Thrombomodulin mediates the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer cells

A novel risk stratification approach and molecular subgroup characterization based on coagulation related genes in colon adenocarcinoma

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) represents a significant health concern within the population. Advancing our understanding of COAD is imperative for early detection, enabling personalized treatment interventions, and facilitating the development of effective preventive measures. The coagulation system plays a role in tumor-related pathological processes; however, its specific involvement in COAD and potential contributors remain unclear. This study aimed to establish a novel risk stratification approach by analyzing coagulation related genes (CRGs) associated with COAD. Through a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of data from public databases, we screened COAD associated CRGs and characterized the associated molecular subtypes. After a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of each subtype, we applied differentially expressed genes in CRG subtypes to establish a new risk stratification method. Clinical subgroup analysis, immunoinfiltration analysis, therapeutic reactivity prediction and other analytical methods suggest the potential clinical value of the established risk stratification method. As one of the selected targets, the effect of MS4A4A on the proliferation and invasion of COAD was confirmed by in vitro experiments, which partially verified the reliability of bioinformatics results. Our findings delineate CRGs potentially implicated in COAD pathogenesis and offer fresh insights into the influence of the coagulation process on tumorigenesis and progression.

Haemostatic Gene Expression in Cancer-Related Immunothrombosis: Contribution for Venous Thromboembolism and Ovarian Tumour Behaviour

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynaecological malignancy. Identifying new prognostic biomarkers is an important research field. Haemostatic components together with leukocytes can drive cancer progression while increasing the susceptibility to venous thromboembolism (VTE) through immunothrombosis. Unravelling the underlying complex interactions offers the prospect of uncovering relevant OC prognostic biomarkers, predictors of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), and even potential targets for cancer therapy. Thus, this study evaluated the expression of F3, F5, F8, F13A1, TFPI1, and THBD in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) of 52 OC patients. Those with VTE after tumour diagnosis had a worse overall survival (OS) compared to their counterparts (mean OS of 13.8 ± 4.1 months and 47.9 ± 5.7 months, respectively; log-rank test, p = 0.001). Low pre-chemotherapy F3 and F8 expression levels were associated with a higher susceptibility for OC-related VTE after tumour diagnosis (χ2, p < 0.05). Regardless of thrombogenesis, patients with low baseline F8 expression had a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) than their counterparts (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.54; p = 0.021). Among those who were not under platelet anti-aggregation therapy, low F8 levels were also associated with a shorter OS (aHR = 6.16; p = 0.006). Moving forward, efforts should focus on external validation in larger cohorts.

Circular RNA 0010117 promotes aggressive glioblastoma behavior by regulating the miRNA-6779-5p/SPEN axis

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Circ-0010117 is down-regulated in glioblastoma.

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Circ-0010117 regulates aggressiveness via miRNA-6779-5p in glioblastoma.

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SPEN contributed to regulate miRNA-6779-5p in glioblastoma.

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Upregulated Circ-0010117 inhibited in vivo tumor growth of human glioblastoma xenograft.

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play important roles in cancer biology, providing potential targets for cancer intervention. As a new class of endogenous noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently identified in cell development and function, and certain types of pathological responses contribute to cancer progression, including glioblastoma. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between circRNAs and glioblastoma progression are still largely unknown. Methods: The expression and roles of circular RNA 0010117 (circ-0010117) were examined in vitro and in vivo. Quantitative RT‒PCR and western blotting were used to measure the expression of circRNA, miRNA, each gene, or related proteins. Cell biology experiments were performed to detect the biological function of circ-0010117 in glioblastoma cell lines. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assays, and functional complementation analysis were carried out to investigate the target genes. Tumorigenesis was also evaluated by xenografting cells into nude mice. In this study, we found that circ-0010117 is downregulated in glioblastoma compared with corresponding paratumoural tissues. Subsequently, we observed that circ-0010117 can regulate aggressiveness in glioblastoma cells through miR-6779-5p. Furthermore, SPEN was verified as a direct target of miR-6779-5p and contributes to the circ-0010117 regulatory network. In addition, we identified that overexpression of circ-0010117 can suppress tumorigenesis in nude mice. Our findings indicate that circular RNA 0010117 promotes the aggressive behavior of glioblastoma by regulating the miRNA-6779-5p/SPEN axis. Our results provide a rationale for the use of circ-0010117 as a novel potential therapeutic target in glioblastoma.

