HIFs, angiogenesis, and cancer

A gene for all seasons: The evolutionary consequences of HIF-1 in carcinogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis

Oxygen played a pivotal role in the evolution of multicellularity during the Cambrian Explosion. Not surprisingly, responses to fluctuating oxygen concentrations are integral to the evolution of cancer-a disease characterized by the breakdown of multicellularity. Poorly organized tumor vasculature results in chaotic patterns of blood flow characterized by large spatial and temporal variations in intra-tumoral oxygen concentrations. Hypoxia-inducible growth factor (HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in enabling cells to adapt, metabolize, and proliferate in low oxygen conditions. HIF-1 is often constitutively activated in cancers, underscoring its importance in cancer progression. Here, we argue that the phenotypic changes mediated by HIF-1, in addition to adapting the cancer cells to their local environment, also "pre-adapt" them for proliferation at distant, metastatic sites. HIF-1-mediated adaptations include a metabolic shift towards anaerobic respiration or glycolysis, activation of cell survival mechanisms like phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic reprogramming, and formation of tumor vasculature through angiogenesis. Hypoxia induced epigenetic reprogramming can trigger epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer cells-the first step in the metastatic cascade. Highly glycolytic cells facilitate local invasion by acidifying the tumor microenvironment. New blood vessels, formed due to angiogenesis, provide cancer cells a conduit to the circulatory system. Moreover, survival mechanisms acquired by cancer cells in the primary site allow them to remodel tissue at the metastatic site generating tumor promoting microenvironment. Thus, hypoxia in the primary tumor promoted adaptations conducive to all stages of the metastatic cascade from the initial escape entry into a blood vessel, intravascular survival, extravasation into distant tissues, and establishment of secondary tumors.

Decellularized tissues as platforms for digestive system cancer models

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a multifunctional network of macromolecules that regulate various cellular functions and physically support the tissues. Besides physiological conditions, the ECM also changes during pathological conditions such as cancer. As tumor cells proliferate, notable changes occur in the quantity and makeup of the surrounding ECM. Therefore, the role of this noncellular component of tissues in studies of tumor microenvironments should be considered. So far, many attempts have been made to create 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D) models that can replicate the intricate connections within the tumor microenvironment. Decellularized tissues are proper scaffolds that imitate the complex nature of native ECM. This review aims to summarize 3D models of digestive system cancers based on decellularized ECMs. These ECM-based scaffolds will enable us to study the interactive communication between cells and their surrounding environment which brings new potential for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cancer.

Deciphering the Puzzle: Literature Insights on Chlamydia trachomatis-Mediated Tumorigenesis, Paving the Way for Future Research

Some infectious agents have the potential to cause specific modifications in the cellular microenvironment that could be propitious to the carcinogenesis process. Currently, there are specific viruses and bacteria, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Helicobacter pylori, that are well established as risk factors for neoplasia. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections are one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide, and recent European data confirmed a continuous rise across Europe. The infection is often asymptomatic in both sexes, requiring a screening program for early detection. Notwithstanding, not all countries in Europe have it. Chlamydia trachomatis can cause chronic and persistent infections, resulting in inflammation, and there are plausible biological mechanisms that link the genital infection with tumorigenesis. Herein, we aimed to understand the epidemiological and biological plausibility of CT genital infections causing endometrial, ovarian, and cervical tumors. Also, we covered some of the best suitable in vitro techniques that could be used to study this potential association. In addition, we defend the point of view of a personalized medicine strategy to treat those patients through the discovery of some biomarkers that could allow it. This review supports the need for the development of further fundamental studies in this area, in order to investigate and establish the role of chlamydial genital infections in oncogenesis.

Exploring the Role of Non-synonymous and Deleterious Variants Identified in Colorectal Cancer: A Multi-dimensional Computational Scrutiny of Exomes

Introduction

Colorectal cancers are the world's third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. Currently, there are several diagnostic and treatment options to combat it. However, a delay in detection of the disease is life-threatening. Additionally, a thorough analysis of the exomes of cancers reveals potential variation data that can be used for early disease prognosis.

Methods

By utilizing a comprehensive computational investigation, the present study aimed to reveal mutations that could potentially predispose to colorectal cancer. Ten colorectal cancer exomes were retrieved. Quality control assessments were performed using FastQC and MultiQC, gapped alignment to the human reference genome (hg19) using Bowtie2 and calling the germline variants using Haplotype caller in the GATK pipeline. The variants were filtered and annotated using SIFT and PolyPhen2 successfully categorized the mutations into synonymous, non-synonymous, start loss and stop gain mutations as well as marked them as possibly damaging, probably damaging and benign. This mutational profile helped in shortlisting frequently occurring mutations and associated genes, for which the downstream multi-dimensional expression analyses were carried out.

Results

Our work involved prioritizing the non-synonymous, deleterious SNPs since these polymorphisms bring about a functional alteration to the phenotype. The top variations associated with their genes with the highest frequency of occurrence included LGALS8, CTSB, RAD17, CPNE1, OPRM1, SEMA4D, MUC4, PDE4DIP, ELN and ADRA1A. An in-depth multi-dimensional downstream analysis of all these genes in terms of gene expression profiling and analysis and differential gene expression with regard to various cancer types revealed CTSB and CPNE1 as highly expressed and overregulated genes in colorectal cancer.

Conclusion

Our work provides insights into the various alterations that might possibly lead to colorectal cancer and suggests the possibility of utilizing the most important genes identified for wet-lab experimentation.

Association of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α expression with susceptibility to hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) triggers tumorigenesis and progression in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Inconsistent findings have been reported on the influence of HIF-1α over-expression on the clinical outcomes of HBV-related HCC. This study aims to clarify the role of HIF-1α overexpression in the tumorigenesis and prognosis of HBV-induced HCC. Systematic and comprehensive search of online papers was carried out to elucidate the contribution of HIF-1α expression to susceptibility of HBV-induced HCC. STATA 12.0 software was utilized to analyze available data extracted from all eligible literature. Publication bias and sensitivity were comprehensively analyzed. A total of 23 published studies involving 2244 subjects were finally screened. The HIF-1α expression was remarkably upregulated in HBV-induced HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues, non-tumorous tissues, paraneoplastic tissues, and non-HBV HCC tissues. The high HIF-1α expression tended to be positively related to capsular infiltration (odds ratio (OR) 1.767; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.058, 2.950). The HIF-1α expression was relevant to lymph node metastasis (OR 3.778; 95% CI 1.666, 8.568). High levels of HIF-1α expression tended to be closely implicated in portal vein invasion (OR 6.728, 95% CI 2.191, 20.656) but were irrelevant to alpha-fetoprotein, cirrhosis, Edmondson grading, tumor size, age, gender, and histological grade. Analysis of pooled data showed that HIF-1α was not statistically relevant to poor overall survival in HBV-related HCC. Our data provides compelling evidence that HIF-1α overexpression may imply a greater probability of invasion and metastasis in patients with HBV-induced HCC.

