Regulation of BAX/BCL2 gene expression in breast cancer cells by docetaxel-loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles

Medium-chain triglyceride-stabilized docetaxel-loaded HSA nanoparticles effectively inhibited metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is refractory with a very poor prognosis. Docetaxel (DTX) injection (Taxotere®) has been approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. However, its clinical application is restricted by severe adverse effects and non-selective tissue distribution. In this study, we successfully developed DTX-loaded human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles (DNPs) with modified Nab technology, by introducing medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) as a stabilizer. The optimized formulation had a particle size of approximately 130 nm and a favorable stabilization time of more than 24 h. DNPs dissociated in circulation in a concentration-dependent manner and slowly released DTX. Compared with DTX injection, DNPs were more effectively taken up by NSCLC cells, thus exerting stronger inhibitory effects on their proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. In addition, DNPs showed prolonged blood retention and increased tumor accumulation relative to DTX injection. Ultimately, DNPs produced more potent inhibitory effects on primary or metastatic tumor foci than DTX injections but caused markedly lower organ toxicity and hematotoxicity. Overall, these results support that DNPs hold great potential for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC in clinical.

Synthesis and Optimization of the Docetaxel-Loaded and Durvalumab-Targeted Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles, In Vitro Characterization on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tends to behave more aggressively compared to other breast cancer subtypes due to the lack of receptors and its limited targeting therapy. In recent years, nanotechnology advancement has led to the development of various nanoparticle platforms for the targeted treatment of cancers. Especially, HSA-NPs have specific advantages such as biocompatibility, adjustable size during production, and relatively easy synthesis. In this study, HSA-NPs were encapsulated with docetaxel (DTX) and functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG), also becoming a targeting nanoplatform modified with durvalumab (DVL), and the whole nanostructure was well characterized. Subsequently, drug release studies and various in vitro cell culture studies such as determining the cytotoxicity and apoptotic levels of the nanoplatforms and PD-L1 using ELISA test were conducted on MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 cells. According to the results, HSA-DTX@PEG-DVL NPs showed better cytotoxicity compared to DTX in all the three cell lines. In addition, it was observed that the HSA-DTX@PEG-DVL NPs did not lead the cells to late apoptosis but were effective in the early apoptotic stage. Moreover, the ELISA data showed a significantly induced PD-L1 expression due to the presence of DVL in the nanostructure, which indicates that DVL antibodies successfully bind to the HSA-DTX@PEG-DVL nanostructure.

Mechanistic Approaches to the Application of Nano-Zinc in the Poultry and Biomedical Industries: A Comprehensive Review of Future Perspectives and Challenges

Bio-fortification is a new, viable, cost-effective, and long-term method of administering crucial minerals to a populace with limited exposure to diversified foods and other nutritional regimens. Nanotechnology entities aid in the improvement of traditional nutraceutical absorption, digestibility, and bio-availability. Nano-applications are employed in poultry systems utilizing readily accessible instruments and processes that have no negative impact on animal health and welfare. Nanotechnology is a sophisticated innovation in the realm of biomedical engineering that is used to diagnose and cure various poultry ailments. In the 21st century, zinc nanoparticles had received a lot of considerable interest due to their unusual features. ZnO NPs exhibit antibacterial properties; however, the qualities of nanoparticles (NPs) vary with their size and structure, rendering them adaptable to diverse uses. ZnO NPs have shown remarkable promise in bio-imaging and drug delivery due to their high bio-compatibility. The green synthesized nanoparticles have robust biological activities and are used in a variety of biological applications across industries. The current review also discusses the formulation and recent advancements of zinc oxide nanoparticles from plant sources (such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits, flowers, and seeds) and their anti-cancerous activities, activities in wound healing, and drug delivery, followed by a detailed discussion of their mechanisms of action.

Formation, antimicrobial activity, and biomedical performance of plant-based nanoparticles: a review

Because many engineered nanoparticles are toxic, there is a need for methods to fabricate safe nanoparticles such as plant-based nanoparticles. Indeed, plant extracts contain flavonoids, amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides, enzymes, polyphenols, steroids, and reducing sugars that facilitate the reduction, formation, and stabilization of nanoparticles. Moreover, synthesizing nanoparticles from plant extracts is fast, safe, and cost-effective because it does not consume much energy, and non-toxic derivatives are generated. These nanoparticles have diverse and unique properties of interest for applications in many fields. Here, we review the synthesis of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles with plant extracts. These nanoparticles display antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Plant-based nanoparticles are also useful for medical diagnosis and drug delivery.