MiR-130a-5p contributed to the progression of endothelial cell injury by regulating FAS

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the development of vascular diseases. However, the effects of miR-130a-5p and its functional targets on atherosclerosis (AS) are still largely unknown. In this regard, our aim is to explore the potentially important role of miR-130a-5p and its target gene during the progression of endothelial cell injury. We first found oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced FAS and cell apoptosis in HUVECs. Subsequently, miR-130a-5p expression was verified to be downregulated after ox-LDL treatment and negatively correlated with FAS, and FAS was identified as substantially upregulated in the ox-LDL-treated HUVEC cells. After that, the knockdown of FAS and overexpression of miR-130a-5p together were observed to aggregate ox-LDL-induced reduction of cell viability and apoptosis, cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, we detected that miR-130a-5p contributed to the progression of endothelial cell injury by regulating of FAS, which may provide a new and promising therapeutic target for AS.

Thrombomodulin Influences the Survival of Patients with Non-Metastatic Colorectal Cancer through Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Background

Treatment resistance and metastasis are the major causes of death among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Approximately 20% of surgically treated patients ultimately develop metastases during the follow-up period. Currently, the TNM system is the only available prognostic test. Therefore, the identification of new markers for CRC remains important. Thrombomodulin (TM), a glycoprotein, is involved in angiogenesis and has been linked to many malignant diseases. However, the function of TM in CRC remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 170 patients with CRC participated in this study. TM expression was analyzed via immunohistochemistry. Univariate (Kaplan-Meier) analysis was used to analyze patient outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). TM expression was manipulated using shRNA or an overexpression system. Transwell migration assays, wound healing migration assays, and the xCELLigence biosensor system were used to detect cell proliferative and migratory capacities.

Results

TM expression in the tumor tissues significantly and positively correlated with the DFS and OS of non-metastatic patients with CRC (ps = 0.036 and 0.0218, respectively). Suppression of TM expression increased the proliferation and migration of DLD-1 cells. TM overexpression reduced the cells’ proliferative and migratory capacities. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression was up-regulated following TM silencing. Furthermore, the association between the migration of colon cancer cells and the levels of TM and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (fibronectin, vimentin and ezrin) was confirmed in HT29 and DLD-1 cells.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that patients with non-metastatic CRC display low TM expression in their tumors and exhibit reduced DFS and OS. The enhanced expression of mesenchymal markers and COX-2 may be involved in the mechanisms that underlie recurrence in patients with cancer displaying low TM expression.

Thrombomodulin reduces tumorigenic and metastatic potential of lung cancer cells by up-regulation of E-cadherin and down-regulation of N-cadherin expression

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell membrane protein and plays critical roles in anti-thrombosis, anti-inflammation, vascular endothelial protection, and is traditionally regarded as a "vascular protection god". In recent years, although TM has been reported to be down-regulated in a variety of malignant tumors including lung cancer, the role and mechanism of TM in lung cancer are enigmatic. In this study, we found that induction of TM overexpression by cholesterol-reducing drug atorvastatin significantly diminished the tumorigenic capability of the lung cancer cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that TM overexpression caused G0/G1 phase arrest and markedly reduced the colony forming capability of the cells. Furthermore, overexpression of TM inhibited cell migration and invasion. Consistently, depletion of TM promoted cell growth, reduced the cell population at the G0/G1 phase, and enhanced cell migratory ability. Mechanistic study revealed that TM up-regulated E-cadherin but down-regulated N-cadherin expression, resulting in reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the lung cancer cells. Moreover, silencing TM expression led to decreased E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin. Taken together, our study suggests that TM functions as a tumor suppressive protein, providing a conceptual framework for inducing TM overexpression as a sensible strategy and approach for novel anti-lung cancer drug discovery.

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: focus on the cancer hallmark of tumor angiogenesis

One of the important 'hallmarks' of cancer is angiogenesis, which is the process of formation of new blood vessels that are necessary for tumor expansion, invasion and metastasis. Under normal physiological conditions, angiogenesis is well balanced and controlled by endogenous proangiogenic factors and antiangiogenic factors. However, factors produced by cancer cells, cancer stem cells and other cell types in the tumor stroma can disrupt the balance so that the tumor microenvironment favors tumor angiogenesis. These factors include vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial tissue factor and other membrane bound receptors that mediate multiple intracellular signaling pathways that contribute to tumor angiogenesis. Though environmental exposures to certain chemicals have been found to initiate and promote tumor development, the role of these exposures (particularly to low doses of multiple substances), is largely unknown in relation to tumor angiogenesis. This review summarizes the evidence of the role of environmental chemical bioactivity and exposure in tumor angiogenesis and carcinogenesis. We identify a number of ubiquitous (prototypical) chemicals with disruptive potential that may warrant further investigation given their selectivity for high-throughput screening assay targets associated with proangiogenic pathways. We also consider the cross-hallmark relationships of a number of important angiogenic pathway targets with other cancer hallmarks and we make recommendations for future research. Understanding of the role of low-dose exposure of chemicals with disruptive potential could help us refine our approach to cancer risk assessment, and may ultimately aid in preventing cancer by reducing or eliminating exposures to synergistic mixtures of chemicals with carcinogenic potential.

