Colon cancer therapy by focusing on colon cancer stem cells and their tumor microenvironment

In vitro study on the anticancer effects of oxalipalladium against PC3 human prostate carcinoma cells

Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men with high incidence and mortality. Our aim was to investigate the effects of oxalipalladium (ox-Pd) on metastatic human prostate cancer PC3 cells and compare them with the effects of oxaliplatin (ox-Pt) (as an approved cancer drug). We synthesized ox-Pd through a new chemical method and used FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS analyzes to characterize it. The effects of ox-Pd on PC3 cells viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and gene expression were examined. Inhibition of topoisomerase IIα activity was investigated by pHOT1 plasmid relaxation and kDNA decatenation assays. Chemical tests showed ox-Pd with the correct composition and structure. For the first time, the exact fragmentation pathway of ox-Pd and its difference with ox-Pt was obtained by MS analysis. Ox-Pd significantly decreased PC3 cell viability with less/no toxicity effect on MHFB-1 normal skin fibroblasts. Wound scratch assay confirmed the strong anti-migratory activity of ox-Pd. According to flow cytometry analysis, this drug increased the number of PC3 cells in late apoptosis and decreased DNA replication and mitosis. Furthermore, pHOT1 plasmid relaxation and kDNA decatenation assays showed that ox-Pd strongly inhibited the catalytic activity of topoisomerase IIα. The expression of topoisomerase IIα, Bcl-2, P21, and survivin was decreased while the expression of Bax and p53 was increased under ox-Pd treatment. We provide the first evidence that ox-Pd exhibits more selective anticancer effects on PC3 cells compared to ox-Pt. Taken together, these data strongly suggest a therapeutic window for ox-Pd in cancer.

MicroRNA-425: A Pivotal Regulator Participating in Tumorigenesis of Human Cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded regulatory RNAs that are shown to be dysregulated in a wide array of human cancers. MiRNAs play critical roles in cancer progression and function as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors through modulating various target genes. Therefore, they possess great potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cancer detection and treatment. In particular, recent studies have illustrated that miR-425 is also dysregulated in various human malignancies and plays a fundamental role in cancer initiation and progression. miR-425 has been reported to function as a dual-role miRNA participating in the regulation of cellular processes, including metastasis, invasion, and cell proliferation by modulating multiple signaling pathways, such as TGF-β, Wnt, and P13K/AKT pathways. Therefore, regarding recent researches showing the high therapeutic potential of miR-425, in this review, we have noted the impact of its dysregulation on signaling pathways and various aspects of tumorigenesis in a variety of human cancers.

APOA5 alleviates reactive oxygen species to promote oxaliplatin resistance in PIK3CA-mutated colorectal cancer

Although platinum-based chemotherapy is the frontline regimen for colorectal cancer (CRC), drug resistance remains a major challenge affecting its therapeutic efficiency. However, there is limited research on the correlation between chemotherapy resistance and lipid metabolism, including PIK3CA mutant tumors. In this present study, we found that PIK3CA-E545K mutation attenuated cell apoptosis and increased the cell viability of CRC with L-OHP treatment in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PIK3CA-E545K mutation promoted the nuclear accumulation of SREBP1, which promoted the transcription of Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5). APOA5 activated the PPARγ signaling pathway to alleviate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production following L-OHP treatment, which contributed to cell survival of CRC cells. Moreover, APOA5 overexpression enhanced the stemness-related traits of CRC cells. Increased APOA5 expression was associated with PIK3CA mutation in tumor specimens and poor response to first-line chemotherapy, which was an independent detrimental factor for chemotherapy sensitivity in CRC patients. Taken together, this study indicated that PIK3CA-E545K mutation promoted L-OHP resistance by upregulating APOA5 transcription in CRC, which could be a potent target for improving L-OHP chemotherapeutic efficiency. Our study shed light to improve chemotherapy sensitivity through nutrient management in CRC.

Colorectal cancer: a comprehensive review of carcinogenesis, diagnosis, and novel strategies for classified treatments

Colorectal cancer is the third most common and the second deadliest cancer worldwide. To date, colorectal cancer becomes one of the most important challenges of the health system in many countries. Since the clinical symptoms of this cancer appear in the final stages of the disease and there is a significant golden time between the formation of polyps and the onset of cancer, early diagnosis can play a significant role in reducing mortality. Today, in addition to colonoscopy, minimally invasive methods such as liquid biopsy have received much attention. The treatment of this complex disease has been mostly based on traditional treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy; the high mortality rate indicates a lack of success for current treatment methods. Moreover, disease recurrence is another problem of traditional treatments. Recently, new approaches such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and nanomedicine have opened new doors for cancer treatment, some of which have already entered the market, and many methods have shown promising results in clinical trials. The success of immunotherapy in the treatment of refractory disease, the introduction of these methods into neoadjuvant therapy, and the successful results in tumor shrinkage without surgery have made immunotherapy a tough competitor for conventional treatments. It seems that the combination of those methods with such targeted therapies will go through promising changes in the future of colorectal cancer treatment.

NAT10-mediated ac4C modification promotes stemness and chemoresistance of colon cancer by stabilizing NANOGP8

Background

Colon cancer (CC) stem cells can self-renew as well as expand, thereby promoting tumor progression and conferring resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. The acetyltransferase NAT10 mediates N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification, which in turn drives tumorigenesis, metastasis, stemness properties maintenance, and cell fate decisions. Nonetheless, the specific involvement of ac4C modification mediated by NAT10 in regulating stemness and chemosensitivity in CC remains undetermined.

Methods

The levels of NAT10 in normal colon and chemoresistant CC tissues were determined utilizing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction alongside immunohistochemistry. Assessing cancer cell stemness and chemosensitivity was conducted by various methods including spheroid and colony formation, western blotting, and flow cytometry. RNA-Seq was used to identify target genes, and RNA immunoprecipitation analysis was used to explore the potential mechanisms.

Results

We observed NAT10 overexpression and increased ac4C modification levels in chemoresistant CC tissues. The in vivo and in vitro analysis findings suggested that NAT10 promoted CC cell stemness while suppressing their chemosensitivity. Conversely, Remodelin, a NAT10-specific inhibitor, enhanced CC cell chemosensitivity. Mechanistically, NAT10 increased the level of NANOGP8 ac4C modification and promoted NANOGP8 mRNA stability.

Conclusions

NAT10 promotes the maintenance of stemness and chemoresistance in CC cells by augmenting the mRNA stability of NANOGP8. The inhibition of NAT10 via Remodelin improves chemotherapeutic efficacy and impedes CC progression.

Integrated Analysis of CD1A Immune Infiltration and Competing Endogenous RNA Networks in COAD

Background

The CD1A gene, a key component of the human immune system and part of the CD1 family, plays a crucial role in presenting lipid antigens to T cells. Abnormal CD1A expression is associated with various immune-related diseases and tumors. However, the biological function of CD1A in COAD is unclear.

Methods

Multiple databases were systematically employed to conduct an analysis of CD1A expression in pan-cancer and COAD, along with its clinical-pathological features. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses of CD1A were performed using the 'clusterProfiler' package. The Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis of CD1A was used the STRING database. Additionally, TIMER and ssGSEA tools were used to explore the relationship between CD1A expression in COAD and immune cell infiltration. The study also investigated the association between CD1A expression and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification genes in the TCGA COAD cohort and constructed a CD1A-centric competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network.

Results

CD1A displays varying expression levels in various tumors, including COAD, and is closely linked to clinical-pathological characteristics. GO analysis suggests that CD1A plays a role in important processes like antigen processing and presentation, leukocyte-mediated immunity, and lymphocyte-mediated immunity. KEGG analysis identifies CD1A's involvement in key pathways such as the Chemokine signaling pathway and Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. PPI analysis highlights CD1A's interactions with CD207, CD1C, CD1E, FOXP3, and ITGB2. ssGSEA analysis indicates a significant relationship between CD1A expression and the infiltration of various immune cells in COAD. Significant associations were found between CD1A and m6A modification genes in COAD. Furthermore, a CD1A-centered ceRNA regulatory network has been constructed.

Conclusion

CD1A emerges as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of COAD, showing a strong association with tumor immune infiltration, m6A modification, and the ceRNA network.

The Impact of Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer

Despite incessant research, colorectal cancer (CRC) is still one of the most common causes of fatality in both men and women worldwide. Over time, advancements in medical treatments have notably enhanced the survival rates of patients with colorectal cancer. Managing metastatic CRC involves a complex tradeoff between the potential benefits and adverse effects of treatment, considering factors like disease progression, treatment toxicity, drug resistance, and the overall impact on the patient's quality of life. An increasing body of evidence highlights the significance of the cancer stem cell (CSC) concept, proposing that CSCs occupy a central role in triggering cancer. CSCs have been a focal point of extensive research in a variety of cancer types, including CRC. Colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) play a crucial role in tumor initiation, metastasis, and therapy resistance, making them potential treatment targets. Various methods exist for isolating CCSCs, and understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance associated with them is crucial. This paper offers an overview of the current body of research pertaining to the comprehension of CSCs in colorectal cancer.

