New biomarkers in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute leukemias

Metabolomics approach reveals key plasma biomarkers in multiple myeloma for diagnosis, staging, and prognosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most aggressive and prevalent primary malignant tumor within the blood system, and can be classified into grades RISS-I, II, and III. High-grade tumors are associated with decreased survival rates and increased recurrence rates. To better understand metabolic disorders and expand the potential targets for MM, we conducted large-scale untargeted metabolomics on plasma samples from MM patients and healthy controls (HC).

METHODS

Our study included 33 HC, 38 newly diagnosed MM patients (NDMM) categorized into three RISS grades (grade I: n = 5; grade II: n = 19; grade III: n = 8), and 92 MM patients post-targeted therapy with bortezomib-based regimens. Simultaneously, MM cell lines were employed for validation studies. Metabolites were analyzed and identified using ultra high liquid chromatography coupled with Q Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS), followed by verification through a self-built database.

RESULTS

Compared with HC participants, a total of 70 metabolites were identified as undergoing significant changes in NDMM. These metabolites were significantly enriched in citrate cycle, choline metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism, etc. Notably, a panel of circulating plasma metabolite biomarkers, including lactic acid and leucine, has emerged not only as diagnostic indicators but also as valuable tools for tumor surveillance, aiding in the assessment of disease stage and prognostic evaluation. Moreover, 14 differential metabolites were identified in both MM cell lines and MM patients. Among these, intracellular levels of lactate and leucine significantly decreased in vitro, aligning with the plasma results.

CONCLUSION

Our findings on key metabolites and metabolic pathways provide novel insights into the exploration of diagnostic and therapeutic targets for MM. A prospective study is essential to validate these discoveries for future MM patient care.

In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Anticancer Activity of Ilama Leaves: An Edible and Medicinal Plant in Mexico

Ilama leaves are an important source of secondary metabolites with promising anticancer properties. Cancer is a disease that affects a great number of people worldwide. This work aimed to investigate the in vivo, in vitro and in silico anticancer properties of three acyclic terpenoids (geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate) isolated from petroleum ether extract of ilama leaves. Their cytotoxic activity against U-937 cells was assessed using flow cytometry to determine the type of cell death and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, a morphological analysis of the lymph nodes and a molecular docking study using three proteins related with cancer as targets, namely, Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and VEGFR-2, were performed. The flow cytometry and histomorphological analysis revealed that geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate induced the death of U-937 cells by late apoptosis and necrosis. Geranylgeraniol and phytol induced a significant increase in ROS production. The molecular docking studies showed that geranylgeraniol had more affinity for Bcl-2 and VEGFR-2. In the case of farnesyl acetate, it showed the best affinity for Mcl-1. This study provides information that supports the anticancer potential of geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate as compounds for the treatment of cancer, particularly with the potential to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Geriatric nutritional risk index as a predictor of prognosis in hematologic malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Recent studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the association between geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and clinical outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs). We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of low GNRI on the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HMs.

Research Methods and Procedures

We conducted the research via PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify trials. Exploring the association between GNRI and prognosis in patients with HMs. A meta-analysis of OS and PFS was performed. Quality In Prognostic Studies instrument and Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment Scale were used to assess the quality of included trials.

Results

Fourteen studies enrolling 3,524 patients with HMs were included. Low GNRI was associated with shorter OS (Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.44-2.18, p < 0.01) and PFS (HR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.17-2.27, p < 0.01) in patients with HMs. In the subgroup analysis, GNRI was not significantly associated with prognosis in Chinese patients with HMs (OS, HR =1.33; 95% CI = 0.89-1.98, p = 0.16; PFS, HR = 1.70; 95% CI = 0.72-4.01, p = 0.23). For the subgroup with a GNRI cutoff value less than 98, there was no significant difference in PFS (HR = 1.34; 95% CI = 0.98-1.83, p = 0.06).

Conclusion

Low GNRI negatively impacted on the prognosis in patients with HMs. Prospective studies to identify the best cut-off value for GNRI are required.

Metabolic Biomarkers in B-Cell Lymphomas for Early Diagnosis and Prediction, as Well as Their Influence on Prognosis and Treatment

B-cell lymphomas exhibit a vast variety of clinical and histological characteristics that might complicate the diagnosis. Timely diagnosis is crucial, as treatments for aggressive subtypes are considered successful and frequently curative, whereas indolent B-cell lymphomas are incurable and often need several therapies. The purpose of this review is to explore the current advancements achieved in B-cell lymphomas metabolism and how these indicators help to early detect metabolic changes in B-cell lymphomas and the use of predictive biological markers in refractory or relapsed disease. Since the year 1920, the Warburg effect has been known as an integral part of metabolic reprogramming. Compared to normal cells, cancerous cells require more glucose. These cancer cells undergo aerobic glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation to metabolize glucose and form lactate as an end product. With the help of these metabolic alterations, a novel biomass is generated by the formation of various precursors. An aggressive metabolic phenotype is an aerobic glycolysis that has the advantage of producing high-rate ATP and preparing the biomass for the amino acid, as well as fatty acid, synthesis needed for a rapid proliferation of cells, while aerobic glycolysis is commonly thought to be the dominant metabolism in cancer cells. Later on, many metabolic biomarkers, such as increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma lactate, and deficiency of thiamine in B-cell lymphoma patients, were discovered. Various kinds of molecules can be used as biomarkers, such as genes, proteins, or hormones, because they all refer to body health. Here, we focus only on significant metabolic biomarkers in B-cell lymphomas. In conclusion, many metabolic biomarkers have been shown to have clinical validity, but many others have not been subjected to extensive testing to demonstrate their clinical usefulness in B-cell lymphoma. Furthermore, they play an essential role in the discovery of new therapeutic targets.

G protein nucleolar 3 promotes Non-Hodgkin lymphoma progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

G protein nucleolar 3 (GNL3), which acts as an oncoprotein in various carcinomas, is associated with tumor progression; however, little is known regarding GNL3 function in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In this study, we first used in silico analysis to determine associations between GNL3 and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We then examined the effect of GNL3 on NHL progression, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression, and determined its underlying molecular mechanism using in vitro lymphoma cell lines and in vivo mouse xenograft models. We found that GNL3 mRNA levels were markedly higher in DLBCL tissues than in normal tissues, with these higher levels associated with poor prognosis. Additionally, GNL3 overexpression promoted NHL cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and reduced apoptosis in vitro, and enhanced tumorigenesis in an in vivo xenograft model. Moreover, we found that GNL3 upregulated the levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related factors and downstream target genes, whereas the opposite result was observed in GNL3-silenced cells. Furthermore, a rescue experiment using a Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor (XAV939) confirmed that GNL3 promotes NHL progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings demonstrated that GNL3 functions as an oncogenic driver in NHL via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.