Fibronectin promotes cervical cancer tumorigenesis through activating FAK signaling pathway

Enhancing outcome prediction of concurrent chemoradiation treatment in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer through plasma extracellular vesicle proteomics

Most patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) are primarily treated using concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT); however, LACC lacks reliable predictive biomarkers. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) could define the dynamic biological response to CCRT. However, the relationship between EVs and the therapeutic response to LACC is unestablished. Thus, we aimed to determine the relationship of plasma EVs pre- and post-CCRT in 62 patients with LACC. For proteomic analyses, EVs were isolated using ultracentrifugation (UC) with size exclusion chromatography or UC alone. We found that plasma particle concentration was significantly increased post-treatment in non-responders. After CCRT, there was a decrease in proteins related to serine protease and fibrinogen, which contribute to tumor microenvironment alteration. This reduction also extended to proteins involved in innate immune and viral immune responses, correlating with reduced tumor burden. Sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed 8, 13, and 19 proteins at diagnosis, one month, and three months, respectively, influencing the CCRT response. Among these, FIBG, TFR1, HBA, and FINC are prognostic markers according to The Cancer Genome Atlas tissue gene expression database. Our discriminant model demonstrated excellent specificity and negative predictive value, underscoring the model's reliability in determining responsiveness to CCRT and highlighting the potential clinical applicability of EVs in improving outcomes in LACC.

Differential prognostic impact and potential molecular mechanisms of PCDHGA12 expression in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), exhibit distinct characteristics. The expression and prognostic significance of Protocadherin Gamma Subfamily A, 12 (PCDHGA12) in NSCLC remain unexplored. This study analyzed transcriptomic and genomic datasets from TCGA to investigate PCDHGA12 expression and its prognostic relevance in LUAD and LUSC. We found PCDHGA12 mRNA and protein levels were downregulated in both LUAD and LUSC tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues, with high PCDHGA12 expression correlating with lower overall survival in LUSC but not in LUAD. GSEA revealed a unique enrichment pattern associated with PCDHGA12 low expression in LUSC, especially in the DNA repair pathway. Co-expression analysis showed associations of PCDHGA12 with focal adhesion and the PI3K-AKT pathway in LUAD, and additionally with ECM-receptor interaction in LUSC. Hub gene prognosis analysis identified genes correlated with prognosis only in LUSC, reflecting PCDHGA12's influence. Mutation analysis linked with PCDHGA12 identified differential mutations in SPTA1, KEAP1, and TNR in LUAD, and a notable NAV3 mutation in LUSC. Additionally, immuno-infiltration analysis reveals a positive correlation between PCDHGA12 expression and immune cell infiltration. Specifically, lower PCDHGA12 expression in LUSC is associated with higher levels of CD8 T cells and DCs, lower levels of Tregs and M0 macrophages, and increased expression of HMGB1 and TNFRSF18. These genetic and immunological differences may account for the significant prognostic disparity of PCDHGA12 levels between LUAD and LUSC. Further experimental studies are essential to validate these associations and investigate potential targeted and immunotherapeutic strategies.

Cancer/testis-45A1 promotes cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis and drug resistance by activating oncogenic SRC and downstream signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Cancer/testis antigen-45A1 (CT45A1) is overexpressed in various types of cancer but is not expressed in healthy women. The role of CT45A1 in cervical cancer has not yet been described in the literature.

PURPOSE

The aim of this research was to study the role of CT45A1 in cervical cancer progression and drug resistance, elucidate the mechanisms underlying CT45A1-mediated tumorigenesis and investigate CT45A1 as a biomarker for cervical cancer diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and targeted therapy.

METHODS

The CT45A1 levels in the tumors from cervical cancer patients were measured using immunohistochemical staining. The role and mechanisms underlying CT45A1-mediated cervical cancer cell tumor growth, invasion, and drug resistance were studied using xenograft mice, cervical cancer cells, immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq, real-time qPCR, Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Western blotting.

RESULTS

CT45A1 levels were notably high in the tumor tissues of human cervical cancer patients compared to the paracancerous tissues (p < 0.001). Overexpression of CT45A1 was closely associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. CT45A1 promoted cervical cancer cell tumor growth, invasion, neovascularization, and drug resistance. Mechanistically, CT45A1 promoted the expression of 128 pro-tumorigenic genes and concurrently activated key signaling pathways, including the oncogenic SRC, ERK, CREB, and YAP/TAZ signaling pathways. Furthermore, CT45A1-mediated tumorigenesis and drug resistance were markedly inhibited by the small molecule lycorine.

CONCLUSION

CT45A1 promotes cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis, neovascularization, and drug resistance by activating oncogenic SRC and downstream tumorigenic signaling pathways. These findings provide new insight into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and offer a new platform for the development of novel therapeutics against cervical cancer.

