FlowCell-enriched circulating tumor cells as a predictor of lung cancer metastasis

The topoisomerase inhibitor CPT-11 prevents the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells in nude mice by inhibiting EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway

Objective

The topoisomerase inhibitor CPT-11 has been applied in treatment of multiple cancer types. Here, we probed into the possible mechanism of CPT-11 in affecting growth and metastasis of lung cancer (LC) cells, with involvement of the EGFR/MAPK pathway.

Methods

The target protein of CPT-11 was screened through bioinformatics analysis, and the LC-related microarray datasets GSE29249, GSE32863 and GSE44077 were obtained for differential analysis for identifying the target protein. A subcutaneous xenograft tumor model and a metastatic tumor model were constructed in nude mice for in vivo mechanism verification of the regulatory role of CPT-11 in LC through modulation of EGRF/MAPK pathway.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis showed that EGFR was the target protein of CPT-11. In vivo animal experiments confirmed that CPT-11 enhanced LC cell growth and metastasis in nude mice. CPT-11 could inhibit activation of EGFR/MAPK pathway. EGFR promoted LC cell growth and metastasis in nude mice through activation of the MAPK pathway.

Conclusion

The topoisomerase inhibitor CPT-11 may prevent LC growth and metastasis by inhibiting activation of EGFR/MAPK pathway.

Current Understanding of Microbiomes in Cancer Metastasis

Cancer has been the first killer that threatens people's lives and health. Despite recent improvements in cancer treatment, metastasis continues to be the main reason for death from cancer. The functions of microbiome in cancer metastasis have been studied recently, and it is proved that microbiome can influence tumor metastasis, as well as positive or negative responses to therapy. Here, we summarize the mechanisms of microorganisms affecting cancer metastasis, which include epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), immunity, fluid shear stress (FSS), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This review will not only give a further understanding of relationship between microbiome and cancer metastasis, but also provide a new perspective for the microbiome's application in cancer metastasis prevention, early detection, and treatment.

Impact of endoscopic metallic stent placement and emergency surgery on detection of viable circulating tumor cells for acute malignant left-sided colonic obstruction

BACKGROUND

Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) served as a bridge to surgery (BTS). However, this method may be associated with worse long-term prognosis and relapse of CRC patients. Therefore, we attempted to clarify this in the angle of circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

METHODS

A multicenter study was performed from March 2018 to January 2021. Thirty-two colorectal cancer patients with obstruction were selected, of which 21 patients were performed SEMS as a BTS while 11 patients were performed emergency surgery. Bloods samples were collected in two groups of patients for further detecting CTCs. In the SEMS group, the samples were collected before and after stent insert and after radical surgery performed. In the ES group, the samples were collected before stent insert and after emergency surgery performed.

RESULTS

The number of CTCs did not show statistically significant differences before and after stent placement (34.90 vs 38.33, p=0.90), neither between the SEMS group and ES group in initial CTC levels (34.90 vs 58.09, p=0.394). No significant differences (38.33 vs 58.09, p=0.632) were observed after stent insert in the SMES group and the initial CTC levels in the ES group. Moreover, no major differences (24.17 vs 42.27, p=0.225) were observed after radical operation performed in both groups.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of SEMS does not cause an increase in the number of CTC after stent insertion. Furthermore, there are may be other factors besides CTC to cause these poorer oncologic outcomes after SEMS placement.

Bacterial biomarkers capable of identifying recurrence or metastasis carry disease severity information for lung cancer

Background

Local recurrence and distant metastasis are the main causes of death in patients with lung cancer. Multiple studies have described the recurrence or metastasis of lung cancer at the genetic level. However, association between the microbiome of lung cancer tissue and recurrence or metastasis remains to be discovered. Here, we aimed to identify the bacterial biomarkers capable of distinguishing patients with lung cancer from recurrence or metastasis, and how it related to the severity of patients with lung cancer.

Methods

We applied microbiome pipeline to bacterial communities of 134 non-recurrence and non-metastasis (non-RM) and 174 recurrence or metastasis (RM) samples downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Co-occurrence network was built to explore the bacterial interactions in lung cancer tissue of RM and non-RM. Finally, the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the association between bacterial biomarkers and patient survival.

Results

Compared with non-RM, the bacterial community of RM had lower richness and higher Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index. Interestingly, the co-occurrence network of non-RM was more complex than RM. The top 500 genera in relative abundance obtained an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.72 when discriminating between RM and non-RM. There were significant differences in the relative abundances of Acidovorax, Clostridioides, Succinimonas, and Shewanella, and so on between RM and non-RM. These biomarkers played a role in predicting the survival of lung cancer patients and were significantly associated with lung cancer stage.

Conclusion

This study provides the first evidence for the prediction of lung cancer recurrence or metastasis by bacteria in lung cancer tissue. Our results highlights that bacterial biomarkers that distinguish RM and non-RM are also associated with patient survival and disease severity.