Cancer statistics, 2016

Evaluation of Diagnostic Significance of Salivary miRNA-184 and miRNA-21 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders

BACKGROUND

Altered levels of miRNAs might affect the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). This study evaluated the diagnostic potential of salivary miRNA-21 and miRNA-184 in OSCC and OPMD.

METHODS

We recruited a total of 90 subjects including OSCC, OPMD, and healthy controls. RNA was isolated from the saliva samples of the study subjects. Expression of miRNA-21 and miRNA-184 was analyzed using qRT-PCR. Their levels were compared and the diagnostic cut-off was determined using the ROC curve.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in miRNA-21 and a decrease in miRNA-184 in OSCC and OPMD as compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Levels of salivary miRNA-21 and miRNA-184 can differentiate OSCC and OPMD from controls and premalignant conditions from malignant conditions.

CONCLUSION

Salivary miRNA-21 and miRNA-184 may be beneficial for the early detection of OSCC and OPMD. Also, saliva can be used for detecting neoplastic transformation of oral mucosa since it is non-invasive and easily accessible.

Role of GPX4 inhibition-mediated ferroptosis in the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer to Taxol in vitro

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer remains a common gynecological tumor and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. Taxol-based chemotherapy is a standard approach to the treatment of ovarian cancer. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is the key regulator of ferroptosis, which is an important form of cell death. Here, we investigate the effect of GPX4 inhibition-mediated ferroptosis on the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to Taxol.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A2780/PTX and OVCAR-3/PTX Taxol-resistant ovarian cancer cells were established, and stable GPX4 knockout cell lines were generated via lentivirus GPX4-sgRNA. The GPX4 expression level, the apoptosis rate and cell viability were analyzed. The levels of ferroptosis-related factor indicators such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. The results showed that the GPX4 protein and mRNA levels were increased in the Taxol-resistant cells. Moreover, GPX4 knockout reduced cell viability and inhibited the colony formation rate. In addition, we found that GPX4 inhibition increased Taxol sensitivity by inducing ferroptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our studies reveal that GPX4 inhibition promotes ferroptosis and increases the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to Taxol in vitro.

Novel delivery system with a dual–trigger release of savory essential oil by mesoporous silica nanospheres and its possible targets in leukemia cancer cells: in vitro study

Introduction

Essential oils (EOs) are complex structures and possess several pharmacological effects. Nanomedicine offers a solution for their major limitations, including poor solubility, volatility, and non–controlled release, preventing their clinical use.

Methods

Here, we developed a novel delivery system by nanoformulations that were prepared by impregnating savory essential oil (SA) into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The nanoformulations were characterized and examined for their anticancer activities on cancer cells (HepG2 liver and HL60 leukemia cells) and MRC5 normal cells. We further tested the mechanisms of action and possible molecular targets against HL60 cells.

Results

The results demonstrated that SA was governed by nanoformulations under the dual–trigger release of pH/glutathione, and it typically fit the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model. The nanoformulations enhanced the anticancer effect against HepG2 cells and HL60 cells compared to SA but were less cytotoxic to MRC5 normal cells and regulated various molecular pathways of apoptosis. Most importantly, new results were obtained on the genetic regulation principle through the high inhibition of long noncoding RNAs (HOTAIR, HULC, CCAT1, and H19) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP–2 and MMP–9), providing a novel leukemia target.

Conclusions

These results suggest potential impacts for nanoformulations composed of SA with a sustained release pattern controlled by dual–trigger release of pH/GSH that enhanced anticancer cells. This approach may offer a new route for using EOs as new targets for cancers and open the door for deep preclinical investigations.

Fecal microbiota transplanted from old mice promotes more colonic inflammation, proliferation, and tumor formation in azoxymethane-treated A/J mice than microbiota originating from young mice

Aging is a strong risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). It is well established that gut microbial dysbiosis can play a role in the etiology of CRC. Although the composition of the gut microbial community changes with age and is reported to become more pro-inflammatory, it is unclear whether such changes are also pro-tumorigenic for the colon. To address this gap, we conducted fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from young (DY, ~6 wk) and old (DO, ~72 wk) donor mice into young (8 wk) recipient mice that were pre-treated with antibiotics. After initiating tumorigenesis with azoxymethane, recipients were maintained for 19 wk during which time they received monthly FMT boosters. Compared to recipients of young donors (RY), recipients of old donors (RO) had an approximately 3-fold higher prevalence of histologically confirmed colon tumors (15.8 vs 50%, Chi2 P = .03), approximately 2-fold higher proliferating colonocytes as well as significantly elevated colonic IL-6, IL-1β and Tnf-α. Transcriptomics analysis of the colonic mucosa revealed a striking upregulation of mitochondria-related genes in the RO mice, a finding corroborated by increased mitochondrial abundance. Amongst the differences in fecal microbiome observed between DY and DO mice, the genera Ruminoclostridium, Lachnoclostridium and Marvinbryantia were more abundant in DY mice while the genera Bacteroides and Akkermansia were more abundant in DO mice. Amongst recipients, Ruminoclostridium and Lachnoclostridium were higher in RY mice while Bacteroides was higher in RO mice. Differences in fecal microbiota were observed between young and old mice, some of which persisted upon transplant into recipient mice. Recipients of old donors displayed significantly higher colonic proliferation, inflammation and tumor abundance compared to recipients of young donors. These findings support an etiological role for altered gut microbial communities in the increased risk for CRC with increasing age and establishes that such risk can be transmitted between individuals.

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Environmental Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Link with Inflammation and Lung Cancer

Exposure to atmospheric air pollution containing volatile organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been shown to be a risk factor in the induction of lung inflammation and the initiation and progression of lung cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules of ~20-22 nucleotides that regulate different physiological processes, and their altered expression is implicated in various pathophysiological conditions. Recent studies have shown that the regulation of gene expression of miRNAs can be affected in diseases associated with outdoor air pollution, meaning they could also be useful as biomarkers of exposure to environmental pollution. In this article, we review the published evidence on miRNAs in relation to exposure to PAH pollution and discuss the possible mechanisms that may link these compounds with the expression of miRNAs.

Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptor G2 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Serves as a Neutrophil-Related Prognostic Biomarker

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) is an orphan adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which performs a tumor-promoting role in certain cancers; however, it has not been systematically investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we utilized multiple databases to analyze the expression and diagnostic and prognostic value of ADGRG2 in HCC and its correlation with immune infiltration and inflammatory factors. The function and upstream regulatory miRNA of ADGRG2 were validated through qPCR, Western blot, CCK8, wound healing, and dual luciferase assays. It turned out that ADGRG2 was significantly higher in HCC and had a poor survival rate, especially in AFP ≤ 400 ng/mL subgroups. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ADGRG2 may be involved in cancer pathways and immune-related pathways. In vitro, siRNA-mediated ADGRG2 silencing could inhibit the proliferation and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. There was a highly significant positive correlation between ADGRG2 and neutrophils. Moreover, NET-related genes were filtered and confirmed, such as ENO1 and S100A9. Meanwhile, the high expression of ADGRG2 was also accompanied by the highest number of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors and good immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, AGDGR2 may be sensitive to two drugs (PIK-93 and NPK76-II-72-1) and can be targeted by miR-326. In conclusion, ADGRG2 may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for HCC diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis and was related to neutrophils and the inflammatory process of liver cancer development.

Mucosal esophageal carcinoma following endoscopic submucosal dissection with giant gastric metastasis: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Esophageal carcinoma is a highly aggressive digestive cancer responsible for a notable proportion of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Its elevated metastatic rate contributes to a poor prognosis in affected patients. In this case review, we aim to summarize the metastatic characteristics of intramural gastric metastasis (IGM) in mucosal esophageal squamous carcinoma.