Targeted immunotherapy to cancer stem cells: A novel strategy of anticancer immunotherapy

Cancer is a major disease that endangers human health. Cancer drug resistance and relapse are the two main causes contributing to cancer treatment failure. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small fraction of tumor cells that are responsible for tumorigenesis, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to conventional anticancer therapies. Therefore, CSCs are considered to be the root of cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Novel anticancer strategies need to face this new challenge and explore their efficacy against CSCs. Recently, immunotherapy has made rapid advances in cancer treatment, and its potential against CSCs is also an interesting area of research. Meanwhile, immunotherapy strategies are novel therapeutic modalities with promising results in targeting CSCs. In this review, we summarize the targeting of CSCs by various immunotherapy strategies such as monoclonal antibodies(mAb), tumor vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells(CAR-T) in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review provides new insights into the application of these immunotherapeutic approaches to potential anti-tumor therapies in the future.

A narrative review on therapeutic potential of naringenin in colorectal cancer: Focusing on molecular and biochemical processes

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and highly metastatic cancer affecting people worldwide. Drug resistance and unwanted side effects are some of the limitations of current treatments for CRC. Naringenin (NAR) is a naturally occurring compound found in abundance in various citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and tomatoes. It possesses a diverse range of pharmacological and biological properties that are beneficial for human health. Numerous studies have highlighted its antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities, making it a subject of interest in scientific research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of NAR on CRC. The study's findings indicated that NAR: (1) interacts with estrogen receptors, (2) regulates the expression of genes related to the p53 signaling pathway, (3) promotes apoptosis by increasing the expression of proapoptotic genes (Bax, caspase9, and p53) and downregulation of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2, (4) inhibits the activity of enzymes involved in cell survival and proliferation, (5) decreases cyclin D1 levels, (6) reduces the expression of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk4, Cdk6, and Cdk7) and antiapoptotic genes (Bcl2, x-IAP, and c-IAP-2) in CRC cells. In vitro CDK2 binding assay was also performed, showing that the NAR derivatives had better inhibitory activities on CDK2 than NAR. Based on the findings of this study, NAR is a potential therapeutic agent for CRC. Additional pharmacology and pharmacokinetics studies are required to fully elucidate the mechanisms of action of NAR and establish the most suitable dose for subsequent clinical investigations.

Anti-proliferative activity of chitosan-coated oxypeucedanin nano-chitosomes (COPD-NCs) against human HT-29 colon cancer cells: in vitro study

Oxypeucedanin (OPD) as a powerful anti-proliferative agent found in the Angelicae dahuricae has been used to suppress cancer cell growth. However, the hydrophobic chemical structure has limited its solubility and bio-accessibility. This is the first time OPD is encapsulated into a nano-liposomal structure and coated with poly-cationic chitosan polymer as the oxypeucedanin drug delivery system to evaluate its antioxidant and anti-colon cancer potential. The chitosan-coated oxypeucedanin nano-chitosomes (COPD-NCs) were synthesized utilizing the thin-layer hydration method and characterized by FESEM, DLS, FTIR, and zeta potential analysis. The anti-cancer potential of COPD-NC was analyzed by measuring the cell survival rate (MTT assay) and studying the cellular death type (AO/PI staining) following the increased treatment concentrations of COPD-NC on the HT-29 colon cancer cell line. Moreover, the COPD-NCs' apoptotic activity was verified by analyzing Cas-3 and Cas-9 gene expression profiles. Finally, the COPD-NCs' antioxidant activity was evaluated by applying ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP antioxidant assays. The 258.26-nm COPD-NCs significantly inhibited the HT-29 colon cancer cells compared with the normal fibroblast HFF cells. The up-regulated Cas-3 and Cas-9 gene expression exhibited the COPD-NCs' apoptotic activity. Also, the COPD-NCs' apoptotic activity was verified by detecting the increased apoptotic bodies following the AO/PI fluorescent staining in the increased exposure doses of COPD-NCs. Ultimately, the COPD-NCs meaningfully inhibited the ABTS-DPPH radicals and exhibited an appropriate FRAP-reductive potential. The designed nanostructure for COPD-NCs significantly improved its antioxidant potential and selective cytotoxicity on human HT-29 human cancer cells, which makes them a safe selective natural drug delivery system. Therefore, the COPD-NCs can selectively induce apoptotic death in human HT-29 cancer cells and have the potential to be studied as an anti-colon cancer compound. However, further cancer and normal cell lines are required to verify their selective cytotoxicity.

Role of CRH in colitis and colitis-associated cancer: a combinative result of central and peripheral effects?

Corticotropin-releasing factor family peptides (CRF peptides) comprise corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), urocortin (UCN1), UCN2 and UCN3. CRH is first isolated in the brain and later with UCNs found in many peripheral cells/tissues including the colon. CRH and UCNs function via the two types of receptors, CRF1 and CRF2, with CRH mainly acting on CRF1, UCN1 on both CRF1 &CRF2 and UCN2-3 on CRF2. Compiling evidence shows that CRH participates in inflammation and cancers via both indirect central effects related to stress response and direct peripheral influence. CRH, as a stress-response mediator, plays a significant central role in promoting the development of colitis involving colon motility, immunity and gut flora, while a few anti-colitis results of central CRH are also reported. Moreover, CRH is found to directly influence the motility and immune/inflammatory cells in the colon. Likewise, CRH is believed to be greatly related to tumorigenesis of many kinds of cancers including colon cancer via the central action during chronic stress while the peripheral effects on colitis-associated-colon cancer (CAC) are also proved. We and others observe that CRH/CRF1 plays a significant peripheral role in the development of colitis and CAC in that CRF1 deficiency dramatically suppresses the colon inflammation and CAC. However, up to date, there still exist not many relevant experimental data on this topic, and there seems to be no absolute clearcut between the central and direct peripheral effects of CRH in colitis and colon cancer. Taken together, CRH, as a critical factor in stress and immunity, may participate in colitis and CAC as a centrally active molecule; meanwhile, CRH has direct peripheral effects regulating the development of colitis and CAC, both of which will be summarized in this review.

ZNF217-activated Notch signaling mediates sulforaphane-suppressed stem cell properties in colorectal cancer

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to contribute to the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, understanding of the molecular mechanisms and key factors involved in CRC is still insufficient to identify therapeutic targets against colorectal CSCs. In an effort to identify such mechanisms, we conducted bioinformatics analyses to evaluate the expression patterns in tumor and normal colorectal tissues, leading us to focus on the role of the ZNF217/Notch1 axis in mediating stem cell properties in CRC. Our findings revealed that ZNF217 overexpression activated self-renewal ability, expression of colorectal CSC markers, and Notch signaling in CRC. Dual-luciferase reporter assay suggested a role for ZNF217 in targeting Notch1 to activate Notch signaling. We observed that the promotional effects of Notch signaling, as well as CSC markers, under ZNF217 overexpression were attenuated after Notch1 knockdown. In addition to in vitro data, our in vivo results confirmed the inhibitory effect of sulforaphane on the tumorigenicity of CSCs, depicted the suppressive role of sulforaphane on colorectal CSCs mediated by the ZNF217/Notch1 axis, thereby providing new targetable vulnerabilities and therapeutic strategies for CRC.

A prognostic model based on tumor microenvironment and immune cell in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Immunotherapy is one of the new options for cancer treatment. This study aimed to develop an immune-related signature associated with CRC.

METHODS

We performed differential analysis to screen out the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of The Cancer Genome Atlas-Colorectal Cancer (TCGA-CRC) datasets. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to obtain the key module genes associated with differential immune cells. The candidate genes were obtained through overlapping key DEGs and key module genes. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were adopted to build a CRC prognostic signature. We further conducted immune feature estimation and chemotherapy analysis between two risk subgroups. Finally, we verified the expression of immune-related prognostic genes at the transcriptional level.

RESULTS

A total of 61 candidate genes were obtained by overlapping key DEGs and key module genes associated with differential immune cells. Then, an immune-related prognostic signature was built based on the three prognostic genes (HAMP, ADAM8, and CD1B). The independent prognostic analysis suggested that age, stage, and RiskScore could be used as independent prognostic factors. Further, we found significantly higher expression of three prognostic genes in the CRC group compared with the normal group. Finally, real-time polymerase chain reaction verified the expression of three genes in patients with CRC.