Insights on the functional dualism of nitric oxide in the hallmarks of cancer

Nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous radical, governs a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including cancer, pro-inflammatory signalling, and vasodilation. The family of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), which comprises the constitutive forms, nNOS and eNOS, and the inducible form, iNOS, produces NO enzymatically. Additionally, NO can be generated non-enzymatically from the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway. The anti- and pro-oxidant properties of NO and its functional dualism in cancer is due to its highly reactive nature. Numerous malignancies have NOS expression, which interferes with the tumour microenvironment to modulate the tumour's growth in both favourable and unfavourable ways. NO regulates a number of mechanisms in the tumour microenvironment, including metabolism, cell cycle, DNA repair, angiogenesis, and apoptosis/necrosis, depending on its concentration and spatiotemporal profile. This review focuses on the bi-modal impact of nitric oxide on the alteration of a few cancer hallmarks.

Vascular normalization: reshaping the tumor microenvironment and augmenting antitumor immunity for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer remains a challenging disease with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumor growth, progression, and therapy response. One characteristic feature of the TME is the abnormal tumor vasculature, which is associated with inadequate blood perfusion, hypoxia, and immune evasion. Vascular normalization, a therapeutic strategy aiming to rectify the abnormal tumor vasculature, has emerged as a promising approach to reshape the TME, enhance antitumor immunity, and synergize with immunotherapy in ovarian cancer. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of vascular normalization and its potential implications in ovarian cancer. In this review, we summarize the intricate interplay between anti-angiogenesis and immune modulation, as well as ICI combined with anti-angiogenesis therapy in ovarian cancer. The compelling evidence discussed in this review contributes to the growing body of knowledge supporting the utilization of combination therapy as a promising treatment paradigm for ovarian cancer, paving the way for further clinical development and optimization of this therapeutic approach.

The combination of hypoxia and high temperature affects heat shock, anaerobic metabolism, and pentose phosphate pathway key components responses in the white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Due to global warming, world water bodies have higher temperatures and lower oxygen concentrations that affect aquatic species including the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. This species withstands these conditions, but the information of the physiological responses that allow them to survive are scarce. We analyzed the effects of high temperature, hypoxia, reoxygenation, and the combination of these factors on the relative expression of selected genes: HSF1, Hsp70, p53, TIGAR, HIF-1α, and VEGF1-3 in gills of L. vannamei. Additionally, glucose, lactate, NADP, and NADPH were determined. HSF1 was up-regulated in the high temperature and oxygen stress conditions, but Hsp70 was up-regulated only in reoxygenation at both temperatures. HIF-1α was also up-regulated by reoxygenation in both temperatures. Meanwhile, the VEGF genes were not altered by the stress conditions, since none of them changed expression drastically. p53 relative expression remained stable at the tested stress conditions, which prompts to the maintenance of antioxidant defenses. TIGAR expression was induced in normoxia and hypoxia at high temperature, which induced NADPH content helping to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, high temperature caused higher glucose and lactate content in normoxia and hypoxia, indicating carbohydrate mobilization and a switch to anaerobic metabolism. The results showed that HSF1, the anaerobic metabolism and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) are crucial for the shrimp response to these abiotic stress conditions and contribute to their survival.

The pathological role of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression; special focus on molecular mechanisms and possible therapeutics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is comprised of transformed cells and non-malignant cells including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), endothelial vasculature cells, and tumor-infiltrating cells. These nonmalignant cells, as well as soluble factors (e.g., cytokines), and the extracellular matrix (ECM), form the tumor microenvironment (TME). In general, the cancer cells and their surrounding TME can crosstalk by direct cell-to-cell contact and via soluble factors, such as cytokines (e.g., chemokines). TME not only promotes cancer progression through growth-promoting cytokines but also provides resistance to chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms of tumor growth and progression and the roles of chemokines in CRC will likely suggest new therapeutic targets. In this line, a plethora of reports has evidenced the critical role of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12 or SDF-1) axis in CRC pathogenesis. In the current review, we take a glimpse into the role of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in CRC growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and immune escape. Also, a summary of recent reports concerning targeting CXCR4/CXCL12 axis for CRC management and therapy has been delivered.

Helicobacter pylori and Its Role in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a challenging public health concern worldwide and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The primary risk factor implicated in gastric cancer development is infection with Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori induces chronic inflammation affecting the gastric epithelium, which can lead to DNA damage and the promotion of precancerous lesions. Disease manifestations associated with H. pylori are attributed to virulence factors with multiple activities, and its capacity to subvert host immunity. One of the most significant H. pylori virulence determinants is the cagPAI gene cluster, which encodes a type IV secretion system and the CagA toxin. This secretion system allows H. pylori to inject the CagA oncoprotein into host cells, causing multiple cellular perturbations. Despite the high prevalence of H. pylori infection, only a small percentage of affected individuals develop significant clinical outcomes, while most remain asymptomatic. Therefore, understanding how H. pylori triggers carcinogenesis and its immune evasion mechanisms is critical in preventing gastric cancer and mitigating the burden of this life-threatening disease. This review aims to provide an overview of our current understanding of H. pylori infection, its association with gastric cancer and other gastric diseases, and how it subverts the host immune system to establish persistent infection.

Angiogenic signaling pathways and anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a complex and dynamic process regulated by various pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules, which plays a crucial role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. With the advances in molecular and cellular biology, various biomolecules such as growth factors, chemokines, and adhesion factors involved in tumor angiogenesis has gradually been elucidated. Targeted therapeutic research based on these molecules has driven anti-angiogenic treatment to become a promising strategy in anti-tumor therapy. The most widely used anti-angiogenic agents include monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. However, the clinical benefit of this modality has still been limited due to several defects such as adverse events, acquired drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and lack of validated biomarkers, which impel further research on mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, the development of multiple drugs and the combination therapy to figure out how to improve the therapeutic efficacy. Here, we broadly summarize various signaling pathways in tumor angiogenesis and discuss the development and current challenges of anti-angiogenic therapy. We also propose several new promising approaches to improve anti-angiogenic efficacy and provide a perspective for the development and research of anti-angiogenic therapy.

Ethacrynic Acid: A Promising Candidate for Drug Repurposing as an Anticancer Agent

Ethacrynic acid (ECA) is a diuretic that inhibits Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) present in the thick ascending loop of Henle and muculo dens and is clinically used for the treatment of edema caused by excessive body fluid. However, its clinical use is limited due to its low bioavailability and side effects, such as liver damage and hearing loss at high doses. Despite this, ECA has recently emerged as a potential anticancer agent through the approach of drug repositioning, with a novel mechanism of action. ECA has been shown to regulate cancer hallmark processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, angiogenesis, inflammation, energy metabolism, and the increase of inhibitory growth factors through various mechanisms. Additionally, ECA has been used as a scaffold for synthesizing a new material, and various derivatives have been synthesized. This review explores the potential of ECA and its derivatives as anticancer agents, both alone and in combination with adjuvants, by examining their effects on ten hallmarks of cancer and neuronal contribution to cancer. Furthermore, we investigated the trend of synthesis research of a series of ECA derivatives to improve the bioavailability of ECA. This review highlights the importance of ECA research and its potential to provide a cost-effective alternative to new drug discovery and development for cancer treatment.

