Chemotherapy-Enriched THBS2-Deficient Cancer Stem Cells Drive Hepatocarcinogenesis through Matrix Softness Induced Histone H3 Modifications

The role of liver cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis

Metastasis accounts for the vast majority of cancer deaths; however, this complex process has yet to be fully explained. To form metastases, cancer cells must undergo a series of steps, known as the "Metastatic cascade", each of which requires a specific functional transformation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in tumor metastasis, but their dynamic behavior and regulatory mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Based on the "Metastatic cascade" theory, this review summarizes the effect of liver CSCs on the metastatic biological programs that underlie the dissemination and metastatic growth of cancer cells. Liver CSCs have the capacity to initiate distant organ metastasis via EMT, and the microenvironment transformation that supports the ability of these cells to disseminate, evade immune surveillance, dormancy, and regenerate metastasis. Understanding the heterogeneity and traits of liver CSCs in these processes is critical for developing strategies to prevent and treat metastasis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Cancer-associated fibroblasts and prostate cancer stem cells: crosstalk mechanisms and implications for disease progression

The functional heterogeneity and ecological niche of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which are major drivers of prostate cancer development and treatment resistance, have attracted considerable research attention. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are crucial components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), substantially affect PCSC stemness. Additionally, CAFs promote PCSC growth and survival by releasing signaling molecules and modifying the surrounding environment. Conversely, PCSCs may affect the characteristics and behavior of CAFs by producing various molecules. This crosstalk mechanism is potentially crucial for prostate cancer progression and the development of treatment resistance. Using organoids to model the TME enables an in-depth study of CAF-PCSC interactions, providing a valuable preclinical tool to accurately evaluate potential target genes and design novel treatment strategies for prostate cancer. The objective of this review is to discuss the current research on the multilevel and multitarget regulatory mechanisms underlying CAF-PCSC interactions and crosstalk, aiming to inform therapeutic approaches that address challenges in prostate cancer treatment.

Optical Fiber-Enabled In Situ Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation for Infiltrating Tumor Therapy in Brain

In addition to repressing proliferation, inhibiting the infiltration of tumor cells is an important strategy to improve the treatment of malignant tumors. Herein, a photocatalyst (pCNMC@Pt) is designed by sequentially assembling manganese dioxide, chlorin e6, and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles onto protonated graphitic carbon nitride. With the help of a Z-scheme structure and near-infrared (NIR) photosensitizer, pCNMC@Pt is capable of responding to NIR light to generate large amounts of hydrogen (H2). Taking lactic acid in the tumor microenvironment as a sacrificial reagent, H2 therapy initiated by the NIR photocatalyst remarkably impedes the growth of glioblastoma (GBM). More importantly, it is found that H2 can suppress the stemness of glioma stem cells, curbing both proliferation and infiltration of GBM. Furthermore, since pCNMC@Pt and light source are precisely co-localized through a self-built loading and illumination system, GBM in mouse brains can be efficiently treated, providing an alternative gas therapy approach to cure infiltrating tumors.

The impact of matrix stiffness on hepatic cell function, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma-Based on quantitative data

Over the past few decades, extensive research has explored the development of supportive scaffold materials for in vitro hepatic cell culture, to effectively mimic in vivo microenvironments. It is crucial for hepatic disease modeling, drug screening, and therapeutic evaluations, considering the ethical concerns and practical challenges associated with in vivo experiments. This review offers a comprehensive perspective on hepatic cell culture using bioscaffolds by encompassing all stages of hepatic diseases-from a healthy liver to fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-with a specific focus on matrix stiffness. This review begins by providing physiological and functional overviews of the liver. Subsequently, it explores hepatic cellular behaviors dependent on matrix stiffness from previous reports. For hepatic cell activities, softer matrices showed significant advantages over stiffer ones in terms of cell proliferation, migration, and hepatic functions. Conversely, stiffer matrices induced myofibroblastic activation of hepatic stellate cells, contributing to the further progression of fibrosis. Elevated matrix stiffness also correlates with HCC by increasing proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and drug resistance of HCC cells. In addition, we provide quantitative information on available data to offer valuable perspectives for refining the preparation and development of matrices for hepatic tissue engineering. We also suggest directions for further research on this topic.

Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Bidirectionality, Universal Cues, Plasticity, Mechanics, and the Tumor Microenvironment Drive Cancer Metastasis

Tumor diseases become a huge problem when they embark on a path that advances to malignancy, such as the process of metastasis. Cancer metastasis has been thoroughly investigated from a biological perspective in the past, whereas it has still been less explored from a physical perspective. Until now, the intraluminal pathway of cancer metastasis has received the most attention, while the interaction of cancer cells with macrophages has received little attention. Apart from the biochemical characteristics, tumor treatments also rely on the tumor microenvironment, which is recognized to be immunosuppressive and, as has recently been found, mechanically stimulates cancer cells and thus alters their functions. The review article highlights the interaction of cancer cells with other cells in the vascular metastatic route and discusses the impact of this intercellular interplay on the mechanical characteristics and subsequently on the functionality of cancer cells. For instance, macrophages can guide cancer cells on their intravascular route of cancer metastasis, whereby they can help to circumvent the adverse conditions within blood or lymphatic vessels. Macrophages induce microchannel tunneling that can possibly avoid mechanical forces during extra- and intravasation and reduce the forces within the vascular lumen due to vascular flow. The review article highlights the vascular route of cancer metastasis and discusses the key players in this traditional route. Moreover, the effects of flows during the process of metastasis are presented, and the effects of the microenvironment, such as mechanical influences, are characterized. Finally, the increased knowledge of cancer metastasis opens up new perspectives for cancer treatment.

Functional Roles of CD133: More than Stemness Associated Factor Regulated by the Microenvironment

CD133 protein has been one of the most used surface markers to select and identify cancer cells with stem-like features. However, its expression is not restricted to tumoral cells; it is also expressed in differentiated cells and stem/progenitor cells in various normal tissues. CD133 participates in several cellular processes, in part orchestrating signal transduction of essential pathways that frequently are dysregulated in cancer, such as PI3K/Akt signaling and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. CD133 expression correlates with enhanced cell self-renewal, migration, invasion, and survival under stress conditions in cancer. Aside from the intrinsic cell mechanisms that regulate CD133 expression in each cellular type, extrinsic factors from the surrounding niche can also impact CD33 levels. The enhanced CD133 expression in cells can confer adaptive advantages by amplifying the activation of a specific signaling pathway in a context-dependent manner. In this review, we do not only describe the CD133 physiological functions known so far, but importantly, we analyze how the microenvironment changes impact the regulation of CD133 functions emphasizing its value as a marker of cell adaptability beyond a cancer-stem cell marker.

SPINK1-induced tumor plasticity provides a therapeutic window for chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Tumor lineage plasticity, considered a hallmark of cancer, denotes the phenomenon in which tumor cells co-opt developmental pathways to attain cellular plasticity, enabling them to evade targeted therapeutic interventions. However, the underlying molecular events remain largely elusive. Our recent study identified CD133/Prom1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors to mark proliferative tumor-propagating cells with cancer stem cell-like properties, that follow a dedifferentiation trajectory towards a more embryonic state. Here we show SPINK1 to strongly associate with CD133 + HCC, and tumor dedifferentiation. Enhanced transcriptional activity of SPINK1 is mediated by promoter binding of ELF3, which like CD133, is found to increase following 5-FU and cisplatin treatment; while targeted depletion of CD133 will reduce both ELF3 and SPINK1. Functionally, SPINK1 overexpression promotes tumor initiation, self-renewal, and chemoresistance by driving a deregulated EGFR-ERK-CDK4/6-E2F2 signaling axis to induce dedifferentiation of HCC cells into their ancestral lineages. Depleting SPINK1 function by neutralizing antibody treatment or in vivo lentivirus-mediated Spink1 knockdown dampens HCC cancer growth and their ability to resist chemotherapy. Targeting oncofetal SPINK1 may represent a promising therapeutic option for HCC treatment.

