1
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Song L, Liang X, Zhu M, Su Q, Li F. Knowledge mapping of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma: a bibliometric analysis (2000-2023). Front Immunol 2024; 14:1328103. [PMID: 38264659 PMCID: PMC10803603 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1328103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cervical carcinoma is a type of malignant tumor that primarily develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. In recent years, Despite the considerable progress made in immunotherapy research for cervical carcinoma, an important aspect has been largely overlooked - the absence of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field. By employing bibliometric techniques, this study aims to fill this gap and provide a comprehensive overview of the knowledge structure and research hotspots within the realm of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. Method A comprehensive search was conducted on the web of science core collection(WoSCC) database to identify publications related to immunotherapy specifically for the treatment of cervical carcinoma. The search spanned the period from the year 2000 to 2023. Several analytical tools were employed. These included VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix". Results A total of 654 research articles from 66 different countries have been included in the analysis. The United States and China have emerged as the leading countries in publishing research on immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. Leiden University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from the Netherlands and the United States respectively have a close cooperation. Fudan University from China and the German Cancer Research Center are also among the key institutions leading research in this area. Frontiers in Oncology has emerged as the most popular and widely recognized publication in the field of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology is frequently cited by researchers in this area. Van Der Burg, Sjoerd H has published the highest number of papers. Tewari, Krishnansu S has been the most co-cited author. Keywords such as PD-L1, chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have gained significant attention in recent years. Conclusion This is the first bibliometric study that comprehensively summarizes the research trends and developments of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. This groundbreaking study not only summarizes the current research trends and developments in immunotherapy for cervical carcinoma but also provides a reference for scholars studying the treatment of cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Song
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Binhai New Area Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Teaching Hospital, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinmei Liang
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Binhai New Area Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Teaching Hospital, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Min Zhu
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Binhai New Area Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Teaching Hospital, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Su
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Beijin Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengzhou Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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2
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Vemula S, Bonala S, Vadde NK, Natu JZ, Basha R, Vadde R, Ahmad S. Drug resistance and immunotherapy in gynecologic cancers. Life Sci 2023; 332:122104. [PMID: 37730109 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Gynecologic malignancies (GMs) are relatively less focused cancers by oncologists and researchers. The five-year survival rate of patients with GMs remained almost the same during the last decade. The development of drug resistance GMs makes it even more challenging to tackle due to tumor heterogeneity, genomic instability, viral/non-viral antigens, and etiological tumor origin. A precision medicine approach, including gene therapies, is under testing to restore tumor responsiveness to therapeutics and immunotherapy. With more data being uncovered, immunotherapy is emerging as a viable alternative for achieving promising results. This review highlights the drug resistance mechanisms and immunotherapeutic approaches to managing GMs better. The approval of immune therapeutic drugs in recent years shifted this notion. It provided hope for researchers, clinicians, and patients with GMs to experience the anti-cancer benefits of these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jay Z Natu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Raasil Basha
- Department of Biology-Environmental Health, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO, USA
| | - Ramakrishna Vadde
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.
| | - Sarfraz Ahmad
- AdventHealth Cancer Institute, Gynecologic Oncology Program, Orlando, FL, USA.
