ablation or bioactive polysaccharide as an effective intervention for EC therapy.

The network pharmacology integrated with pharmacokinetics to clarify the pharmacological mechanism of absorbed components from Viticis fructus extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Viticis fructus (VF) has been widely used in alleviating the swelling and pain, owning to its pharmacologically active components including agnuside, 10-O-vanilloylaucubin, luteolin and casticin.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The pharmacokinetic profiles of the absorbed components from aqueous and ethanolic extracts of VF in rat plasma were performed, and explored the molecular mechanisms of absorbed components via network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS) was employed to identify the absorbed components from rat plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was used to purify the plasma samples. Plasma pharmacokinetics parameters of the components absorbed were analyzed after oral administration of both extracts. Network pharmacology was used to predict the biological functions and potential signaling pathways of VF. The anti-cancer effects of VF extract and absorbed components have been confirmed by in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The method was very sensitive with lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 1.0, 2.5, 0.2 and 0.5 ng/mL for agnuside, 10-O-vanilloylaucubin, luteolin and casticin, respectively. With the exception of 10-O-vanilloylaucubin which was not detected in the ethanolic extract of VF, all other components were detected in both extracts in plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the four components from rat plasma were significantly different between the two extracts. According to the results of network pharmacology, the absorption components of VF are enriched in 32 key pathways, and 15 pathways are related to cancer. Ultimately, the anti-cancer effects, as well as the signaling pathways of VF ethanolic extract and absorbed components were verified by in vitro experiments.

CONCLUSION

The optimized, sensitive and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied for the plasma pharmacokinetics comparison analysis of the two VF extracts. The combination of network pharmacology and pharmacokinetics provides a useful method to elucidate the biological effects and molecular mechanism of the absorbed components of VF.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Prognostic Significance of Hsa-miR-100-5p and Its Related Gene Signature in Stomach Adenocarcinoma

Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is one of the most common cancers in the world. However, the prognosis of STAD remains poor, and the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and immunotherapy varies from person to person. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in tumor development and metastasis and can be used for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, hsa-miR-100-5p was identified as the only dysregulated miRNA in STAD samples through an analysis of three miRNA expression matrices. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to select hsa-miR-100-5p-related genes. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to establish a miR-100-5p-related prognostic signature. Kaplan–Meier analyses, nomograms, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic signature, which was subsequently identified as an independent risk factor for STAD patients. We investigated the tumor immune environment between low- and high-risk groups and found that, among component types, M2 macrophages contributed the most to the difference between these groups. A drug sensitivity analysis suggested that patients with high-risk scores may be more sensitive to docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy and that patients in the low-risk group may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Finally, external cohorts were evaluated to validate the robustness of the prognostic signature. In summary, this study may provide new ideas for developing more individualized therapeutic strategies for STAD patients.

Anticancer Effects of the Corchorus olitorius Aqueous Extract and Its Bioactive Compounds on Human Cancer Cell Lines

Corchorus olitorius is a common, leafy vegetable locally known as “Saluyot” in the Philippines. Several studies have reported on its various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer properties. However, little is known about its effects on angiogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer properties, such as the antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antitumor activities, of the C. olitorius aqueous extract (CO) and its bioactive compounds, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and isoquercetin (IQ), against human melanoma (A-375), gastric cancer (AGS), and pancreatic cancer (SUIT-2), using in vitro and in ovo biological assays. The detection and quantification of CGA and IQ in CO were achieved using LC-MS/MS analysis. The antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antitumor activities of CO, CGA, and IQ against A-375, AGS, and SUIT-2 cancer cell lines were evaluated using MTT and CAM assays. CGA and IQ were confirmed to be present in CO. CO, CGA, and IQ significantly inhibited the proliferation of A-375, AGS, and SUIT-2 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner after 48 h of treatment. Tumor angiogenesis (hemoglobin levels) of A-375 and AGS tumors was significantly inhibited by CO, CGA, IQ, and a CGA–IQ combination. The growth of implanted A-375 and AGS tumors was significantly reduced by CO, CGA, IQ, and a CGA–IQ combination, as measured in tumor weight. Our investigation provides new evidence to show that CO has promising anticancer effects on various types of human cancer cells. CO and its compounds are potential nutraceutical products that could be used for cancer treatment.