Extracellular Vesicles as Delivery Shippers for Noncoding RNA-Based Modulation of Angiogenesis: Insights from Ischemic Stroke and Cancer

Ischemic stroke and systemic cancer are two of the leading causes of mortality. Hypoxia is a central pathophysiological component in ischemic stroke and cancer, representing a joint medical function. This function includes angiogenesis regulation. Vascular remodeling coupled with axonal outgrowth following cerebral ischemia is critical in improving poststroke neurological functional recovery. Antiangiogenic strategies can inhibit cancer vascularization and play a vital role in impeding cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. Although there are significant differences in the cause of angiogenesis across both pathophysiological conditions, emerging evidence states that common signaling structures, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), are involved in this context. EVs, heterogeneous membrane vesicles encapsulating proteomic genetic information from parental cells, act as multifunctional regulators of intercellular communication. Among the multifaceted roles in modulating biological responses, exhaustive evidence shows that ncRNAs are selectively sorted into EVs, modulating common specific aspects of cancer development and stroke prognosis, namely, angiogenesis. This review will discuss recent advancements in the EV-facilitated/inhibited progression of specific elements of angiogenesis with a particular concern about ncRNAs within these vesicles. The review is concluded by underlining the clinical opportunities of EV-derived ncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic agents.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of the tumor hypoxia-activated PROTACs bearing caged CRBN E3 ligase ligands

Tumor hypoxia-activated proteolysis targeting chimeras (ha-PROTACs) 9 and 10 were designed and synthesized by incorporating the hypoxia-activated leaving group (1-methyl-2-nitro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl or 4‑nitrobenzyl into the structure of the cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligand of an epidermal growth factor receptor 19 deletions (EGFR^Del19-based PROTAC 8. The in vitro protein degradation assay demonstrated that 9 and 10 could effectively and selectively degrade EGFR^Del19 in tumor hypoxia. Meanwhile, these two compounds showed higher potency in inhibiting cell viability and migration, as well as in promoting cells apoptosis in tumor hypoxia. Moreover, nitroreductase reductive activation assay indicated that prodrugs 9 and 10 could successfully release the active compound 8. This study confirmed the feasibility to develop ha-PROTACs to enhance the selectivity of PROTACs by caging CRBN E3 ligase ligand.

Gasotransmitter-Induced Therapeutic Angiogenesis: A Biomaterial Prospective

Gasotransmitters such as NO, H₂S, and CO have emerged as key players in the regulation of various pathophysiological functions, prompting the development of gas therapy for various pathogeneses. Deficient production of gasotransmitters has been linked to various diseases such as hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, myocardial infarction, ischemia, and impaired wound healing, as they are involved in the regulatory action of angiogenesis. A better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms has given new hope to address the vascular impairment caused by the breakthroughs in gasotransmitters as therapeutics. However, the unstable nature and poor target specificity of gas donors limit the full efficacy of drugs. In this regard, biomaterials that possess excellent biocompatibility and porosity are ideal drug carriers to deliver the gas transmitters in a tunable manner for therapeutic angiogenesis. This review article provides a comprehensive discussion of biomaterial-based gasotransmitter delivery approaches for therapeutic angiogenesis. The critical role of gasotransmitters in modulating angiogenesis during tissue repair as well as their challenges and future directions are demonstrated.

Oxidized LDL promotes EMS-induced angiogenesis by increasing VEGF-A expression and secretion by endometrial cells

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis (EMS) is a "tumour-like" gynaecological disease with distant metastasis, and studies have shown that EMS can induce distant metastasis through vascular vessels, but the driving factors and their mechanism are not clear.

METHODS

We used an EMS animal model and gene knockout technique to explore the role of EMS-induced angiogenesis in EMS metastasis in vivo and in vitro and clarify the role and molecular mechanism of oxLDL in promoting EMS-induced angiogenesis.

RESULTS

We found that microvascular density (MVD) in metastasized ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrial tissue was higher than that in normal endometrial tissue, and plasma oxLDL was positively correlated with the distant metastasis of EMS. Furthermore, we clarified that oxLDL enhanced the MVD of endometrial tissue by increasing VEGF-A expression and secretion in endometrial cells. Finally, we illustrated the mechanism by which oxLDL promotes VEGF-A expression through the AKT-HIF-1α signalling pathway.

CONCLUSION

OxLDL is a risk factor promoting distant EMS metastasis by increasing VEGF-A expression and secretion through AKT-HIF-1α signalling. This finding may provide theoretical support and therapeutic targets for the clinical prevention and treatment of EMS.

Berberine: An Important Emphasis on Its Anticancer Effects through Modulation of Various Cell Signaling Pathways

Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of disease and a major cause of death worldwide. Despite advancement in various treatment modules, there has been little improvement in survival rates and side effects associated with this disease. Medicinal plants or their bioactive compounds have been extensively studied for their anticancer potential. Novel drugs based on natural products are urgently needed to manage cancer through attenuation of different cell signaling pathways. In this regard, berberine is a bioactive alkaloid that is found in variety of plants, and an inverse association has been revealed between its consumption and cancer. Berberine exhibits an anticancer role through scavenging free radicals, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, inflammation, PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt/β-catenin, and the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. In addition, synergistic effects of berberine with anticancer drugs or natural compounds have been proven in several cancers. This review outlines the anticancer effects and mechanisms of action of berberine in different cancers through modulation of various cell signaling pathways. Moreover, the recent developments in the drug delivery systems and synergistic effect of berberine are explained.

Modified Benzoxazole-Based VEGFR-2 Inhibitors and Apoptosis Inducers: Design, Synthesis, and Anti-Proliferative Evaluation

This work is one of our efforts to discover potent anticancer agents. We modified the most promising derivative of our previous work concerned with the development of VEGFR-2 inhibitor candidates. Thirteen new compounds based on benzoxazole moiety were synthesized and evaluated against three human cancer cell lines, namely, breast cancer (MCF-7), colorectal carcinoma (HCT116), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2). The synthesized compounds were also evaluated against VEGFR-2 kinase activity. The biological testing fallouts showed that compound 8d was more potent than standard sorafenib. Such compound showed IC50 values of 3.43, 2.79, and 2.43 µM against the aforementioned cancer cell lines, respectively, compared to IC50 values of 4.21, 5.30, and 3.40 µM reported for sorafenib. Compound 8d also was found to exert exceptional VEGFR-2 inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 0.0554 μM compared to sorafenib (0.0782 μM). In addition, compound 8h revealed excellent cytotoxic effects with IC50 values of 3.53, 2.94, and 2.76 µM against experienced cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 8a and 8e were found to inhibit VEGFR-2 kinase activity with IC50 values of 0.0579 and 0.0741 μM, exceeding that of sorafenib. Compound 8d showed a significant apoptotic effect and arrested the HepG2 cells at the pre-G1 phase. In addition, it exerted a significant inhibition for TNF-α (90.54%) and of IL-6 (92.19%) compared to dexamethasone (93.15%). The molecular docking studies showed that the binding pattern of the new compounds to VEGFR-2 kinase was similar to that of sorafenib.