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Ma H, Wu F, Bai Y, Wang T, Ma S, Guo L, Liu G, Leng G, Kong Y, Zhang Y. Licoricidin combats gastric cancer by targeting the ICMT/Ras pathway in vitro and in vivo. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:972825. [PMID: 36339587 PMCID: PMC9629146 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.972825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Licoricidin, a type of isoflavonoid, is extracted from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra. It has been widely proven that licoricidin possesses multiple biological activities, including anti-cancer effects and a powerful antimicrobial effect against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). However, the exact mechanism of licoricidin against gastric cancer remains unclear. In this study, we comprehensively explored the effects of licoricidin on MGC-803 gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and further elucidated its mechanism of action. Our results revealed that licoricidin exhibited multiple anti-gastric cancer activities, including suppressing proliferation, inducing apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, and inhibiting the migration and invasion abilities of MGC-803 gastric cancer cells. In addition to this, a total of 5861 proteins were identified by quantitative proteomics research strategy of TMT labeling, of which 19 differential proteins (two upregulated and 17 downregulated) were screened out. Combining bioinformatics analyses and the reported roles in cancer progression of the 19 proteins, we speculated that isoprenyl carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT) was the most likely target of licoricidin. Western blot assays and IHC assays subsequently proved that licoricidin significantly downregulated the expression of ICMT, both in MGC-803 cells and in xenograft tumors. Moreover, licoricidin effectively reduced the level of active Ras-GTP and blocked the phosphorylation of Raf and Erk, which may be involved in its anti-gastric cancer effects. In summary, we first demonstrated that licoricidin exerted favorable anti-gastric cancer activities via the ICMT/Ras pathway, which suggests that licoricidin, as a natural product, could be a novel candidate for the management of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwei Ma
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Fahong Wu
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yinliang Bai
- Pharmacy Department, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Tianwei Wang
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shangxian Ma
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Liuqing Guo
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Guiyuan Liu
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Guangxian Leng
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yin Kong
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Youcheng Zhang
- Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- *Correspondence: Youcheng Zhang,
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Aloperine: A Potent Modulator of Crucial Biological Mechanisms in Multiple Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040905. [PMID: 35453655 PMCID: PMC9028564 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aloperine is an alkaloid found in the seeds and leaves of the medicinal plant Sophora alopecuroides L. It has been used as herbal medicine in China for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Recently, aloperine has been widely investigated for its therapeutic activities. Aloperine is proven to be an effective therapeutic agent against many human pathological conditions, including cancer, viral diseases, and cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders. Aloperine is reported to exert therapeutic effects through triggering various biological processes, including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, suppressing cell migration, and invasion. It has also been found to be associated with the modulation of various signaling pathways in different diseases. In this review, we summarize the most recent knowledge on the modulatory effects of aloperine on various critical biological processes and signaling mechanisms, including the PI3K, Akt, NF-κB, Ras, and Nrf2 pathways. These data demonstrate that aloperine is a promising therapeutic candidate. Being a potent modulator of signaling mechanisms, aloperine can be employed in clinical settings to treat various human disorders in the future.
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Li Y, Gao X, Yang C, Yan H, Li C. CircRNA hsa_circ_0018289 exerts an oncogenic role in cervical cancer progression through miR‐1294/ICMT axis. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24348. [PMID: 35312113 PMCID: PMC9102762 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yujuan Li
- Department of Gynaecology Linyi Central Hospital Linyi China
| | - Xiangrong Gao
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Juye County People’s Hospital Heze China
| | - Chaochao Yang
- Department of General Practice Linyi Central Hospital Linyi China
| | - Hua Yan
- Department of Gynaecology Linyi Central Hospital Linyi China
| | - Cui Li
- Department of Gynaecology Linyi Central Hospital Linyi China
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Isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase is critical for glioblastoma growth and survival by activating Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2022; 89:401-411. [PMID: 35171349 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-022-04401-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The poor outcomes in glioblastoma necessitate new therapeutic target. Isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT), a unique enzyme of the final step of prenylation that modifies activities of oncogenic proteins, represents a promising target for many cancers. METHODS Expression pattern, function and downstream pathway of ICMT in glioblastoma were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, cellular assays and immunoblotting method. Combinatory effect was analyzed using Chou-Talalay approach. RESULTS Upregulation of ICMT expression is a common phenomenon in glioblastoma patients regardless of clinicopathological characteristics. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function analysis support the role of ICMT in glioblastoma growth and survival but not migration. Importantly, pharmacological inhibitors of ICMT are effectively against glioblastoma cells while sparing normal neuron cells, and furthermore that they act synergistically with chemotherapeutic drugs. Consistently, ICMT inhibitor UCM-1336 significantly inhibits glioblastoma growth without causing toxicity in mice. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk rather than Ras/PI3K/Akt/mTOR is the downstream pathway of ICMT-mediated glioblastoma growth. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide the proof-of-concept of pharmacologically targeting ICMT in the treatment of glioblastoma via deactivation of Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk.