Autophagy provides a conceptual therapeutic framework for bone metastasis from prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a common malignant tumor, which can spread to multiple organs in the body. Metastatic disease is the dominant reason of death for patients with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually transfers to bone. Bone metastases are related to pathologic fracture, pain, and reduced survival. There are many known targets for prostate cancer treatment, including androgen receptor (AR) axis, but drug resistance and metastasis eventually develop in advanced disease, suggesting the necessity to better understand the resistance mechanisms and consider multi-target medical treatment. Because of the limitations of approved treatments, further research into other potential targets is necessary. Metastasis is an important marker of cancer development, involving numerous factors, such as AKT, EMT, ECM, tumor angiogenesis, the development of inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and defect in programmed cell death. In tumor metastasis, programmed cell death (autophagy, apoptosis, and necroptosis) plays a key role. Malignant cancer cells have to overcome the different forms of cell death to transfer. The article sums up the recent studies on the mechanism of bone metastasis involving key regulatory factors such as macrophages and AKT and further discusses as to how regulating autophagy is crucial in relieving prostate cancer bone metastasis.

Impact of the ileal microbiota on colon cancer

Besides tumor cell-intrinsic oncogenic pathways, host and environmental factors have a major impact on cancer immunosurveillance and the efficacy of immunotherapeutics. Several modalities of anticancer treatments including immunogenic chemotherapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors lose their efficacy in patients treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, pointing to a key role for the gut microbiota. The complex interactions between intestinal microbes, gut immunity and anti-tumor responses constitute an emerging field of investigation. In this work, we revise key primary literature, with an emphasis on recent mechanistic insights, unraveling the interplay between the immunosurveillance of colon cancers and ileal factors including the local microbiota, tissue architecture and immune system.

Advanced Nano-Carriers for Anti-Tumor Drug Loading

Chemotherapy is one of the important means of tumor therapy. However, most of the anti-tumor drugs that currently used in clinic are hydrophobic non-specific drugs, which seriously affect the efficacy of drugs. With the development of nanotechnology, drug efficacy can be improved by selecting appropriate biodegradable nanocarriers for achieving the controlled release, targeting and higher bioavailability of drugs. This paper reviewed the research progress of anti-tumor drug nanoparticle carriers, which mainly summarized the materials used for anti-tumor drug nanoparticle carriers and their effects in anti-tumor drugs, as well as the targeted drug delivery methods of anti-tumor drugs based on nanocarriers.

Delineating the Switch between Senescence and Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells under Ciclopirox Treatment

Simple Summary

Novel treatment options for cervical cancer are urgently required. Ciclopirox (CPX), an iron chelator, has shown promising anti-tumorigenic potential in several preclinical tumor models, including cervical cancer cells. In these cells, CPX can induce apoptosis, a form of cell death, or senescence, an irreversible cellular growth arrest. These different phenotypic outcomes may influence therapy response. Here, we show that the decision of cervical cancer cells to induce apoptosis or senescence is strongly dependent on glucose availability: CPX induces apoptosis under limited glucose availability, whereas under increased glucose supply, CPX treatment results in senescence. Further, we link the pro-apoptotic and pro-senescent activities of CPX to its capacity to block oxidative phosphorylation and to chelate iron, respectively. In addition, we show that the combined treatment of CPX and glycolysis inhibitors blocks the proliferation of cervical cancer cells in a synergistic manner. Collectively, we provide novel insights into the anti-proliferative activities of CPX in cervical cancer cells, elucidate the cellular decision between apoptosis or senescence induction, and provide a rationale to combine CPX with glycolysis inhibitors.

Abstract

The iron-chelating drug ciclopirox (CPX) may possess therapeutic potential for cancer treatment, including cervical cancer. As is observed for other chemotherapeutic drugs, CPX can induce senescence or apoptosis in cervical cancer cells which could differently affect their therapy response. The present study aims to gain insights into the determinants which govern the switch between senescence and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. We performed proteome analyses, proliferation studies by live-cell imaging and colony formation assays, senescence and apoptosis assays, and combination treatments of CPX with inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) or glycolysis. We found that CPX downregulates OXPHOS factors and facilitates the induction of apoptosis under limited glucose availability, an effect which is shared by classical OXPHOS inhibitors. Under increased glucose availability, however, CPX-induced apoptosis is prevented and senescence is induced, an activity which is not exerted by classical OXPHOS inhibitors, but by other iron chelators. Moreover, we show that the combination of CPX with glycolysis inhibitors blocks cervical cancer proliferation in a synergistic manner. Collectively, our results reveal that the phenotypic response of cervical cancer cells towards CPX is strongly dependent on glucose availability, link the pro-apoptotic and pro-senescent activities of CPX to its bifunctionality as an OXPHOS inhibitor and iron chelator, respectively, and provide a rationale for combining CPX with glycolysis inhibitors.