Spindle pole body component 25 and platelet-derived growth factor mediate crosstalk between tumor-associated macrophages and prostate cancer cells

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are involved in the growth of prostate cancer (PrC), while the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactive crosstalk between TAM and PrC cells remain largely unknown. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is known to promote mesenchymal stromal cell chemotaxis to the tumor microenvironment. Recently, activation of spindle pole body component 25 (SPC25) has been shown to promote PrC cell proliferation and is associated with PrC stemness. Here, the relationship between SPC25 and PDGF in the crosstalk between TAM and PrC was investigated. Significant increases in both PDGF and SPC25 levels were detected in PrC specimens compared to paired adjacent normal prostate tissues. A significant correlation was detected between PDGF and SPC25 levels in PrC specimens and cell lines. SPC25 increased PDGF production and tumor cell growth in cultured PrC cells and in xenotransplantation. Mechanistically, SPC25 appeared to activate PDGF in PrC likely through Early Growth Response 1 (Egr1), while the secreted PDGF signaled to TAM through PDGFR on macrophages and polarized macrophages, which, in turn, induced the growth of PrC cells likely through their production and secretion of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). Thus, our data suggest that SPC25 triggers the crosstalk between TAM and PrC cells via SPC25/PDGF/PDGFR/TGFβ1 receptor signaling to enhance PrC growth.

A literature review on correlation between HPV coinfection with C. trachomatis in cervical neoplasia - coinfection mediated cellular transformation

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of mortality worldwide. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) is a known significant risk factor in cervical neoplasia development (CN). Though HPV contributes to carcinogenesis, other factors fabricate an ideal niche for HPV persistent especially, coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) which has been linked to CN development. CT infection is associated with inflammation, cell proliferation, EMT transition and anti-apoptotic processes. To better understand the correlation between HPV-CT coinfection in CN development, a literature review was conducted on the prevalence of HPV-CT coinfection focusing on the role of infection-induced inflammation as HPV-CT coinfection creates an environment for cellular transformation, activates an innate immune response and triggers EMT transition. Moreover, inflammation plays a crucial role in developing neoplasia as there is a decrease in effector cells and a change in the expression of players like ROS and miRs. The CT infection induces chronic inflammation followed by cervical epithelial cell damage and increases susceptibility to HPV infection which may lead to cellular transformation. The literature search was performed based on a comprehensive investigation of publications in the PubMed journal database and Scopus development of CN. We have reviewed the prevalence of HPV-CT infection and the factors increasing the risk of developing CN.

Diverse roles of tumor-stromal PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ signaling in breast cancer growth and metastasis

Over the last couple of decades, it has become increasingly apparent that the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediates every step of cancer progression and solid tumors are only able to metastasize with a permissive TME. This intricate interaction of cancer cells with their surrounding TME, or stroma, is becoming more understood with an ever greater knowledge of tumor-stromal signaling pairs such as platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) and their cognate receptors. We and others have focused our research efforts on understanding how tumor-derived PDGFB activates platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) signaling specifically in the breast cancer TME. In this chapter, we broadly discuss PDGF and PDGFR expression patterns and signaling in normal physiology and breast cancer. We then detail the expansive roles played by the PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ signaling pathway in modulating breast tumor growth and metastasis with a focus on specific cellular populations within the TME, which are responsive to tumor-derived PDGFB. Given the increasingly appreciated importance of PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ signaling in breast cancer progression, specifically in promoting metastasis, we end by discussing how therapeutic targeting of PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ signaling holds great promise for improving current breast cancer treatment strategies.

Cancer combination therapies by angiogenesis inhibitors; a comprehensive review

Abnormal vasculature is one of the most conspicuous traits of tumor tissue, largely contributing to tumor immune evasion. The deregulation mainly arises from the potentiated pro-angiogenic factors secretion and can also target immune cells' biological events, such as migration and activation. Owing to this fact, angiogenesis blockade therapy was established to fight cancer by eliminating the nutrient and oxygen supply to the malignant cells by impairing the vascular network. Given the dominant role of vascular-endothelium growth factor (VEGF) in the angiogenesis process, the well-known anti-angiogenic agents mainly depend on the targeting of its actions. However, cancer cells mainly show resistance to anti-angiogenic agents by several mechanisms, and also potentiated local invasiveness and also distant metastasis have been observed following their administration. Herein, we will focus on clinical developments of angiogenesis blockade therapy, more particular, in combination with other conventional treatments, such as immunotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, and also cancer vaccines. Video abstract.

New Series of VEGFR-2 Inhibitors and Apoptosis Enhancers: Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

Background

Cancer is still a major world health threat, causing a high rate of mortality. VEGFR-2 inhibitor anticancer agents are of great significance. However, they showed some serious side effects.

Purpose

To discover new effective and safer anticancer agents, a new series of piperazinylquinoxaline-based derivatives was designed and synthesized on the basis of the pharmacophoric features of VEGFR-2 inhibitor drugs.

Methods

The new candidates were evaluated against A549 lung cancer cells, HepG-2 hepatoma cells, Caco-2 colon cancer cells, MDA breast cancer cells, and VEGFR-2 kinase. Moreover, cell cycle kinetics and apoptosis rates were studied in HepG-2 cells treated with compound 11, which was the most promising candidate.

Results

The new derivatives revealed better antitumor results (IC₅₀ from 6.48 to 38.58 µM) against the aforementioned cancer cell lines than sorafenib. Also, the new candidates showed VEGFR-2 inhibition with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.19 to 0.60 µM compared to 0.08 µM for sorafenib. Compound 11, meanwhile, showed IC₅₀ values equal to 10.61, 9.52, 12.45, 11.52, and 0.19 µM against the cancer cell lines and VEGFR-2, respectively. Moreover, compound 11 raised the apoptosis rate in HepG-2 cells from 5% to 44% and caused 4, 2.3, and 3-fold increases in BAX/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 level, and P53 expression, respectively, compared to control untreated cells. Finally, the new derivatives displayed the correct binding mode into VEGFR-2 kinase pocket, giving interactions with the essential residues.

Conclusion

This work suggests that compound 11 is a very significant anticancer candidate, and piperazinylquinoxaline is an important scaffold in the development of new potential effective and safer VEGFR-2 inhibitor agents.

Reduced HIF-1α Stability Induced by 6-Gingerol Inhibits Lung Cancer Growth through the Induction of Cell Death

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading global cause of cancer-related death, and metastasis is a great challenge in LC therapy. Additionally, solid cancer, including lung, prostate, and colon cancer, are characterized by hypoxia. A low-oxygen state is facilitated by the oncogene pathway, which correlates with a poor cancer prognosis. Thus, we need to understand the related mechanisms in solid tumors to improve and develop new anticancer strategies. The experiments herein describe an anticancer mechanism in which heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) stabilizes HIF-1α, a master transcription factor of oxygen homeostasis that has been implicated in the survival, proliferation and malignant progression of cancers. We demonstrate the efficacy of 6-gingerol and the molecular mechanism by which 6-gingerol inhibits LC metastasis in different oxygen environments. Our results showed that cell proliferation was inhibited after 6-gingerol treatment. Additionally, HIF-1α, a transcriptional regulator, was found to be recruited to the hypoxia response element (HRE) of target genes to induce the transcription of a series of target genes, including MMP-9, vimentin and snail. Interestingly, we found that 6-gingerol treatment suppressed activation of the transcription factor HIF-1α by downregulating HSP90 under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, an experiment in an in vivo xenograft model revealed decreased tumor growth after 6-gingerol treatment. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses showed the inhibition of metastasis through HIF-1α/HSP90 after 6-gingerol treatment. In summary, our study demonstrates that 6-gingerol suppresses proliferation and blocks the nuclear translocation of HIF-1α and activation of the EMT pathway. These data suggest that 6-gingerol is a candidate antimetastatic treatment for LC.