Entrectinib a Plausible Inhibitor for Osteopontin (SPP1) in Cervical Cancer-Integrated Bioinformatic Approach

Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of death in women, especially in developing countries bearing more than a quarter of the global burden. Secreted phosphoprotein-1, also known as OPN (osteopontin), is an integrin-binding glycophosphoprotein that is overexpressed in a variety of tumors. OPN is a chemokine-like calcified ECM-associated protein that plays a crucial role in evaluating the metastatic potential of various cancers. However, the role of SPP1 in the tumor microenvironment and associated signaling pathways in CC is still unclear. In our study, three CC microarray datasets (GSE9750, GSE46857, and GSE67522) were obtained from the GEO database to identify the differentially expressed genes. Enrichment analysis was carried out by Enrichr and ShinyGO and the PPI interaction network was created by using String and Cytoscape. GEPIA datasets were used to validate the top 10 hub genes, and virtual screening, docking, and dynamic simulation studies were used to identify a suitable inhibitor against the OPN protein using MVD, PyRx, and GROMACS respectively. Our results show that a total of 11 DEGs were common for three datasets and gene ontology pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 2 biological processes i.e. programmed cell death and animal organ development commonly affected mechanisms in all three datasets. Docking and dynamic studies revealed that Entrectinib showed excellent binding affinity against OPN protein. Based on the results, we conclude that OPN is one of the most upregulated genes in cervical cancer and Entrectinib emerges to be a promising potential OPN inhibitor to curtail cervical cancer progression. Schematic representation: The schematic representation of methodology steps is illustrated in the graphical abstract. Schematic representation of methodology.

In situ grown magnetic COF@MOF with a phosphoserine anchor for in-depth N-glycopeptide analysis in serum

A hydrophilic phosphoserine-functionalized magnetic organic framework composite (termed Fe3O4@COF@MOF-PS) was synthesized by an in situ growth strategy for effective capture of N-glycopeptides. Fe3O4@COF@MOF-PS exhibited high sensitivity (0.2 fmol μL-1), outstanding exclusion of size capability (1 : 10 000), good selectivity (1 : 2000), and reusability (at least 10 times). It also exhibited remarkable performance in the N-glycopeptide analysis in complex biological samples. Via nano-LC-MS/MS analysis, a total of 223 N-glycopeptides with 161 glycosylation sites assigned to 91 glycoproteins and 331 N-glycopeptides with 243 glycosylation sites assigned to 134 glycoproteins were identified in sera from cervical cancer patients and normal controls, respectively. Biological processes and molecular functional analyses indicate that the captured glycoproteins are of significant relevance to cervical cancer, for example, gene coverage or expression of cell adhesion and extracellular matrix structural constituents. Thus, Fe3O4@COF@MOF-PS not only efficiently captures N-glycopeptides, but also has the possibility of screening potential disease markers and elucidating the process of cervical cancer development.

Mechanistic insights into the development of severe fetal growth restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR), which most commonly results from suboptimal placental function, substantially increases risks for adverse perinatal and long-term outcomes. The only "treatment" that exists is delivery, which averts stillbirth but does not improve outcomes in survivors. Furthermore, the potential long-term consequences of FGR to the fetus, including cardiometabolic disorders, predispose these individuals to developing FGR in their future pregnancies. This creates a multi-generational cascade of adverse effects stemming from a single dysfunctional placenta, and understanding the mechanisms underlying placental-mediated FGR is critically important if we are to improve outcomes and overall health. The mechanisms behind FGR remain unknown. However, placental insufficiency derived from maldevelopment of the placental vascular systems is the most common etiology. To highlight important mechanistic interactions within the placenta, we focus on placental vascular development in the setting of FGR. We delve into fetoplacental angiogenesis, a robust and ongoing process in normal pregnancies that is impaired in severe FGR. We review cellular models of FGR, with special attention to fetoplacental angiogenesis, and we highlight novel integrin-extracellular matrix interactions that regulate placental angiogenesis in severe FGR. In total, this review focuses on key developmental processes, with specific focus on the human placenta, an underexplored area of research.

Differential Spatial Gene and Protein Expression Associated with Recurrence Following Chemoradiation for Localized Anal Squamous Cell Cancer

The identification of transcriptomic and protein biomarkers prognosticating recurrence risk after chemoradiation of localized squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) has been limited by a lack of available fresh tissue at initial presentation. We analyzed archival FFPE SCCA specimens from pretreatment biopsies prior to chemoradiation for protein and RNA biomarkers from patients with localized SCCA who recurred (N = 23) and who did not recur (N = 25). Tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) were analyzed separately to identify biomarkers with significantly different expression between the recurrent and non-recurrent groups. Recurrent patients had higher mean protein expression of FoxP3, MAPK-activation markers (BRAF, p38-MAPK) and PI3K/Akt activation (phospho-Akt) within the tumor regions. The TME was characterized by the higher protein expression of immune checkpoint biomarkers such as PD-1, OX40L and LAG3. For patients with recurrent SCCA, the higher mean protein expression of fibronectin was observed in the tumor and TME compartments. No significant differences in RNA expression were observed. The higher baseline expression of immune checkpoint biomarkers, together with markers of MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling, are associated with recurrence following chemoradiation for patients with localized SCCA. These data provide a rationale towards the application of immune-based therapeutic strategies to improve curative-intent outcomes beyond conventional therapies for patients with SCCA.

Engineering high throughput screening platforms of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women under 40 and is one of the few cancers to have an increased incidence rate and decreased survival rate over the last 10 years. One in five patients will have recurrent and/or distant metastatic disease and these patients face a 5-year survival rate of less than 17%. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop new anticancer therapeutics for this underserved patient population. However, the development of new anticancer drugs remains a challenge, as only 7% of novel anticancer drugs are approved for clinical use. To facilitate identification of novel and effective anticancer drugs for cervical cancer, we developed a multilayer multicellular platform of human cervical cancer cell lines and primary human microvascular endothelial cells that interfaces with high throughput drug screening methods to evaluate the anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic drug efficacy simultaneously. Through the use of design of experiments statistical optimization, we identified the specific concentrations of collagen I, fibrinogen, fibronectin, GelMA, and PEGDA in each hydrogel layer that maximized both cervical cancer invasion and endothelial microvessel length. We then validated the optimized platform and assessed its viscoelastic properties. Finally, using this optimized platform, we conducted a targeted drug screen of four clinically relevant drugs on two cervical cancer cell lines. Overall, this work provides a valuable platform that can be used to screen large compound libraries for mechanistic studies, drug discovery, and precision oncology for cervical cancer patients.