Biophysics in tumor growth and progression: from single mechano-sensitive molecules to mechanomedicine

Evidence from physical sciences in oncology increasingly suggests that the interplay between the biophysical tumor microenvironment and genetic regulation has significant impact on tumor progression. Especially, tumor cells and the associated stromal cells not only alter their own cytoskeleton and physical properties but also remodel the microenvironment with anomalous physical properties. Together, these altered mechano-omics of tumor tissues and their constituents fundamentally shift the mechanotransduction paradigms in tumorous and stromal cells and activate oncogenic signaling within the neoplastic niche to facilitate tumor progression. However, current findings on tumor biophysics are limited, scattered, and often contradictory in multiple contexts. Systematic understanding of how biophysical cues influence tumor pathophysiology is still lacking. This review discusses recent different schools of findings in tumor biophysics that have arisen from multi-scale mechanobiology and the cutting-edge technologies. These findings range from the molecular and cellular to the whole tissue level and feature functional crosstalk between mechanotransduction and oncogenic signaling. We highlight the potential of these anomalous physical alterations as new therapeutic targets for cancer mechanomedicine. This framework reconciles opposing opinions in the field, proposes new directions for future cancer research, and conceptualizes novel mechanomedicine landscape to overcome the inherent shortcomings of conventional cancer diagnosis and therapies.

Noncellular components in the liver cancer stem cell niche: Biology and potential clinical implications

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are now recognized as one of the major root causes of therapy failure and tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early studies in the field focused primarily on the intrinsic regulators of CSC maintenance, but in recent years, mounting evidence has demonstrated the presence and role of extrinsic regulators in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the control of liver CSCs. In addition to direct interaction with cellular components, noncellular components, including the extracellular matrix, hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and secreted molecules within the tumor stroma and hepatitis viruses, also play a critical role in shaping the CSC niche. In this review, we highlight how various noncellular components in the TME play a role in regulating CSCs and how CSCs secrete components to interact with the TME to generate their own niche, working hand in hand to drive tumor physiology in HCC. In addition, we describe the potential clinical applications of these findings and propose perspectives on future research of noncellular components in the liver CSC niche.

Hsa_circ_0015382 is involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by mediating THBS2 expression

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that causes significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Circular RNA (circRNA) hsa_circ_0015382 is associated with the pathogenesis of PE, but its underlying regulatory mechanism remains to be explored.

METHODS

Relative RNA levels of hsa_circ_0015382, microRNA-616-3p and thrombospondin-2 (THBS2) were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In vitro regulatory effects of hsa_circ_0015382 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of trophoblasts were evaluated by CCK-8, flow cytometry for cell cycle, EdU, transwell, wound healing and HUVEC tube formation assays, respectively. Targeting interaction was verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays.

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0015382 was highly expressed in placental tissues from PE patients. Upregulation of hsa_circ_0015382 repressed trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion and lowered trophoblast-induced HUVEC tube formation. Hsa_circ_0015382 was validated as a miR-616-3p sponge and miR-616-3p targeted THBS2. Hsa_circ_0015382 could mediate trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion and regulate trophoblast-induced HUVEC tube formation by sponging miR-616-3p and regulating THBS2 expression.

CONCLUSION

Hsa_circ_0015382 is associated with the pathogenesis of PPE by regulating the miR-616-3p/THBS2 axis.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hsa_circ_0015382 is overexpressed in preeclampsia patients. Hsa_circ_0015382 inhibits trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion and decreases trophoblast-induced HUVEC tube formation. Hsa_circ_0015382 interacts with miR-616-3p to regulate THBS2 expression.