Super Magnetic Niosomal Nanocarrier as a New Approach for Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Case Study on SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 Cell Lines

In the present study, a magnetic niosomal nanocarrier for co-delivery of curcumin and letrozole into breast cancer cells has been designed. The magnetic NiCoFe2O4 core was coated by a thin layer of silica, followed by a niosomal structure, allowing us to load letrozole and curcumin into the silica layer and niosomal layer, respectively, and investigate their synergic effects on breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the nanocarriers demonstrated a pH-dependent release due to the niosomal structure at their outer layer, which is a promising behavior for cancer treatment. Additionally, cellular assays revealed that the nanocarriers had low cellular uptake in the case of non-tumorigenic cells (i.e., MCF-10A) and related high viability but high cellular uptake in cancer cell lines (i.e., MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3) and related low viability, which is evidenced in their high cytotoxicity against different breast cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the letrozole/curcumin co-loaded nanocarrier is higher than that of the aqueous solutions of both drugs, indicating their enhanced cellular uptake in their encapsulated states. In particular, NiCoFe2O4@L-Silica-L@C-Niosome showed the highest cytotoxicity effects on MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. The observed cytotoxicity was due to regulation of the expression levels of the studied genes in breast cancer cells, where downregulation was observed for the Bcl-2, MMP 2, MMP 9, cyclin D, and cyclin E genes while upregulation of the expression of the Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 genes was observed. The flow cytometry results also revealed that NiCoFe2O4@L-Silica-L@C-Niosome enhanced the apoptosis rate in both MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells compared to the control samples. The findings of our research show the potential of designing magnetic niosomal formulations for simultaneous targeted delivery of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs into cancer cells in order to enhance their synergic chemotherapeutic effects. These results could open new avenues into the future of nanomedicine and the development of theranostic agents.

Integrative analyses identified ion channel genes GJB2 and SCNN1B as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lung adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Abnormal expressions of ion channel genes are associated with the occurrence and progression of tumors. At present, their roles in the carcinogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are not clear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Differentially expressed (DE) genes in the tumorigenesis were identified from 328 ion channel genes in 102 LUAD and paired adjacent normal samples. Similar analyses were performed between 177 metastatic and 286 non-metastatic LUAD samples to identify DE ion channel genes in the progression of LUAD. Independent prognostic factors selected from DE ion channel genes were used to construct a prognostic model. Correlation analysis and drugs-drug targets interaction network were used to screen the potential drugs for LUAD patients stratified by GJB2 or SCNN1B.

RESULTS

Six ion channel genes (GJB2, CACNA1D, KCNQ1, SCNN1B, SCNN1G and TRPV6) were continuous differentially expressed in the tumorigenesis and progression of LUAD. The survival analysis in four datasets with 522 LUAD samples showed that GJB2 and SCNN1B were independent prognostic biomarkers. Patients with overexpression of GJB2 or underexpression of SCNN1B had shorter overall survival. Moreover, multi-omics analysis showed that hypomethylation of GJB2 and hypermethylation of SCNN1B in the promoter region may contribute to their aberrant expressions. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the overexpressed genes in the group with high GJB2 or low SCNN1B were enriched in cancer-related pathways, while the underexpressed genes were enriched in metabolism-related pathways. The prognostic model with GJB2 and SCNN1B can stratify all LUAD patients into two groups with significantly different survival. Correlation analysis and drugs-drug targets interaction network suggested that GJB2 and SCNN1B expression might have indicative therapeutic values for LUAD patients. Finally, pan-cancer analysis in other eight cancer types showed that GJB2 and SCNN1B might be also potential prognostic factors for KIRC.

CONCLUSIONS

GJB2 and SCNN1B were identified as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LUAD.