Argininosuccinate synthetase 1 suppression and arginine restriction inhibit cell migration in gastric cancer cell lines

Gastric cancer metastasis remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths. There is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches targeting metastatic gastric cancer. Argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression is increased in gastric cancer. We detected the protein expression of ASS1 in human gastric cancer cell lines (AGS, NCI-N87, and MKN45) and in murine gastric cancer cell lines (3I and 3IB2). We used vector-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression to silence ASS1 expression in the MKN45 and 3IB2 cell lines, and analyzed the effects of this protein on cell migration and metastasis. We demonstrated that ASS1 silencing suppressed cell migration in the MKN45 and 3IB2 cell lines. ASS1 knockdown significantly reduced liver metastasis in mice after the intrasplenic implantation of 3IB2 cancer cell clones. To determine whether arginine restriction may represent a therapeutic approach to treat gastric cancer, the sensitivity of tumor cells to arginine depletion was determined in gastric cancer cells. Arginine depletion significantly inhibited cell migration in the gastric cancer cell line. The silencing of ASS1 expression in MKN45 and 3IB2 gastric cancer cells markedly decreased STAT3 protein expression. In conclusion, our results indicate that the ASS1 protein is required for cell migration in gastric cancer cell lines.

Peripherally inserted central catheter-related deep vein thrombosis: contemporary patterns and predictors

BACKGROUND

Despite growing use, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are associated with risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We designed a study to determine patient, provider and device factors associated with this outcome.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of adults who underwent PICC placement between 1 June 2009 to 30 June 2012. Symptomatic PICC-associated DVT was confirmed by ultrasound. Because PICCs are also recognized risk factors for lower-extremity DVT, lower-extremity DVT occurring while the PICC was in situ was included. Multivariable logistic and Cox-proportional hazards regression models were fit to examine the association between covariates specified a priori and PICC-DVT. Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated.

RESULTS

Of 966 unique PICC placements, 33 patients developed symptomatic PICC-associated DVT and 9 developed lower-extremity DVT, accounting for 42 thrombotic events. On bivariate analysis, recent diagnosis of cancer, interventional radiology placement, chemotherapy administration, number of lumens and PICC-gauge were associated with PICC-DVT. Following multivariable adjustment, recent cancer diagnosis (OR 1.95 [95% CI 1.01-3.76]) and PICC gauge (HR 2.21 [95%CI 1.04-4.70] and HR 3.56 [95%CI 1.31-9.66] for 5-Fr and 6-Fr PICCs, respectively) remained associated with thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent diagnosis of cancer and PICC gauge are associated with PICC-DVT. These findings have important clinical ramifications and suggest that placement of large gauge PICCs or PICCs in patients with cancer may provoke thrombosis. Improved policies and procedural oversights in these areas appear necessary to prevent PICC-DVT.

A new spontaneously transformed syngeneic model of high-grade serous ovarian cancer with a tumor-initiating cell population

Improving screening and treatment options for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer has been a major challenge in cancer research. Development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, particularly for the most common subtype, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), has been hampered by controversies over the origin of the disease and a lack of spontaneous HGSC models to resolve this controversy. Over long-term culture in our laboratory, an ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cell line spontaneously transformed OSE (STOSE). The objective of this study was to determine if the STOSE cell line is a good model of HGSC. STOSE cells grow faster than early passage parental M0505 cells with a doubling time of 13 and 48 h, respectively. STOSE cells form colonies in soft agar, an activity for which M0505 cells have negligible capacity. Microarray analysis identified 1755 down-regulated genes and 1203 up-regulated genes in STOSE compared to M0505 cells, many associated with aberrant Wnt/β-catenin and Nf-κB signaling. Upregulation of Ccnd1 and loss of Cdkn2a in STOSE tumors is consistent with changes identified in human ovarian cancers by The Cancer Genome Atlas. Intraperitoneal injection of STOSE cells into severe combined immunodeficient and syngeneic FVB/N mice produced cytokeratin+, WT1+, inhibin-, and PAX8+ tumors, a histotype resembling human HGSC. Based on evidence that a SCA1+ stem cell-like population exists in M0505 cells, we examined a subpopulation of SCA1+ cells that is present in STOSE cells. Compared to SCA1- cells, SCA1+ STOSE cells have increased colony-forming capacity and form palpable tumors 8 days faster after intrabursal injection into FVB/N mice. This study has identified the STOSE cells as the first spontaneous murine model of HGSC and provides evidence for the OSE as a possible origin of HGSC. Furthermore, this model provides a novel opportunity to study how normal stem-like OSE cells may transform into tumor-initiating cells.