Dual-Stage Neutral Loss Tandem Mass Spectrometric Strategy for Confident Identification of Protein Prenylation

Protein prenylation is an important post-translational modification that regulates protein interactions, localizations, and signaling pathways in normal functioning of eukaryotic cells. It is also a critical step in the oncogenic developments of various cancers. Direct identification of native protein prenylation by mass spectrometry (MS) has been challenging due to high hydrophobicity and the lack of an efficient enrichment technique. Prior MS studies of prenylation revealed that prenyl peptides readily generate high-intensity fragments after neutral loss of the prenyl group (R group), and more recent investigation of oxidized prenyl peptides discovered more consistent neutral loss of the oxidized prenyl group (RSOH group). Here, a dual-stage neutral loss MS³ (DS-NLMS3)-based strategy is therefore developed by combining both gas-phase cleavable properties of the prenyl thioether bond and mono-oxidized thioether to improve the large-scale identification of prenylation. Both neutral losses can individually and distinctively confirm the prenylation type in MS² and the sequence of the prenyl peptide upon targeted MS³ fragmentation. This dual-faceted NLMS3 strategy significantly improves the confidence in the identification of protein prenylation from large-scale samples, which enables the unambiguous identification of prenylated sites of the spiked low-abundance farnesyl peptide and native prenyl proteins from mouse macrophage cells, even without prior enrichment during sample preparation. The ease of incorporating this strategy into the prenylation study workflow and minimum disruption to the biological lipidome are advantageous for unraveling unknown native protein prenylation and further developments in profiling and quantifying prenylome.

The Dynamic Changes of Transcription Factors During the Development Processes of Human Biparental and Uniparental Embryos

Previous studies have revealed that transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in biparental (BI) early human embryogenesis. However, the contribution of TFs during early uniparental embryo development is still largely unknown. Here we systematically studied the expression profiles of transcription factors in early embryonic development and revealed the dynamic changes of TFs in human biparental and uniparental embryogenesis by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). In general, the TF expression model of uniparental embryos showed a high degree of conformity with biparental embryos. The detailed network analysis of three different types of embryos identified that 10 out of 17 hub TFs were shared or specifically owned, such as ZNF480, ZNF581, PHB, and POU5F1, were four shared TFs, ZFN534, GTF3A, ZNF771, TEAD4, and LIN28A, were androgenic (AG) specific TFs, and ZFP42 was the only one parthenogenetic (PG) specific TF. All the four shared TFs were validated using human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation experiments; most of their target genes are responsible for stem cell maintenance and differentiation. We also found that Zf-C2H2, HMG, and MYB were three dominant transcription factor families that appeared in early embryogenesis. Altogether, our work provides a comprehensive regulatory framework and better understanding of TF function in human biparental and uniparental embryogenesis.

Establishment of a novel ferroptosis-related lncRNA pair prognostic model in colon adenocarcinoma

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be prognostic factors for cancer. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent process of programmed cell death. Here, we established a ferroptosis-related lncRNA (frlncRNA) pair signature and revealed its prognostic value in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) by analyzing the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). FrlncRNAs were identified based on co-expression analysis using the Pearson correlation. Differentially expressed frlncRNAs (DEfrlncRNAs) were recognized and paired, followed by prognostic assessment using univariate Cox regression analysis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized Cox analysis was used to determine and construct a risk score prognostic model, by which the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting the overall survival (OS) were conducted. Following the evaluation of whether it was an independent prognostic factor, correlations between the risk score model and clinicopathological characteristics, hypoxia- and immune-related factors, and somatic variants were investigated. In total, 148 DEfrlncRNA pairs were identified, 25 of which were involved in a risk score prognostic signature. The area under ROC curves (AUCs) representing the predictive effect for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 0.860, 0.885, and 0.934, respectively. The risk score model was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor and was significantly superior to the clinicopathological characteristics. Correlation analyses showed disparities in clinicopathological characteristics, hypoxia- and immune-related factors, and somatic variants, as well as specific signaling pathways between high- and low-risk groups. The novel risk score prognostic model constructed by pairing DEfrlncRNAs showed promising clinical prediction value in COAD.

Checkpoint therapeutic target database (CKTTD): the first comprehensive database for checkpoint targets and their modulators in cancer immunotherapy

Background

Checkpoint targets play a key role in tumor-mediated immune escape and therefore are critical for cancer immunotherapy. Unfortunately, there is a lack of bioinformatics resource that compile all the checkpoint targets for translational research and drug discovery in immuno-oncology.