Bioinformatics and pathway enrichment analysis identified hub genes and potential biomarker for gastric cancer prognosis

Introduction

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. This study aimed to identify genes, biomarkers, and metabolic pathways affecting gastric cancer using bioinformatic analysis and meta-analysis.

Methods

Datasets containing gene expression profiles of tumor lesions and adjacent non-tumor mucosa samples were downloaded. Common differentially expressed genes between data sets were selected to identify hub genes and further analysis. Gene Expression Profiling and Interactive Analyses (GEPIA) and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to further validate the expression level of genes and plot the overall survivalcurve, respectively.

Results and disscussion

KEGG pathway analysis showed that the most important pathway was enriched in ECM-receptor interaction. Hub genes includingCOL1A2, FN1, BGN, THBS2, COL5A2, COL6A3, SPARC and COL12A1 wereidentified. The top interactive miRNAs including miR-29a-3p, miR-101-3p,miR-183-5p, and miR-15a-5p targeted the most hub genes. The survival chart showed an increase in mortality in patients with gastric cancer, which shows the importance of the role of these genes in the development of the disease and can be considered candidate genes in the prevention and early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Identification of basement membrane-related prognostic signature for predicting prognosis, immune response and potential drug prediction in papillary renal cell carcinoma

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) is a malignant neoplasm of the kidney and is highly interesting due to its increasing incidence. Many studies have shown that the basement membrane (BM) plays an important role in the development of cancer, and structural and functional changes in the BM can be observed in most renal lesions. However, the role of BM in the malignant progression of PRCC and its impact on prognosis has not been fully studied. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the functional and prognostic value of basement membrane-associated genes (BMs) in PRCC patients. We identified differentially expressed BMs between PRCC tumor samples and normal tissue and systematically explored the relevance of BMs to immune infiltration. Moreover, we constructed a risk signature based on these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using Lasso regression analysis and demonstrated their independence using Cox regression analysis. Finally, we predicted 9 small molecule drugs with the potential to treat PRCC and compared the differences in sensitivity to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents between high and low-risk groups to better target patients for more precise treatment planning. Taken together, our study suggested that BMs might play a crucial role in the development of PRCC, and these results might provide new insights into the treatment of PRCC.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments

The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM "normalization" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment.

Cellular Transcriptomics of Carboplatin Resistance in a Metastatic Canine Osteosarcoma Cell Line

Osteosarcoma prognosis has remained unchanged for the past three decades. In both humans and canines, treatment is limited to excision, radiation, and chemotherapy. Chemoresistance is the primary cause of treatment failure, and the trajectory of tumor evolution while under selective pressure from treatment is thought to be the major contributing factor in both species. We sought to understand the nature of platinum-based chemotherapy resistance by investigating cells that were subjected to repeated treatment and recovery cycles with increased carboplatin concentrations. Three HMPOS-derived cell lines, two resistant and one naïve, underwent single-cell RNA sequencing to examine transcriptomic perturbation and identify pathways leading to resistance and phenotypic changes. We identified the mechanisms of acquired chemoresistance and inferred the induced cellular trajectory that evolved with repeated exposure. The gene expression patterns indicated that acquired chemoresistance was strongly associated with a process similar to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenomenon associated with the acquisition of migratory and invasive properties associated with metastatic disease. We conclude that the observed trajectory of tumor adaptability is directly correlated with chemoresistance and the phase of the EMT-like phenotype is directly affected by the level of chemoresistance. We infer that the EMT-like phenotype is a critical component of tumor evolution under treatment pressure and is vital to understanding the mechanisms of chemoresistance and to improving osteosarcoma prognosis.