IDH1 Mutation Induces HIF-1α and Confers Angiogenic Properties in Chondrosarcoma JJ012 Cells

Chondrosarcoma is a group of primary bone cancers that arise from transformed cells of chondrocytic lineage. Tumor recurrence and metastasis are devastating for patients with chondrosarcoma since there are no effective treatment options. IDH mutations occur in over 50% of tumors from patients with conventional or dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas and represent an attractive target for therapy. However, their role in the pathogenesis of chondrosarcoma remains largely unknown. In this study, we sought to determine the association of IDH mutation and HIF-1α in chondrosarcoma. We used the chondrosarcoma JJ012 cell line and its derived CRISPR/Cas9 mutant IDH1 (IDH1^mut) knockout (KO) cells. RNA-Seq data analysis revealed downregulation of several HIF-1α target genes upon loss of IDH1^mut. This was associated with reduced HIF-1α levels in the IDH1^mut KO cells and tumors. Loss of IDH1^mut also attenuated the expression of angiogenic markers in tumor tissues and abrogated the angiogenic capacity of JJ012 cells. Moreover, we observed that exogenous expression of HIF-1α significantly promoted anchorage-independent colony-formation by IDH1^mut KO cells. These results suggest IDH1 mutation confers angiogenic and tumorigenic properties of JJ012 cells by inducing HIF-1α. Thus, the HIF pathway represents a promising candidate for combinatorial regimens to target IDH1 mutated chondrosarcomas.

Therapeutic approach for digestive system cancers and potential implications of exercise under hypoxia condition: what little is known? a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Cancer, like other chronic pathologies, is associated with the presence of hypoxic regions due to the uncontrolled cell growth. Under this pathological hypoxic condition, various molecular signaling pathways are activated to ensure cell survival, such as those that govern angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, among others. These molecular processes are very similar to the physiological response caused by exposure to altitude (natural hypobaric systemic hypoxia), the use of artificial hypoxia devices (systemic normobaric simulated hypoxia) or the delivery of vascular occlusion to the extremities (also called local hypoxia by the blood flow restriction technique). "Tumor hypoxia" has gained further clinical importance due to its crucial role in both tumor progression and resistance to treatment. However, the ability to manipulate this pathway through physical exercise and systemic hypoxia-mediated signaling pathways could offer an important range of therapeutic opportunities that should be further investigated.

METHODS

This review is focused on the potential implications of systemic hypoxia combined with exercise in digestive system neoplasms prognosis. Articles included in the review were retrieved by searching among the three main scientific databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Embase.

FINDINGS

The findings of this review suggest that exercise performed under systemic hypoxic conditions could have a positive impact in prognosis and quality of life of the population with digestive system cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are needed to consider this paradigm as a new potential intervention in digestive oncological population.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Neutrophils, Angiogenesis, and Cancer

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from already existing vasculature, is tightly regulated by pro- and anti-angiogenic stimuli and occurs under both physiological and pathological conditions. Tumor angiogenesis is central for tumor development, and an “angiogenic switch” could be initiated by multiple immune cells, such as neutrophils. Tumor-associated neutrophils promote tumor angiogenesis by the release of both conventional and non-conventional pro-angiogenic factors. Therefore, neutrophil-mediated tumor angiogenesis should be taken into consideration in the design of novel anti-cancer therapy. This review recapitulates the complex role of neutrophils in tumor angiogenesis and summarizes neutrophil-derived pro-angiogenic factors and mechanisms regulating angiogenic activity of tumor-associated neutrophils. Moreover, it provides up-to-date information about neutrophil-targeting therapy, complementary to anti-angiogenic treatment.

Enzyme-activated Prodrugs and Their Release Mechanisms for Treatment of Cancer

Enzyme-activated prodrugs have received a lot of attention in recent years. These prodrugs have low toxicity to cells before they are activated, and when they interact with specific enzymes, they...

Ultrathin 2D Titanium Carbide MXene (Ti3 C2 Tx ) Nanoflakes Activate WNT/HIF-1α-Mediated Metabolism Reprogramming for Periodontal Regeneration

Periodontal defect regeneration in severe periodontitis relies on the differentiation and proliferation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Recently, an emerging 2D nanomaterial, MXene (Ti₃ C₂ T_x ), has gained more and more attention due to the extensive antibacterial and anticancer activity, while its potential biomedical application on tissue regeneration remains unclear. Through a combination of experimental and multiscale simulation schemes, Ti₃ C₂ T_x has exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and induced distinguish osteogenic differentiation of human PDLCs (hPDLCs), with upregulated osteogenesis-related genes. Ti₃ C₂ T_x manages to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by enhancing the Wnt-Frizzled complex binding, thus stabilizing HIF-1α and altering metabolic reprogramming into glycolysis. In vivo, hPDLCs pretreated by Ti₃ C₂ T_x display excellent performance in new bone formation and osteoclast inhibition with enhanced RUNX2, HIF-1α, and β-catenin in an experimental rat model of periodontal fenestration defects, indicating that this material has high efficiency of periodontal regeneration promotion. It is demonstrated in this work that Ti₃ C₂ T_x has highly efficient therapeutic effects in osteogenic differentiation and periodontal defect repairment.

A Thermoresponsive Chitosan/β-Glycerophosphate Hydrogel for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Critical Limb Ischaemia

A reduction in blood supply to any limb causes ischaemia, pain and morbidity. Critical limb ischaemia is the most serious presentation of peripheral vascular disease. One in five patients with critical limb ischaemia will die within six months of diagnosis and one in three will require amputation in this time. Improving blood flow to the limb, via the administration of angiogenic agents, could relieve pain and avoid amputation. Herein, chitosan is combined with β-glycerophosphate to form a thermoresponsive formulation (chitosan/β-GP) that will flow through a syringe and needle at room temperature but will form a gel at body temperature. The chitosan/β-GP hydrogel, with or without the angiogenic molecule desferrioxamine (DFO), was injected into the mouse hind limb, following vessel ligation, to test the ability of the formulations to induce angiogenesis. The effects of the formulations were measured using laser Doppler imaging to determine limb perfusion and CD31 staining to quantify the number of blood vessels. Twenty-eight days following induction of ischaemia, the chitosan/β-GP and chitosan/β-GP + 100 µM DFO formulations had significantly (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) improved blood flow in the ischaemic limb compared with an untreated control. Chitosan/β-GP increased vessel number by 1.7-fold in the thigh of the ischaemic limb compared with an untreated control, while chitosan/β-GP + 100 µM DFO increased vessel number 1.8-fold. Chitosan/β-GP represents a potential minimally invasive treatment for critical limb ischaemia.