Methods

To this end, we developed checkpoint therapeutic target database (CKTTD), the first comprehensive database for immune checkpoint targets (proteins, miRNAs and LncRNAs) and their modulators. A scoring system was adopted to filter more relevant targets with high confidence. In addition, a few biological databases such as Oncomine, Drugbank, miRBase and Lnc2Cancer database were integrated into CKTTD to provide an in-depth information. Moreover, we computed and provided ligand-binding site information for all the targets which may support bench scientists for drug discovery efforts.

Results

In total, CKTTD compiles 105 checkpoint protein targets, 53 modulators (small-molecules and antibody), 30 miRNAs and 18 LncRNAs in cancer immunotherapy with validated experimental evidences curated from 10 649 literatures via an enhanced text-mining system.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the CKTTD may serve as a useful platform for the research of cancer immunotherapy and drug discovery. The CKTTD database is freely available to public at http://www.ckttdb.org/.

Insights into the Pathogenesis of NF1-Associated Neoplasms

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common neurocutaneous genetic disorders, presenting with different cutaneous features such as café-au-lait macules, intertriginous skin freckling, and neurofibromas. Although most of the disease manifestations are benign, patients are at risk for a variety of malignancies, including malignant transformation of plexiform neurofibromas. Numerous studies have investigated the mechanisms by which these characteristic neurofibromas develop, with progress made toward unraveling the various players involved in their complex pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the cells that give rise to NF1 neoplasms as well as the molecular mechanisms and cellular changes that confer tumorigenic potential. We also discuss the role of the tumor microenvironment and the key aspects of its various cell types that contribute to NF1-associated tumorigenesis. An increased understanding of these intrinsic and extrinsic components is critical for developing novel therapeutic approaches for affected patients.

Culturing patient-derived malignant hematopoietic stem cells in engineered and fully humanized 3D niches

Human malignant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in bone marrow (BM) niches, which remain challenging to explore due to limited in vivo accessibility and constraints with humanized animal models. Several in vitro systems have been established to culture patient-derived HSPCs in specific microenvironments, but they do not fully recapitulate the complex features of native bone marrow. Our group previously reported that human osteoblastic BM niches (O-N), engineered by culturing mesenchymal stromal cells within three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds under perfusion flow in a bioreactor system, are capable of maintaining, expanding, and functionally regulating healthy human cord blood-derived HSPCs. Here, we first demonstrate that this 3D O-N can sustain malignant CD34⁺ cells from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasm patients for up to 3 wk. Human malignant cells distributed in the bioreactor system mimicking the spatial distribution found in native BM tissue, where most HSPCs remain linked to the niches and mature cells are released to the circulation. Using human adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction cells, we then generated a stromal-vascular niche and demonstrated that O-N and stromal-vascular niche differentially regulate leukemic UCSD-AML1 cell expansion, immunophenotype, and response to chemotherapy. The developed system offers a unique platform to investigate human leukemogenesis and response to drugs in customized environments, mimicking defined features of native hematopoietic niches and compatible with the establishment of personalized settings.

Ganitumab and metformin plus standard neoadjuvant therapy in stage 2/3 breast cancer

I-SPY2 is an adaptively randomized phase 2 clinical trial evaluating novel agents in combination with standard-of-care paclitaxel followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Ganitumab is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind and inhibit function of the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R). Ganitumab was tested in combination with metformin and paclitaxel (PGM) followed by AC compared to standard-of-care alone. While pathologic complete response (pCR) rates were numerically higher in the PGM treatment arm for hormone receptor-negative, HER2-negative breast cancer (32% versus 21%), this small increase did not meet I-SPY's prespecified threshold for graduation. PGM was associated with increased hyperglycemia and elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), despite the use of metformin in combination with ganitumab. We evaluated several putative predictive biomarkers of ganitumab response (e.g., IGF-1 ligand score, IGF-1R signature, IGFBP5 expression, baseline HbA1c). None were specific predictors of response to PGM, although several signatures were associated with pCR in both arms. Any further development of anti-IGF-1R therapy will require better control of anti-IGF-1R drug-induced hyperglycemia and the development of more predictive biomarkers.