CONCLUSION

The prognostic signature comprising HAMP, ADAM8, and CD1B based on immune cells was established, providing a theoretical basis and reference value for the research of CRC.

VX-509 attenuates the stemness characteristics of colorectal cancer stem-like cells by regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Nodal/Smad2/3 signaling

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) are heterogeneous cells that can self-renew and undergo multidirectional differentiation in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. CCSCs are generally accepted to be important sources of CRC and are responsible for the progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance of CRC. Therefore, targeting this specific subpopulation has been recognized as a promising strategy for overcoming CRC.

AIM

To investigate the effect of VX-509 on CCSCs and elucidate the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

CCSCs were enriched from CRC cell lines by in conditioned serum-free medium. Western blot, Aldefluor, transwell and tumorigenesis assays were performed to verify the phenotypic characteristics of the CCSCs. The anticancer efficacy of VX-509 was assessed in HCT116 CCSCs and HT29 CCSCs by performing cell viability analysis, colony formation, sphere formation, flow cytometry, and western blotting assessments in vitro and tumor growth, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assessments in vivo.

RESULTS

Compared with parental cells, sphere cells derived from HCT116 and HT29 cells presented increased expression of stem cell transcription factors and stem cell markers and were more potent at promoting migration and tumorigenesis, demonstrating that the CRC sphere cells displayed CSC features. VX-509 inhibited the tumor malignant biological behavior of CRC-stem-like cells, as indicated by their proliferation, migration and clonality in vitro, and suppressed the tumor of CCSC-derived xenograft tumors in vivo. Besides, VX-509 suppressed the CSC characteristics of CRC-stem-like cells and inhibited the progression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling in vitro. Nodal was identified as the regulatory factor of VX-509 on CRC stem-like cells through analyses of differentially expressed genes and CSC-related database information. VX-509 markedly downregulated the expression of Nodal and its downstream phosphorylated Smad2/3 to inhibit EMT progression. Moreover, VX-509 reversed the dedifferentiation of CCSCs and inhibited the progression of EMT induced by Nodal overexpression.

CONCLUSION

VX-509 prevents the EMT process in CCSCs by inhibiting the transcription and protein expression of Nodal, and inhibits the dedifferentiated self-renewal of CCSCs.

An angiogenesis-associated gene-based signature predicting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVES

To develop a model that can assist in the diagnosis and prediction of prognosis for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from TCGA and GEO databases were used to generate normalized gene expression data. Consensus Cluster Plus was used for cluster analysis and the relationship between angiogenesis-associated gene (AAG) expression patterns, clinical characteristics and survival was examined. Support vector machine (SVM) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyzes and multiple logistic regression analyzes were performed to determine the diagnostic model, and a prognostic nomogram was constructed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. ESTIMATE, XCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, MCPCOUNTER, EPIC, CIBERSORT-ABS, CIBERSORT algorithms were used to assess the immune microenvironment of HNSCC patients. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis, treatment sensitivity analysis, and AAGs mutation studies were performed. Finally, we also performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in the tissue samples.

RESULTS

We classified HNSCC patients into subtypes based on differences in AAG expression from TCGA and GEO databases. There are differences in clinical features, TME, and immune-related gene expression between two subgroups. We constructed a HNSCC diagnostic model based on nine AAGs, which has good sensitivity and specificity. After further screening, we constructed a prognostic risk signature for HNSCC based on six AAGs. The constructed risk score had a good independent prognostic significance, and it was further constructed into a prognostic nomogram together with age and stage. Different prognostic risk groups have differences in immune microenvironment, drug sensitivity, gene enrichment and gene mutation.

CONCLUSION

We have constructed a diagnostic and prognostic model for HNSCC based on AAG, which has good performance. The constructed prognostic risk score is closely related to tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapy response.

Identification of angiogenesis-related subtypes, the development of a prognosis model, and features of tumor microenvironment in colon cancer

Angiogenesis is associated with tumor progression, prognosis, and treatment effect. However, the angiogenesis' underlying mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment (TME) still remain unclear. Understanding the dynamic interactions between angiogenesis and TME in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is necessary. We downloaded the transcriptome data and corresponding clinical data of colon cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, respectively. We identified two distinct angiogenesis-related molecular subtypes (subtype A and subtype B) and assessed the clinical features, prognosis, and infiltrating immune cells of patients in the two subtypes. According to the prognostic differential genes, we defined two different gene clusters to further explore the correlation between angiogenesis and tumor heterogeneity. Then, we construct the prognostic risk scoring model angiogenesis-related gene (ARG-score) including seven genes (ARMCX2, latent transforming growth factor β binding protein 1, ADAM8, FABP4, CCL11, CXCL11, ITLN1) using Lasso-multivariate cox method. We analyzed the correlation between ARG-score and prognosis, clinicopathological features, TME, molecular feature, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and microsatellite instability (MSI) status. To assess the application value of ARG-score in clinical treatment, immunophenotype score was used to predict patients' immunotherapy response in colon cancer. We found the mutations of ARGs in TCGA-COAD dataset from genetic levels and discussed their expression patterns based on TCGA and GEO datasets. We observed important differences in clinicopathological features, prognosis, immune feature, molecular feature between the two molecular subgroups. Then, we established an ARG-score for predicting OS and validated its predictive capability. A high ARG-score characterized by higher transcription level of ARGs, suggested lower MSI-high (MSI-H), lower immune score, and worse clinical stage and survival outcome. Additionally, the ARG-score was remarkably related to the CSCs index and immunotherapy sensitivity. We found two new molecular subtypes and two gene clusters based on ARGs and established an ARG-score. Multilayered analysis revealed that ARGs were remarkably correlated to the heterogeneity of colon cancer patients and explained the process of tumorigenesis and progression better. The ARG-score can help us better assess patients' survival outcomes and provide guidance for individualized treatment.

Enhancing the therapeutic potential of curcumin: a novel nanoformulation for targeted anticancer therapy to colorectal cancer with reduced miR20a and miR21 expression

Curcumin (Cur) possesses remarkable pharmacological properties, including cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. However, the utilization of Cur in pharmaceuticals faces constraints owing to its inadequate water solubility and limited bioavailability. To overcome these hurdles, there has been notable focus on exploring innovative formulations, with nanobiotechnology emerging as a promising avenue to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of these complex compounds. We report a novel safe, effective method for improving the incorporation of anticancer curcumin to induce apoptosis by reducing the expression levels of miR20a and miR21. The established method features three aspects that, to our knowledge, have not been formally verified: (1) use of a novel formula to incorporate curcumin, (2) use of all biocompatible biodegradable materials to produce this formula without leaving harmful residues, and (3) an incorporation process at temperatures of approximately 50 °C. The formula was prepared from lecithin (LE), and chitosan (CH) with an eco-friendly emulsifying agent and olive oil as the curcumin solvent. The formula was converted to nanoscale through ultrasonication and probe sonication at a frequency of 20 kHz. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the nano formula was spherical in shape with sizes ranging between 49.7 nm in diameter and negative zeta potentials ranging from 28 to 34 mV. Primers miR20a and miR21 were designed for molecular studies. Nearly complete curcumin with an encapsulation efficiency of 91.1% was established using a straight-line equation. The nano formula incorporated with curcumin was used to prepare formulations that exhibited anticancer activities. The apoptosis pathway in cancer cells was activated by the minimum inhibitory concentration of the nano formula. These findings suggest the potential of this nanoformulation as an effective and selective cancer treatment that does not affect the normal cells.

c-Fos regulated by TMPO/ERK axis promotes 5-FU resistance via inducing NANOG transcription in colon cancer

Acquired drug resistance is one of the most common limitations for the clinical response of colon cancer to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy. The relevant molecular mechanisms might be diversity, but still not be elucidated clearly. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of c-Fos, a subfamily of activator protein-1, in 5-FU chemoresistance. We determined that phosphorylated c-Fos promoted colon cancer cells resistance to 5-FU by facilitating the cancer stemness. Mechanically, 5-FU treatment induced autolysosome-dependent degradation of TMPO, which subsequently triggered ERK-mediated phosphorylation of c-Fos. Additionally, c-Fos was found to bind to the promoter of NANOG and phosphorylation of c-Fos at Ser 374 was required for its regulation of NANOG expression. NANOG ablation impaired c-Fos/p-c-Fos induced 5-FU resistance and stemness. Taken together, these findings revealed that TMPO-mediated phosphorylation of c-Fos conferred 5-FU resistance by regulating NANOG expression and promoting cell stemness in colon cancer cells. c-Fos could be as a therapeutic target for colon cancer.