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7
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Teng X, Liu Y, Wang L, Wang G. Lidocaine exerts anticancer activity in bladder cancer by targeting isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase ( ICMT). Transl Androl Urol 2022; 10:4219-4230. [PMID: 34984187 PMCID: PMC8661257 DOI: 10.21037/tau-21-893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among humans and has a high mortality. Clinically, lidocaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic, which can inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells; however, its downstream specific molecular mechanisms are unclear. Methods The SwissTarget and TargetNet databases were used to analyze the target of lidocaine. The online public cancer transcriptome database UALCAN was used to analyze the up-regulated genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma (TCGA-BLCA) data collection, and the intersection of the 2 was used to obtain the core target. The only target, isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (ICMT), was obtained by combining the correlation between the target and the clinical information of bladder cancer and the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve. Then, UMUC3 and T24 cells were selected as research vectors in vitro. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Results Network pharmacology analysis showed that ICMT might be one of the targets of lidocaine, and the expression level of ICMT was closely related to the clinical phenotype of bladder cancer. Lidocaine treatment (4 and 8 mM) significantly inhibited the proliferation of UMUC3 and T24 cells, promoted apoptosis, and significantly inhibited the mass and volume of xenograft tumors. In vitro experiments showed that ICMT promoted the proliferation of UMUC3 and T24 cells. Lidocaine inhibited the expression of ICMT in UMUC3 and T24 cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner, and inhibited cell proliferation by down-regulating ICMT expression. Conclusions Lidocaine exerts anti-tumor effect by down-regulating the expression of ICMT in bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Teng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Guonian Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
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8
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Sun X, Yan H. MicroRNA-99a-5p suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase in oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:300060520939031. [PMID: 34038200 PMCID: PMC8161884 DOI: 10.1177/0300060520939031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNA (miR)-99a-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in several tumors, including bladder cancer and breast cancer, but its biological function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is poorly understood. METHODS miR-99a-5p expression was determined in OSCC tissues and cell lines using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation was assessed by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation assay. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to analyze migration and invasion abilities, respectively, in OSCC cells. The luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, and western blotting were used to determine the relationship between miR-99a-5p and isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (ICMT). RESULTS miR-99a-5p expression in OSCC tissues and cell lines was significantly decreased compared with corresponding controls, and was significantly associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in OSCC. Functional assays revealed that miR-99a-5p overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CAL-27 and TCA-8113 OSCC cells. miR-99a-5p was found to directly target ICMT, while ICMT restoration reversed the role of miR-99a-5p in OSCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that miR-99a-5p-mediates the down-regulation of ICMT, which could be used as a novel potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Sun
- Department of Stomatology, Yulin First Hospital, Yulin, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Huixin Yan
- Department of Stomatology, Yan'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, China
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9
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Wang SR, Sun W, Zhou N, Zhao K, Li WJ, Chi ZP, Wang Y, Wang QM, Tong L, He ZX, Han HY, Chen ZG. Effects of isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. HUA XI KOU QIANG YI XUE ZA ZHI = HUAXI KOUQIANG YIXUE ZAZHI = WEST CHINA JOURNAL OF STOMATOLOGY 2021; 39:64-73. [PMID: 33723939 DOI: 10.7518/hxkq.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the effects of silencing isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransfe-rase (Icmt) through small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference on the proliferation and apoptosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). METHODS Three siRNA were designed and constructed for the Icmt gene sequence and were then transfected into TSCC cells CAL-27 and SCC-4 to silence Icmt expression. The tested cells were divided as follows: RNA interference groups Icmt-siRNA-1, Icmt-siRNA-2, and Icmt-siRNA-3, negative control group, and blank control group. The transfection efficiency of siRNA was detected by the fluorescent group Cy3-labeled siRNA, and the expression of Icmt mRNA was screened by quantitive real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) selected the experimental group for subsequent experiments. The expression of Icmt, RhoA, Cyclin D1, p21, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) were analyzed by Western blot. The proliferation abilities of TSCC cells were determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. The change in apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-APC/propidium staining (PI) assay. Cell-cycle analysis was conducted by flow cytometry. RESULTS The expression of Icmt mRNA and protein in TSCC cells significantly decreased after Icmt-siRNA transfection (P<0.05). No significant difference in RhoA mRNA and protein expression was detected (P>0.05), but the expression of RhoA membrane protein decreased compared with the negative control group and blank control groups (P<0.05). Cyclin D1 expression decreased, whereas p21 expression significantly increased and the relative expression of ERK protein in the experimental group did not significantly different that in the control group (P>0.05). However, the phosphorylation level of ERK was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The cell cycles of TSCC CAL-27 and SCC-4 were altered in G1/S, cell proliferation activity was inhibited, and apoptosis was induced (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Silencing Icmt can effectively downregulate its expression in TSCC cells, reduce the RhoA membrane targeting localization and cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis. Thus, Icmt may be a potential gene therapy target for TSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Ru Wang