Topoisomerase Assays

Topoisomerases are enzymes that play essential roles in DNA replication, transcription, chromosome segregation, and recombination. All cells have two major forms of DNA topoisomerases: type I enzymes, which make single-stranded cuts in DNA, and type II enzymes, which cut and decatenate double-stranded DNA. DNA topoisomerases are important targets of approved and experimental anti-cancer agents. Provided in this article are protocols to assess activities of topoisomerases and their inhibitors. Included are an assay for topoisomerase I activity based on relaxation of supercoiled DNA; an assay for topoisomerase II based on the decatenation of double-stranded DNA; and approaches for enriching and quantifying DNA-protein covalent complexes formed as obligatory intermediates in the reactions of type I and II topoisomerases with DNA; and assays for measuring DNA cleavage in vitro. Topoisomerases are not the only proteins that form covalent adducts with DNA in living cells, and the approaches described here are likely to find use in characterizing other protein-DNA adducts and exploring their utility as targets for therapy. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Assay of topoisomerase I activity Basic Protocol 2: Assay of topoisomerase II activity Basic Protocol 3: In vivo determination of topoisomerase covalent complexes using the in vivo complex of enzyme (ICE) assay Support Protocol 1: Preparation of mouse tissue for determination of topoisomerase covalent complexes using the ICE assay Support Protocol 2: Using recombinant topoisomerase standard for absolute quantification of cellular TOP2CC Basic Protocol 4: Quantification of topoisomerase-DNA covalent complexes by RADAR/ELISA: The rapid approach to DNA adduct recovery (RADAR) combined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Basic Protocol 5: Analysis of protein-DNA covalent complexes by RADAR/Western Support Protocol 3: Adduct-Seq to characterize adducted DNA Support Protocol 4: Nuclear fractionation and RNase treatment to reduce sample complexity Basic Protocol 6: Determination of DNA cleavage by purified topoisomerase I Basic Protocol 7: Determination of inhibitor effects on DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II using a plasmid linearization assay Alternate Protocol: Gel electrophoresis determination of topoisomerase II cleavage.

Germline variants and breast cancer survival in patients with distant metastases at primary breast cancer diagnosis

Breast cancer metastasis accounts for most of the deaths from breast cancer. Identification of germline variants associated with survival in aggressive types of breast cancer may inform understanding of breast cancer progression and assist treatment. In this analysis, we studied the associations between germline variants and breast cancer survival for patients with distant metastases at primary breast cancer diagnosis. We used data from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) including 1062 women of European ancestry with metastatic breast cancer, 606 of whom died of breast cancer. We identified two germline variants on chromosome 1, rs138569520 and rs146023652, significantly associated with breast cancer-specific survival (P = 3.19 × 10-8 and 4.42 × 10-8). In silico analysis suggested a potential regulatory effect of the variants on the nearby target genes SDE2 and H3F3A. However, the variants showed no evidence of association in a smaller replication dataset. The validation dataset was obtained from the SNPs to Risk of Metastasis (StoRM) study and included 293 patients with metastatic primary breast cancer at diagnosis. Ultimately, larger replication studies are needed to confirm the identified associations.

Diagnosis and prognosis models for hepatocellular carcinoma patient's management based on tumor mutation burden

Introduction

The development and prognosis of HCC involve complex molecular mechanisms, which affect the effectiveness of its treatment strategies. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is related to the efficacy of immunotherapy, but the prognostic role of TMB-related genes in HCC has not yet been determined clearly.

Objectives

In this study, we identified TMB-specific genes with good prognostic value to build diagnostic and prognostic models and provide guidance for the treatment of HCC patients.

Methods

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify the TMB-specific genes. And LASSO method and Cox regression were used in establishing the prognostic model.

Results

The prognostic model based on SMG5 and MRPL9 showed patients with higher prognostic risk had a remarkedly poorer survival probability than their counterparts with lower prognostic risk in both a TCGA cohort (P < 0.001, HR = 1.93) and an ICGC cohort (P < 0.001, HR = 3.58). In addition, higher infiltrating fractions of memory B cells, M0 macrophages, neutrophils, activated memory CD4 + T cells, follicular helper T cells and regulatory T cells and higher expression of B7H3, CTLA4, PD1, and TIM3 were present in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (P < 0.05). Patients with high prognostic risk had higher resistance to some chemotherapy and targeted drugs, such as methotrexate, vinblastine and erlotinib, than those with low prognostic risk (P < 0.05). And a diagnostic model considering two genes was able to accurately distinguish patients with HCC from normal samples and those with dysplastic nodules. In addition, knockdown of SMG5 and MRPL9 was determined to significantly inhibit cell proliferation and migration in HCC.