A Comprehensive View of the Cancer-Immunity Cycle (CIC) in HPV-Mediated Cervical Cancer and Prospects for Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, with more than 500,000 new cases each year and a mortality rate of around 55%. Over 80% of these deaths occur in developing countries. The most important risk factor for CC is persistent infection by a sexually transmitted virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV). Conventional treatments to eradicate this type of cancer are accompanied by high rates of resistance and a large number of side effects. Hence, it is crucial to devise novel effective therapeutic strategies. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have aimed to develop immunotherapeutic methods for treating cancer. However, these strategies have not proven to be effective enough to combat CC. This means there is a need to investigate immune molecular targets. An adaptive immune response against cancer has been described in seven key stages or steps defined as the cancer-immunity cycle (CIC). The CIC begins with the release of antigens by tumor cells and ends with their destruction by cytotoxic T-cells. In this paper, we discuss several molecular alterations found in each stage of the CIC of CC. In addition, we analyze the evidence discovered, the molecular mechanisms and their relationship with variables such as histological subtype and HPV infection, as well as their potential impact for adopting novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

Genistein Inhibits Proliferation and Metastasis in Human Cervical Cancer Cells through the Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Pathway: A Network Pharmacology-Based In Vitro Study in HeLa Cells

Previous studies have provided evidence that genistein exerts a therapeutic effect on different tumor cells. However, the mechanism of action of genistein against cervical cancer cells remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to comprehensively decipher the anti-metastatic effect and molecular mechanism of genistein action on cervical cancer cells. We developed an integrated strategy from genotype to phenotype, combining network pharmacology and a transcriptome screening approach, to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action of genistein against human cervical cancer cells. In silico studies predicted that the focal adhesion pathway may be an important signaling cascade targeted by genistein treatment. Using RNA sequencing analysis, representative genes of the focal adhesion pathway were demonstrated to be significantly downregulated. Phenotypic studies revealed that genistein demonstrated strong anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic activity in HeLa cells. Moreover, genistein modulated this activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Genistein also inhibited both the activation and gene expression of FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase) and paxillin. In addition, vimentin and β-catenin protein expression, and Snail and Twist gene expression, were strongly inhibited by genistein. Our findings provide strong evidence for a pleiotropic effect of genistein on cervical cancer cells, mediated through the focal adhesion pathway.

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and deep tissue proteomics reveal distinct tumour microenvironment in stage-I and II cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) is the 3rd most common cancer in women and the 4th leading cause of deaths in gynaecological malignancies, yet the exact progression of CC is inconclusive, mainly due to the high complexity of the changing tumour microenvironment (TME) at different stages of tumorigenesis. Importantly, a detailed comparative single-nucleus transcriptomic analysis of tumour microenvironment (TME) of CC patients at different stages is lacking.

METHODS

In this study, a total of 42,928 and 29,200 nuclei isolated from the tumour tissues of stage-I and II CC patients and subjected to single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis. The cell heterogeneity and functions were comparatively investigated using bioinformatic tools. In addition, label-free quantitative mass spectrometry based proteomic analysis was carried out. The proteome profiles of stage-I and II CC patients were compared, and an integrative analysis with the snRNA-seq was performed.

RESULTS

Compared with the stage-I CC (CCI) patients, the immune response relevant signalling pathways were largely suppressed in various immune cells of the stage-II CC (CCII) patients, yet the signalling associated with cell and tissue development was enriched, as well as metabolism for energy production suggested by the upregulation of genes associated with mitochondria. This was consistent with the quantitative proteomic analysis that showed the dominance of proteins promoting cell growth and intercellular matrix development in the TME of CCII group. The interferon-α and γ responses appeared the most activated pathways in many cell populations of the CCI patients. Several collagens, such as COL12A1, COL5A1, COL4A1 and COL4A2, were found significantly upregulated in the CCII group, suggesting their roles in diagnosing CC progression. A novel transcript AC244205.1 was detected as the most upregulated gene in CCII patients, and its possible mechanistic role in CC may be investigated further.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides important resources for decoding the progression of CC and set the foundation for developing novel approaches for diagnosing CC and tackling the immunosuppressive TME.