CASE SUMMARY

A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a dry cough with an esophageal sensation for one year. Endoscopic examination revealed a 2.0 cm 1.0 cm, superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and the patient underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Fifteen months after ESD, positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed that the metabolism of the stomach cardia wall had increased slightly. However, the mucosa of the gastric cardia was smooth under gastroendoscopy. Two years after ESD, endoscopic examination revealed a giant gastric cardia carcinoma, while the esophageal mucosa was smooth, and no advanced cancer was found. A biopsy of the gastric cardia indicated squamous-cell carcinoma. The patient received immunochemotherapy and radiotherapy for esophageal cancer for 8 mo and is currently under follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Early-stage esophageal carcinoma with IGM is rare. Despite the ESD of the primary lesion, IGM may still occur and should be closely monitored after ESD.

Physico-chemical properties of curcumin nanoparticles and its efficacy against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma

Curcumin is a bioactive component with anticancer characteristics; nevertheless, it has poor solubility and fast metabolism, resulting in low bioavailability and so restricting its application. Curcumin loaded in nano emulsions (Cur-NE) was developed to improve water solubility and eliminate all the limitations of curcumin. Size distribution, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements, UV-Visible spectra, IR spectra and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were used to characterize the prepared Cur-NE. Cancer therapeutic efficacy was assessed by oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), DNA damage, apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and 9), besides investigating tumor histology and monitoring tumor growth. Additionally, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen tissues were examined to gauge the adverse effects of the treatment method's toxicity. The results showed that Cur-NE is more effective than free curcumin at slowing the growth of Ehrlich tumors while significantly increasing the levels of apoptotic proteins. On the other hand, Cur-NE-treated mice showed some damage in other organs when compared to mice treated with free curcumin. Cur-NE has a higher efficacy in treating Ehrlich tumor.

Prognostic Value of Platelet Aggregation Function in Patients with laryngeal Carcinoma

Background

Laryngeal cancer was one of the most common malignancies of the head in those years. It has become one of the most common causes of death due to its high recurrence rate and high metastasis rate. It was well known that platelets, especially activated platelets, promote the proliferation, division, and invasion of tumor cells. Activated platelets promote cancer progression and metastasis. However, the prognostic value of platelet aggregation function in laryngeal cancer remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive significance of platelet aggregation function in laryngeal cancer.

Materials and Methods

Between January 2015 and December 2016, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 203 patients who were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer consecutively. The patients were stratified by platelet aggregation function into two groups: low "adenosine diphosphate induced light transmittance aggregometry (ADP-induced LTA) ≤15.1" and high (ADP-induced LTA >15.1). Pathological tissues from different parts of the operation were collected and the pathologist determined the pathological type. We assessed the prognostic significance of platelet aggregation function using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression.

Results

The low cohort had a significantly higher lymphocyte count than the high cohort. Compared with the high cohort, the low cohort had significantly lower levels of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), ADP-induced LTA, and Interleukins (IL)-6. The ADP-induced LTA (hazard ratio, 1.212; P <0.001) was independently related with 5-year overall survival rate.

Conclusion

Patients with ADP-induced LTA >15.1 experience poor outcomes. Platelet aggregation function, when elevated, could be a new prognostic indicator for laryngeal cancer.

Regucalcin Is a Potential Regulator in Human Cancer: Aiming to Expand into Cancer Therapy

Regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein lacking the EF-hand motif, was initially discovered in 1978. Its name is indicative of its function in calcium signaling regulation. The rgn gene encodes for regucalcin and is situated on the X chromosome in both humans and vertebrates. Regucalcin regulates pivotal enzymes involved in signal transduction and has an inhibitory function, which includes protein kinases, protein phosphatases, cysteinyl protease, nitric oxide dynthetase, aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase, and protein synthesis. This cytoplasmic protein is transported to the nucleus where it regulates deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA synthesis as well as gene expression. Overexpression of regucalcin inhibits proliferation in both normal and cancer cells in vitro, independent of apoptosis. During liver regeneration in vivo, endogenous regucalcin suppresses cell growth when overexpressed. Regucalcin mRNA and protein expressions are significantly downregulated in tumor tissues of patients with various types of cancers. Patients exhibiting upregulated regucalcin in tumor tissue have shown prolonged survival. The decrease of regucalcin expression is linked to the advancement of cancer. Overexpression of regucalcin carries the potential for preventing and treating carcinogenesis. Additionally, extracellular regucalcin has displayed control over various types of human cancer cells. Regucalcin may hold a prominent role as a regulatory factor in cancer development. Supplying the regucalcin gene could prove to be a valuable asset in cancer treatment. The therapeutic value of regucalcin suggests its potential significance in treating cancer patients. This review delves into the most recent research on the regulatory role of regucalcin in human cancer development, providing a novel approach for treatment.

Joining Forces: The Combined Application of Therapeutic Viruses and Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy

Cancer, on a global scale, presents a monumental challenge to our healthcare systems, posing a significant threat to human health. Despite the considerable progress we have made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, realizing precision cancer therapy, reducing side effects, and enhancing efficacy remain daunting tasks. Fortunately, the emergence of therapeutic viruses and nanomaterials provides new possibilities for tackling these issues. Therapeutic viruses possess the ability to accurately locate and attack tumor cells, while nanomaterials serve as efficient drug carriers, delivering medication precisely to tumor tissues. The synergy of these two elements has led to a novel approach to cancer treatment-the combination of therapeutic viruses and nanomaterials. This advantageous combination has overcome the limitations associated with the side effects of oncolytic viruses and the insufficient tumoricidal capacity of nanomedicines, enabling the oncolytic viruses to more effectively breach the tumor's immune barrier. It focuses on the lesion site and even allows for real-time monitoring of the distribution of therapeutic viruses and drug release, achieving a synergistic effect. This article comprehensively explores the application of therapeutic viruses and nanomaterials in tumor treatment, dissecting their working mechanisms, and integrating the latest scientific advancements to predict future development trends. This approach, which combines viral therapy with the application of nanomaterials, represents an innovative and more effective treatment strategy, offering new perspectives in the field of tumor therapy.

Evaluation of vital genes correlated with CD8 + T cell infiltration as prognostic biomarkers in stomach adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Infiltration of CD8 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment is correlated with better prognosis in various malignancies. Our study aimed to investigate vital genes correlated with CD8 + T cell infiltration in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and develop a new prognostic model.

METHODS

Using the STAD dataset, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed, and co-expression networks were constructed. Combined with the CIBERSORT algorithm, the most relevant module of WGCNA with CD8 + T cell infiltration was selected for subsequent analysis. The vital genes were screened out by univariate regression analysis to establish the risk score model. The expression of the viral genes was verified by lasso regression analysis and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

Four CD8 + T cell infiltration-related genes (CIDEC, EPS8L3, MUC13, and PLEKHS1) were correlated with the prognosis of STAD. Based on these genes, a risk score model was established. We found that the risk score could well predict the prognosis of STAD, and the risk score was positively correlated with CD8 + T cell infiltration. The validation results of the gene expression were consistent with TCGA. Furthermore, the risk score was significantly higher in tumor tissues. The high-risk group had poorer overall survival (OS) in each subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study constructed a new risk score model for STAD prognosis, which may provide a new perspective to explore the tumor immune microenvironment mechanism in STAD.

Immunotherapy for ovarian cancer is improved by tumor targeted delivery of a neoantigen surrogate

Ovarian cancer is known for its poor neoantigen expression and strong immunosuppression. Here, we utilized an attenuated non-pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes to deliver a highly immunogenic Tetanus Toxoid protein (Listeria-TT), as a neoantigen surrogate, into tumor cells through infection in a metastatic mouse ovarian cancer model (Id8p53-/-Luc). Gemcitabine (GEM) was added to reduce immune suppression. Listeria-TT+GEM treatments resulted in tumors expressing TT and reactivation of pre-existing CD4 and CD8 memory T cells to TT (generated early in life). These T cells were then attracted to the TT-expressing tumors now producing perforin and granzyme B. This correlated with a strong reduction in the ovarian tumors and metastases, and a significant improvement of the survival time compared to all control groups. Moreover, two treatment cycles with Listeria-TT+GEM doubled the survival time compared to untreated mice. Checkpoint inhibitors have little effect on ovarian cancer partly because of low neoantigen expression. Here we demonstrated that Listeria-TT+GEM+PD1 was significantly more effective (efficacy and survival) than PD1 or Listeria-TT+GEM alone, and that more treatment cycles with Listeria-TT+GEM+PD1 significantly increased the survival time compared to Listeria-TT+GEM alone. In summary, the results of this study suggest that our approach may benefit ovarian cancer patients.

