HIF-1α expression and high microvessel density are characteristic features in serrated colorectal cancer

Hypoxia inducible factor-1ɑ as a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma metastasis

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant tumor originating from mesenchymal tissue. Pulmonary metastasis is usually present upon initial diagnosis, and metastasis is the primary factor affecting the poor prognosis of patients with OS. Current research shows that the ability to regulate the cellular microenvironment is essential for preventing the distant metastasis of OS, and anoxic microenvironments are important features of solid tumors. During hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression levels and stability increase. Increased HIF-1α promotes tumor vascular remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and OS cells invasiveness; this leads to distant metastasis of OS cells. HIF-1α plays an essential role in the mechanisms of OS metastasis. In order to develop precise prognostic indicators and potential therapeutic targets for OS treatment, this review examines the molecular mechanisms of HIF-1α in the distant metastasis of OS cells; the signal transduction pathways mediated by HIF-1α are also discussed.

A Network Pharmacology Study on the Cervix Prescription for Treatment of Cervical Cancer

PURPOSE

Based on the method of network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of the cervical prescription (CP) in the treatment of cervical cancer (CC).

METHODS

We obtained the active ingredients and potential targets in the CP from the literature and the systematic pharmacological analysis platform of traditional Chinese medicine (BATMAN-TCM); the database was used to search for targets related to cervical cancer and to map CP and targets; the core targets were screened, and the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed using the TCM compound-target network and STRING database. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of overlapping targets were performed using DAVID 6.8 online tool.

RESULTS

The CP contains 2 active ingredients, corresponding to 301 nonreactive targets; 10 GO biological process related items and 73 signal pathways were obtained. Cell experiments confirmed that the medicated serum of CP could effectively inhibit the proliferation and invasion ability of Hela cells.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable information for TCM researchers and clinicians to better understand the main therapeutic targets and therapeutic roles of herbal decoctions in clinical settings. The results of our study preliminarily clarified that the cervical prescription has an inhibitory effect on cervical cancer cells.

HypoxaMIRs: Key Regulators of Hallmarks of Colorectal Cancer

Hypoxia in cancer is a thoroughly studied phenomenon, and the logical cause of the reduction in oxygen tension is tumor growth itself. While sustained hypoxia leads to death by necrosis in cells, there is an exquisitely regulated mechanism that rescues hypoxic cells from their fatal fate. The accumulation in the cytoplasm of the transcription factor HIF-1α, which, under normoxic conditions, is marked for degradation by a group of oxygen-sensing proteins known as prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) in association with the von Hippel-Lindau anti-oncogene (VHL) is critical for the cell, as it regulates different mechanisms through the genes it induces. A group of microRNAs whose expression is regulated by HIF, collectively called hypoxaMIRs, have been recognized. In this review, we deal with the hypoxaMIRs that have been shown to be expressed in colorectal cancer. Subsequently, using data mining, we analyze a panel of hypoxaMIRs expressed in both normal and tumor tissues obtained from TCGA. Finally, we assess the impact of these hypoxaMIRs on cancer hallmarks through their target genes.

MiR-375 Impairs the Invasive Capabilities of Hepatoma Cells by Targeting HIF1α Under Hypoxia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hypoxia represents one of the most pervasive microenvironmental stresses in HCC due to the overwhelming growth and inadequate blood supply. HIF1α as an important transcription factor participates in the regulation of various biological behaviors of HCC cells under hypoxia. Our previous study indicated that miR-375 is a hypoxia-associated miRNA. However, the interaction between miR-375 and HIF1α remains unclear.

METHODS

Bioinformatic analysis was performed for miRNA screening. qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of related molecules. Bioinformatic analysis and dual luciferase assay were used to predict and further confirm the target association. Transwell chamber assay and flow cytometry were, respectively, used to detect migration, invasion and apoptosis of hepatoma cells.

RESULTS

MiR-375 presented an obviously differential expression in human HCCs versus background livers (BLs) and HCCs versus normal liver tissues (NLTs). In rat models, miR-375 was gradually declined during hepatocarcinogenesis. HIF1α was remarkably upregulated at protein level rather than at mRNA level in human HCCs versus BLs, HCCs versus NLTs, BLs versus NLTs, and in rat fibrotic livers versus NLTs. HIF1α was determined to be a target of miR-375. MiR-375 inhibitor induced the migration and invasive capabilities and attenuated apoptosis of hepatoma cells under hypoxia. Depriving HIF1α by siRNA could partially reverse the function of miR-375 inhibitor under hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-375 impairs the invasive capabilities of HCC cells by targeting HIF1α under hypoxia.

Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1A) plays different roles in Gallbladder Cancer and Normal Gallbladder Tissues

Purpose: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1A) is a transcription factor that plays an “angiogenic switch” role especially under hypoxia microenvironment in solid tumor. However, the functions and clinical significance of HIF-1A in gallbladder cancer (GBC) are still controversial, and it has not been studied in normal gallbladder tissues. In this study, we sought to clarify the role of sub-cellular localization of HIF-1A expression in GBC and normal gallbladder tissues.