Conclusion

Our study helps to select patients suitable for chemotherapy, targeted drugs and immunotherapy and provide new ideas for developing treatment strategies to improve disease outcomes in HCC patients.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Their Functional Transformation in the Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are some of the most abundant immune cells within tumors and perform a broad repertoire of functions via diverse phenotypes. On the basis of their functional differences in tumor growth, TAMs are usually categorized into two subsets of M1 and M2. It is well established that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by hypoxia along with tumor progression. TAMs adopt an M1-like pro-inflammatory phenotype at the early phases of oncogenesis and mediate immune response that inhibits tumor growth. As tumors progress, anabatic hypoxia of the TME gradually induces the M2-like functional transformation of TAMs by means of direct effects, metabolic influence, lactic acidosis, angiogenesis, remodeled stroma, and then urges them to participate in immunosuppression, angiogenesis and other tumor-supporting procedure. Therefore, thorough comprehension of internal mechanism of this TAM functional transformation in the hypoxic TME is of the essence, and might provide some novel insights in hypoxic tumor immunotherapeutic strategies.

Innate tumor-targeted nanozyme overcoming tumor hypoxia for cancer theranostic use

Introduction

Hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) is the major contributor to cancer metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy, and recurrence of tumors. So far, no approved treatment has been available to overcome tumor hypoxia.

Objectives

The present study aimed to relieve tumor hypoxia via a nanozyme theranostic nanomaterial as well as providing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided therapy.

Methods

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) was used for its intrinsic enzymatic activity co-loaded with the anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin (Dox) within the recombinant heavy-chain apoferritin cavity to form MnO₂-Dox@HFn. Following the synthesis of the nanomaterial, different characterizations were performed as well as its nanozyme-like ability. This nanoplatform recognizes tumor cells through the transferrin receptors 1 (TfR1) which are highly expressed on the surface of most cancer cells. The cellular uptake was confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. In vitro and in vivo studies have been investigated to evaluate the hypoxia regulation, MRI ability and anti-tumor activity of MnO₂-Dox@HFn.

Results

Being a TME-responsive nanomaterial, MnO₂-Dox@HFn exerted both peroxidase and catalase activity that mainly produce massive oxygen and Mn²⁺ ions. Respectively, these products relieve the unfavorable tumor hypoxia and also exhibit T1-weighted MRI with a high longitudinal relaxivity of 33.40 mM. s⁻¹. The utility of MnO₂-Dox@HFn was broadened with their efficient anti-cancer activity proved both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

MnO₂-Dox@HFn successfully overcome tumor hypoxia with double potentials enzymatic ability and diagnostic capacity. This investigation could ignite the future application for cancer theranostic nanozyme therapy.

Molecular Profiling of Spermatozoa Reveals Correlations between Morphology and Gene Expression: A Novel Biomarker Panel for Male Infertility

Choosing spermatozoa with an optimum fertilizing potential is one of the major challenges in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This selection is mainly based on semen parameters, but the addition of molecular approaches could allow a more functional evaluation. To this aim, we used sixteen fresh sperm samples from patients undergoing ART for male infertility and classified them in the high- and poor-quality groups, on the basis of their morphology at high magnification. Then, using a DNA sequencing method, we analyzed the spermatozoa methylome to identify genes that were differentially methylated. By Gene Ontology and protein-protein interaction network analyses, we defined candidate genes mainly implicated in cell motility, calcium reabsorption, and signaling pathways as well as transmembrane transport. RT-qPCR of high- and poor-quality sperm samples allowed showing that the expression of some genes, such as AURKA, HDAC4, CFAP46, SPATA18, CACNA1C, CACNA1H, CARHSP1, CCDC60, DNAH2, and CDC88B, have different expression levels according to sperm morphology. In conclusion, the present study shows a strong correlation between morphology and gene expression in the spermatozoa and provides a biomarker panel for sperm analysis during ART and a new tool to explore male infertility.

Photoactivation of Erythrosine in simulated body fluids

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a powerful technique for the treatment of cancer and non-cancerous diseases. The precise PDT treatment protocol definition must consider the performance difference between in vitroand in vivoapplications. This also occurs in other biological studies, and to partially overcome this difficulty, the simulated body fluids are generally applied as a prior understanding of the particularities of the different systems. However, in PDT these studies are scarce. In this work, we investigated the photoactivation of Erythrosine, a photosensitizer widely used in PDT, in different simulated body fluids. Differences in the photodegradation kinetics, triplet lifetime, and singlet oxygen generation were observed. The results can help to explain and to define PDT application protocols.