Incidence risk assessment of secondary cancer due to radiotherapy of women with rectal cancer using BEIR VII, EPA, and ICRP models

Background

Radiotherapy has a significant side effect known as radiation-induced secondary cancer. This study aims to evaluate the dose and secondary cancer risk for women with rectal cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) to the organs at risk (OARs) and some sensitive organs using different types of radiation-induced cancer risk prediction models, including Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIRVII), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and compare the results of the different models for same organs.

Materials and methods

Thirty female patients with rectal cancer were considered and dose calculations were based on the PCRT-3D treatment planning system, while the radiotherapy of the patients had been performed using Shinva linear accelerator with a total dose of 45 Gy at 25 fractions. Planning target volume (PTV), OARs, and some sensitive organs were contoured, three models were used to evaluate secondary cancer risk (SCR) using the excess relative risk (ERR) and excess absolute risk (EAR).

Results

The bladder presents the highest risk, in terms of ERR, and the femur head and uterus in terms of EAR from the three models (BEIR VII, EPA, and ICRP).

Conclusion

Based on the obtained results, radiotherapy of rectal cancer is relatively higher for the bladder and femur head, compared to the risk for other organs, the kidney risk is significantly lower. It was observed that the SCR from the ICRP model was higher compared to BEIR VII and EPA models.

Surface curvature-induced oriented assembly of sushi-like Janus therapeutic nanoplatform for combined chemodynamic therapy

BACKGROUND

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) based on Fenton/Fenton-like reaction has emerged as a promising cancer treatment strategy. Yet, the strong anti-oxidation property of tumor microenvironment (TME) caused by endogenous glutathione (GSH) still severely impedes the effectiveness of CDT. Traditional CDT nanoplatforms based on core@shell structure possess inherent interference of different subunits, thus hindering the overall therapeutic efficiency. Consequently, it is urgent to construct a novel structure with isolated functional units and GSH depletion capability to achieve desirable combined CDT therapeutic efficiency.

RESULTS

Herein, a surface curvature-induced oriented assembly strategy is proposed to synthesize a sushi-like novel Janus therapeutic nanoplatform which is composed of two functional units, a FeOOH nanospindle serving as CDT subunit and a mSiO2 nanorod serving as drug-loading subunit. The FeOOH CDT subunit is half covered by mSiO2 nanorod along its long axis, forming sushi-like structure. The FeOOH nanospindle is about 400 nm in length and 50 nm in diameter, and the mSiO2 nanorod is about 550 nm in length and 100 nm in diameter. The length and diameter of mSiO2 subunit can be tuned in a wide range while maintaining the sushi-like Janus structure, which is attributed to a Gibbs-free-energy-dominating surface curvature-induced oriented assembly process. In this Janus therapeutic nanoplatform, Fe3+ of FeOOH is firstly reduced to Fe2+ by endogenous GSH, the as-generated Fe2+ then effectively catalyzes overexpressed H2O2 in TME into highly lethal ·OH to achieve efficient CDT. The doxorubicin (DOX) loaded in the mSiO2 subunit can be released to achieve combined chemotherapy. Taking advantage of Fe3+-related GSH depletion, Fe2+-related enhanced ·OH generation, and DOX-induced chemotherapy, the as-synthesized nanoplatform possesses excellent therapeutic efficiency, in vitro eliminating efficiency of tumor cells is as high as ~ 87%. In vivo experiments also show the efficient inhibition of tumor, verifying the synthesized sushi-like Janus nanoparticles as a promising therapeutic nanoplatform.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, our work provides a successful paradigm of constructing novel therapeutic nanoplatform to achieve efficient tumor inhibition.

The Analysis of Selected miRNAs and Target MDM2 Gene Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

MiRNAs could play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression. The oncoprotein MDM2 (murine double minute 2) was identified as a negative regulator of the tumour suppressor p53. This study aims to analyse the expression of the MDM2 target miRNA candidates (miR-3613-3p, miR-371b-5p and miR-3658) and the MDM2 gene in oral squamous cell carcinoma tumour and margin samples and their association with the selected socio-demographic and clinicopathological characteristics. The study group consisted of 50 patients. The miRNAs and MDM2 gene expression levels were assessed by qPCR. The expression analysis of the miRNAs showed the expression of only one of them, i.e., miR-3613-3p. We found no statistically significant differences in the miR-3613-3p expression in tumour samples compared to the margin samples. When analysing the effect of smoking on miR-3613-3p expression, we demonstrated a statistically significant difference between smokers and non-smokers. In addition, we showed an association between the miR-3613-3p expression level and some clinical parameters in tumour samples (T, N and G). Our study demonstrates that miR-3613-3p overexpression is involved in the tumour progression of OSCC. This indicates that miR-3613-3p possesses potential prognostic values.

DHODH: a promising target in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Patients with relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) have a poor prognosis with few therapeutic options. With the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets, we used data from the Dependency Map project to identify dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) as one of the top metabolic dependencies in T-ALL. DHODH catalyzes the fourth step of de novo pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Small molecule inhibition of DHODH rapidly leads to the depletion of intracellular pyrimidine pools and forces cells to rely on extracellular salvage. In the absence of sufficient salvage, this intracellular nucleotide starvation results in the inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis, cell cycle arrest, and, ultimately, death. T lymphoblasts appear to be specifically and exquisitely sensitive to nucleotide starvation after DHODH inhibition. We have confirmed this sensitivity in vitro and in vivo in 3 murine models of T-ALL. We identified that certain subsets of T-ALL seem to have an increased reliance on oxidative phosphorylation when treated with DHODH inhibitors. Through a series of metabolic assays, we show that leukemia cells, in the setting of nucleotide starvation, undergo changes in their mitochondrial membrane potential and may be more highly dependent on alternative fuel sources. The effect on normal T-cell development in young mice was also examined to show that DHODH inhibition does not permanently damage the developing thymus. These changes suggest a new metabolic vulnerability that may distinguish these cells from normal T cells and other normal hematopoietic cells and offer an exploitable therapeutic opportunity. The availability of clinical-grade DHODH inhibitors currently in human clinical trials suggests a potential for rapidly advancing this work into the clinic.

Emergence of immune-related adverse events correlates with pathological complete response in patients receiving pembrolizumab for early triple-negative breast cancer

Based upon results of the KEYNOTE-522 trial and following approval by regulatory authorities, the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy is now the standard-of-care for the treatment of early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) (Clinical stage II-III). Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody, known to cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in a significant subset of patients. Real-world data on incidence, type and treatment strategies of irAEs in the setting of eTNBC treatment are sparse. In this multicenterretrospective analysis, we characterized real-world incidence of irAEs and treatment outcomes such as pathological complete response (pCR) from the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment for eTNBC. We found a rate of irAEs of all grades of 63.9% and of 20% for irAEs of grade 3 or higher. In the overall population, a pCR rate of 57.1% was observed. The emergence of irAEs correlated significantly with pCR (72.2% versus 30.8%; p =.03). Discontinuation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before week 12 correlated significantly with a lower pCR rate. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the real-world efficacy and safety of a neoadjuvant combination of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab in eTNBC, demonstrating a significant correlation between irAEs and pCR. Early discontinuation of neoadjuvant therapy due to AEs resulted in a lower pCR rate.