PRPF8 increases the aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating FAK/AKT pathway via fibronectin 1 splicing

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis is associated with alterations in splicing machinery components (spliceosome and splicing factors) and aberrant expression of oncogenic splice variants. We aimed to analyze the expression and potential role of the spliceosome component PRPF8 (pre-mRNA processing factor 8) in HCC. PRPF8 expression (mRNA/protein) was analyzed in a retrospective cohort of HCC patients (n = 172 HCC and nontumor tissues) and validated in two in silico cohorts (TCGA and CPTAC). PRPF8 expression was silenced in liver cancer cell lines and in xenograft tumors to understand the functional and mechanistic consequences. In silico RNAseq and CLIPseq data were also analyzed. Our results indicate that PRPF8 is overexpressed in HCC and associated with increased tumor aggressiveness (patient survival, etc.), expression of HCC-related splice variants, and modulation of critical genes implicated in cancer-related pathways. PRPF8 silencing ameliorated aggressiveness in vitro and decreased tumor growth in vivo. Analysis of in silico CLIPseq data in HepG2 cells demonstrated that PRPF8 binds preferentially to exons of protein-coding genes, and RNAseq analysis showed that PRPF8 silencing alters splicing events in multiple genes. Integrated and in vitro analyses revealed that PRPF8 silencing modulates fibronectin (FN1) splicing, promoting the exclusion of exon 40.2, which is paramount for binding to integrins. Consistent with this finding, PRPF8 silencing reduced FAK/AKT phosphorylation and blunted stress fiber formation. Indeed, HepG2 and Hep3B cells exhibited a lower invasive capacity in membranes treated with conditioned medium from PRPF8-silenced cells compared to medium from scramble-treated cells. This study demonstrates that PRPF8 is overexpressed and associated with aggressiveness in HCC and plays important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis by altering FN1 splicing, FAK/AKT activation and stress fiber formation.

Integrative Analysis of Potential Biomarkers Involved in the Progression of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

This study aims to explore key prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) which is one of the most common endocrine cancers and whose occurrence is rapidly increasing. Papillary thyroid cancer datasets containing normal and tumor samples were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for common upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was constructed, and hub genes were studied. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed to identify the vital biological behaviors and pathways involved in PTC. PPI network analysis demonstrated the interaction between 134 common upregulated DEGs, and top 15 pivotal genes with highest degree of connectivity were retrieved. Three of the hub genes (DPP4, ITGA2, FN1) were linked to the prognosis of PTC patients and considered clinically relevant core genes via survival analysis. We suggest that the identification of key genes associated with PTC development help us in understanding molecular mechanisms related to disease. These genes could also be considered the diagnostic biomarkers or as therapeutic targets in the future treatment for PTC.

Novel prognostic matrisome-related gene signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignancy of the mucosal epithelium of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma are common HNSCC subtypes. Patients with metastatic HNSCC have a poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying molecular markers for the development and progression of HNSCC is essential for improving early diagnosis and predicting patient outcomes.

Methods: Gene expression RNA-Seq data and patient clinical traits were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas-Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-HNSC) and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) screening was performed using the TCGA-HNSC dataset. Intersection analysis between the DEGs and a list of core matrisome genes obtained from the Matrisome Project was used to identify differentially expressed matrisome genes. A prognostic model was established using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Immune landscape analysis was performed based on the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis algorithm, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, prognostic value, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and gene mutation analyses. Immunohistochemical results regarding prognostic protein levels were obtained from the Human Protein Atlas. Single-gene RNA-sequencing data were obtained from GSE150321 and GSE172577 datasets. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to confirm cell proliferation and migration.

Results: A total of 1,779 DEGs, including 939 upregulated and 840 downregulated genes, between tumor and normal samples were identified using the TCGA-HNSC microarray data. Intersection analysis revealed 52 differentially expressed matrisome-related genes. After performing univariate and multivariate Cox regression and LASSO analyses, a novel prognostic model based on six matrisome genes (FN1, LAMB4, LAMB3, DMP1, CHAD, and MMRN1) for HNSCC was established. This risk model can successfully predict HNSCC survival. The high-risk group had worse prognoses and higher enrichment of pathways related to cancer development than the low-risk group. Silencing LAMB4 in HNSCC cell lines promoted cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusion: This study provides a novel prognostic model for HNSCC. Thus, FN1, LAMB4, LAMB3, DMP1, CHAD, and MMRN1 may be the promising biomarkers for clinical practice.

The Role of p16/Ki-67 Immunostaining, hTERC Amplification and Fibronectin in Predicting Cervical Cancer Progression: A Systematic Review

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are common sexually transmitted infectious agents responsible for several anogenital and head and neck cancers. Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cause of death in women with cancer. The progression of a persistent HPV infection to cancer takes 15–20 years and can be preventable through screening. Cervical cytology (Pap smear) is the standard screening test for CC and precancerous lesions. For ASC-US and ASC-H lesions, a combination of Pap smear and HR-HPV analysis is recommended as a triage step before colposcopy. However, these tests cannot predict progression to CC. For this purpose, we summarized current scientific data on the role of p16/Ki-67 immunohistostaining, telomerase and fibronectin in predicting progression to CC. p16 and p16/Ki-67 dual staining (DS) were more specific than HR-HPV DNA testing for the detection of CIN2+/CIN3+ in women with ASC-US and LSIL. Similarly, hTERC FISH analysis significantly improved the specificity and positive predictive value of HPV DNA testing in differentiating CIN2+ from CIN2 cytological samples. In conclusion, p16 IHC, p16/Ki-67 DS and hTERC FISH amplification are all valid adjunctive biomarkers which significantly increase the sensitivity and specificity of cervical dysplasia diagnosis, especially when combined with HPV DNA testing. However, considering the global socioeconomic background, we can postulate that p16 and p16/ Ki-67 IHC can be used as a next step after positive cytology for ASC-US or LSIL specimens in low-income countries, instead of HPV DNA testing. Alternatively, if HPV DNA testing is covered by insurance, p16 or p16/Ki-67 DS and HPV DNA co-testing can be performed. In middle- and high-income countries, hTERC amplification can be performed as an adjunctive test to HPV DNA testing in women with ASC-US and LSIL.

