The programmed cell death 6 interacting protein insertion/deletion polymorphism is associated with non-small cell lung cancer risk in a Chinese Han population

Prognostic and immunological implications of paraptosis-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma: Comprehensive analysis and functional verification of hub gene

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) poses significant clinical challenges due to its inherent heterogeneity and variable response to treatment. Recent research has specifically focused on elucidating the role of Paraptosis-related genes (PRGs) in the progression of cancer and the prognosis of patients.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the differential expression of PRGs in LUAD. Additionally, univariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to determine the prognostic significance of these genes. Furthermore, consensus clustering was employed to differentiate molecular subtypes within LUAD, while immune heterogeneity was assessed. To evaluate treatment outcomes, the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors was examined, and the sensitivity of LUAD patients to chemotherapy drugs was assessed. Moreover, machine learning algorithms were employed to construct a Paraptosis-related risk score with prognostic and immunological indicators. Finally, to validate the findings, in vitro experiments were performed to verify the regulatory effect of key PRGs on Paraptosis.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified 24 PRGs that exhibited differential expression, with CDKN3, TP53, and PHB emerging as the most prominently upregulated genes in tumor tissues. Among these genes, seven were identified as prognostic markers, with HSPB8 being the sole protective factor. Notably, our analysis also revealed the existence of two distinct molecular subtypes within LUAD, each characterized by unique prognoses and immune responses. Specifically, Subtype B displayed a poorer prognosis but demonstrated increased sensitivity to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, our development of a Paraptosis-Associated Risk Score yielded a significant prognostic value in predicting patient outcomes. Furthermore, we found regulatory effect of CDKN3 on Paraptosis in two cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the importance of PRGs in LUAD, particularly in prognosis and treatment response. The identified molecular subtypes and Paraptosis-Associated Risk Score offer valuable insights for personalized treatment strategies.

The current status and perspectives regarding the clinical implication of intracellular calcium in breast cancer

Calcium ions (Ca²⁺ ) act as second messengers in intracellular signaling. Ca²⁺ pumps, channels, sensors, and calcium binding proteins, regulate the concentrations of intracellular Ca²⁺ as a key regulator of important cellular processes such as gene expression, proliferation, differentiation, DNA repair, apoptosis, metastasis, and hormone secretion. Intracellular Ca²⁺ also influences the functions of several organelles, that include: the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, the Golgi, and cell membrane both in normal and breast cancer cells. In breast cancer, the disruption of intracellular: Ca²⁺ homeostasis may cause tumor progression by affecting key factors/pathways including phospholipase C (PLC), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), calmodulin (CaM), nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT), calpain, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1), estrogen, and estrogen receptor. Because the foregoing molecules play crucial roles in breast cancer, the factors/pathways influencing intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations are putative targets for cancer treatment, using drugs such as Mephebrindole, Tilapia piscidin 4, Nifetepimine, Paricalcitol, and Prednisolone. We have explored the factors/pathways which are related to breast cancer and Ca²⁺ homeostasis and signaling in this review, and also discussed their potential as biomarkers for breast cancer staging, prognosis, and therapy.

Association between Programmed Cell Death 6 Interacting Protein Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and the Risk of Breast Cancer in a Sample of Iranian Population

It has been suggested that genetic factors contribute to patients' vulnerability to breast cancer (BC). The programmed cell death 6 interacting protein (PDCD6IP) encodes for a protein that is known to bind to the products of the PDCD6 gene, which is involved in the apoptosis pathway. The aim of this case-control study is to investigate the relationship between the PDCD6IP 15 bp insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (rs28381975) and BC risk in an Iranian population. A total of 491 females, including 266 BC patients and 225 control subjects without cancer, were enrolled into the study. Our findings revealed that the PDCD6IP 15 bp I/D polymorphism decreased the risk of BC in codominant (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.31-0.65, p < 0.0001, I/D versus DD; OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.17-0.88, p = 0.030, I/I versus DD) and dominant (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.30-0.63, p < 0.0001, D/I + I/I versus D/D) tested inheritance models. Also, the PDCD6IP I allele significantly decreased the risk of BC (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45-0.78, p < 0.001) compared to the D allele.