Development and validation of a predictive model associated with lymph node metastasis of gastric signet ring carcinoma patients

The risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) have not been well-defined. This study was designed to prognosticate LNM in patients with GSRC by constructing and verifying a nomogram. A total of 2789 patients with GSRC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College (YJS) were retrospectively reviewed. A predictive model was established using logistic regression based on the SEER cohort. The performance of the model was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index) and decision curve analysis (DCA). In addition, its robustness was validated using the YJS cohort. Four independent predictors of LNM were identified in the SEER cohort. Next, a nomogram was constructed by incorporating these predictors. The C-index were 0.800 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.781-0.819) and 0.837 (95% CI = 0.784-0.890) in the training and external validation cohorts, respectively. The outcomes of DCA supported good clinical benefits. The proposed model for evaluating the LNM in patients with GSRC can help to avoid the misdiagnosis risk of N-stage, assist to screen the population suitable for neoadjuvant therapy and help clinicians to optimize clinical decisions.

Biosensors Based on Stanniocalcin-1 Protein Antibodies Thin Films for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent tumors in men, accounting for about 7.3% of cancer deaths. Although there are several strategies for diagnosing prostate cancer, these are only accurate when the tumor is already at a very advanced stage, so early diagnosis is essential. Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is a secreted glycoprotein, which has been suggested as a tumor marker as its increased expression is associated with the development and/or progression of different types of malignant tumors. In this work, an electronic tongue (ET) prototype, based on a set of four sensors prepared from thin films that included STC1 antibodies for detecting prostate cancer, was developed. In the preparation of the thin films, polyelectrolytes of polyallylamine hydrochloride, polystyrene sulfonate of sodium and polyethyleneimine, and the biomolecules chitosan, protein A, and STC1 antibody were used. These films were deposited on quartz lamellae and on solid supports using layer-on-layer and self-assembly techniques. The deposition of the films was analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the detection of STC1 in aqueous solutions of PBS was analyzed by impedance spectroscopy. The impedance data were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis. The ETs formed by the four sensors and the three best sensors could detect the antigen at concentrations in the range from 5 × 10-11 to 5 × 10-4 M. They showed a linear dependence with the logarithm of the antigen concentration and a sensitivity of 5371 ± 820 and 4863 ± 634 per decade of concentration, respectively. Finally, the results allow us to conclude that this prototype can advance to the calibration phase with patient samples.

ANO6 is a reliable prognostic biomarker and correlates to macrophage polarization in breast cancer

To investigate the value of Anoctamin 6 (ANO6) in breast cancer (BC) by analyzing its expression, prognostic impact, biological function, and its association with immune characteristics. We initially performed the expression and survival analyses, followed by adopting restricted cubic spline to analyze the nonlinear relationship between ANO6 and overall survival (OS). Stratified and interaction analyses were conducted to further evaluate its prognostic value in BC. Next, we performed enrichment analyses to explore the possible pathways regulated by ANO6. Finally, the correlations between ANO6 and immune characteristics were analyzed to reveal its role in immunotherapy. Lower ANO6 expression was observed in BC than that in the normal breast group, but its overexpression independently predicted poor OS among BC patients (P < .05). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a linear relationship between ANO6 and OS (P-Nonlinear > 0.05). Interestingly, menopause status was an interactive factor in the correlation between ANO6 and OS (P for interaction = 0.016). Additionally, ANO6 was involved in stroma-associated pathways, and its elevation was significantly linked to high stroma scores and macrophage polarization (P < .05). Moreover, ANO6 was notably correlated with immune checkpoint expression levels, and scores of tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability (all P < .05). ANO6 was an independent prognostic factor for BC, and might be a potential target for the BC treatment. Besides, ANO6 might affect BC progression via the regulation of stroma-related pathways and macrophage polarization.

Incidence and Survival of Testicular Cancers in a Province in Northern Italy and Their Association with Second Tumors

This study investigated the incidence, mortality, and 5-year survival rates of testicular cancers diagnosed in a northern Italian province, which were eventually associated with previous or subsequent extratesticular neoplasms. Cases from 1996 to 2020 were examined by age and histotype (seminoma vs. non-seminoma). The standardized incidence rate was calculated using the European population, and the annual percent change (APC) was reported. The five-year relative survival was estimated using the Pohar Perme method. The association with the second neoplasm was also evaluated. In our study, 385 patients with testicular cancer were included, most of whom were aged between 30 and 40 years. The non-seminoma and seminoma groups accounted for 44% and 18% of younger adults, respectively. The incidence rate increased during the study period (APC 1.6*); however, it increased in seminomas (APC 2.3*) but not in non-seminomas (APC -0.1). Conversely, the mortality rate remained constantly low either overall or in each of the two groups. The overall 5-year survival rate of testicular cancer patients was 95% (99% and 88% for seminomas and non-seminomas, respectively). Primary extratesticular tumors were documented in 37 cases, 18 after and 19 before the testicular cancer diagnosis. Our study confirms that the increased incidence and excellent survival rate are the prerogative of seminomas.

Targeting Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Combining Copper Ionophore Disulfiram and JMJD3/UTX Inhibitor GSK J4

The alcohol-averse drug disulfiram has been reported to have anti-tumor effects and is well suited for drug combinations. In order to identify potential drug combinations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), we screened a bioactive compound library with the disulfiram copper chelation product CuET. The Jumonji domain-containing protein 3 (JMJD3) and the ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat protein X-linked (UTX) inhibitor GSK J4 were identified. To further understand the molecular mechanism underlying the efficient drug combination, we applied quantitative mass spectrometry to analyze the signaling pathway perturbation after drug treatment. The data revealed that the synergistic effect of GSK J4 and CuET was due to the interaction among JMJD3 and UTX, which may play important roles in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis in tumor cells. Interestingly, our clinical data analysis showed that high expression of JMJD3 and UTX was associated with T stage and worse prognosis of ESCC patients, further supporting the importance of the above findings. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the combination of CuET and targeting JMJD3/UTX may be a safe, effective, and available treatment for ESCC.

The recent advancements of ferroptosis in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer affects the female reproductive system and is the primary cause of cancer related mortality globally. The imprecise and non-specific nature of ovarian cancer symptoms often results in patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage, with metastatic lesions extending beyond the ovary. This presents a significant clinical challenge and imposes a substantial economic burden on both patients and society. Despite advancements in surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis for most patients with ovarian cancer remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, the development of novel treatment strategies is imperative. Ferroptosis, a distinct form of regulated cell death, characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, differs from autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis, and may hold promise as a novel cell death. Numerous studies have demonstrated the involvement of ferroptosis in various conventional signaling pathways and biological processes. Recent investigations have revealed the significant contribution of ferroptosis in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of diverse malignant tumors, including ovarian cancer. Moreover, ferroptosis exhibits a synergistic effect with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy in restraining the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. The aforementioned implies that ferroptosis holds considerable importance in the management of ovarian cancer and has the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic target. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of the salient features of ferroptosis, encompassing its underlying mechanisms and functional role in ovarian cancer, along with the associated signaling pathways and genes. Furthermore, the review highlights the prospective utility of ferroptosis in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

CircHERC1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell progression by sequestering FOXO1 in the cytoplasm and regulating the miR-142-3p-HMGB1 axis

BACKGROUND

Noncoding RNAs such as circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in the human body and influence the occurrence and development of various diseases. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignant cancers. Information on the functions and mechanism of circRNAs in lung cancer is limited; thus, the topic needs more exploration. The purpose of this study was to identify aberrantly expressed circRNAs in lung cancer, unravel their roles in NSCLC progression, and provide new targets for lung cancer diagnosis and therapy.

METHODS

High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze differential circRNA expression in patients with lung cancer. qRT‒PCR was used to determine the level of circHERC1 in lung cancer tissues and plasma samples. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were implemented to observe the impacts of circHERC1 on the growth, invasion, and metastasis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, dual luciferase reporter assays, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down experiments were performed to confirm the underlying mechanisms of circHERC1. Nucleocytoplasmic localization of FOXO1 was determined by nucleocytoplasmic isolation and immunofluorescence. The interaction of circHERC1 with FOXO1 was verified by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and western blot assays. The proliferation and migration of circHERC1 in vivo were verified by subcutaneous and tail vein injection in nude mice.