Bioinformatics of Differentially Expressed Genes in Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate-Induced Megakaryocytic Differentiation of K562 Cells by Microarray Analysis

Megakaryocytes are large hematopoietic cells present in the bone marrow cavity, comprising less than 0.1% of all bone marrow cells. Despite their small number, megakaryocytes play important roles in blood coagulation, inflammatory responses, and platelet production. However, little is known about changes in gene expression during megakaryocyte maturation. Here we identified the genes whose expression was changed during K562 leukemia cell differentiation into megakaryocytes using an Affymetrix GeneChip microarray to determine the multifunctionality of megakaryocytes. K562 cells were differentiated into mature megakaryocytes by treatment for 7 days with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and a microarray was performed using RNA obtained from both types of cells. The expression of 44,629 genes was compared between K562 cells and mature megakaryocytes, and 954 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected based on a p-value < 0.05 and a fold change >2. The DEGs was further functionally classified using five major megakaryocyte function-associated clusters—inflammatory response, angiogenesis, cell migration, extracellular matrix, and secretion. Furthermore, interaction analysis based on the STRING database was used to generate interactions between the proteins translated from the DEGs. This study provides information on the bioinformatics of the DEGs in mature megakaryocytes after K562 cell differentiation.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T promotes tumor stem cell characteristics and migration of cervical cancer cells by regulating the GRP78/FAK pathway

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) functions as an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system and mediates cellular processes, such as cell cycle, proliferation, and differentiation. UBE2T has been considered to be an oncogene in a variety of tumors. However, the oncogenic role of UBE2T in cervical cancer remains unclear. In this study, our results first showed that the expression of UBE2T was higher in both of cervical cancer tissues and cells than that in the normal tissues and cells. Knockdown of UBE2T reduced cervical cancer cell viability and suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration. However, overexpression of UBE2T contributed to cervical cancer cell growth and metastasis. Moreover, UBE2T overexpression cervical cancer cells demonstrated enhanced self-renewal capacity with upregulation of SOX2, Oct-4, and Nanog protein. Silencing of UBE2T downregulated protein expression of SOX2, Oct-4, and Nanog in cervical cancer cells reduced self-renewal capacity. Furthermore, ectopic UBE2T expression promoted protein expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation in cervical cancer cells. The knockdown of UBE2T reduced protein expression of GRP78 and FAK phosphorylation. Collectively, UBE2T promoted cervical cancer stem cell traits and exerted an oncogenic role through activation of the GRP78/FAK pathway.

Prognostic Gene Signature for Squamous Cell Carcinoma with a Higher Risk for Treatment Failure and Accelerated MEK-ERK Pathway Activity

Simple Summary

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent type of human cancer worldwide and represents the majority of head and neck tumors. As SCC from aerodigestive or genitourinary tracts share not only common etiology and histological features but also molecular patterns, the major objectives of this study were the establishment of a pan-SCC-related prognostic gene signature by an integrative analysis of multi-omics data and the elucidation of underlying oncogenic pathway activities as potential vulnerabilities for a more efficient and less toxic therapy. Our approach delivers a reliable molecular classifier to identify HNSCC and other SCC patients at higher risk for treatment failure with tumors characterized by a more prominent MAPK activity, who might benefit from a targeted treatment with MEK inhibitors.

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent histological type of human cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, reliable prognostic gene signatures for SCC and underlying genetic and/or epigenetic principles are still unclear. We identified 37 prognostic candidate genes by best cutoff computation based on survival in a pan-SCC cohort (n = 1334) of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), whose expression stratified not only the pan-SCC cohort but also independent HNSCC validation cohorts into three distinct prognostic subgroups. The most relevant prognostic genes were prioritized by a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression model and were used to identify subgroups with high or low risks for unfavorable survival. An integrative analysis of multi-omics data identified FN1, SEMA3A, CDH2, FBN1, COL5A1, and ADAM12 as key nodes in a regulatory network related to the prognostic phenotype. An in-silico drug screen predicted two MEK inhibitors (Trametinib and Selumetinib) as effective compounds for high-risk SCC based on the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, which is supported by a higher p-MEK1/2 immunohistochemical staining of high-risk HNSCC. In conclusion, our data identified a molecular classifier for high-risk HNSCC as well as other SCC patients, who might benefit from treatment with MEK inhibitors.

An Insight into Pathophysiological Features and Therapeutic Advances on Ependymoma

Simple Summary

Although biological information and the molecular classification of ependymoma have been studied, the treatment systems for ependymoma are still insufficient. In addition, because the disease occurs infrequently, it is difficult to obtain sufficient data to conduct large-scale or randomized clinical trials. Therefore, this study is intended to emphasize the importance of understanding its pathological characteristics and prognosis as well as developing treatments for ependymoma through multilateral studies.

Abstract

Glial cells comprise the non-sensory parts of the central nervous system as well as the peripheral nervous system. Glial cells, also known as neuroglia, constitute a significant portion of the mammalian nervous system and can be viewed simply as a matrix of neural cells. Despite being the “Nervenkitt” or “glue of the nerves”, they aptly serve multiple roles, including neuron repair, myelin sheath formation, and cerebrospinal fluid circulation. Ependymal cells are one of four kinds of glial cells that exert distinct functions. Tumorigenesis of a glial cell is termed a glioma, and in the case of an ependymal cell, it is called an ependymoma. Among the various gliomas, an ependymoma in children is one of the more challenging brain tumors to cure. Children are afflicted more severely by ependymal tumors than adults. It has appeared from several surveys that ependymoma comprises approximately six to ten percent of all tumors in children. Presently, the surgical removal of the tumor is considered a standard treatment for ependymomas. It has been conspicuously evident that a combination of irradiation therapy and surgery is much more efficacious in treating ependymomas. The main purpose of this review is to present the importance of both a deep understanding and ongoing research into histopathological features and prognoses of ependymomas to ensure that effective diagnostic methods and treatments can be developed.