Regulators, functions, and mechanotransduction pathways of matrix stiffness in hepatic disease

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides physical support and imparts significant biochemical and mechanical cues to cells. Matrix stiffening is a hallmark of liver fibrosis and is associated with many hepatic diseases, especially liver cirrhosis and carcinoma. Increased matrix stiffness is not only a consequence of liver fibrosis but is also recognized as an active driver in the progression of fibrotic hepatic disease. In this article, we provide a comprehensive view of the role of matrix stiffness in the pathological progression of hepatic disease. The regulators that modulate matrix stiffness including ECM components, MMPs, and crosslinking modifications are discussed. The latest advances of the research on the matrix mechanics in regulating intercellular signaling and cell phenotype are classified, especially for hepatic stellate cells, hepatocytes, and immunocytes. The molecular mechanism that sensing and transducing mechanical signaling is highlighted. The current progress of ECM stiffness's role in hepatic cirrhosis and liver cancer is introduced and summarized. Finally, the recent trials targeting ECM stiffness for the treatment of liver disease are detailed.

Chemotherapy as a regulator of extracellular matrix-cell communication: Implications in therapy resistance

The development of most solid cancers, including pancreatic, breast, lung, liver, and ovarian cancer, involves a desmoplastic reaction: a process of major remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) affecting the ECM composition, mechanics, and microarchitecture. These properties of the ECM influence key cancer cell functions, including treatment resistance. Furthermore, emerging data show that various chemotherapeutic treatments lead to alterations in ECM features and ECM-cell communication. Here, we summarize the current knowledge around the effects of chemotherapy on both the ECM remodeling and ECM-cell signaling and discuss the implications of these alterations on distinct mechanisms of chemoresistance. Additionally, we provide an overview of current therapeutic strategies and ongoing clinical trials utilizing anti-cancer drugs to target the ECM-cell communication and explore the future challenges of these strategies.

Current progress in bionanomaterials to modulate the epigenome

Recent advances in genomics during the 1990s have made it possible to study and identify genetic and epigenetic responses of cells and tissues to various drugs and environmental factors. This has accelerated the number of targets available to treat a range of diseases from cancer to wound healing disorders. Equally interesting is the understanding of how bio- and nanomaterials alter gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, and whether they have the potential to elicit a positive therapeutic response without requiring additional biomolecule delivery. In fact, from a cell's perspective, a biomaterial is nothing more than an environmental factor, and so it has the power to epigenetically modulate gene expression of cells in contact with it. Understanding these epigenetic interactions between biomaterials and cells will open new avenues in the development of technologies that can not only provide biological signals (i.e. drugs, growth factors) necessary for therapy and regeneration, but also intimately interact with cells to promote the expression of genes of interest. This review article aims to summarise the current state-of-the-art and progress on the development of bio- and nanomaterials to modulate the epigenome.

Five EMT-related genes signature predicts overall survival and immune environment in microsatellite instability-high gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) subgroup of gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by a high tumor mutational burden, increased lymphocytic infiltration, and enhanced inflammatory cytokines. GC patients with MSI-H status have a good response to immune checkpoint blockade management. However, heterogeneity within the subtype and the underlying mechanisms of shaping tumor microenvironments remain poorly understood.

METHODS

RNA expression levels and clinical parameters of GC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The data were analyzed using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), univariate Cox regression, multivariate Cox regression, and Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) regression. In addition, multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was used in our clinical cohort for the tumor microenvironment study.

RESULTS

By ssGSEA and survival analysis, the EMT signaling pathway was identified as a representative pathway, which can stratify the patients with MSI-H GC with significant survival predictive power. Then, a novel representative EMT-related five-gene signature (namely CALU, PCOLCE2, PLOD2, SGCD, and THBS2) was established from EMT signaling gene set, which sensitivity and specificity were further validated in the independent GEO database (GSE62254) cohort for disease outcome prediction. Based on public single-cell data and in situ immunohistochemistry, we found that most of these five genes were abundantly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Furthermore, patients with high or low risk divided by this five-gene signature exhibited a strong correlation of the distinct patterns of tumor immune microenvironment. By mIHC staining of sections from 30 patients with MSI-H status, we showed that the patients with better prognoses had the increased infiltration of CD8⁺ cells in the primary tumoral tissue.