RESULTS

CircHERC1 was significantly upregulated in lung cancer tissues and cells, ectopic expression of circHERC1 strikingly facilitated the proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and inhibited the apoptosis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, knockdown of circHERC1 exerted the opposite effects. CircHERC1 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. Further mechanistic research indicated that circHERC1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-142-3p to relieve the repressive effect of miR-142-3p on its target HMGB1, activating the MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways and promoting cell migration and invasion. More importantly, we found that circHERC1 could bind FOXO1 and sequester it in the cytoplasm, adjusting the feedback AKT pathway. The accumulation of FOXO1 in the cytosol and nuclear exclusion promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. CircHERC1 is a new circRNA that promotes tumor function in NSCLC and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

CircHERC1 is a new circRNA that promotes tumor function in NSCLC and may serve as a potential diagnosis biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC. Our findings indicate that circHERC1 facilitates the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC cells by regulating the miR-142-3p/HMGB1 axis and activating the MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways. In addition, circHERC1 can promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis by sequestering FOXO1 in the cytoplasm to regulate AKT activity and BIM transcription.

Cell-active, irreversible covalent inhibitors that selectively target the catalytic lysine of EGFR by using fluorosulfate-based SuFEx chemistry

EGFR signaling is involved in multiple cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation and development, making this protein kinase one of the most valuable drug targets for the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of a series of potential covalent inhibitors targeting the catalytically conserved lysine (K745) of EGFR on the basis of Erlotinib, an FDA-approved first-generation EGFR drug. Different amine-reactive electrophiles were introduced at positions on the Erlotinib scaffold proximal to K745 in EGFR. The optimized compound 26 (as well as its close analog 30), possessing a novel arylfluorosulfate group (ArOSO2F), showed excellent in vitro potency (as low as 0.19 nM in independent IC50 determination) and selectivity against EGFR and many of its drug-resistant mutants. Both intact protein mass spectrometry (MS) and site-mapping analysis revealed that compound 26 covalently bound to EGFR at K745 through the formation of a sulfamate. In addition, compound 26 displayed good anti-proliferative potency against EGFR-overexpressing HCC827 cells by inhibiting endogenous EGFR autophosphorylation. The pharmacokinetic studies of compound 26 demonstrated the druggable potential of other ArOSO2F-containing compounds. Finally, competitive activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), as well as cellular wash-out experiments, all showed compound 26 to be the first cell-active, fluorosulfate-based targeted covalent inhibitor (TCI) of protein kinases capable of covalently engaging the catalytically conserved lysine of its target in live mammalian cells.

Correlation between androgen and estrogen receptor expression and clinicopathologic features in carcinoma urinary bladder

INTRODUCTION

The molecular mapping of cancers by the Cancer Genome Atlas Project has accelerated the quest for new therapeutic targets for urinary bladder cancer, including sex steroid receptors. Previous studies have demonstrated conflicting results on their relationship with bladder cancer, and there is sparse data on their expression in the Indian population. The aim of our study is to examine the expression of androgen receptors (AR) and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in patients with bladder cancer and their correlation with clinicopathologic features.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 132 patients, who were surgically managed for urinary bladder mass by transurethral resection or radical cystectomy in our institute, with transitional cell carcinoma on histopathology and with at least two years of follow-up were included. Their demographic and treatment details were obtained, histopathology blocks were retrieved and immunohistochemical staining for androgen and estrogen receptors was performed. Then, the relationship between their expression and clinicopathologic features was studied.

RESULTS

A total of 3.79% of patients showed estrogen receptor alpha positivity, 51.52% estrogen receptor beta positivity and 63.64% androgen receptor positivity. No statistically significant correlation was found between age of patients (p = 0.75/0.52/0.87), tumour stage and grade (0.71/0.3/0.21), pathological variant (p = 1/0.58/0.38) and overall survival (p = 0.70/0.052/0.45 for NMIBC and p = 0.82/0.36/0.22) and estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta and androgen receptor-positive status, respectively. Estrogen receptor beta positivity was significantly higher in patients with unifocal (p = 0.015) and small tumours (< 5 cm) (p = 0.03), and its expression was associated with better disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.046) in patients of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

CONCLUSION

Our study has the largest sample size conducted on Indian population with results differing from previous studies conducted on western population. Estrogen receptor beta expression was significantly associated with small unifocal tumours and better DFS. Estrogen receptor alpha and androgen receptor expression were not found to be associated with the clinicopathologic features of the study population.

Depressive symptoms and shorter survival in lung cancer: the role of leukocyte telomere length

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between depressive symptoms, leukocyte telomere length-a marker of cellular ageing, and survival amongst lung cancer patients.

DESIGN

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer were recruited from a university-affiliated cancer center clinic.

MAIN OUTCOME

Patients (N = 67) reported on depressive symptoms and provided a blood sample for leukocyte telomere length assessment at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Survival status was tracked over 3 years.

RESULTS

Age at diagnosis and depressive symptoms, as measured by the CES-D, were associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (p < .05), although only age at diagnosis contributed statistical significance to the model. Depressive symptoms predicted shorter survival from date of diagnosis (p < .01). Patients who reported experiencing clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D scores ≥ 16) demonstrated shorter survival than those who reported sub-clinical levels of depressive symptoms (p < .05). Leukocyte telomere length did not emerge as a predictor of shorter survival.

CONCLUSION

Clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms are associated with shorter survival amongst lung cancer patients. These findings support the on-going efforts to screen all cancer patients for low mood and to investigate mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and shorter survival in cancer contexts.

Low-Dose Computed Tomography Screening in Relatives With a Family History of Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The role of a family history of lung cancer (LCFH) in screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has not been prospectively investigated with long-term follow-up.

METHODS

A multicenter prospective study with up to three rounds of annual LDCT screening was conducted to determine the detection rate of lung cancer (LC) in asymptomatic first- or second-degree relatives of LCFH.

RESULTS

From 2007 to 2011, there were 1102 participants enrolled, including 805 and 297 from simplex and multiplex families (MFs), respectively (54.2% women and 70.0% never-smokers). The last follow-up date was May 5, 2021. The overall LC detection rate was 4.5% (50 of 1102). The detection rate in MF was 9.4% (19 of 202) and 4.4% (4 of 91) in never-smokers and in those who smoked, respectively. The corresponding rates for simplex families were 3.7% (21 of 569) and 2.7% (6 of 223), respectively. Of these, 68.0% and 22.0% of cases with stage I and IV diseases, respectively. LC diagnoses within a 3-year interval from the initial screening tend to be younger, have a higher detection rate, and have stage I disease; thereafter, more stage III-IV disease and 66.7% (16 of 24) with negative or semipositive nodules in initial computed tomography scans. Within the 6-year interval, only maternal (modified rate ratio = 4.46, 95% confidence interval: 2.32-8.56) or maternal relative history of LC (modified rate ratio = 5.41, 95% confidence interval: 2.84-10.30) increased the risk of LC.

CONCLUSIONS

LCFH is a risk factor for LC and is increased with MF history, among never-smokers, younger adults, and those with maternal relatives with LC. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the mortality benefit of LDCT screening in those with LCFH.

Pediatric neurosurgical-oncology scope and management paradigms in Sub-Saharan Africa: a collaboration among 7 referral hospitals on the subcontinent

Background

Understanding of the epidemiology and biology of pediatric CNS tumors has advanced dramatically over the last decade; however there remains a discrepancy in the understanding of epidemiologic data and clinical capacity between high- and lower-income countries.

Objective

We collected and analyzed hospital-level burden and capacity-oriented data from pediatric neurosurgical oncology units at 7 referral hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods

A cross sectional epidemiological survey was conducted using REDCap at the 7 SSA sites, capturing 3-month aggregate data for patients managed over a total of 9 months. Descriptive statistical analyses for the aggregate data were performed.