Drug Resistance in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Tumor Targeted Nanomedicine to the Rescue

Breast cancer, specifically metastatic breast, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women. This is mainly due to relapse and reoccurrence of tumor. The primary reason for cancer relapse is the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) hampering the treatment and prognosis. MDR can occur due to a multitude of molecular events, including increased expression of efflux transporters such as P-gp, BCRP, or MRP1; epithelial to mesenchymal transition; and resistance development in breast cancer stem cells. Excessive dose dumping in chemotherapy can cause intrinsic anti-cancer MDR to appear prior to chemotherapy and after the treatment. Hence, novel targeted nanomedicines encapsulating chemotherapeutics and gene therapy products may assist to overcome cancer drug resistance. Targeted nanomedicines offer innovative strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy while permitting enhanced selectivity to cancer cells. Targeted nanotheranostics permit targeted drug release, precise breast cancer diagnosis, and importantly, the ability to overcome MDR. The article discusses various nanomedicines designed to selectively target breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer, and breast cancer stem cells. In addition, the review discusses recent approaches, including combination nanoparticles (NPs), theranostic NPs, and stimuli sensitive or “smart” NPs. Recent innovations in microRNA NPs and personalized medicine NPs are also discussed. Future perspective research for complex targeted and multi-stage responsive nanomedicines for metastatic breast cancer is discussed.

Anti-Cancer Activity Based on the High Docetaxel Loaded Poly(2-Oxazoline)s Micelles

PURPOSE

Nanocarriers, with a high drug loading content and good safety, to achieve desirable therapeutic effect are always the goals for industry and research.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the present study, we developed a docetaxel loaded poly-2-oxazoline polymer micellar system which employed poly-2-butyl-2 oxazoline and poly-2-methyl-2 oxazoline as the hydrophobic chain and hydrophilic chain, respectively. This micellar system achieves a high load up to 25% against the docetaxel, and further demonstrates an IC50 as low as 40% of the commercialized docetaxel injection in vitro and a double maximum tolerated dose in MCF-7 cells in vivo.

CONCLUSION

The high drug loading content, superior safety, and considerable anti-cancer activity make this newly developed docetaxel loaded poly(2-oxazoline) micelle go further in future clinical research.

Emerging nanotaxanes for cancer therapy

The clinical application of taxane (including paclitaxel, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel)-based formulations is significantly impeded by their off-target distribution, unsatisfactory release, and acquired resistance/metastasis. Recent decades have witnessed a dramatic progress in the development of high-efficiency, low-toxicity nanotaxanes via the use of novel biomaterials and nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs). Thus, in this review, the achievements of nanotaxanes-targeted delivery and stimuli-responsive nano-DDSs-in preclinical or clinical trials have been outlined. Then, emerging nanotherapeutics against tumor resistance and metastasis have been overviewed, with a particular emphasis on synergistic therapy strategies (e.g., combination with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biotherapy, immunotherapy, gas therapy, phototherapy, and multitherapy). Finally, the latest oral nanotaxanes have been briefly discussed.

Prodigiosin/PU-H71 as a novel potential combined therapy for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): preclinical insights

Prodigiosin, a secondary metabolite red pigment produced by Serratia marcescens, has an interesting apoptotic efficacy against cancer cell lines with low or no toxicity on normal cells. HSP90α is known as a crucial and multimodal target in the treatment of TNBC. Our research attempts to assess the therapeutic potential of prodigiosin/PU-H71 combination on MDA-MB-231 cell line. The transcription and protein expression levels of different signalling pathways were assessed. Treatment of TNBC cells with both drugs resulted in a decrease of the number of adherent cells with apoptotic effects. Prodigiosin/PU-H71 combination increased the levels of caspases 3,8 and 9 and decreased the levels of mTOR expression. Additionally, there was a remarkable decrease of HSP90α transcription and expression levels upon treatment with combined therapy. Also, EGFR and VEGF expression levels decreased. This is the first study to show that prodigiosin/PU-H71 combination had potent cytotoxicity on MDA-MB-231 cells; proving to play a paramount role in interfering with key signalling pathways in TNBC. Interestingly, prodigiosin might be a potential anticancer agent to increase the sensitivity of TNBC cells to apoptosis. This study provides a new basis for upcoming studies to overcome drug resistance in TNBC cells.