Coexistence of “Cream Skimmer” and “Crumb Picker” Phenotypes in Nature and in Cancer

Over 40 years ago, seminal papers by Armstrong and McGehee and by Levins showed that temporal fluctuations in resource availability could permit coexistence of two species on a single resource. Such coexistence results from non-linearities or non-additivities in the way resource supply translates into fitness. These reflect trade-offs where one species benefits more than the other during good periods and suffers more (or does less well) than the other during less good periods, be the periods stochastic, unstable population dynamics, or seasonal. Since, coexistence based on fluctuating conditions has been explored under the guises of “grazers” and “diggers,” variance partitioning, relative non-linearity, “opportunists” and “gleaners,” and as the storage effect. Here we focus on two phenotypes, “cream skimmers” and “crumb pickers,” the former having the advantage in richer times and the latter in less rich times. In nature, richer and poorer times, with regular or stochastic appearances, are the norm and occur on many time scales. Fluctuations among richer and poorer times also appear to be the norm in cancer ecosystems. Within tumors, nutrient availability, oxygen, and pH can fluctuate stochastically or periodically, with swings occurring over seconds to minutes to hours. Despite interest in tumor heterogeneity and how it promotes the coexistence of different cancer cell types, the effects of fluctuating resource availability have not been explored for cancer. Here, in the context of pulsed resources, we (1) develop models of foraging consumers who experience pulsed resources to examine four types of trade-offs that can promote coexistence of phenotypes that do relatively better in richer versus in poorer times, (2) establish that conditions in tumors are conducive for this mechanism, (3) propose and empirically explore biomarkers indicative of the two phenotypes (HIF-1, GLUT-1, CA IX, CA XII), and (4) and compare cream skimmer and crumb picker biology and ecology in nature and cancer to provide cross-disciplinary insights into this interesting, and, we argue, likely very common, mechanism of coexistence.

Toxicity assessment of metallic nickel nanoparticles in various biological models: An interplay of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and apoptosis

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) are widely used for multiple purposes in industries. Ni-NPs exposure is detrimental to ecosystems owing to widespread use, and so their toxicity is important to consider for real-world applications. This review mainly focuses on the notable pathophysiological activities of Ni-NPs in various research models. Ni-NPs are stated to be more toxic than bulk forms because of their larger surface area to volume ratio and are reported to provoke toxicity through reactive oxygen species generation, which leads to the upregulation of nuclear factor-κB and promotes further signaling cascades. Ni-NPs may contribute to provoking oxidative stress and apoptosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways are involved in Ni-NPs associated toxicity. Ni-NPs trigger the transcription factors p-p38, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, interleukin (IL)-3, TNF-α, IL-13, Fas, Cyt c, Bax, Bid protein, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, Ni-NPs have an occupational vulnerability and were reported to induce lung-related disorders owing to inhalation. Ni-NPs may cause serious effects on reproduction as Ni-NPs induced deleterious effects on reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) in animal models and provoked hormonal alteration. However, recent studies have provided limited knowledge regarding the important checkpoints of signaling pathways and less focused on the toxic limitation of Ni-NPs in humans, which therefore needs to be further investigated.

Antiangiogenic role of natural flavonoids and their molecular mechanism: an update

Background

Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature, which is important in normal developmental processes. Angiogenesis is a key step in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Angiogenesis is necessary for the proper nourishment and removal of metabolic wastes from tumor sites. Therefore, modulation of angiogenesis is considered a therapeutic strategy of great importance for human health.

Main body

Numerous bioactive plant compounds are recently tested for their antiangiogenic potential. Among the most frequently studied are flavonoids which are abundantly present in fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis through the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. Flavonoids regulate the expression of VEGF, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), EGFR, and inhibit NFB, PI3-K/Akt, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, thereby causing strong antiangiogenic effects. This present review aimed to provide up-to-date information on the molecular mechanisms of antiangiogenic properties of natural flavonoids.

Conclusion

Presently developed antiangiogenic drugs in malignant growth treatment do not meet assumptions about adequacy and safety. So further investigations are needed in this field in the future. More recently, flavonoids are the most effective antiangiogenic agent, by inhibition of signaling pathways.

Vascular Normalization: A New Window Opened for Cancer Therapies

Preclinical and clinical antiangiogenic approaches, with multiple side effects such as resistance, have not been proved to be very successful in treating tumor blood vessels which are important targets for tumor therapy. Meanwhile, restoring aberrant tumor blood vessels, known as tumor vascular normalization, has been shown not only capable of reducing tumor invasion and metastasis but also of enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. In addition to the introduction of such methods of promoting tumor vascular normalization such as maintaining the balance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors and targeting endothelial cell metabolism, microRNAs, and the extracellular matrix, the latest molecular mechanisms and the potential connections between them were primarily explored. In particular, the immunotherapy-induced normalization of blood vessels further promotes infiltration of immune effector cells, which in turn improves immunotherapy, thus forming an enhanced loop. Thus, immunotherapy in combination with antiangiogenic agents is recommended. Finally, we introduce the imaging technologies and serum markers, which can be used to determine the window for tumor vascular normalization.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor induced pVHL-independent degradation of HIF-1α and hierarchical quality control of pVHL via chaperone system

The mortality rate of ovarian cancer is increasing and the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in tumor progression has been confirmed. von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) binds HIF-1α and mediates proteasome degradation of HIF-1α. Besides, histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) mitigates tumor growth via targeting HIF-1α, whereas underlying mechanism still requires investigation. In this research, we exposed ovarian cancer cell lines OV-90 and SKOV-3 to escalating concentrations of HDACi LBH589. As a result, cell viability was significantly suppressed and expression of HIF-1α was remarkably reduced along with decreased levels of signal molecules, including phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) (P = 0.000). Interestingly, pVHL was expressed in a notably declining tendency (P = 0.000). Chaperone heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) was expressed in an ascending manner, whereas expression of chaperonin TCP-1α was reduced clearly (P = 0.000). Besides, co-inhibition of pVHL plus HDAC did not contribute to a remarkable difference in HIF-1α expression as compared with single HDAC inhibition. Furthermore, both cell lines were transfected with plasmids of VHL plus VHL binding protein-1 (VBP-1). Consequently, the expression of HIF-1α as well as lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA) was remarkably decreased (P = 0.000). These findings indicate HDACi may repress expression of HIF-1α via inhibiting PI3K and GSK3β and promote degradation of HIF-1α via HSP70, independent of pVHL. Additionally, a sophisticated network of HDAC and chaperones may involve in pVHL quality control.