New Insights on Fak and Fak Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Focal adhesion kinase (Fak) is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase overexpressed and activated in different solid cancers; it has shown an important role in metastasis formation, cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis and consequently it has been proposed as a potential target in cancer therapy, particularly in a metastatic phase. In recent years, different investigations have highlighted the importance of new Fak inhibitors as potential anti-cancer drugs, but other studies evidenced its role in different pathologies related to the cardiac function or viral infection.

METHODS

An extensive bibliographic research (104 references) has been done concerning the structure of Fak, its importance in tumor development, but also in other pathologies currently under study. The compounds currently subjected to clinical studies were therefore treated using the appropriate databases. Finally, the main chemical scaffolds currently under preclinical investigation were analyzed, focusing on their molecular structures and on the activity structure relationships (SAR).

RESULTS

At the moment, only a few reversible ATP-competitive inhibitors are under investigation in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. Other compounds, with different chemical scaffolds, are investigated to obtain more active and selective Fak inhibitors. This mini-review is a summary of different Fak functions in cancer and other pathologies; the compounds today in clinical trials and the recent chemical scaffolds (also included in patents) giving the most interesting results are investigated. In addition, PROTAC molecules are reported.

CONCLUSION

All reported results evidenced that additional studies are necessary to design and synthesize new selective and more active compounds, although promising information has been obtained from associations between Fak inhibitors and other different anti- cancer drugs. In addition, the other important roles evidenced, both at the nuclear level and in non-cancerous cells, make this protein an increasingly important target in pharmaceutical chemistry.

A Comprehensive Understanding of the Anticancer Mechanisms of FDY2004 Against Cervical Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology

Herbal drugs are continuously being developed and used as effective therapeutics for various cancers, such as cervical cancer (CC); however, their mechanisms of action at a systemic level have not been explored fully. To study such mechanisms, we conducted a network pharmacological investigation of the anti-CC mechanisms of FDY2004, an herbal drug consisting of Moutan Radicis Cortex, Persicae Semen , and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. We found that FDY2004 inhibited the viability of human CC cells. By performing pharmacokinetic evaluation and network analysis of the phytochemical components of FDY2004, we identified 29 bioactive components and their 116 CC-associated pharmacological targets. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that the modulation of cellular functions, such as apoptosis, growth, proliferation, and survival, might be mediated through the FDY2004 targets. The therapeutic targets were also key components of CC-associated oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways, including PI3K-Akt, human papillomavirus infection, IL-17, MAPK, TNF, focal adhesion, and viral carcinogenesis pathways. In conclusion, our data present a comprehensive insight for the mechanisms of the anti-CC properties of FDY2004.

Cyano Enone-Bearing Triterpenoid Soloxolone Methyl Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro and Metastasis of Murine Melanoma In Vivo

Introduction of α-cyano α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety into natural cyclic compounds markedly improves their bioactivities, including inhibitory potential against tumor growth and metastasis. Previously, we showed that cyano enone-bearing derivatives of 18βH-glycyrrhetinic (GA) and deoxycholic acids displayed marked cytotoxicity in different tumor cell lines. Moreover, GA derivative soloxolone methyl (SM) was found to induce ER stress and apoptosis in tumor cells in vitro and inhibit growth of carcinoma Krebs-2 in vivo. In this work, we studied the effects of these compounds used in non-toxic dosage on the processes associated with metastatic potential of tumor cells. Performed screening revealed SM as a hit compound, which inhibits motility of murine melanoma B16 and human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and significantly suppresses colony formation of A549 cells. Further study showed that SM effectively blocked transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of A549 cells: namely, inhibited TGF-β-stimulated motility and invasion of tumor cells as well as loss of their epithelial characteristics, such as, an acquisition of spindle-like phenotype, up- and down-regulation of mesenchymal (vimentin, fibronectin) and epithelial (E-cadherin, zona occludens-1 (ZO-1)) markers, respectively. Network pharmacology analysis with subsequent verification by molecular modeling revealed that matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2/-9 and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1 (JNK1) can be considered as hypothetical primary targets of SM, mediating its marked anti-EMT activity. The inhibitory effect of SM on EMT revealed in vitro was further confirmed in a metastatic model of murine B16 melanoma: SM was found to effectively block metastatic dissemination of melanoma B16 cells in vivo, increase expression of E-cadherin and suppress expression of MMP-9 in lung metastatic foci. Altogether, our data provided valuable information for a better understanding of the antitumor activity of cyano enone-bearing semisynthetic compounds and revealed SM as a promising anti-metastatic drug candidate.