Results

Across the neurosurgical spectrum, 15% of neurosurgery outpatient and 16% of neurosurgery operative volume was represented by pediatric neuro-oncology across the 7 study sites. Eighty-six percent and 87% of patients who received surgery underwent preoperative CT scan and/or MRI respectively. Among 312 patients evaluated with a CNS tumor, 211 (68%) underwent surgery. Mean surgery wait time was 26.6 ± 36.3 days after initial presentation at the clinic. The most common tumor location was posterior fossa (n=94, 30%), followed by sellar/suprasellar region (n=56, 18%). Histopathologic analysis was performed for 189 patients (89%). The most common pathologic diagnosis was low grade glioma (n=43, 23%), followed by medulloblastoma (n=37, 20%), and craniopharyngioma (n=31, 17%). Among patients for whom adjuvant therapy was indicated, only 26% received chemotherapy and 15% received radiotherapy.

Conclusion

The histopathologic variety of pediatric brain and spinal tumors managed across 7 SSA referral hospitals was similar to published accounts from other parts of the world. About two-thirds of patients received a tumor-directed surgery with significant inter-institutional variability. Less than a third of patients received adjuvant therapy when indicated. Multi-dimensional capacity building efforts in neuro-oncology are necessary to approach parity in the management of children with brain and spinal tumors in SSA.

Neo-Antigen-Reactive T Cells Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: A More Personalized Cancer Therapy Approach

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common malignancy in women and the third most frequent cancer in men. Evidence has revealed that the survival of patients with metastatic CRC is very low, between one and three years. Neoantigens are known proteins encoded by mutations in tumor cells. It is theorized that recognizing neoantigens by T cells leads to T cell activation and further antitumor responses. Neoantigen-reactive T cells (NRTs) are designed against the mentioned neoantigens expressed by tumor cells. NRTs selectively kill tumor cells without damage to non-cancerous cells. Identifying patient-specific and high immunogen neoantigens is important in NRT immunotherapy of patients with CRC. However, the main challenges are the side effects and preparation of NRTs, as well as the effectiveness of these cells in vivo. This review summarized the properties of neoantigens as well as the preparation and therapeutic outcomes of NRTs for the treatment of CRC.

The Ploidy State as a Determinant of Hepatocyte Proliferation

The liver's unique chromosomal variations, including polyploidy and aneuploidy, influence hepatocyte identity and function. Among the most well-studied mammalian polyploid cells, hepatocytes exhibit a dynamic interplay between diploid and polyploid states. The ploidy state is dynamic as hepatocytes move through the "ploidy conveyor," undergoing ploidy reversal and re-polyploidization during proliferation. Both diploid and polyploid hepatocytes actively contribute to proliferation, with diploids demonstrating an enhanced proliferative capacity. This enhanced potential positions diploid hepatocytes as primary drivers of liver proliferation in multiple contexts, including homeostasis, regeneration and repopulation, compensatory proliferation following injury, and oncogenic proliferation. This review discusses the influence of ploidy variations on cellular activity. It presents a model for ploidy-associated hepatocyte proliferation, offering a deeper understanding of liver health and disease with the potential to uncover novel treatment approaches.

The Relationship Between PD-1(rs2227981) and PD-L1(rs2890658) Polymorphisms and Urothelial Cell Carcinoma

Background Urothelial cell carcinoma, which is believed to develop from the urothelium (transitional epithelium), is the most common aggressive tumor and accounts for the ten most prevalent cancers in the world. The risk factors for urothelial cell carcinoma are aging, smoking, gender, and genetic alternations. Programmed cell death1 (PD-1) has been widely described as a negative regulator of T-cells by sending inhibitory signals to the T-cell. Through PD-1 binding with PD-L1 (ligand for PD-1), an inhibitory signal is propagated to the T cell. The polymorphisms of PD-1 and PD-L1 lead to an efficient T-cell response and affect an anti-tumor reaction. The polymorphisms of PD-1 and PD-L1 could also affect the carcinogenesis of human cancer, including urothelial cell carcinoma. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the relation between PD-1(rs2227981) and PD-L1(rs2890658) polymorphisms and the carcinogenesis of urothelial cell carcinoma. Materials and methods This study was conducted using 211 healthy controls and 256 cases of urothelial cell carcinoma among the Japanese population. The DNA samples were extracted from the peripheral white blood cells of each subject. The genotype was detected by using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results C/T (Adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI:1.02-2.35) and C/T+T/T (OR 1.46, 95% CI:1.01-2.12) genotypes of PD-1 rs2227981 were significant and risk factors for urothelial cancer. Male with A/A genotype in PD-L1 and CT genotype in PD-1 has a significant higher risk factor compared with other genotypes (Adjusted OR 1.83, 95% CI:1.05-3.21). Conclusions and discussion We found that C/T(PD-1) and "A/A (PD-L1) and C/T(PD-1)" were predominant in urothelial cell carcinoma cases. This indicates that C/T(PD-1) and "A/A (PD-L1) and C/T(PD-1)" genotypes could increase susceptibility to urothelial cell carcinoma. However, since our findings indicated that the effects of PD-1 and PD-L1 polymorphisms included discrepancies, additional research will be needed to evaluate the relationship between human cancer and PD-1 and PD-L1 polymorphisms. This is the first study that seeks to find the relation between PD-1(rs2227981) and PD-L1(rs2890658) polymorphisms concerning urothelial cell carcinoma among the Japanese population.

Integration analysis using bioinformatics and experimental validation on the clinical and biological significance of TSLP in cancers

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has significantly impacted the development and progression of various neoplastic disorders. To comprehensively evaluate the diverse significance of TSLP in malignant tumors, we first integrative analyze the TSLP expression level in paired and unpaired pan-cancer tissue and cell line, compared against the normal tissue. The correlation between TSLP expression, molecular subtypes, immune subtypes, diagnostic value, and prognostic value in pan-cancer was also investigated. We then explored the impact of TSLP expression on multifaced immune cell infiltration and subsequent clinical outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. and conducted cellular experiments to functionally examine the effect of TSLP on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion in LUAD. The anti-neoplastic mechanism of TSLP was further investigated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Our findings reveal that TSLP expression is abnormally low in various cancers compared to normal tissue and is associated with different molecular and immune subtypes of cancers. Moreover, ROC and survival analysis results suggest that TSLP expression is correlated with the diagnostic, prognostic, clinical features, and immune cells of LUAD patients. Cell experiments showed that overexpression of TSLP elicited a significant reduction in LUAD cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, impeded cell cycle progression in the G2/M phase, and inhibited cell migration and invasion. In addition, TSLP inhibited LUAD progression through the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. Therefore, targeting TSLP shows potential as a therapeutic strategy for pan-cancer, particularly for LUAD, and as a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of this malignancy.

High hsa_circ_0081621 expression indicates a poor prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A bioinformatics analysis and retrospective clinical study

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the second most common malignant tumour of the head and neck with a low 5-year survival rate. There is need to identify novel biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of LSCC. The present study identified differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs/circs) in LSCC and larynx adjacent non-carcinoma epithelial specimens by analysing the circRNA microarray dataset GSE117001. hsa_circ_0081621 had highest expression among three circRNAs (hsa_circ_0015211, hsa_circ_0023326 and hsa_circ_0081621) in LSCC specimens by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0081621 in 67 LSCC specimens were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Expression levels of hsa_circ_0081621 were analysed in relation to clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of patients with LSCC. According to FISH results, 59.7% of LSCC specimens exhibited high hsa_circ_0081621 expression. In LSCC specimens, hsa_circ_0081621 high expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and high clinical stage. High expression levels of hsa_circ_0081621 were associated with a poor 5-year overall survival rate in patients with LSCC. In addition, high hsa_circ_0081621 expression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with LSCC. hsa_circ_0081621 may participate in malignant progression of LSCC, and its high expression could be used for prognostic assessment of patients with LSCC.

Effects of hsa_circ_0074854 on colorectal cancer progression, construction of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, and analysis of immune infiltration

PURPOSE

Circular RNAs have been demonstrated to be closely associated with the onset and metastasis of colorectal cancer. However, the roles and clinical diagnostic value of most circRNAs in colorectal cancer remain unclear.

METHODS

We detected the differential expression of circRNAs in CRC tissues and cells and investigated their relationship in conjunction with clinical pathological features. Additionally, we performed cellular functional experiments in CRC cell lines to explore the functions of circRNAs. To further validate the potential ceRNA network, qPCR was performed to assess the expression of miRNA and mRNA in CRC cells after differential expression of circRNAs knockdown. Furthermore, database analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between the predicted mRNAs and immune infiltration in CRC.