MIR143HG promotes methylation of transcription factor HOXB7 promoter by recruiting methyltransferase DNMT1 to prevent the progression of colon cancer

In recent years, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colon cancer. We aim to investigate the role of MIR143HG, also known as CARMN (Cardiac mesoderm enhancer-associated noncoding RNA) in colon cancer and explore the related mechanisms. An RNAseq data analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with colon cancer. Next, MIR143HG expression was quantified in colon cancer cells. Moreover, the contributory roles of MIR143HG in the progression of colon cancer with the involvement of DNMT1 and HOXB7 (Homeobox B7) were evaluated after restored MIR143HG or depleted HOXB7. Finally, the effects of MIR143HG were investigated in vivo by measuring tumor formation in nude mice. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing was employed to validate the specific mechanisms by which MIR143HG and HOXB7 affect tumor growth in vivo. MIR143HG was found to be poorly expressed, while HOXB7 was highly expressed in colon cancer. MIR143HG could promote HOXB7 methylation by recruiting DNMT1 to reduce HOXB7 expression. Upregulation of MIR143HG or downregulation of HOXB7 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration and facilitated apoptosis in colon cancer cells so as to delay the progression of colon cancer. The same trend was identified in vivo. Our study provides evidence that restoration of MIR143HG suppressed the progression of colon cancer via downregulation of HOXB7 through DNMT1-mediated HOXB7 promoter methylation. Thus, MIR143HG may be a potential candidate for the treatment of colon cancer.

Combination of metformin/efavirenz/fluoxetine exhibits profound anticancer activity via a cancer cell-specific ROS amplification

The possible anticancer activity of combination (M + E + F) of metformin (M), efavirenz (E), and fluoxetine (F) was investigated in normal HDF cells and HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Metformin increased cellular FOXO3a, p-FOXO3a, AMPK, p-AMPK, and MnSOD levels in HDFs but not in HCT116 cells. Cellular ATP level was decreased only in HDFs by metformin. Metformin increased ROS level only in HCT116 cells. Transfection of si-FOXO3a into HCT116 reversed the metformin-induced cellular ROS induction, indicating that FOXO3a/MnSOD is the key regulator for cellular ROS level. Viability readout with M, E, and F alone decreased slightly, but the combination of three drugs dramatically decreased cell survival in HCT116, A549, and SK-Hep-1 cancer cells but not in HDF cells. ROS levels in HCT116 cells were massively increased by M + E + F combination, but not in HDF cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that of M + E + F combination caused cell death only in HCT116 cells. The combination of M + E + F reduced synergistically mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I and III activities in HCT116 cells when compared with individual treatments. Western blot analysis indicated that DNA damage, apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis-realated factors increased in M + E + F-treated HCT116 cells. Oral administration with M + E + F combination for 3 weeks caused dramatic reductions in tumor volume and weight in HCT116 xenograft model of nude mice when compared with untreated ones. Our results suggest that M + E + F have profound anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo via a cancer cell-specific ROS amplification (CASRA) through ROS-induced DNA damage, apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis.

Case Report: Colon malignant tumor caused by retroperitoneal small round cell undifferentiated sarcoma

Small round cell undifferentiated sarcoma is a rare and highly invasive group of malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, often associated with a high misdiagnosis rate. The patient in this case was a 34-year-old male who presented with a two-month history of abdominal pain that worsened over the past two weeks. Elevated levels of tumor markers CA19-9 and CA72-4 were observed. Imaging revealed a substantial, well-vascularized mass in the lower left abdomen, located in the posterior abdominal cavity, invading the descending colon and the root of the small mesentery, and infiltrating the serous layer. The lesion was extensively resected without any postoperative complications. Microscopic examination indicated a combination of mucinous adenocarcinoma (approximately 30%) and small round cell undifferentiated sarcoma (approximately 70%). The patient was followed up for six months, and one month after surgery, a recurrence of the tumor was observed in the left paracolonic sulcus area, with metastases to the abdominal wall, peritoneum, and medial iliac muscles. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy were administered, and the patient currently survives with the presence of tumors. Small round cell undifferentiated sarcoma is an uncommon and highly invasive tumor, and clinical surgeons need to raise their awareness and realize to the maximum extent possible that this disease can be described through a multi-modal combination of immunohistochemistry and genetic test to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce missed diagnoses. Further research in the field of biology is necessary to explore targeted drugs specifically suitable for this disease.

Box Behnken optimization of cubosomes for enhancing the anticancer activity of metformin: Design, characterization, and in-vitro cell proliferation assay on MDA-MB-231 breast and LOVO colon cancer cell lines

This study aimed to formulate and statistically optimize cubosomal formulations of metformin (MTF) to enhance its breast anticancer activity. A Box Behnken design was employed using Design-Expert® software. The formulation variables were glyceryl monooleate concentration (GMO) w/w%, Pluronic F-127 concentration (PF127) w/w% and Tween 80 concentration w/w% whereas Entrapment efficiency (EE%), Vesicles' size (VS) and Zeta potential (ZP) were set as the dependent responses. The design expert software was used to perform the process of optimization numerically. X ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), in-vitro release study, short-term stability study, and in in-vitro cell proliferation assay on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and LOVO cancer cell lines were used to validate the optimized cubosomal formulation. The optimized formulation had a composition of 4.35616 (w/w%) GMO, 5 (w/w%) PF127 and 7.444E-6 (w/w%) Tween 80 with a desirability of 0.733. The predicted values for EE%, VS and ZP were 78.0592%, 307.273 nm and - 26.8275 mV, respectively. The validation process carried out on the optimized formula revealed that there were less than a 5% variance from the predicted responses. The XRD thermograms showed that MTF was encapsulated inside the cubosomal vesicles. TEM images of the optimized MTF cubosomal formulation showed spherical non-aggregated nanovesicles. Moreover, it revealed a sustained release profile of MTF in comparison to the MTF solution. Stability studies indicated that optimum cubosomal formulation was stable for thirty days. Cytotoxicity of the optimized cubosomal formulation was enhanced on the MDA-MB-231 breast and LOVO cancer cell lines compared to MTF solution even at lower concentrations. However, it showed superior cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell line. So, cubosomes could be considered a promising carrier of MTF to treat breast and colon cancers.

NXNL2 Promotes Colon Cancer Proliferation and Metastasis by Regulating AKT Pathway

This study aimed to explore the role of nucleoredoxin-like 2 (NXNL2) in colon cancer (CC). The GEPIA and UALCAN databases were analyzed to explore genes involved in the prognosis of CC patients. DLD1 cells were treated with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacitidine to validate the above findings. The methyltransferase DNMT (DNA methylation) was further knocked down by shRNA, then the expression of NXNL2 was assessed by qPCR. The role of NXNL2 on cell proliferation and metastasis was examined using corresponding assays. NXNL2 was found to exhibit the greatest impact on the prognosis of CC patients. High NXNL2 correlated with poor survival outcomes of CC. The expression of NXNL2 was regulated by DNA methylation. NXNL2 promoted CC cell proliferation and metastasis. Also, NXNL2 promoted the AKT pathway activity. In conclusion, NXNL2 could affect the cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, and has a poor survival prognosis in CC.

A concise review on miRNAs as regulators of colon cancer stem cells and associated signalling pathways

Despite recent therapy advances and a better understanding of colon cancer biology, it remains one of the major causes of death. The cancer stem cells, associated with the progression, metastasis, and recurrence of colon cancer, play a major role in promoting the development of tumour and are found to be chemo resistant. The stroma of the tumour, which makes up the bulk of the tumour mass, is composed of the tumour microenvironment. With the advent of theranostic and the development of personalised medicine, miRNAs are becoming increasingly important in the context of colon malignancies. A holistic understanding of the regulatory roles of miRNAs in cancer cells and cancer stem cells will allow us to design effective strategies to regulate miRNAs, which could lead to improved clinical translation and creating a potent colon cancer treatment strategy. In this review paper, we briefly discuss the history of miRNA as well as the mechanisms of miRNA and cancer stem cells that contribute to the tumour growth, apoptosis, and advancement of colon cancer. The usefulness of miRNA in colorectal cancer theranostic is further concisely reviewed. We conclude by holding a stance in addressing the prospects and possibilities for miRNA by the disclosure of recent theranostic approaches aimed at eradicating cancer stem cells and enhancing overall cancer treatment outcomes.