Antiangiogenic and antitumor potential of berbamine, a natural CaMKIIγ inhibitor, against glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most malignant brain tumors and requires the formation of new blood vessels, called angiogenesis, for its growth and metastasis. Several proangiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), stimulate GBM angiogenesis. Accordingly, blocking the angiogenesis induced by angiogenic factors represents a promising modality for the treatment of GBM. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of berbamine, a plant-derived compound, on the angiogenesis induced by VEGF and BDNF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Berbamine effectively inhibited the angiogenic features stimulated by VEGF (such as proliferation, adhesion, invasion, tube formation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HUVECs) as well as those by BDNF, at concentrations that do not affect endothelial cell viability. The antiangiogenic effects of berbamine were associated with the downregulation of VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)/Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIγ (CaMKIIγ) and BDNF/tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB)/CaMKIIγ signaling pathways. In addition, berbamine suppressed the expression of a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and its transcriptional target, VEGF, in U87MG GBM cells. Furthermore, berbamine significantly inhibited in vivo neovascularization as well as U87MG tumor growth in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. All these findings suggest that berbamine may be utilized as a new antiangiogenic agent for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

ATP5A1 Participates in Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Regulation of Cancer-Associated Genes by Modulating Their Expression and Alternative Splicing Profiles in HeLa Cells

Background: Aberrant expression and alternative splicing of oncogenes are the driving events in tumor initiation and development. But how these events are regulated in cancer cells is largely unknown. Functions of ATP5A1, an important mitochondrial ATP synthase gene, in transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation were explored in this study. Methods: ATP5A1 was overexpressed using plasmid-transformed HeLa cells, and its influence on cell apoptosis and proliferation is evaluated. Transcriptome sequencing was then performed using RNA-seq to study the changes in gene expression and regulation of alternative splicing events. Validation of the implicated genes was achieved using RT-qPCR analysis. Results: It was found that ATP5A1 could significantly promote cellular apoptosis, but it had no influence on cell proliferation. ATP5A1 overexpression significantly increased the expression levels of genes associated with the innate immune response, angiogenesis, and collagen catabolic processes. This included enrichment of MMP2 and MMP19. It was also found that ATP5A1 could interfere with the alternative splicing of hundreds of genes associated with glucose homeostasis, HIF-1 signaling activation, and several pathways associated with cancers. Eight ATP5A1-regulated differentially expressed genes and 3 genes altered by splicing were selected and validated using RT-qPCR analysis. Conclusions: In summary, we illustrate the regulatory functions of ATP5A1 on the transcriptome of HeLa cells by exploring its influence on gene expression and alternative splicing. The results suggest that ATP5A1 may play an important regulatory role in cervical cancer cells by regulating expression and alternative splicing of cancer-associated genes. This study provides novel insights into the current understanding of the mechanisms of ATP5A1 on carcinogenesis and cancer progression.

Emerging neo adjuvants for harnessing therapeutic potential of M1 tumor associated macrophages (TAM) against solid tumors: Enusage of plasticity

Macrophages are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of most tumors. They are characterized by a high degree of functional plasticity which enable these cells to both promote and eliminate established tumors. Under the influence of immunosuppressive TME, tumor infiltrating iNOS+ and CD11b+ M-1 effector macrophages get polarized towards tumor associated macrophages (TAM) which are tropic to variety of tumors. Increased infiltration and density of TAM is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in the plethora of tumors due to their angiogenetic and tissue re-modelling nature. Importantly, TAMs are also responsible for developing endothelium anergy, a major physical barrier for majority of cancer directed immune/chemotherapies. Therefore, functional retuning/re-educating TAM to M-1 phenotypic macrophages is paramount for effective immunotherapy against established tumors. In this review, we discuss and provide comprehensive update on TAM-targeted approaches for enhancing immunity against various solid tumors.

Advance on toxicity of metal nickel nanoparticles

As a kind of conventional metal nanomaterial, nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have broad application prospects in the fields of magnetism, energy technology and biomedicine and have quickly attracted great interest. The potential negative effects of Ni NPs have also attracted wide attention from some researchers. Studies have shown that Ni NPs cause a variety of toxic effects on cells, animals and humans and have toxic effects of multiple systems such as respiratory system, cardiovascular system and reproductive system. Ni NPs can lead to oxidative stress, apoptosis, DNA damage and inflammation and induce the increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The toxicity of Ni NPs is also found to be related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the hypoxia inducible factor-1α pathway. Therefore, the toxicity and mechanism of Ni NPs are reviewed in this paper, and the future researches in this field are also proposed.

Co-Culturing of Endothelial and Cancer Cells in a Nanofibrous Scaffold-Based Two-Layer System

Angiogenesis is critical for local tumor growth. This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional two-layer co-culture system to investigate effects of cancer cells on the growth of endothelial cells (ECs). Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibrous membranes were generated via electrospinning of PCL in chloroform (C-PCL-M) and chloroform and dimethylformamide (C/DMF-PCL-M). We assembled a two-layer co-culture system using C-PCL-M and C/DMF-PCL-M for EC growth in the upper layer with co-cultured cancer cells in the lower layer. In the absence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), growth of bEND.3 ECs decreased on C/DMF-PCL-M but not on C-PCL-M with time. Growth of bEND.3 cells on C/DMF-PCL-M was enhanced through co-culturing of CT26 cancer cells and enhanced growth of bEND.3 cells was abrogated with anti-VEGF antibodies and sorafenib. However, EA.hy926 ECs displayed steady growth and proliferation on C/DMF-PCL-M, and their growth was not further increased through co-culturing of cancer cells. Moreover, chemical hypoxia in CT26 cancer cells upon treatment with CoCl₂ enhanced the growth of co-cultured bEND.3 cells in the two-layer system. Thus, EC growth on the nanofibrous scaffold is dependent on the types of ECs and composition of nanofibers and this co-culture system can be used to analyze EC growth induced by cancer cells.

One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Furochromone and Oxazocine Derivatives as Promising Antitumor Agents with Their Molecular Docking Studies

One-pot efficient synthesis of novel chromone derivatives 4a–h and that of 5a–h were described in a simple method via four-component reaction between furochromone carbaldehyde, amine, isocyanate derivatives, and benzoic acid derivatives or nicotinic acid, respectively. Also, oxazocine derivatives 7a, b were prepared via reaction of visnagine carbaldehyde, ethyl acetoacetate and isocyanate derivatives 2a, b. The obtained derivatives of novel furochromone and oxazocine derivatives were evaluated as promising antitumor agents against panel of two human cell lines, hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2) and breast carcinoma (MCF7). The antitumor results suggested that furochromone derivatives 5a–h have activity against MCF7 in comparison with doxorubicin as the standard drug. Furthermore, the molecular docking studies of these novel derivatives of furochromone and oxazocine showed good agreement with the biological results when their binding pattern and affinity towards the active site of EGFR was investigate.

ROC-1, P21 and CAIX as markers of tumor aggressiveness in bladder carcinoma in Egyptian patients

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies in Egypt, representing about 8.7% of cancers in both sexes with more predominance in males, making identification of valuable predictive and prognostic markers, mandatory. Cullin-RING ligases (CRL) play an important role in the ubiquitination of cell cycle-related proteins or other proteins (e.g., DNA replication protein, signal transduction protein). Regulator of Cullins-1 (ROC-1) is a key subunit of CRL. P21 belongs to the family of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) which regulates cell cycle by inactivating Cyclin- Dependent Kinases key regulators of the cell cycle. CAIX a highly active member of the family of carbonic anhydrases has gained much interest as a hypoxic marker. Hypoxia is a consequence of the rapid growth of many tumors, including bladder cancer, and is an important regulator of gene expression and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore the purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of ROC-1, CAIX and P21 and its relationship with the clinico-pathological features of bladder cancer in Egyptian patients.