CONCLUSION

Our study developed a simple five-gene signature for stratifying MSI-H GC patients with survival predictive power.

Deep learning-based 3D cellular force reconstruction directly from volumetric images

The forces exerted by single cells in the three-dimensional (3D) environments play a crucial role in modulating cellular functions and behaviors closely related to physiological and pathological processes. Cellular force microscopy (CFM) provides a feasible solution for quantifying the mechanical interactions, which usually regains cellular forces from deformation information of extracellular matrices embedded with fluorescent beads. Owing to computational complexity, the traditional 3D-CFM is usually extremely time-consuming, which makes it challenging for efficient force recovery and large-scale sample analysis. With the aid of deep neural networks, this study puts forward a novel data-driven 3D-CFM to reconstruct 3D cellular force fields directly from volumetric images with random fluorescence patterns. The deep learning (DL)-based network is established through stacking deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) and specific function layers. Some necessary physical information associated with constitutive relation of extracellular matrix material is coupled to the data-driven network. The mini-batch stochastic gradient descent and back-propagation algorithms are introduced to ensure its convergence and training efficiency. The network not only have good generalization ability and robustness, but also can recover 3D cellular forces directly from the input fluorescence image pairs. Particularly, the computational efficiency of the DL-based network is at least one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of the traditional 3D-CFM. This study provides a novel scheme for developing high-performance 3D cellular force microscopy to quantitatively characterize mechanical interactions between single cells and surrounding extracellular matrices, which is of vital importance for quantitative investigations in biomechanics and mechanobiology.

Mechanism of cancer stemness maintenance in human liver cancer

Primary liver cancer mainly includes the following four types: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), hepatoblastoma (HB), and combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA). Recent studies have indicated that there are differences in cancer stem cell (CSC) properties among different types of liver cancer. Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), also called liver tumor-initiating cells, have been viewed as drivers of tumor initiation and metastasis. Many mechanisms and factors, such as mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, epigenetic modifications, the tumor microenvironment, and tumor plasticity, are involved in the regulation of cancer stemness in liver cancer. In this review, we analyze cancer stemness in different liver cancer types. Moreover, we further evaluate the mechanism of cancer stemness maintenance of LCSCs and discuss promising treatments for eradicating LCSCs.

THBS2 is Closely Related to the Poor Prognosis and Immune Cell Infiltration of Gastric Cancer

Background: The potential functions of Thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) in the progression and immune infiltration of gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of THBS2 in GC prognosis and the relationship between THBS2 and GC immune cell infiltration.

Material and Methods: The differential expression levels of THBS2 in the GC and cancer-adjacent tissues were identified using the TCGA databases and verified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemical staining and two datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). THBS2 related differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and used for further functional enrichment analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Furthermore, a THBS2-related immune infiltration analysis was also performed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were utilized to illustrate the effects of THBS2 on the prognosis and clinical variables of GC. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival probability of patients with GC.

Results: The THBS2 expression in GC was significantly higher than that in cancer-adjacent tissues (p < 0.001), which was verified using real-time PCR, immunohistochemical staining and datasets from GEO. The 599 identified DEGs were primarily enriched in pathways related to tumorigenesis and tumor progression, including the focal adhesion pathway, signaling by vascular endothelial growth factor, and Wnt signaling. THBS2 expression was positively correlated with the enrichment of the macrophages (r = 0.590, p < 0.001), which was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry; however, negatively correlated with the enrichment of Th17 cells (r = 0.260, p < 0.001). The high expression of THBS2 was significantly correlated with the pathological grade (p < 0.01), histological grade (p < 0.05), histological type (p < 0.05), T stage (p < 0.001), and poor overall survival (OS) (P = 0.003) of GC. The constructed nomogram can well predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-years OS probability of patients with GC (C-index [95% confidence interval] = 0.725 [0.701–0.750]).

Conclusion: THBS2 is closely related to the poor prognosis and immune infiltration of gastric cancer.

Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma - from origin to clinical implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with a poor clinical outcome. The cancer stem cell (CSC) model states that tumour growth is powered by a subset of tumour stem cells within cancers. This model explains several clinical observations in HCC (as well as in other cancers), including the almost inevitable recurrence of tumours after initial successful chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, as well as the phenomena of tumour dormancy and treatment resistance. The past two decades have seen a marked increase in research on the identification and characterization of liver CSCs, which has encouraged the design of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for HCC. These studies revealed novel aspects of liver CSCs, including their heterogeneity and unique immunobiology, which are suggestive of opportunities for new research directions and potential therapies. In this Review, we summarize the present knowledge of liver CSC markers and the regulators of stemness in HCC. We also comprehensively describe developments in the liver CSC field with emphasis on experiments utilizing single-cell transcriptomics to understand liver CSC heterogeneity, lineage-tracing and cell-ablation studies of liver CSCs, and the influence of the CSC niche and tumour microenvironment on liver cancer stemness, including interactions between CSCs and the immune system. We also discuss the potential application of liver CSC-based therapies for treatment of HCC.

Cancer stem cells: advances in biology and clinical translation-a Keystone Symposia report

The test for the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis is to find a target expressed on all, and only CSCs in a patient tumor, then eliminate all cells with that target that eliminates the cancer. That test has not yet been achieved, but CSC diagnostics and targets found on CSCs and some other cells have resulted in a few clinically relevant therapies. However, it has become apparent that eliminating the subset of tumor cells characterized by self-renewal properties is essential for long-term tumor control. CSCs are able to regenerate and initiate tumor growth, recapitulating the heterogeneity present in the tumor before treatment. As great progress has been made in identifying and elucidating the biology of CSCs as well as their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, the time seems ripe for novel therapeutic strategies that target CSCs to find clinical applicability. On May 19-21, 2021, researchers in cancer stem cells met virtually for the Keystone eSymposium "Cancer Stem Cells: Advances in Biology and Clinical Translation" to discuss recent advances in the understanding of CSCs as well as clinical efforts to target these populations.

The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblast as a Dynamic Player in Mediating Cancer Stemness in the Tumor Microenvironment

The enrichment of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) in a tumor microenvironment (TME) cultivates a pro-tumorigenic niche via aberrant paracrine signaling and matrix remodeling. A favorable niche is critical to the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a population of cells that are characterized by their enhanced ability to self-renew, metastasis, and develop therapy resistance. Mounting evidence illustrates the interplay between CAF and cancer cells expedites malignant progression. Therefore, targeting the key cellular components and factors in the niche may promote a more efficacious treatment. In this study, we discuss how CAF orchestrates a niche that enhances CSC features and the potential therapeutic implication.

Prognostic and Immunological Role of THBS2 in Colorectal cancer

Objective

Thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) acts as oncogenic or tumor suppressive gene in diverse cancers. Here we studied the prognostic and immunological role of THBS2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) using bioinformatic analysis.

Methods

The genetic and protein expression of THBS2 in CRC were explored across several databases, including ONCOMINE, GEPIA2, TIMER 2.0, UALCAN and HPA databases. Correlation between THBS2 expression and clinical features in CRC was assessed using UALCAN tool. Prognostic analysis was performed using GEPIA2 and PrognoScan. Immune infiltration correlation with THBS2 in CRC was investigated with TIMER 2.0 and TISIDB. THBS2 binding and correlated genes were analyzed using String, GEPIA2, and TIMER 2.0.

Results

THBS2 was significantly higher in CRC across multiple databases. Age and histological subtype were correlated with THBS2 level. High THBS2 expression correlated with short overall and disease-free survival. THBS2 expression was positively correlated with immune infiltrates in CRC. Moreover, extracellular matrix structural constituent and organization, PI3K-Akt pathway, were involved in the functional mechanisms of THBS2.

Conclusions

THBS2 correlates with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in CRC. THBS2 may act as a prognostic and immunological biomarker for CRC.