Combination of Carmustine and Selenite Inhibits EGFR Mediated Growth Signaling in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells

Machine learning-based integration develops a mitophagy-related lncRNA signature for predicting the progression of prostate cancer: a bioinformatic analysis

Prostate cancer remains a complex and challenging disease, necessitating innovative approaches for prognosis and therapeutic guidance. This study integrates machine learning techniques to develop a novel mitophagy-related long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) signature for predicting the progression of prostate cancer. Leveraging the TCGA-PRAD dataset, we identify a set of four key lncRNAs and formulate a riskscore, revealing its potential as a prognostic indicator. Subsequent analyses unravel the intricate connections between riskscore, immune cell infiltration, mutational landscapes, and treatment outcomes. Notably, the pan-cancer exploration of YEATS2-AS1 highlights its pervasive impact, demonstrating elevated expression across various malignancies. Furthermore, drug sensitivity predictions based on riskscore guide personalized chemotherapy strategies, with drugs like Carmustine and Entinostat showing distinct suitability for high and low-risk group patients. Regression analysis exposes significant correlations between the mitophagy-related lncRNAs, riskscore, and key mitophagy-related genes. Molecular docking analyses reveal promising interactions between Cyclophosphamide and proteins encoded by these genes, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues. This comprehensive study not only introduces a robust prognostic tool but also provides valuable insights into the molecular intricacies and potential therapeutic interventions in prostate cancer, paving the way for more personalized and effective clinical approaches.

Advances in hyperbaric oxygen to promote immunotherapy through modulation of the tumor microenvironment

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a relatively safe treatment method that has been used for a long time in the clinic. It has been proven that it can enhance the sensitivity of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy for cancer. However, there are few studies on hyperbaric oxygen and immunotherapy. In this article, we summarize that hyperbaric oxygen therapy regulates the tumor microenvironment through various pathways such as improving tumor hypoxia, targeting hypoxia-inducing factors, and generating reactive oxygen species. The change in the tumor microenvironment ultimately affects the curative effect of immunotherapy. Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen can influence immunotherapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment, providing a direction for the future development of immunotherapy.

The role of cyclins in the development and progression of prostate cancer

The role of cyclins in hormone-dependent neoplasms is crucial in the development of the disease that is resistant to first-line therapy, as the example of breast cancer shows. However, in prostate cancer, cyclins are studied to a lesser extent. There are some well-described molecular pathways, including cyclins A1 and D1 signaling, however the role of other cyclins, e.g., D2, D3, E, and H, still requires further investigation. Recent studies indicate that cyclins regulate various cellular processes, not only the cell cycle. Furthermore, they remain in cross-talk with many other signaling pathways, e.g., MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, and Notch. The androgen signaling axis, which is pivotal in prostate cancer progression, interferes with cyclin pathways at many levels. This article summarizes current knowledge on the influence of cyclins on prostate cancer progression by describing interactions between the androgen receptor and cyclins, as well as mechanisms underlying the development of resistance to currently used therapies.

The Extracellular Matrix Stiffening: A Trigger of Prostate Cancer Progression and Castration Resistance?

Despite advancements made in diagnosis and treatment, prostate cancer remains the second most diagnosed cancer among men worldwide in 2020, and the first in North America and Europe. Patients with localized disease usually respond well to first-line treatments, however, up to 30% develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is often metastatic, making this stage of the disease incurable and ultimately fatal. Over the last years, interest has grown into the extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening as an important mediator of diseases, including cancers. While this process is increasingly well-characterized in breast cancer, a similar in-depth look at ECM stiffening remains lacking for prostate cancer. In this review, we scrutinize the current state of literature regarding ECM stiffening in prostate cancer and its potential association with disease progression and castration resistance.

KIF15 Promotes Progression of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer by Activating EGFR Signaling Pathway

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) continues to be a major clinical problem and its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is an important event that regulates mitogenic signaling. EGFR signaling plays an important role in the transition from androgen dependence to castration-resistant state in prostate cancer (PCa). Kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) has been suggested to be overexpressed in multiple malignancies. Here, we demonstrate that KIF15 expression is elevated in CRPC. We show that KIF15 contributes to CRPC progression by enhancing the EGFR signaling pathway, which includes complex network intermediates such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways. In CRPC tumors, increased expression of KIF15 is positively correlated with EGFR protein level. KIF15 binds to EGFR, and prevents EGFR proteins from degradation in a Cdc42-dependent manner. These findings highlight the key role of KIF15 in the development of CRPC and rationalize KIF15 as a potential therapeutic target.

Dual Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and their Application in Cancer Therapy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role in the initiation, development, suppression, and treatment of cancer. Excess ROS can induce nuclear DNA, leading to cancer initiation. Not only that, but ROS also inhibit T cells and natural killer cells and promote the recruitment and M2 polarization of macrophages; consequently, cancer cells escape immune surveillance and immune defense. Furthermore, ROS promote tumor invasion and metastasis by triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tumor cells. Interestingly, massive accumulation of ROS inhibits tumor growth in two ways: (1) by blocking cancer cell proliferation by suppressing the proliferation signaling pathway, cell cycle, and the biosynthesis of nucleotides and ATP and (2) by inducing cancer cell death via activating endoplasmic reticulum stress-, mitochondrial-, and P53- apoptotic pathways and the ferroptosis pathway. Unfortunately, cancer cells can adapt to ROS via a self-adaption system. This review highlighted the bidirectional regulation of ROS in cancer. The study further discussed the application of massively accumulated ROS in cancer treatment. Of note, the dual role of ROS in cancer and the self-adaptive ability of cancer cells should be taken into consideration for cancer prevention.