Methods: The expressions of HIF-1A and CD34 in 127 GBC and 47 normal gallbladder tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Cox's proportional hazards model analysis and Kaplan-Meier method analysis were used to assess the correlations between these factors and clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Results: HIF-1A was expressed in both cytoplasm and nucleus of GBC and normal control tissues, and was significantly correlated with microvessel density (MVD). GBC tissues with positive nuclear HIF-1A expression had higher MVD compared to that with positive cytoplasmic HIF-1A expression; however, in normal gallbladder tissues, samples with positive cytoplasmic HIF-1A had higher MVD compared to that with positive nuclear HIF-1A expression. Moreover, GBC with nuclear HIF-1A expression tended to be more poorly differentiated and had larger tumor size compared to that with cytoplasm HIF-1A expression. Furthermore, GBC patients with nuclear HIF-1A positive were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) compared with cytoplasmic HIF-1A positive. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified lymph node metastasis and nuclear HIF-1A expression to be independent prognostic parameter in GBC.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the first time that HIF-1A is expressed in normal gallbladder tissues. Nuclear HIF-1A and cytoplasm HIF-1A plays different roles in GBC and normal gallbladder tissues.

Biology and Therapeutic Targets of Colorectal Serrated Adenocarcinoma; Clues for a Histologically Based Treatment against an Aggressive Tumor

Serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC) is a tumor recognized by the WHO as a histological subtype accounting for around 9% of colorectal carcinomas. Compared to conventional carcinomas, SACs are characterized by a worse prognosis, weak development of the immune response, an active invasive front and a frequent resistance to targeted therapy due to a high occurrence of KRAS or BRAF mutation. Nonetheless, several high-throughput studies have recently been carried out unveiling the biology of this cancer and identifying potential molecular targets, favoring a future histologically based treatment. This review revises the current evidence, aiming to propose potential molecular targets and specific treatments for this aggressive tumor.

Systemic inflammation in colorectal cancer: Underlying factors, effects, and prognostic significance

Systemic inflammation is a marker of poor prognosis preoperatively present in around 20%-40% of colorectal cancer patients. The hallmarks of systemic inflammation include an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins that enter the circulation. While the low-level systemic inflammation is often clinically silent, its consequences are many and may ultimately lead to chronic cancer-associated wasting, cachexia. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of cancer-related systemic inflammation, explore the role of systemic inflammation in promoting cancer growth, escaping antitumor defense, and shifting metabolic pathways, and how these changes are related to less favorable outcome.

Differences in gene expression profiling and biomarkers between histological colorectal carcinoma subsets from the serrated pathway

AIMS

To discern the differences in expression profiling of two histological subtypes of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) arising from the serrated route (serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC) and CRC showing histological and molecular features of a high level of microsatellite instability (hmMSI-H) both sharing common features (female gender, right-sided location, mucinous histology, and altered CpG methylation), but dramatically differing in terms of prognosis, development of an immune response, and treatment options.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Molecular signatures of SAC and hmMSI-H were obtained by the use of transcriptomic arrays; quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to validate differentially expressed genes. An over-representation of innate immunity functions (granulomonocytic recruitment, chemokine production, Toll-like receptor signalling, and antigen processing and presentation) was obtained from this comparison, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) was more highly expressed in hmMSI-H, whereas two genes [those encoding calcitonin gene-related peptide-receptor component protein and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CXCL14)] were more highly expressed in SAC. These array results were subsequently validated by qPCR, and by IHC for CXCL14 and ICAM1. Information retrieved from public databanks confirmed our findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight specific functions and genes that provide a better understanding of the role of the immune response in the serrated pathological route and may be of help in identifying actionable molecules.

The Molecular Hallmarks of the Serrated Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. It includes different subtypes that differ in their clinical and prognostic features. In the past decade, in addition to the conventional adenoma-carcinoma model, an alternative multistep mechanism of carcinogenesis, namely the “serrated pathway”, has been described. Approximately, 15 to 30% of all CRCs arise from neoplastic serrated polyps, a heterogeneous group of lesions that are histologically classified into three morphologic categories: hyperplastic polyps, sessile serrated adenomas/polyps, and the traditional serrated adenomas/polyps. Serrated polyps are characterized by genetic (BRAF or KRAS mutations) and epigenetic (CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)) alterations that cooperate to initiate and drive malignant transformation from normal colon mucosa to polyps, and then to CRC. The high heterogeneity of the serrated lesions renders their diagnostic and pathological interpretation difficult. Hence, novel genetic and epigenetic biomarkers are required for better classification and management of CRCs. To date, several molecular alterations have been associated with the serrated polyp-CRC sequence. In addition, the gut microbiota is emerging as a contributor to/modulator of the serrated pathway. This review summarizes the state of the art of the genetic, epigenetic and microbiota signatures associated with serrated CRCs, together with their clinical implications.