MAGE-A3 is a prognostic biomarker for poor clinical outcome in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with perineural invasion via modulation of cell proliferation

Perineural invasion is a pathologic process of neoplastic dissemination along and invading into the nerves. Perineural invasion is associated with aggressive disease and a greater likelihood of poor outcomes. In this study, 3 of 9 patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and perineural invasion exhibited poor clinical outcomes. Tumors from these patients expressed high levels of MAGE-A3, a cancer testis antigen that may contribute to key processes of tumor development. In addition to perineural invasion, the tumors exhibited poor differentiation and deep invasion and were subsequently classified as Brigham and Women's Hospital tumor stage 3. Cyclin E, A and B mRNA levels were increased in these tumors compared with normal skin tissues (102.93±15.03 vs. 27.15±4.59, 36.83±19.41 vs. 11.59±5.83, 343.77±86.49 vs. 95.65±29.25, respectively; p<0.05). A431 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells pretreated with MAGE-A3 antibody exhibited a decreased percentage S-phase cells (14.13±2.8% vs. 33.97±1.1%; p<0.05) and reduced closure in scratch assays (43.88±5.49% vs. 61.17±3.97%; p = 0.0058). In a syngeneic animal model of squamous cell carcinoma, immunoblots revealed overexpression of MAGE-A3 and cyclin E, A, and B protein in tumors at 6 weeks. However, knockout of MAGE-A3 expression caused a reduction in tumor growth (mean tumor volume 155.3 mm3 vs. 3.2 mm3) compared with parental cells. These results suggest that MAGE-A3 is a key mediator in cancer progression. Moreover, elevated collagen XI and matrix metalloproteases 3, 10, 11, and 13 mRNA levels were observed in poorly differentiated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with perineural invasion compared with normal skin tissue (1132.56±882.7 vs. 107.62±183.62, 1118.15±1109.49 vs. 9.5±5, 2603.87±2385.26 vs. 5.29±3, 957.95±627.14 vs. 400.42±967.66, 1149.13±832.18 vs. 19.41±35.62, respectively; p<0.05). In summary, this study highlights the potential prognostic value of MAGE-A3 in clinical outcomes of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Fibrinogen alpha chain promotes the migration and invasion of human endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis through focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B/matrix metallopeptidase 2 pathway†

Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA), a cell adhesion molecule, contains two arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) cell adhesion sequences. Our previous study demonstrated that FGA, as an up-regulated protein in endometriosis (EM), was closely related to disease severity and involved in the development of EM. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanism of FGA in EM have not been fully understood. To explore the roles of FGA in EM, we analyzed the effects of FGA on the biological behaviors of human primary eutopic endometrial stromal cells (EuESC). The results indicated FGA knockdown suppressed the migration and invasion ability of EuESC, which also altered the distribution of cytoskeletal filamentous and cell morphology. Western blot analysis demonstrated that knockdown of FGA attenuated the migration-related protein levels of vimentin and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2), but not integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV) and integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3). Meanwhile, integrin-linked transduction pathways were detected. We found FGA knockdown significantly suppressed the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) level and protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation, without extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) dependent pathways. Treatment with the AKT inhibitor MK2206 or RGD antagonist highly decreased the effects of FGA on the migration and invasion of EuESC. RGD antagonist treatment strongly inhibited FAK- and AKT-dependent pathways, but not ERK pathways. Our data indicated that FGA may enhance the migration and invasion of EuESC through RGD sequences binding integrin and activating the FAK/AKT/MMP-2 signaling pathway. This novel finding suggests that FGA may provide a novel potential approach to the treatment of EM, which provides a new way to understand the pathogenesis of EM.

Dysregulation of Stemness Pathways in HPV Mediated Cervical Malignant Transformation Identifies Potential Oncotherapy Targets

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with a range of malignancies that affect anogenital and oropharyngeal sites. α-HPVs dominantly infect basal epithelial cells of mucosal tissues, where they dysregulate cell division and local immunity. The cervix is one of the mucosal sites most susceptible to HPV infections. It consists of anatomically diverse regions, and the majority of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancers arise within the cervical squamo-columnar junction where undifferentiated basal progenitor cells with stem cell properties are found. The cancer stem cell theory particularly associates tumorigenesis, invasion, dissemination, and metastasis with cancer cells exhibiting stem cell properties. In this perspective, we discuss evidence of a cervical cancer stem cell niche and explore the association of stemness related genes with 5-year survival using a publicly available transcriptomic dataset of a cervical cancer cohort. We report that poor prognosis in this cohort correlates with overexpression of a subset of stemness pathway genes, a majority of which regulate the central Focal Adhesion pathway, and are also found to be enriched in the HPV infection pathway. These observations support therapeutic targeting of stemness genes overexpressed by mucosal cells infected with high-risk HPVs.

Identification of Potential Biomarkers for Thyroid Cancer Using Bioinformatics Strategy: A Study Based on GEO Datasets

Background

The molecular mechanisms and genetic markers of thyroid cancer are unclear. In this study, we used bioinformatics to screen for key genes and pathways associated with thyroid cancer development and to reveal its potential molecular mechanisms.

Methods

The GSE3467, GSE3678, GSE33630, and GSE53157 expression profiles downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) contained a total of 164 tissue samples (64 normal thyroid tissue samples and 100 thyroid cancer samples). The four datasets were integrated and analyzed by the RobustRankAggreg (RRA) method to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Using these DEGs, we performed gene ontology (GO) functional annotation, pathway analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and survival analysis. Then, CMap was used to identify the candidate small molecules that might reverse thyroid cancer gene expression.