Selenite Inhibits Notch Signaling in Cells and Mice

Selenium is an essential micronutrient with a wide range of biological effects in mammals. The inorganic form of selenium, selenite, is supplemented to relieve individuals with selenium deficiency and to alleviate associated symptoms. Additionally, physiological and supranutritional selenite have shown selectively higher affinity and toxicity towards cancer cells, highlighting their potential to serve as chemotherapeutic agents or adjuvants. At varying doses, selenite extensively regulates cellular signaling and modulates many cellular processes. In this study, we report the identification of Delta–Notch signaling as a previously uncharacterized selenite inhibited target. Our transcriptomic results in selenite treated primary mouse hepatocytes revealed that the transcription of Notch1, Notch2, Hes1, Maml1, Furin and c-Myc were all decreased following selenite treatment. We further showed that selenite can inhibit Notch1 expression in cultured MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells and HEPG2 liver carcinoma cells. In mice acutely treated with 2.5 mg/kg selenite via intraperitoneal injection, we found that Notch1 expression was drastically lowered in liver and kidney tissues by 90% and 70%, respectively. Combined, these results support selenite as a novel inhibitor of Notch signaling, and a plausible mechanism of inhibition has been proposed. This discovery highlights the potential value of selenite applied in a pathological context where Notch is a key drug target in diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Reduced pim-1 expression increases chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity in human androgen-independent prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis

Chemotherapeutic drug resistance is an obstacle for the successful therapy of prostate cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase pim-1 (pim-1) in the proliferation of chemotherapeutic drug-resistant prostate cancer cells. Androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and DU145 were used in the current study. Cisplatin-sensitive PC3 cells and cisplatin-resistant PC3/DDP cells were used in drug-resistance assays. The expression levels of pim-1, permeability glycoprotein (p-gp), caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined using western blotting analysis; pim-1 was knocked down using pim-1-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA); cell viability was determined using MTT assay and IC50 values of the chemotherapeutic drugs in human prostate cancer cells tested were calculated using GraphPad 5 software. Androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and DU145 were transfected with pim-1-targeted or control shRNA, and MTT results revealed that pim-1 knockdown significantly inhibited PC3 and DU145 cell viability in a time-dependent manner (P<0.01). Cisplatin-resistant cells PC3/DDP exhibited higher levels of pim-1 and p-gp expression compared with cisplatin-sensitive PC3 cells; and pim-1 knockdown markedly increased chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity in PC3/DDP cells. In addition, pim-1 knockdown increased chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity in PC3/DDP cells. The molecular mechanism of drug sensitivity was discovered to be partly due to pim-1 knockdown, as it significantly increased apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant PC3/DDP cells. The present study may provide a new strategy for the therapy of prostate cancer.

Combination of Sodium Selenite and Doxorubicin Prodrug Ac-Phe-Lys-PABC-ADM Affects Gastric Cancer Cell Apoptosis in Xenografted Mice

The incidence of gastric cancer is extremely high in China, prompting the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Sodium selenite (SS) affects the proliferation and redifferentiation of gastric cancer cells and the Adriamycin prodrug Ac-Phe-Lys-PABC-ADM (PADM) reduces toxicity in gastric cancer treatment. However, the mechanisms involved therein remain unclear. In this study, nude mice were transplanted with SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells to construct a tumor xenograft model. After administration of SS and PADM, tumor weight and size were reduced. In addition, the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine, and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased, indicating improved hepatic and renal function and inhibited cancer cell metabolism. Furthermore, combined treatment of SS and PADM downregulated the expression of cell cycle-related proteins (cyclin-dependent kinase 4, Ki67, cyclin E, and cyclin D1), elevated that of proapoptosis proteins (Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, and P53), and upregulated that of mitochondrial apoptosis-associated proteins (apoptotic protease activating factor 1 and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases). In conclusion, combined treatment of SS and PADM effectively promoted apoptosis in gastric cancer xenografts via the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

A Mini-Review of Reactive Oxygen Species in Urological Cancer: Correlation with NADPH Oxidases, Angiogenesis, and Apoptosis

Oxidative stress refers to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and NADPH oxidases (NOXs), which are one of the most important sources of ROS. Oxidative stress plays important roles in the etiologies, pathological mechanisms, and treatment strategies of vascular diseases. Additionally, oxidative stress affects mechanisms of carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and prognosis in malignancies. Nearly all solid tumors show stimulation of neo-vascularity, termed angiogenesis, which is closely associated with malignant aggressiveness. Thus, cancers can be seen as a type of vascular disease. Oxidative stress-induced functions are regulated by complex endogenous mechanisms and exogenous factors, such as medication and diet. Although understanding these regulatory mechanisms is important for improving the prognosis of urothelial cancer, it is not sufficient, because there are controversial and conflicting opinions. Therefore, we believe that this knowledge is essential to discuss observations and treatment strategies in urothelial cancer. In this review, we describe the relationships between members of the NOX family and tumorigenesis, tumor growth, and pathological mechanisms in urological cancers including prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and urothelial cancer. In addition, we introduce natural compounds and chemical agents that are associated with ROS-induced angiogenesis or apoptosis.