RESULTS

Our research findings indicate a positive correlation between hsa_circ_0074854 expression and advanced clinical pathological features, as well as an unfavorable prognosis. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0074854 was observed to inhibit proliferation and migration capabilities of colorectal cancer cells, affecting the cell cycle progression, and simultaneously promoting apoptosis. A competing endogenous RNA mechanism may exist among circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Furthermore, the expression of target genes displayed correlations with the abundance of certain immune cells.

CONCLUSION

We propose a novel ceRNA network and evaluate the interplay between target genes and immune cells, providing novel insights for the diagnosis and targeted therapy of CRC.

Critical role of heme oxygenase-1 in chaetoglobosin A by triggering reactive oxygen species mediated mitochondrial apoptosis in colorectal cancer

The incidence rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing and poses severe threats to human health worldwide and developing effective treatment strategies remains an urgent task. In this study, Chaetoglobosin A (ChA), an endophytic fungal metabolite from the medicinal herb-derived fungus Chaetomium globosum Km1126, was identified as a potent and selective antitumor agent in human CRC. ChA induced growth inhibition of CRC cells in a concentration-dependent manner but did not impair the viability of normal colon cells. ChA triggered mitochondrial intrinsic and caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. In addition, apoptosis antibody array analysis revealed that expression of Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was significantly increased by ChA. Inhibition of HO-1 increased the sensitivity of CRC cells to ChA, suggesting HO-1 may play a protective role in ChA-mediated cell death. ChA induced cell apoptosis via the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS scavenger (NAC) prevented ChA-induced cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, and HO-1 activation. ChA promoted the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and co-administration of JNK inhibitor or siRNA markedly reversed ChA-mediated apoptosis. ChA significantly decreased the tumor growth without eliciting any organ toxicity or affecting the body weight of the CRC xenograft mice. This is the first study to demonstrate that ChA exhibits promising anti-cancer properties against human CRC both in vitro and in vivo. ChA is a potential therapeutic agent worthy of further development in clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Risk as a pattern over time: Delineation of time-dependent risk factors in biological, psychological, and social variables in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Survival in cancer patients is associated with a multitude of biological, social, and psychological factors. Although it is well established that all these factors add to overall mortality, it is not well understood how the predictive power of these parameters changes in a comprehensive model and over time.

METHODS

Patients who attended the authors' outpatient clinic were invited to participate. The authors followed 5180 mixed cancer patients (51.1% female; mean age, 59.1 years [SD = 13.8]) for up to 16 years and analyzed biological (age, sex, cancer site, anemia), psychological (anxiety, depression), and social variables (marital status, education, employment status) potentially predicting overall survival in a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The median survival time for the entire sample was 4.3 years (95% confidence interval, 4.0-4.7). The overall survival probabilities for 1 and 10 years were 76.8% and 38.0%, respectively. Following an empirical approach, the authors split the time interval into five periods: acute, subacute, short-term, medium-term, and long-term. A complex pattern of variables predicted overall survival differently in the five periods. Biological parameters were important throughout most of the time, social parameters were either time-independent predictors or tended to be more important in the longer term. Of the psychological parameters, only depression was a significant predictor and lost its predictive power in the long-term.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study allow the development of comprehensive patient-specific models of risk and resilience factors addressing biopsychosocial needs of cancer patients, paving the way for a personalized treatment plan that goes beyond biomedical cancer care.

Critical involvement of circular RNAs in virus-associated cancers

Virus-related cancer is cancer where viral infection leads to the malignant transformation of the host's infected cells. Seven viruses (e.g., human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV)) that infect humans have been identified as an oncogene and have been associated with several human malignancies. Recently, growing attention has been attracted to exploring the pathogenesis of virus-related cancers. One of the most mysterious molecules involved in carcinogenesis and progression of virus-related cancers is circular RNAs (circRNA). These emerging non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), due to the absence of 5' and 3' ends, have high stability than linear RNAs and are found in some species across the eukaryotic organisms. Compelling evidence has revealed that viruses also encode a repertoire of circRNAs, as well as dysregulation of these viral circRNAs play a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of different types of virus-related cancers. Therefore, understanding the exact role and function of the virally encoded circRNAs with virus-associated cancers will open a new road for increasing our knowledge about the RNA world. Hence, in this review, we will focus on emerging roles of virus-encoded circRNAs in multiple cancers, including cervical cancer, gastric cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Kaposi cancer, and liver cancer.

CircCDK1 blocking IGF2BP2-mediated m6A modification of CPPED1 promotes laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma metastasis via the PI3K/AKT signal pathway

BACKGROUND

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a novel noncoding RNA (ncRNA) that plays a critical role in various cancers. However, the clinical significance, biological function, and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remain unclear.

METHODS

A circRNA array was performed to identify the differentially expressed circRNAs. In vitro and in vivo assays were proceeded to verify the biological function of circCDK1 in LSCC. RNA pulldown assays and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were used to confirm the binding between circCDK1 and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2(IGF2BP2). The MeRIP assay was then used to identified the N6-methyladenisine (m6A) methylation of calcineurin like phosphatase domain containing1 (CPPED1).

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0005774 (circCDK1) was found upregulated in LSCC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. The level of circCDK1 was positively correlated with poor prognosisof LSCC patients. In vitro and in vivo, circCDK1 promoted migration and invasion of LSCC cells. Mechanistically, eukaryotic translation initiation factor4A3(EIF4A3) induced biogenesis of circCDK1 by binding to its flanking. By competitively binding to IGF2BP2, circCDK1 blocked the m6A modification of CPPED1 in IGF2BP2-dependent manner. Moreover, the circCDK1-mediated decrease of CPPED1 activated the PI3K/AKT signal pathway to facilitate progression of LSCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that EIF4A3-induced upregulation of circCDK1 promoted LSCC metastasis via EIF4A3-circCDK1-IGF2BP2-CPPED1 to activate PI3K-AKT signal pathway. CircCDK1 might serve as a new diagnostic and prognostic marker or potential therapeutic target for LSCC.

PCMT1 regulates the migration, invasion, and apoptosis of prostate cancer through modulating the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway

Protein L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate) O-methyltransferase (PCMT1) is a repair enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of isomerized aspartic acid (iso-Asp) residues into their normal structure, thereby restoring the configuration and function of proteins. Studies have shown that PCMT1 is overexpressed in several tumors and affects patients' prognosis. However, there are few reports on the role of PCMT1 in prostate cancer (PCa). In the present research, with the assistance of The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) database, we found that PCMT1 was overexpressed in PCa tissues. The results of quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot and immunohistochemistry staining also showed that PCMT1 expression was significantly increased in PCa tissues and cell lines. In PCa clinical samples, PCMT1 expression was closely related to Gleason score, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and bone metastasis. The experiments of overexpression and knockdown of PCMT1 in vitro or in vivo showed that PCMT1 can significantly promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of PCa cells, inhibit cell apoptosis, and promote the growth of PCa. We furthermore confirmed that PCMT1 regulated the migration, invasion and apoptosis of PCa cells by modulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT kinase/glycogen-synthase kinase-3β (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β) signaling pathway. Collectively, PCMT1 plays a cancer-facilitative role in PCa by promoting the proliferation, migration and invasion of PCa cells, and inhibiting apoptosis. Therefore, PCMT1 is considered to represent a novel target for treating PCa.

JMJD6-BRD4 complex stimulates lncRNA HOTAIR transcription by binding to the promoter region of HOTAIR and induces radioresistance in liver cancer stem cells

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR acts importantly in liver cancer development, but its effect on radioresistance remains poorly understood. Here, our study probed into the possible impact of HOTAIR in radioresistance in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and to elucidate its molecular basis.