Comprehensive analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures-related genes for prognostic prediction, molecular subtypes and immune infiltration in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy and survival rates of advanced GC patients are unsatisfactory. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are recently identified as lymphoid-like structures that are directly related to tumor prognosis and immune response. However, the association of tertiary lymphoid structures-related genes (TLS-RGs) with prognosis and immune response in GC remains unclear. In our study, a comprehensive analysis of the role of TLS-RGs in GC was performed based on public data, and the difference of TLS-RGs expression, TLS-RGs mutation frequency, pathway enrichment, differentially expressed gene, immune landscape, immunotherapy and drug sensitivity was analyzed. We found that TLS-RGs were altered in GC in terms of expression and mutation. The difference of survival, immune landscape and enrichment pathway exists between TLS clusters. Immune checkpoint differences were also evident between gene clusters. The grouping by TLS score indicated that patients in the low TLS score group had a better prognosis and a lower degree of immune escape. For immunotherapy, the low TLS score group showed better outcomes than the high TLS score group. Sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents differed between TLS score groups. In conclusion, we comprehensively analyzed the role of TLS-RGs in GC, constructed nomogram that can accurately predict the prognosis of GC patients, and the TLS score can reflect the immune landscape of patients, providing the possibility of personalized design of immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy for GC patients.

Immune activity score to assess the prognosis, immunotherapy and chemotherapy response in gastric cancer and experimental validation

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is an extremely heterogeneous malignancy with a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) that contributes to unsatisfactory prognosis.

Methods

The overall activity score for assessing the immune activity of GC patients was developed based on cancer immune cycle activity index in the Tracking Tumor Immunophenotype (TIP). Genes potentially affected by the overall activity score were screened using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Based on the expression profile data of GC in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, COX analysis was applied to create an immune activity score (IAS). Differences in TME activity in the IAS groups were analyzed. We also evaluated the value of IAS in estimating immunotherapy and chemotherapy response based on immunotherapy cohort. Gene expression in IAS model and cell viability were determined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, respectively.

Results

WGCAN analysis screened 629 overall activity score-related genes, which were mainly associated with T cell response and B cell response. COX analysis identified AKAP5, CTLA4, LRRC8C, AOAH-IT1, NPC2, RGS1 and SLC2A3 as critical genes affecting the prognosis of GC, based on which the IAS was developed. Further RT-qPCR analysis data showed that the expression of AKAP5 and CTLA4 was downregulated, while that of LRRC8C, AOAH-IT1, NPC2, RGS1 and SLC2A3 was significantly elevated in GC cell lines. Inhibition of AKAP5 increased cell viability but siAOAH-IT1 promoted viability of GC cells. IAS demonstrated excellent robustness in predicting immunotherapy outcome and GC prognosis, with low-IAS patients having better prognosis and immunotherapy. In addition, resistance to Erlotinib, Rapamycin, MG-132, Cyclopamine, AZ628, and Sorafenib was reduced in patients with low IAS.

Conclusion

IAS was a reliable prognostic indicator. For GC patients, IAS showed excellent robustness in predicting GC prognosis, immune activity status, immunotherapy response, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Our study provided novel insights into the prognostic assessment in GC.

Construction and validation of a novel angiogenesis pattern to predict prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects the tumor active response to immunotherapy. Tumor angiogenesis is closely related to the TME. Nonetheless, the effects of angiogenesis on the TME of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unknown.

METHODS

We comprehensively assessed the angiogenesis patterns in CRC based on 36 angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs). Subsequently, we evaluated the prognostic values and therapeutic sensitivities of angiogenesis patterns using multiple methods. We then performed the machine learning algorithm and functional experiments to identify the prognostic key ARGs. Ultimately, the regulation of gut microbiota on the expression of ARGs was further investigated by using whole genome sequencing.

RESULTS

Two angiogenesis clusters were identified and angiogenesis cluster B was characterized by increased stromal and immunity activation with unfavorable odds of survival. Further, an ARG_score including 9 ARGs to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) was established and its predominant predictive ability was confirmed. The low ARG_score patients were characterized by a high mutation burden, high microsatellite instability, and immune activation with better prognosis. Moreover, patients with high KLK10 expression were associated with a hot tumor immune microenvironment, poorer immune checkpoint blocking treatment, and shorter survival. The in vitro experiments also indicated that Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.n) infection significantly induced KLK10 expression in CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

The quantification of angiogenesis patterns could contribute to predict TME characteristics, prognosis, and individualized immunotherapy strategies. Furthermore, our findings suggest that F.n may influence CRC progression through ARGs, which could serve as a clinical biomarker and therapeutic target for F.n-infected CRC patients.

Anti-oncogenic mechanism of KLF17 in colon cancer by repressing cell migration and invasion via FHL1 upregulation

Colon cancer is a disease with high prevalence worldwide. This study sought to investigate Kruppel-like factor 17 (KLF17) mechanism in the development of colon cancer through four-and-a-half-LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1). In colon cancer cells, KLF17 and FHL1 expression was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. After gain- and loss-of-function experiments in colon cancer cells, cell proliferative, invasive, and migrating abilities were tested by cell counting kit-8, transwell, and scratch assays, respectively. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin, was measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to detect the binding of KLF17 and the FHL1 promoter. Finally, a transplantation tumor model in nude mice was established for in vivo validation. Mechanistically, KLF17 facilitated FHL1 transcription by binding to the FHL1 promoter. KLF17 or FHL1 upregulation suppressed the colon cancer cell proliferative, invasive, and migrating capacities, accompanied by elevated E-cadherin expression and diminished N-cadherin and Vimentin expression. Furthermore, FHL1 silencing abrogated the repressive impacts of KLF17 upregulation on colon cancer cell EMT, proliferative, invasive, and migrating capabilities. Furthermore, KLF17 augmented FHL1 expression and curtailed the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice. Conclusively, KLF17 promoted FHL1 transcription, thereby impeding the invasion, migration, and EMT of colon cancer cells.

Multi-omics profiling reveals cellular pathways and functions regulated by ALDH1B1 in colon cancer cells

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death globally. Although early screenings and advances in treatments have reduced mortality since 1970, identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention is needed to address tumor heterogeneity and recurrence. Previous work identified aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (ALDH1B1) as a critical factor in colon tumorigenesis. To investigate further, we utilized a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (SW480) in which the ALDH1B1 protein expression has been knocked down by 80% via shRNA. Through multi-omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, and untargeted metabolomics) analysis, we identified the impact of ALDH1B1 knocking down (KD) on molecular signatures in colon cancer cells. Suppression of ALDH1B1 expression resulted in 357 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 191 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 891 differentially altered metabolites (DAMs). Functional annotation and enrichment analyses revealed that: (1) DEGs were enriched in integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling and growth and development pathways; (2) DEPs were mainly involved in apoptosis signaling and cellular stress response pathways; and (3) DAMs were associated with biosynthesis, intercellular and second messenger signaling. Collectively, the present study provides new molecular information associated with the cellular functions of ALDH1B1, which helps to direct future investigation of colon cancer.

Pygo2 activates BRPF1 via Pygo2-H3K4me2/3 interaction to maintain malignant progression in colon cancer

Epigenetic alterations have essential roles during colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) progression. As the coactivator of Wnt/b-catenin signaling, Pygopus 2 (Pygo2) binds H3K4me2/3 and participate in chromatin remodeling in multiple cancers. However, It remains unclear whether the Pygo2-H3K4me2/3 association has significance in COAD. We aimed to elucidate the roles of Pygo2 in COAD. Functionally, Pygo2 inhibition attenuated cell proliferation, self-renewal capacities in vitro. Pygo2 overexpression enhanced in vivo tumor growth. Besides, Pygo2 overexpression could also enhance cell migration ability and in vivo distal metastasis. Mechanistically, Pygo2 correlates positively with BRPF1 expressions, one epigenetic reader of histone acetylation. The luciferase reporter assay and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR assay were used to find that Pygo2 coordinated with H3K4me2/3 modifications to activate BRPF1 transcriptions via binding to the promoter. Both Pygo2 and BRPF1 expressed highly in tumors and Pygo2 relied on BRPF1 to accelerate COAD progression, including cell proliferation rate, migration abilities, stemness features and in vivo tumor growth. Targeting BPRF1 (GSK5959) is effective to suppress in vitro growth of Pygo2high cell lines, and has mild effect on Pygo2low cells. The subcutaneous tumor model further demonstrated that GSK5959 could effectively suppress the in vivo growth of Pygo2high COAD, but not the Pygo2low subtype. Collectively, our study represented Pygo2/BRPF1 as an epigenetic vulnerability for COAD treatment with predictive significance.