Oxymatrine Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cells via the PI3K Pathway

Purpose

Oxymatrine has been reported to possess anti-cancer activity, but its role in breast cancer (BC) is weakly defined. We investigated the anti-cancer effects of oxymatrine in human BC cells, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects.

Methods

BC lines were treated with oxymatrine. The MTT assay was conducted to evaluate cell viability. The cell cycle and apoptosis of BC cells were analyzed using flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. Transwell™ assays were undertaken to measure the migratory and invasive abilities of MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells. Expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, cyclin D1, cluster of differentiation (CD)K2, PARP, Gsk3β, caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and Bax at protein and RNA levels was measured by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Oxymatrine inhibited the proliferation of BC cells in a time-dependent manner. It induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent way according to Annexin V and Hoechst 33258 staining. Oxymatrine could inhibit the invasion of BC cells as shown by the Transwell assay. Oxymatrine inhibited expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 while increasing that of Bax as well as increasing expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Addition of oxymatrine to BC cells attenuated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway cascade, as evidenced by dephosphorylation of P13K and Akt.

Conclusion

Oxymatrine exerts its anti-tumor effects in BC cells by abolishing the PI3K pathway. Oxymatrine may be a new compound for BC treatment.

Silencing Of MAGI1 Promotes The Proliferation And Inhibits Apoptosis Of Glioma Cells Via The Wnt/β-Catenin And PTEN/AKT Signaling Pathways

Background

Membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) with inverted orientation protein 1 (MAGI1) is a novel member of the MAGUK family with a vital role in tumor progression related to invasion and metastasis. However, the function of MAGI1 in glioma is currently unknown. We therefore analyzed the expression of MAGI1 protein in human glioma samples, glioma cell lines and glioma stem cells (GSCs), and explored its effects on glioma cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Methods

MAGI1 expression in glioma tissues was examined by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction and its relationships with clinical pathological features were analyzed. The effects of MAGI1 knockdown on the proliferation of glioma cell lines and GSCs were detected by CCK8 and colony-formation assays, and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. We also investigated the effects of MAGI1 silencing on protein expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarkers, as well as β-catenin, cyclin D1, PTEN and phospho-Akt by Western blotting.

Results

MAGI1 was significantly downregulated in glioma tissues and its expression was related to cancer progression. Silencing of MAGI1 in both glioma cell lines and GSCs enhanced proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. MAGI1 knockdown also significantly increased the expression levels of N-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin, cyclin D1 and phospho-Akt and reduced the expression of E-cadherin and PTEN.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that MAGI1 might play a vital role in glioma progression and may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of glioma.

Effect of docetaxel-loaded lipid microbubble in combination with ultrasound-triggered microbubble destruction on the growth of a gastric cancer cell line

Although gastric cancer therapy has been improved, more efficient treatment strategies still need to be developed. In the present study, a docetaxel (DOC)-loaded lipid microbubble (DLLD) was prepared and the effect of DLLD combined with ultrasound-triggered microbubble destruction (UTMD) on the growth of a gastric cancer cell line was investigated. The following four groups were included in the present study: Control, DOC, DLLD and DLLD plus UTMD. The determined entrapment efficiency of DLLD is 76±3.5%. The present study demonstrated that treatment with DLLD plus UTMD could significantly inhibit the growth of the cultured gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 via arresting the cell cycle in G₂/M phase, inhibiting cell DNA synthesis, promoting cell apoptosis and disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential, as compared with treatment with DOC or DLLD alone. Furthermore, the expression of p53, p21 and Bax were identified to be significantly upregulated, while that of Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated in the DLLD plus UTMD group. Therefore, treatment with DLLD plus UTMD was more efficient in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis in the gastric cancer cell line, when compared with treatment with DOC or DLLD alone, suggesting that DLLD plus UTMD could serve as a promising strategy for the treatment of gastric cancer.