METHODS

Following sorting of stem and non-stem liver cancer cells, LCSCs were identified and subjected to RNA-seq analysis for selecting differentially expressed genes. Expression of HOTAIR was determined in liver cancer tissues and CSCs. The stemness, proliferation, apoptosis and radioresistance of LCSCs were then detected in response to altered expression of HOTAIR-LSD1-JMJD6-BRD4.

RESULTS

Ectopic HOTAIR expression was found to promote radioresistance of LCSCs by maintaining its stemness. Mechanistic investigations indicated that HOTAIR recruited LSD1 to the MAPK1 promoter region and reduced the level of H3K9me2 in the promoter region, thus elevating ERK2 (MAPK1) expression. JMJD6-BRD4 complex promoted HOTAIR transcription by forming a complex and positively regulated ERK2 (MAPK1) expression, maintaining the stemness of LCSCs, and ultimately promoting their radioresistance in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our work highlights the promoting effect of the JMJD6-BRD4 complex on the radioresistance of LCSCs through a HOTAIR-dependent mechanism.

Laparoscopic Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Early Ovarian Malignancies

The demand for fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) has increased in the last decade due to increased maternal age, increased incidence of ovarian malignancies in younger patients, and technical advances in surgery. Data on oncological safety and fertility outcomes of patients with ovarian cancer after laparoscopic FSS are sparse, but some retrospective studies have shown that open FSS may be offered to selected patients. We assessed the role of minimally invasive FSS in comparison with radical surgery (RS) in terms of oncological safety and reproductive outcomes after FSS in this multicenter study. Eighty patients with FIGO stage I/II ovarian cancer treated with laparoscopic FSS or RS between 01/2000 and 10/2018 at the participating centers (comprehensive gynecological cancer centers with minimally invasive surgical expertise) were included in this retrospective analysis of prospectively kept data. Case-control (n = 40 each) matching according to the FIGO stage was performed. Progression-free survival [150 (3-150) and 150 (5-150) months; p = 0.61] and overall survival [36 (3-150) and 50 (1-275) months; p = 0.65] did not differ between the FSS and RS groups. Eight (25.8%) women became pregnant after FSS, resulting in seven (22.5%) deliveries; three (37.5%) patients conceived after in vitro fertilization, and five (62.5%) conceived spontaneously. Laparoscopic FSS seems to be applicable and oncologically safe for patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, with adequate fertility outcomes.

Copy Number Variation That Influences the Ionizing Radiation Sensitivity of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Genome instability in cancer cells causes not only point mutations but also structural variations of the genome, including copy number variations (CNVs). It has recently been proposed that CNVs arise in cancer to adapt to a given microenvironment to survive. However, how CNV influences cellular resistance against ionizing radiation remains unknown. PRMT5 (protein arginine methyltransferase 5) and APE1 (apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1), which enhance repair of DNA double-strand breaks and oxidative DNA damage, are closely localized in the chromosome 14 of the human genome. In this study, the genomics data for the PRMT5 and APE1 genes, including their expression, CNVs, and clinical outcomes, were analyzed using TCGA's data set for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The two genes were found to share almost identical CNV values among cancer tissues from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Levels of expression of PRMT5 and APE1 in OSCC tissues are highly correlated in cancer but not in normal tissues, suggesting that regulation of PRMT5 and APE1 were overridden by the extent of CNV in the PRMT5-APE1 genome region. High expression levels of PRMT5 and APE1 were both associated with poor survival outcomes after radiation therapy. Simultaneous down-regulation of PRMT5 and APE1 synergistically hampered DNA double-strand break repair and sensitized OSCC cell lines to X-ray irradiation in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that the extent of CNV in a particular genome region significantly influence the radiation resistance of cancer cells. Profiling CNV in the PRMT5-APE1 genome region may help us to understand the mechanism of the acquired radioresistance of tumor cells, and raises the possibility that simultaneous inhibition of PRMT5 and APE1 may increase the efficacy of radiation therapy.

Unexpected and Rare Sites of Metastasis in Oncologic Patients

Case studies of rare oncologic metastases are an important source of clinical data for health care professionals and researchers. While infrequent, the knowledge base and clinical recommendations derived from such cases aid in advancements in the field. As such, we aim to add five cases to the growing body of literature. The first two male patients, aged 69 and 73, were diagnosed with colon adenocarcinoma, suspected to be a second primary prostate carcinoma, following positron emission tomography-computer tomography (PET-CT). This suspicion was ruled out by prostatectomy and histopathological investigations, which instead found adenocarcinoma of colonic origin. The next two male patients, ages 63 and 68, were diagnosed, respectively, with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma with cardiac metastases and metastatic melanoma with distant metastases to the pancreas. The final patient was a 73-year-old male diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer after a radiological investigation of suspected renal cell carcinoma.

Cellular Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Have We Advanced in the Last Decade?

BACKGROUND

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous B-cell malignancy, affecting mainly older adults. Despite the recent introduction of multiple targeted agents, CLL remains an incurable disease. Cellular therapy is a promptly evolving area that has developed over the last decades from such standard of care as hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to the novel treatment modalities employing genetically engineered immune cells.

SUMMARY

Tailoring the proper treatment for each patient is warranted and should take into account the disease biology, patient characteristics, and the available treatment modalities. Nowadays, the most broadly applied cellular therapies for CLL management are HCT and chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells. However, CAR-T cell therapy is currently not yet approved in CLL, and the appropriate sequencing for the administration of these agents remains to be clarified.

KEY MESSAGES

The current review will discuss various available cellular treatment options, their advances and limitations, as well as the optimal timing for the employment of such therapies in CLL patients.

Attention-based dual-path feature fusion network for automatic skin lesion segmentation

Automatic segmentation of skin lesions is a critical step in Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) of melanoma. However, due to the blurring of the lesion boundary, uneven color distribution, and low image contrast, resulting in poor segmentation result. Aiming at the problem of difficult segmentation of skin lesions, this paper proposes an Attention-based Dual-path Feature Fusion Network (ADFFNet) for automatic skin lesion segmentation. Firstly, in the spatial path, a Boundary Refinement (BR) module is designed for the output of low-level features to filter out irrelevant background information and retain more boundary details of the lesion area. Secondly, in the context path, a Multi-scale Feature Selection (MFS) module is constructed for high-level feature output to capture multi-scale context information and use the attention mechanism to filter out redundant semantic information. Finally, we design a Dual-path Feature Fusion (DFF) module, which uses high-level global attention information to guide the step-by-step fusion of high-level semantic features and low-level detail features, which is beneficial to restore image detail information and further improve the pixel-level segmentation accuracy of skin lesion. In the experiment, the ISIC 2018 and PH2 datasets are employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It achieves a performance of 0.890/ 0.925 and 0.933 /0.954 on the F1-score and SE index, respectively. Comparative analysis with state-of-the-art segmentation methods reveals that the ADFFNet algorithm exhibits superior segmentation performance.

ceRNA network-regulated COL1A2 high expression correlates with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in colon adenocarcinoma

Collagen type I α 2 (COL1A2) is a major component of collagen type I. Recently, abnormal COL1A2 expression has been reported in human cancers. However, the specific role and mechanism of COL1A2 in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remain unclear. We performed the pan-cancer analysis of COL1A2 expression in 33 types of human cancers from TIMER database and integrated data combined TCGA with GTEx. The prognostic values of COL1A2 for 17 cancer types of interest were estimated from GEPIA database. The results showed that COL1A2 was significantly upregulated in COAD tissues and that higher COL1A2 expression predicted unfavorable prognosis for patients with COAD. Next, COL1A2-related functional pathways in COAD were analyzed with TCGA data using R package. Additionally, we constructed a ceRNA network that LINC00638/hsa-miR-552-3p axis served as a potential regulatory pathway of COL1A2 in COAD. Furthermore, our findings showed that COL1A2 positively associated with immune infiltration and that tumor immune escape might be involved in COL1A2-mediated carcinogenesis in COAD. For the first time, we constructed a ceRNA prediction network of COL1A2 and explored the association of COL1A2 with tumor immune microenvironment remodeling. The findings may advance our understanding of the pathogenesis mechanism in COAD and paves the way for further cancer therapeutics.