Longitudinal detection of subcategorized CD44v6+ CTCs and circulating tumor endothelial cells (CTECs) enables novel clinical stratification and improves prognostic prediction of small cell lung cancer: A prospective, multi-center study

Current management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains challenging. Effective biomarkers are needed to subdivide patients presenting distinct treatment response and clinical outcomes. An understanding of heterogeneous phenotypes of aneuploid CD31- circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and CD31+ circulating tumor endothelial cells (CTECs) may provide novel insights in the clinical management of SCLC. In the present translational and prospective study, increased cancer metastasis-related cell proliferation and motility, accompanied with up-regulated mesenchymal marker vimentin but down-regulated epithelial marker E-cadherin, were observed in both lentivirus infected SCLC and NSCLC cells overexpressing the stemness marker CD44v6. Aneuploid CTCs and CTECs expressing CD44v6 were longitudinally detected by SE-iFISH in 120 SCLC patients. Positive detection of baseline CD44v6+ CTCs and CD44v6+ CTECs was significantly associated with enhanced hepatic metastasis. Karyotype analysis revealed that chromosome 8 (Chr8) in CD44v6+ CTCs shifted from trisomy 8 towards multiploidy in post-therapeutic patients compared to pre-treatment subjects. Furthermore, the burden of baseline CD44v6+ CTCs (t0) or amid the therapy (t1-2), the ratio of baseline CD31+ CTEC/CD31- CTC (t0), and CTC-WBC clusters (t0) were correlated with treatment response and distant metastases, particularly brain metastasis, in subjects with limited disease (LD-SCLC) but not in those with extensive disease (ED-SCLC). Multivariate survival analysis validated that longitudinally detected CD44v6+/CD31- CTCs was an independent prognostic factor for inferior survival in SCLC patients. Our study provides evidence for the first time that comprehensive analyses of CTCs, CTECs, and their respective CD44v6+ subtypes enable clinical stratification and improve prognostic prediction of SCLC, particularly for potentially curable LD-SCLC.

METTL14 Suppresses Tumor Stemness and Metastasis of Colon Cancer Cells by Modulating m6A-Modified SCD1

Colon cancer (CC) is a malignant disease of the digestive tract, and its rising prevalence poses a grave threat to people's health. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is essential for various crucial life processes through modulating gene expression. Methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), the m6A methylation transferase core protein, and its aberrant expression is intimately correlated to tumor development. This study was conducted to probe the impacts and specific mechanisms of METTL14 on the biological process of CC. Bioinformatics data disclosed that METTL14 was significantly attenuated in CC. Functional assays were executed to ascertain how METTL14 affected CC tumorigenicity, and METTL14 overexpression caused a notable decline in viability, migration, invasion, and stemness phenotype of CC cells. Then, in-depth mechanistic studies displayed that stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) was a downstream target gene of METTL14-mediated m6A modification. METTL14 overexpression substantially augmented the m6A modification of SCD1 mRNA and diminished the SCD1 mRNA level. In addition, we revealed that YTHDF2 was the m6A reader to recognize METTL14 m6A-modified SCD1 mRNA and abolish its stability. Finally, we also validated that METTL14 might impede the tumorigenic process of CC through SCD1 mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Taken together, this study presented that METTL14 performed as a potential therapeutic target in CC with important implications for the prognosis amelioration of CC patients.

Identification of Hypoxia-Associated Signature in Colon Cancer to Assess Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Predict Prognosis Based on 14 Hypoxia-Associated Genes

Purpose

Colon cancer is the main malignant tumor of the digestive tract. Hypoxia is highly related to the occurrence, progression and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify a hypoxia-associated signature with high accuracy for predicting the prognosis and TIME of colon cancer.

Methods

Download colon cancer data from the GEO and TCGA databases. A novel hypoxia risk model was identified to predict the prognosis of colon cancer patients. Subsequently, GSEA, TIME and mutation analysis were performed in the hypoxia high and low risk score groups. Finally, the signature gene ANKZF1 was selected for functional verification at the cellular level.

Results

A novel hypoxia risk model was identified. The risk score was significantly associated with poorer overall survival in colon cancer, and could be used as an independent prognostic factor for colon cancer. GSEA analysis found that the processes related to stimulate tumor proliferation and anti-apoptosis were significantly enriched in the hypoxia high risk score group. The expression of immunosuppressive cells and most immune checkpoints in the high risk score group was significantly higher than that in the low risk score group. In vitro cell experiments showed that knockdown the expression of ANKZF1 could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells.

Conclusion

Hypoxia plays an important role in evaluating the TIME and predicting the prognosis of colon cancer.

Constructing a cancer stem cell related prognostic model for predicting immune landscape and drug sensitivity in colorectal cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks the second malignancy with high incidence and mortality worldwide. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) function critically in cancer progression and metastasis via the interplay with immune cells in tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to identify important CSC marker genes and parsed the role of these marker genes in CRC. Materials and methods: CRC samples' single-cell RNA sequencing data and bulk transcriptome data were utilized. Seurat R package annotated CSCs and identified CSC marker genes. Consensus clustering subtyped CRC samples based on CSC marker genes. Immune microenvironment, pathway and oxidative stress analysis was performed using ESTIMATE, MCP-counter analysis and ssGSEA analysis. A prognostic model was established by Lasso and stepAIC. Sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs was determined by the biochemical half maximal inhibitory concentration with pRRophetic R package. Results: We identified a total of 29 CSC marker genes related to disease-specific survival (DSS). Two clusters (CSC1 and CSC2) were determined, and CSC2 showed shorter DSS, a larger proportion of late-stage samples, and higher oxidative stress response. Two clusters exhibited differential activation of biological pathways associated with immune response and oncogenic signaling. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that 44 chemotherapy drugs were more sensitive to CSC2 that those in CSC1. We constructed a seven-gene prognostic model (DRD4, DPP7, UCN, INHBA, SFTA2, SYNPO2, and NXPH4) that was effectively to distinguish high-risk and low-risk patients. 14 chemotherapy drugs were more sensitive to high-risk group and 13 chemotherapy drugs were more sensitive to low-risk group. Combination of higher oxidative stress and risk score indicated dismal prognosis. Conclusion: The CSC marker genes we identified may help to further decipher the role of CSCs in CRC development and progression. The seven-gene prognostic model could serve as an indicator for predicting the response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy as well as prognosis of CRC patients.

How the interplay among the tumor microenvironment and the gut microbiota influences the stemness of colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most prevalent cancer disease and involves a multi-step process in which intestinal cells acquire malignant characteristics. It is well established that the appearance of distal metastasis in CRC patients is the cause of a poor prognosis and treatment failure. Nevertheless, in the last decades, CRC aggressiveness and progression have been attributed to a specific cell population called CRC stem cells (CCSC) with features like tumor initiation capacity, self-renewal capacity, and acquired multidrug resistance. Emerging data highlight the concept of this cell subtype as a plastic entity that has a dynamic status and can be originated from different types of cells through genetic and epigenetic changes. These alterations are modulated by complex and dynamic crosstalk with environmental factors by paracrine signaling. It is known that in the tumor niche, different cell types, structures, and biomolecules coexist and interact with cancer cells favoring cancer growth and development. Together, these components constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME). Most recently, researchers have also deepened the influence of the complex variety of microorganisms that inhabit the intestinal mucosa, collectively known as gut microbiota, on CRC. Both TME and microorganisms participate in inflammatory processes that can drive the initiation and evolution of CRC. Since in the last decade, crucial advances have been made concerning to the synergistic interaction among the TME and gut microorganisms that condition the identity of CCSC, the data exposed in this review could provide valuable insights into the biology of CRC and the development of new targeted therapies.

HSPB6 Is Depleted in Colon Cancer Patients and Its Expression Is Induced by 5-aza-2'-Deoxycytidine In Vitro

Background and Objectives: Colon cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer in Saudi Arabia, and the number of new cases is expected to increase by 40% by 2040. Sixty percent of patients with CC are diagnosed in the late stage, causing a reduced survival rate. Thus, identifying a new biomarker could contribute to diagnosing CC in the early stages, leading to delivering better therapy and increasing the survival rate. Materials and Methods: HSPB6 expression was investigated in extracted RNA taken from 10 patients with CC and their adjacent normal tissues, as well as in DMH-induced CC and a colon treated with saline taken from a male Wistar rat. Additionally, the DNA of the LoVo and Caco-2 cell lines was collected, and bisulfite was converted to measure the DNA methylation level. This was followed by applying 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA) to the LoVo and Caco-2 cell lines for 72 h to see the effect of DNA methylation on HSPB6 expression. Finally, the GeneMANIA database was used to find the interacted genes at transcriptional and translational levels with HSPB6. Results: We found that the expression of HSPB6 was downregulated in 10 CC tissues compared to their adjacent normal colon tissues, as well as in the in vivo study, where its expression was lower in the colon treated with the DMH agent compared to the colon treated with saline. This suggests the possible role of HSPB6 in tumor progression. Moreover, HSPB6 was methylated in two CC cell lines (LoVo and Caco-2), and demethylation with AZA elevated its expression, implying a mechanistic association between DNA methylation and HSPB6 expression. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that HSPB6 is adversely expressed with tumor progression, and its expression may be controlled by DNA methylation. Thus, HSPB6 could be a good biomarker employed in the CC diagnostic process.

