Ipatasertib (GDC-0068) and erdafitinib co-treatment for inducing mitochondrial apoptosis through Bim upregulation in bladder cancer cells

Construction and validation of a prognostic model for bladder cancer based on disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a prevalent and aggressive cancer associated with high mortality and poor prognosis. Currently, studies on the role of disulfidptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (DRLs) in BLCA are limited. This study aims to construct a prognostic model based on DRLs to improve the accuracy of survival predictions for patients and identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention in BLCA management.

METHODS

Transcriptomic and clinical datasets for patients with BLCA were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Using multivariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator techniques, a risk prognostic signature defined by DRLs was developed. The model's accuracy and prognostic relevance were assessed through Kaplan-Meier survival plots, receiver operating characteristic curves, concordance index, and principal component analysis. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, were conducted to elucidate the underlying biological processes. Immune cell infiltration was quantified using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Differences and functions of immune cells in different risk groups were evaluated through single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. The Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion predictor and tumor mutational burden (TMB) assessments were utilized to gauge the likelihood of response to immunotherapy. Drug sensitivity predictions were made using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database.

RESULTS

A robust 8-DRL risk prognostic model, comprising LINC00513, SMARCA5-AS1, MIR4435-2HG, MIR4713HG, AL122035.1, AL359762.3, AC006160.1, and AL590428.1, was identified as an independent prognostic indicator. This model demonstrated strong predictive power for overall survival in patients with BLCA, revealing significant disparities between high- and low-risk groups regarding tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, immune functions, TMB, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion scores, and drug susceptibility.

CONCLUSION

This study introduces an innovative prognostic signature of 8 DRLs, offering a valuable prognostic tool and potential therapeutic targets for bladder carcinoma. The findings have significant implications for TMB, the immune landscape, and patient responsiveness to immunotherapy and targeted treatments.

Molecular Targeting of the Phosphoinositide-3-Protein Kinase (PI3K) Pathway across Various Cancers

The dysregulation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway can lead to uncontrolled cellular growth and tumorigenesis. Targeting PI3K and its downstream substrates has been shown to be effective in preclinical studies and phase III trials with the approval of several PI3K pathway inhibitors by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the past decade. However, the limited clinical efficacy of these inhibitors, intolerable toxicities, and acquired resistances limit the clinical application of PI3K inhibitors. This review discusses the PI3K signaling pathway, alterations in the PI3K pathway causing carcinogenesis, current and novel PI3K pathway inhibitors, adverse effects, resistance mechanisms, challenging issues, and future directions of PI3K pathway inhibitors.

Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer: Latest Advances and Ongoing Clinical Trials

For nearly 50 years, immunotherapy has been used in patients with bladder cancer in the form of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which is still the first-line therapy for non-muscle invasive disease. However, the remarkable results obtained with checkpoint inhibitor drugs, including Pembrolizumab and Atezolizumab, have fueled the quest to optimize these and other forms of immunotherapy for both non-muscle invasive as well as advanced bladder cancer. In this review we summarize the current state of the rapidly evolving field of immunotherapy in bladder cancer highlighting novel approaches and ongoing trials in this exciting area of research.