Results

By integrating the four datasets, 330 DEGs, including 154 upregulated and 176 downregulated genes, were identified. GO analysis showed that the upregulated genes were mainly involved in extracellular region, extracellular exosome, and heparin binding. The downregulated genes were mainly concentrated in thyroid hormone generation and proteinaceous extracellular matrix. Pathway analysis showed that the upregulated DEGs were mainly attached to ECM-receptor interaction, p53 signaling pathway, and TGF-beta signaling pathway. Downregulation of DEGs was mainly involved in tyrosine metabolism, mineral absorption, and thyroxine biosynthesis. Among the top 30 hub genes obtained in PPI network, the expression levels of FN1, NMU, CHRDL1, GNAI1, ITGA2, GNA14 and AVPR1A were associated with the prognosis of thyroid cancer. Finally, four small molecules that could reverse the gene expression induced by thyroid cancer, namely ikarugamycin, adrenosterone, hexamethonium bromide and clofazimine, were obtained in the CMap database.

Conclusion

The identification of the key genes and pathways enhances the understanding of the molecular mechanisms for thyroid cancer. In addition, these key genes may be potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for the treatment of thyroid cancer.

High Expression of Integrin α3 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Tumor Metastasis and Angiogenesis by Activating the c-Src/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase/Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Pathway in Cervical Cancer

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in women due to metastasis to distant tissues and organs. Integrins are involved in cancer metastasis. However, whether integrin α3 participates in cervical cancer metastasis is under investigation. In this study, we explored the effect and detailed mechanism through which integrin α3 regulates cervical cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis.

Methods: First, we explored the mRNA and protein expression levels of integrin α3 in cervical cancer cell lines and tissue samples obtained from patients. After knocking down the expression of integrin α3 using shRNA, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells, as well as the possible signaling pathways involved, were investigated in vitro. In addition, tube formation, proliferation, and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were tested to identify their effect on angiogenesis. Zebrafish tumor migration and nude mouse lung metastasis models were utilized for the in vivo analysis.

Results: We examined samples from 142 patients with cervical cancer and 20 normal cervixes. Integrin α3 was highly expressed in patients and predicted poor overall survival and disease-free survival. In SiHa cells, treatment with integrin α3 shRNA induced the phosphorylation of protein focal adhesion kinase and enhanced focal adhesion. These events were mediated by the activation of c-Src and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase cascades. Consequently, integrin α3 increased the migratory ability of SiHa cells. In addition, knockdown of integrin α3 decreased the tube formation, proliferation, and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, as well as the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9, indicating its effect on angiogenesis. Stable transfection with integrin α3 shRNA reduced the migratory ability of SiHa cells in the zebrafish model and diminished lung metastasis in the xenograft mouse model.

Conclusion: Integrin α3 recruits the c-Src/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase cascade, leading to phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Moreover, it regulates focal adhesion, endowing cervical cancer cells with potentiated migratory and invasive ability, and promotes angiogenesis via matrix metalloproteinase-9. Our findings may shed light on the mechanism involved in cervical cancer metastasis and highlight integrin α3 as a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in patients with cervical cancer.

FAK mediates BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation via Wnt and MAPK signaling pathway in synovial mesenchymal stem cells

Objective: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has critical functions in proliferation and differentiation of many cell types, however, the role of FAK on BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation in SMSCs has not been characted. The purpose of current study is to explore the mechanism of FAK on the BMP9-induced osteogenesis of SMSCs in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The optimal dose of BMP9 was determined by incubation in different BMP9 concentrations, then cells were transfected with siRNA-induced FAK knockdown in BMP9-induced osteogenesis. Cell proliferation, migration, the osteogenic capacity, and the underlying mechanism were further detected in vitro. Imaging and pathological examination were conducted to observe the bone formation in vivo. Results: Our findings suggested that BMP9 could obviously promote FAK phosphorylation in osteogenic conditions. In contrast, FAK knockdown significantly decreased the cell proliferation, migration, the osteogenic capacity of SMSCs. To be specific, FAK knockdown could markedly inhibit the Wnt and MAPK signal pathway of SMSCs induced by BMP9. Besides, FAK knockdown could also effectively inhibit BMP-9-induced bone formation in vivo. Conclusion: FAK plays a pivotal role in promoting BMP9-induced osteogenesis of SMSCs, which is probably via activating Wnt and MAPK pathway.

Identification and analysis of genes associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by integrated bioinformatics methods

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, exhibiting high morbidity and mortality. The prognosis of HNSCC patients has remained poor, though considerable efforts have been made to improve the treatment of this cancer. Therefore, identifying significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in HNSCC progression and exploiting them as novel biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for HNSCC is highly valuable.

Methods

Overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out from three independent gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets and subjected to GO and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analyses. The protein–protein interactions network of DEGs was constructed in the STRING database, and the top ten hub genes were selected using cytoHubba. The relative expression of hub genes was detected in GEPIA, Oncomine, and human protein atlas (HPA) databases. Furthermore, the relationship of hub genes with the overall survival and disease‐free survival in HNSCC patients was investigated using the cancer genome atlas data.

Results

The top ten hub genes (SPP1, POSTN, COL1A2, FN1, IGFBP3, APP, MMP3, MMP13, CXCL8, and CXCL12) could be utilized as potential diagnostic indicators for HNSCC. The relative levels of FN1, APP, SPP1, and POSTN could be associated with the prognosis of HNSCC patients. The mRNA expression of APP and COL1A2 was validated in HNSCC samples.

Conclusion

This study identified effective and reliable molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis by integrated bioinformatics analysis, suggesting novel and essential therapeutic targets for HNSCC.