Biomaterial-based platforms for modulating immune components against cancer and cancer stem cells

Immunotherapy involves the therapeutic alteration of the patient's immune system to identify, target, and eliminate cancer cells. Dendritic cells, macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells make up the tumor microenvironment. In cancer, these immune components (in association with some non-immune cell populations like cancer-associated fibroblasts) are directly altered at a cellular level. By dominating immune cells with molecular cross-talk, cancer cells can proliferate unchecked. Current clinical immunotherapy strategies are limited to conventional adoptive cell therapy or immune checkpoint blockade. Targeting and modulating key immune components presents an effective opportunity. Immunostimulatory drugs are a research hotspot, but their poor pharmacokinetics, low tumor accumulation, and non-specific systemic toxicity limit their use. This review describes the cutting-edge research undertaken in the field of nanotechnology and material science to develop biomaterials-based platforms as effective immunotherapeutics. Various biomaterial types (polymer-based, lipid-based, carbon-based, cell-derived, etc.) and functionalization methodologies for modulating tumor-associated immune/non-immune cells are explored. Additionally, emphasis has been laid on discussing how these platforms can be used against cancer stem cells, a fundamental contributor to chemoresistance, tumor relapse/metastasis, and failure of immunotherapy. Overall, this comprehensive review strives to provide up-to-date information to an audience working at the juncture of biomaterials and cancer immunotherapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer immunotherapy possesses incredible potential and has successfully transitioned into a clinically lucrative alternative to conventional anti-cancer therapies. With new immunotherapeutics getting rapid clinical approval, fundamental problems associated with the dynamic nature of the immune system (like limited clinical response rates and autoimmunity-related adverse effects) have remained unanswered. In this context, treatment approaches that focus on modulating the compromised immune components within the tumor microenvironment have garnered significant attention amongst the scientific community. This review aims to provide a critical discussion on how various biomaterials (polymer-based, lipid-based, carbon-based, cell-derived, etc.) can be employed along with immunostimulatory agents to design innovative platforms for selective immunotherapy directed against cancer and cancer stem cells.

SCF-FBXL8 contributes to liver metastasis and stem-cell-like features in colorectal cancer cells by mediating ubiquitination and degradation of TP53

BACKGROUND

FBXL8 is a conserved F-box protein, belonging to the ubiquitin ligase complex, which promotes the development and progression of tumours. However, the regulation function and mechanism of FBXL8's involvement in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

METHODS

RT-PCR is used to detect gene expression levels. Protein levels were determined by western blotting and flow cytometry. The bindings of FBXL8 and p53 and ubiquitination levels were detected by cell transfection and immunoprecipitation. The transwell assay was used to measure the ability of cells to migrate and invade. Animal studies were used to verify the function of FBXL8 in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of FBXL8 was up-regulated in CRC tissues, and its overexpression was associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. The up-regulation of FBXL8 promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of CRC tumour cells and maintained the stem-cell characteristics of colorectal tumour cells. Further analysis demonstrated that FBXL8 targeted p53 and reduced its stability through ubiquitination. Knockout of FBXL8 down-regulated the proliferation, migration and stem-like properties of tumour cells. CRC mouse xenograft tumour model confirmed that FBXL8 gene knockout inhibited tumour formation and liver metastasis.

CONCLUSION

FBXL8 was highly expressed in CRC. Mechanism studies have shown that FBXL8 degraded tumour suppressor gene p53 by ubiquitination. FBXL8 knockout inhibited the proliferation and stem characteristics of CRC cells, so SCF-FBXL8-TP53 has potential to be used as a therapeutic target for CRC in subsequent studies.

Human amniotic membrane as a multifunctional biomaterial: recent advances and applications

The developing fetus is wrapped by a human amniotic membrane or amnion. Amnion is a promising human tissue allograft in clinical application because of its chemical composition, collagen-based, and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix. In addition, amnion contains cells and growth factors; therefore, meets the essential parameters of tissue engineering. No donor morbidity, easy processing and storage, fewer ethical issue, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and non-immunogenic properties are other advantages of amnion usage. For these reasons, amnion can resolve some bottlenecks in the regenerative medicine issues such as tissue engineering and cell therapy. Over the last decades, biomedical applications of amnion have evolved from a simple sheet for skin or cornea repair to high-technology applications such as amnion nanocomposite, powder, or hydrogel for the regeneration of cartilage, muscle, tendon, and heart. Furthermore, amnion has anticancer as well as drug/cell delivery capacity. This review highlights various ancient and new applications of amnion in research and clinical applications, from regenerative medicine to cancer therapy, focusing on articles published during the last decade that also revealed information regarding amnion-based products. Challenges and future perspectives of the amnion in regenerative medicine are also discussed.

Studies on anti-colon cancer potential of nanoformulations of curcumin and succinylated curcumin in mannosylated chitosan

Colon cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death and the third most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Although curcumin (CUR) has demonstrated a potent anticancer activity, it is characterized by its poor solubility, low bioavailability, and instability. This study is a projection from a previous investigation where CUR and succinylated CUR (CUR.SA) were separately encapsulated in mannosylated-chitosan nanoparticles (CM-NPs) to form CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs, respectively. Here, we aim to assess the anti-CRC activity of these two nanoformulations. Cytotoxicity studies using CCK-8 assay indicated that both CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs have a dose and time-dependent toxicity towards CRC human cell-lines (HCT116 and SW480), and more cytotoxic compared to free CUR or CUR-SA in a time-dependent manner. A significant induction of early and late apoptosis in the CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs treated CRC cell lines compared to untreated cells was observed. Western blotting analyses confirmed the induction of apoptosis through activation of Caspase signaling compared to untreated cells. Based on the physicochemical properties of CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs along with the data from the in vitro studies, we may conclude these nanoparticle formulations hold very promising attributes, worthy of further investigations for its role in the management of CRC.

Preclinical and Clinical Trials of New Treatment Strategies Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Subtypes of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) can be classified into various histological subtypes, each associated with different prognoses and treatment options, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Despite advances in this area, many patients still face treatment failure, the risk of metastasis, and disease recurrence, which can ultimately lead to death. Mammary tumors, like other solid tumors, contain a population of small cells known as cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) that have high tumorigenic potential and are involved in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, tumor recurrence, and resistance to therapy. Therefore, designing therapies specifically targeting at CSCs could help to control the growth of this cell population, leading to increased survival rates for BC patients. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of CSCs, their surface biomarkers, and the active signaling pathways associated with the acquisition of stemness in BC. We also cover preclinical and clinical studies that focus on evaluating new therapy systems targeted at CSCs in BC through various combinations of treatments, targeted delivery systems, and potential new drugs that inhibit the properties that allow these cells to survive and proliferate.

Suspension culture strategies to enrich colon cancer stem cells

How to efficiently obtain high-purity cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been the basis of CSC research, but the optimal conditions for serum-free suspension culture of CSCs are still unclear. The present study aimed to define the optimal culture medium composition and culture time for the enrichment of colon CSCs via suspension culture. Suspension cell cultures of colon cancer DLD-1 cells were prepared using serum-free medium (SFM) containing variable concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to produce spheroids. Culture times were set at 10, 20 and 30 days. A total of nine different concentrations of EGF and bFGF were added to SFM to generate nine experimental groups. The proportions of CD44⁺, CD133⁺, and CD44⁺CD133⁺ double-positive spheroid cells were detected via flow cytometry. mRNA expression of stemness-, epithelial-mesenchymal transition- and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-associated genes was determined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Self-renewal ability was evaluated by a sphere-forming assay. Tumorigenesis was studied in vitro using a colony formation assay and in vivo via subcutaneous cell injection in nude mice. It was found that the highest expression proportions of CD133⁺ and CD44⁺ spheroid cells were observed in group (G)9 (20 ng/ml EGF + 20 ng/ml bFGF) at 30 days (F=123.554 and 99.528, respectively, P<0.001), CD133⁺CD44⁺ cells were also observed in G9 at 30 days (and at 10 days in G3 and 20 days in G6; F=57.897, P<0.001). G9 at 30 days also displayed the highest expression of Krüppel-like factor 4, leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5, CD44, CD133, Vimentin and Wnt-3a (F=22.682, 25.401, 3.272, 7.852, 13.331 and 17.445, respectively, P<0.001) and the lowest expression of E-cadherin (F=10.851, P<0.001). G9 at 30 days produced the highest yield of cell spheroids, as determined by a sphere forming assay (F=19.147, P<0.001); colony formation assays also exhibited the greatest number of colonies derived from G9 spheroids at 30 days (F=60.767, P<0.01), which also generated the largest mean tumor volume in the subcutaneous tumorigenesis xenograft model (F=12.539, P<0.01). In conclusion, 20 ng/ml EGF + 20 ng/ml bFGF effectively enriched colon CSCs when added to suspension culture for 30 days, and conferred the highest efficiency compared with other combinations.