CCL28 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis through MAPK-mediated cellular anti-apoptosis and pro-metastasis

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females. CCL28 (mucosa-associated epithelial chemokine, MEC), a CC subfamily chemokine, has been well studied in the process of inflammation, and recently increasing evidence indicates that CCL28 is related to tumor progression. However, little is known concerning its function in breast cancer. In the present study, we generated a CCL28-overexpressing breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231HM/CCL28 from parental MDA-MB-231HM cells. We found that overexpression of CCL28 promoted cell proliferation and tumor formation, and also enhanced migration, invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that CCL28 mediated intracellular activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway to promote breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by upregulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and suppressing cell adhesion protein β-catenin. However, overexpression of CCL28 did not influence the expression of metastasis-related protein matrix metalloproteinase MMP2 and MMP9 and VEGF. Tissue sample analysis from animal models also indicated that overexpression of CCL28 was associated with enhanced pERK expression and reduced β-catenin expression in breast carcinomas. Thus, our results show for the first time that CCL28 contributes to breast cancer progression through the ERK/MAPK-mediated anti-apoptotic and metastatic signaling pathway. Antagonists of CCL28 and the MAPK signaling pathway may be used synergistically to treat breast cancer patients.

CD164 regulates proliferation and apoptosis by targeting PTEN in human glioma

Cluster of differentiation 164 (CD164), a sialomucin, has been demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion and differentiation in multiple cancers. CD164 is regarded to be a potential promotor of tumor growth. However, the involvement of CD164 in human glioma proliferation and apoptosis remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and oncogenic function of CD164 in normal human astrocytes (NHA) and glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. The results of the present study demonstrated that CD164 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in human glioma cell lines and tissue samples. CD164 overexpression promoted the proliferation of NHA in vitro, and its tumorigenic effect was confirmed in a murine xenograft model. Knockdown of CD164 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of the U87 human glioma cell line in vitro and in vivo. In addition, knockdown of CD164 was demonstrated to upregulate the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression, reduce protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and promote the expression of p53 in U87 cells. The results suggest that CD164 expression may have affected the proliferation and apoptosis of human glioma cells via the PTEN/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathway, and may therefore present a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of glioma.

Targeted inhibition of Notch1 gene enhances the killing effects of paclitaxel on triple negative breast cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

To study the influence of targeted inhibition of Notch1 gene on the killing effects of paclitaxel on triple negative breast cancer cells.

METHODS

The triple negative [estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2)] breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and ER/PR/HER-2-positive breast cancer cell line MCF-7 were cultured, transfected with Notch1-siRNA-overexpression plasmid and blank plasmid, and treated with different concentrations of paclitaxel, and then the cell proliferation activity and apoptosis rate as well as the mRNA expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and Bcl-2 were determined.

RESULTS

Paclitaxel could decrease the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell proliferation activity as well as Bcl-2 mRNA expression, and increase MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell apoptosis rate as well as Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 mRNA expression in dose-dependent manners; with the same dose of paclitaxel treatment, the inhibitory effects on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation activity and Bcl-2 mRNA expression as well as the promoting effects on MDA-MB-231 cell apoptosis and mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 were weaker than those on MCF-7 cell; after 0.5 μM paclitaxel combined with Notch1-siRNA treatment, MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation activity and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were significantly lower than those after 0.5 μM paclitaxel combined with control plasmid treatment while cell apoptosis rate and mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 were higher than those after 0.5 μM paclitaxel combined with control plasmid treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted inhibition of Notch1 gene may enhance the killing effects of paclitaxel on triple negative breast cancer cells by up-regulating the expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 and inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2.

miR-497 inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition in breast carcinoma by targeting Slug

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical step in the growth and dissemination of malignant diseases, including breast cancer. It is known that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the regulation of tumor properties in cancers. However, whether miR-497 contributes to EMT in breast cancer cells remains unknown. Our study demonstrated that the expression of miR-497 was significantly decreased in human breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer specimens. In breast cancer cells, EMT was inhibited and promoted by the over-expression as well as depletion of miR-497, respectively. Dual-Luciferase ReporterAassay confirmed that Slug was a direct target of miR-497. The upregulation of miR-497 in breast cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Correlation analysis indicated that miR-497 was highly negatively correlated with Slug expression in breast cancer specimens. The knockdown of Slug expression in breast cancer cells significantly suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Our results suggested that the expression of miR-497 is significantly correlated with EMT in breast cancer cells by regulating Slug at the transcriptional as well as translational levels. Therefore, targeting miR-497 may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of breast cancer.