METHODS

Using the standard immunohistochemical technique, ROC-1, CAIX and P21 expression in 80 primary bladder carcinomas and 15 normal bladder specimens as control group were assessed. The bladder carcinoma cases included 50 cases with muscle invasive bladder cancer and 30 cases with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

RESULTS

Over expression of ROC-1, CAIX and P21 in BC were significantly associated with muscularis propria invasion and high grade BC. ROC-1, CAIX and P21, showed significant inverse relationship in primary BC cases. CAIX expression was significantly higher in BC compared with controls. Regarding the survival analysis, expression of ROC-1, CAIX and P21 didn't affect the survival of BC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of ROC-1, CAIX and P21 could be promising potential biomarkers for identifying patients with poor prognostic factors in bladder cancer serving as potential targets for cancer therapy.

Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-angiogenic Therapies in Cancer

Tumor growth and metastasis rely on tumor vascular network for the adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. Tumor angiogenesis relies on a highly complex program of growth factor signaling, endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and stromal cell interactions. Numerous pro-angiogenic drivers have been identified, the most important of which is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The importance of pro-angiogenic inducers in tumor growth, invasion and extravasation make them an excellent therapeutic target in several types of cancers. Hence, the number of anti-angiogenic agents developed for cancer treatment has risen over the past decade, with at least eighty drugs being investigated in preclinical studies and phase I-III clinical trials. To date, the most common approaches to the inhibition of the VEGF axis include the blockade of VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) or ligands by neutralizing antibodies, as well as the inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) enzymes. Despite promising preclinical results, anti-angiogenic monotherapies led only to mild clinical benefits. The minimal benefits could be secondary to primary or acquired resistance, through the activation of alternative mechanisms that sustain tumor vascularization and growth. Mechanisms of resistance are categorized into VEGF-dependent alterations, non-VEGF pathways and stromal cell interactions. Thus, complementary approaches such as the combination of these inhibitors with agents targeting alternative mechanisms of blood vessel formation are urgently needed. This review provides an updated overview on the pathophysiology of angiogenesis during tumor growth. It also sheds light on the different pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic agents that have been developed to date. Finally, it highlights the preclinical evidence for mechanisms of angiogenic resistance and suggests novel therapeutic approaches that might be exploited with the ultimate aim of overcoming resistance and improving clinical outcomes for patients with cancer.

FAM115C could be a novel tumor suppressor associated with prolonged survival in pancreatic cancer patients

Hypoxia is a characteristic feature of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We have recently explored new targeting molecules and pathways in PDAC cells under hypoxic conditions. In this study, we performed a microarray experiment to analyze the genes up-regulated in PDAC cell lines under hypoxia compared to normoxia, and identified human family with sequence similarity 115, member C (FAM115C) as a candidate gene for further study. Our data showed that FAM115C was overexpressed in PDAC cell lines under hypoxia, and FAM115C inhibition promoted PDAC cell migration and invasion in vitro. FAM115C inhibition did not affect tumor cell proliferation in PDAC. Immunohistochemically, FAM115C expression was observed ubiquitously in normal pancreas, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and PDAC tissue, and it was located mainly in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm of cells. In qPCR analysis, high expression of FAM115C was correlated with better prognosis in patients with PDAC. Our findings suggest that FAM115C could be a novel tumor suppressor associated with prolonged survival in patients with PDAC.

Tspan8-Tumor Extracellular Vesicle-Induced Endothelial Cell and Fibroblast Remodeling Relies on the Target Cell-Selective Response

Tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles (TEX) expressing tetraspanin Tspan8-alpha4/beta1 support angiogenesis. Tspan8-alpha6/beta4 facilitates lung premetastatic niche establishment. TEX-promoted target reprogramming is still being disputed, we explored rat endothelial cell (EC) and lung fibroblast (Fb) mRNA and miRNA profile changes after coculture with TEX. TEX were derived from non-metastatic BSp73AS (AS) or metastatic BSp73ASML (ASML) rat tumor lines transfected with Tspan8 (AS-Tspan8) or Tspan8-shRNA (ASML-Tspan8kd). mRNA was analyzed by deep sequencing and miRNA by array analysis of EC and Fb before and after coculture with TEX. EC and Fb responded more vigorously to AS-Tspan8- than AS-TEX. Though EC and Fb responses differed, both cell lines predominantly responded to membrane receptor activation with upregulation and activation of signaling molecules and transcription factors. Minor TEX-initiated changes in the miRNA profile relied, at least partly, on long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that also affected chromosome organization and mRNA processing. These analyses uncovered three important points. TEX activate target cell autonomous programs. Responses are initiated by TEX targeting units and are target cell-specific. The strong TEX-promoted lncRNA impact reflects lncRNA shuttling and location-dependent distinct activities. These informations urge for an in depth exploration on the mode of TEX-initiated target cell-specific remodeling including, as a major factor, lncRNA.

Exploiting Current Understanding of Hypoxia Mediated Tumour Progression for Nanotherapeutic Development

Hypoxia is one of the most common phenotypes of malignant tumours. Hypoxia leads to the increased activity of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which regulate the expression of genes controlling a raft of pro-tumour phenotypes. These include maintenance of the cancer stem cell compartment, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and metabolic reprogramming. Hypoxia can also contribute to the tumour progression in a HIF-independent manner via the activation of a complex signalling network pathway, including JAK-STAT, RhoA/ROCK, NF-κB and PI3/AKT. Recent studies suggest that nanotherapeutics offer a unique opportunity to target the hypoxic microenvironment, enhancing the therapeutic window of conventional therapeutics. In this review, we summarise recent advances in understanding the impact of hypoxia on tumour progression, while outlining possible nanotherapeutic approaches for overcoming hypoxia-mediated resistance.

Role of Interleukin 37 as a Novel Proangiogenic Factor in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate interleukin 37 (IL-37) levels in the serum and synovial fluid of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), its expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and correlation with disease activity and angiogenesis.

METHODS

Seventy JIA patients and 50 control subjects were examined. The Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score in 27 joints (JADAS-27) was calculated. Immunoassays were used to measure the serum and synovial fluid levels of IL-37, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sVEGF-R1), and sVEGF-R2. Relative expression of IL-37 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the power Doppler ultrasound score of the affected joint were measured.

RESULTS

Patients with JIA were subdivided as 20 systemic-onset, 20 polyarticular, and 30 oligoarticular (10 persistent, 20 extended) cases. Serum levels of IL-37, VEGF, VEGF-R1, and VEGF-R2 and relative IL-37 mRNA expression were significantly higher in JIA patients when compared with the control subjects (p < 0.001). These concentrations were significantly higher in systemic-onset JIA compared with those in polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA, and in polyarticular JIA when compared with oligoarticular JIA (p < 0.001). Serum, synovial, and mRNA expression levels of IL-37 were positively correlated with C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score in 27 joints, power Doppler ultrasound score (p < 0.001), and the serum and synovial VEGF and VEGF-RI and -R2 levels (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that IL-37 levels and mRNA expression were significantly increased in JIA patients, and their levels were positively correlated with disease activity and markers of angiogenesis (VEGF and VEGF receptors), suggesting that IL-37 may be correlated with angiogenesis.