The complex network of transcription factors, immune checkpoint inhibitors and stemness features in colorectal cancer: A recent update

Cancer immunity is regulated by several mechanisms that include co-stimulatory and/or co-inhibitory molecules known as immune checkpoints expressed by the immune cells. In colorectal cancer (CRC), CTLA-4, LAG3, TIM-3 and PD-1 are the major co-inhibitory checkpoints involved in tumor development and progression. On the other hand, the deregulation of transcription factors and cancer stem cells activity plays a major role in the development of drug resistance and in the spread of metastatic disease in CRC. In this review, we describe how the modulation of such transcription factors affects the response of CRC to therapies. We also focus on the role of cancer stem cells in tumor metastasis and chemoresistance and discuss both preclinical and clinical approaches for targeting stem cells to prevent their tumorigenic effect. Finally, we provide an update on the clinical applications of immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC and discuss the regulatory effects of transcription factors on the expression of the immune inhibitory checkpoints with specific focus on the PD-1 and PD-L1 molecules.

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose accelerate the progression of colon cancer by inducing a MT-CAFs phenotype via TRPC3/NF-KB axis

Background

There is increasing evidence that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) help shape the tumor microenvironment and promote tumor progression, and ion channels might play a critical role in this process. The objective of the present study was to explore the function and mechanism of MT-CAFs on progression of colon cancer.

Methods

Here, a gene chip was used for a general analysis of gene expression changes in MSC-transformed CAF cells (MT-CAFs). Bioinformatic tool and western blot screened out the ion channel protein TRPC3 with significantly increased expression, and identify the function through two-photon microscope. The progression of cancer was detected via MTS, transwell and Wound Healing. ELISA deected the secretion of inflammation factors. TRPC3/NF-KB axis was identified by western blot and immunofluorescence.

Results

TRPC3 can caused calcium influx, which further activated the NF-KB signaling pathway. Knockdown or inhibition of TRPC3 in MSCs significantly reduced the activation of NF-KB, and decreased the growth, migration, and invasion of MT-CAFs. After TRPC3 knockdown, the ability of MT- CAFs to promote tumor migration and invasion was impaired. Conversely, the upregulation of TRPC3 expression in MT-CAFs had the opposite effect. In vivo, TRPC3 expressed on MSCs also contributed to the tumorigenesis and progression of cancer cells. In addition, the Oncomine and GEPIA databases showed that TRPC3 expression is higher in colon cancer tissues compared with normal colon tissues, and was positively correlated with the expression of the CAF genes alpha-smooth muscle (α-SMA/ACTA2) and fibroblast activation protein Alpha. The disease-free survival of patients with positive TRPC3 expression in MSCs was significantly shorter than those with negative expression.

Conclusions

These results indicate that TRPC3 expressed on MT-CAFs plays a critical role in tumor progression via the NF-KB signaling pathway, and is correlated with poor prognosis in colon cancer patients. Therefore, TRPC3 may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of colon cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03017-5.

Remodeling tumor microenvironment with natural products to overcome drug resistance

With cancer incidence rates continuing to increase and occurrence of resistance in drug treatment, there is a pressing demand to find safer and more effective anticancer strategy for cancer patients. Natural products, have the advantage of low toxicity and multiple action targets, are always used in the treatment of cancer prevention in early stage and cancer supplement in late stage. Tumor microenvironment is necessary for cancer cells to survive and progression, and immune activation is a vital means for the tumor microenvironment to eliminate cancer cells. A number of studies have found that various natural products could target and regulate immune cells such as T cells, macrophages, mast cells as well as inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. Natural products tuning the tumor microenvironment via various mechanisms to activate the immune response have immeasurable potential for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, it highlights the research findings related to natural products regulating immune responses against cancer, especially reveals the possibility of utilizing natural products to remodel the tumor microenvironment to overcome drug resistance.

Development of an exosome-related and immune microenvironment prognostic signature in colon adenocarcinoma

Background: The correlation between exosomes and the tumor immune microenvironment has been proved to affect tumorigenesis and progression of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). However, it remained unclear whether exosomes had an impact on the prognostic indications of COAD patients.

Methods: Expression of exosome-related genes (ERGs) and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The ERGs associated with prognosis were identified and exosome-related prognostic signature was constructed. Patients in two risk groups were classified according to the risk score calculation formula: Risk score = 1.0132 * CCKBR + 0.2416 * HOXC6 + 0.7618 * POU4F1. The expression of three ERGs was investigated by qRT-PCR. After that, we developed a nomogram predicting the likelihood of survival and verified its predictive efficiency. The differences of tumor immune microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint and sensitivity to drugs in two risk groups were analyzed.

Results: A prognostic signature was established based on the three ERGs (CCKBR, HOXC6, and POU4F1) and patients with different risk group were distinguished. Survival analysis revealed the negative associated of risk score and prognosis, ROC curve analyses showed the accuracy of this signature. Three ERGs expression was investigated by qRT-PCR in three colorectal cancer cell lines. Moreover, risk score was positively correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB), immune activities, microsatellite instability level, the expression of immune checkpoint genes. Meanwhile, the expression level of three ERGs and the risk score were markedly related with the sensitive response to chemotherapy.

Conclusion: The novel signature composed of three ERGs with precise predictive capabilities can be used to predict prognosis and provide a promising therapeutic target for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Analysis of the Prognostic Significance and Immune Infiltration of the Amino Acid Metabolism-Related Genes in Colon Adenocarcinoma

Amino acid metabolization is verified to be a part in the progression of cancer. However, genes related to the amino acid metabolism have not been identified in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). A systematic prognostic model of COAD becomes a pressing need. Among genes related to the amino acid metabolism, RIMKLB, ASPG, TH, MTAP, AZIN2, PSMB2, HDC, ACMSD, and PSMA8 were identified to construct a risk model. Kaplan–Meier (K–M) analyses demonstrated that the high-risk group achieved a poor prognosis. Area under the respective ROC (AUC) values indicated the robustness of the model. To highlight its clinical value, multivariate Cox was used to obtain the optimal variables to construct a nomogram. A higher tumor mutation burden was observed in the high-risk group. However, the low-risk group had a stronger immune infiltration. Seven molecular subtypes were found by consensus cluster. Twenty-two hub genes were identified related to the ESTIMATE score using WGCNA. In brief, our research constructed a stable prognostic model related to the amino acid metabolism in COAD, revealing its connection to the immune microenvironment. The model guided the outcome of COAD and the direction of immunotherapy.

Expression of Long Nonencoding Ribonucleic Acid SNHG20 in Colon Cancer Tissue in Its Influences on Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity of Colon Cancer Cells

Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is a kind of RNA that plays a key role in a variety of biological processes, illnesses, and tumours despite the fact that it cannot be translated into proteins. The HT29 colon cancer cell line was utilized to create a 5-FU drug-resistant cell strain (control group), a lentivirus SNHG20 carrier (OE-SNHG20 group), and an SNHG20 shRNA carrier (SNHG20 shRNA carrier group) (SE-SNHG20 group). To determine the expression of cell SNHG20, a real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized, and cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) was used to detect the difference in 5-FU inhibitory concentration 50. The goal of the study was to see how variations in long nonencoding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) SNHG20 expression affect colon cancer cell 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapeutic sensitivity by collecting colon cancer and normal para cancer tissues and analysing the differences in SNHG20 expression. The ability of cell cladogenesis was tested using platform cladogenesis. Cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Western blots revealed the presence of protein phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), caspase-3, e-cadherin, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) enzymes. The findings revealed that SNHG20 expression was considerably upregulated (P < 0.05) in colon cancer tissue and 5-FU drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Cell 5-FU IC50, cell cladogenesis, cell survival rate, and MMP-9, P-PI3K, and P-AKT expression were all significantly improved. Cell apoptosis and expressions of E-cadherin and caspase-3, on the other hand, were considerably decreased (P < 0.05). Cell 5-FU IC50, cell cladogenesis, cell survival rate, and the expressions of MMP-9, P-PI3K, and P-AKT were all significantly lower in the SE-SNHG20 group, although cell apoptosis and the expressions of E-cadherin and caspase-3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05). The results revealed that lncRNA SNHG20 could inhibit the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of colon cancer cells to 5-FU by regulating PI3K/AKT pathways. The inhibition of lncRNA SNHG20 expression could promote the apoptosis and proliferation of 5-FU-resistant colon cancer cells.