- Dept. of Stomatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.,School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Dept. of Stomatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Nan Zhou
- College of Stomatology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261021, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Wen-Jian Li
- School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Zeng-Peng Chi
- College of Stomatology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261021, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Dept. of Stomatology, Fourth People,s Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250031, China
| | - Qi-Min Wang
- Dept. of Stomatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lei Tong
- Dept. of Stomatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Zong-Xuan He
- Dept. of Oral and Maxillafacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266005, China
| | - Hong-Yu Han
- Dept. of Stomatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Zheng-Gang Chen
- Dept. of Stomatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
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Ras inhibition by zoledronic acid effectively sensitizes cervical cancer to chemotherapy. Anticancer Drugs 2020; 30:821-827. [PMID: 30882399 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of Ras is common in several human cancers, including cervical cancer. In this study, we show that Ras function can be inhibited by zoledronic acid (ZA) owing to its ability in inhibiting protein prenylation. Using in-vitro cell culture system and an in-vivo xenograft mouse model, the effects of ZA on cervical cancer cell growth and survival were determined. The molecular mechanisms of ZA's action were analyzed focusing on prenylation and its downstream signaling pathways. ZA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of multiple cervical cancer cell lines regardless of their cellular origin and genetic profiling. The combination of ZA with paclitaxel or doxorubicin was superior to a single drug alone in cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. Notably, complete inhibition of cervical cancer growth was observed in the combination groups. Mechanistically, ZA inhibited prenylation of oncoproteins. Ras activity was largely affected by ZA in a prenylation-dependent manner. Consistently, Ras-mediated signaling pathways such as Raf/ERK and AKt/mTOR were deactivated in cervical cancer cells exposed to ZA. Overexpression of constitutively active Ras reversed the inhibitory effects of ZA, confirming that Ras inhibition was required for the action of ZA in cervical cancer. Despite extensive efforts, there has been limited progress in the development of direct Ras inhibitors. Our findings suggest that ZA inhibits Ras activity. Our work provides fundamental evidence to repurpose ZA for the treatment of cervical cancer.
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Xu J, Zhu Y, Wang F, Zhou Y, Xia G, Xu W. ICMT contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma growth, survival, migration and chemoresistance via multiple oncogenic pathways. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 518:584-589. [PMID: 31451223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.08.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (Icmt) which catalyzes the final step of prenylation of many oncoproteins, such as Ras. Despite studies on Icmt and its regulation in biological activities of various cancers, little is known on the expression, function and mechanisms of the impact of Icmt on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report here the findings that Icmt is critical for HCC growth, migration, survival and chemoresistance by multiple oncogenic pathways. Expression analysis on primary patient and cell line samples demonstrated that Icmt protein level was significantly higher in the majority (∼70%) of HCC tissues and cells than corresponding normal counterparts. Icmt depletion inhibited growth, survival and migration in HCC cells, and augmented the inhibitory effects of doxorubicin. Consistently, Icmt also inhibited growth, and migration, and induced apoptosis in HCC cells that are resistant to doxorubicin. In contrast, Icmt overexpression promoted growth and migration in normal liver cells. Mechanistically, Icmt inhibition suppressed Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC cells. Several different approaches demonstrated that Icmt was critical for HCC biological activities with the predominant role in cell response to chemotherapy. This previously unappreciated function of Icmt can be targeted to enhance chemotherapy in particular those HCC patients with high Icmt expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Xu
- Department of Liver Disease Center, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Information Management Section, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei province, China
| | - Guili Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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12
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Isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma chemoresistance and Ras activation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:784-789. [PMID: 31253403 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.06.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Development of chemo-resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses the therapeutic challenge and its mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this work, we demonstrate that targeting isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (Icmt) is a therapeutic strategy to overcome NPC chemo-resistance. We found that Icmt mRNA and protein levels were increased in NPC cells after prolonged exposure to chemotherapy. Using pharmacological inhibitor cysmethynil or genetic siRNA approaches, we showed that Icmt inhibition was more effective against chemoresistant compared to chemosensitive NPC cells, suggesting that chemoresistant NPC cells is more dependent on Icmt function. The combination of Icmt inhibition with 5-FU or cisplatin resulted in greater efficacy than single chemotherapeutic agent alone in NPC. Notably, we demonstrated that the in vitro observations were translatable to in vivo NPC cancer xenograft mouse model. Mechanism analysis indicated that Icmt inhibition decreased Ras and RhoA activities, leading to the suppression of Ras and RhoA-mediated downstream signaling in NPC cells. The reverse of the inhibitory effects of cysmethynil by constitutively active Ras suggests that Ras is the critical effector of Icmt in NPC cells. Our work is the first to show that Icmt plays an important role in the development of NPC chemoresistance. Our findings also suggest that targeting Icmt represents a promising strategy to inhibit Ras function.
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Pan Q, Xu J, Ma L. Simvastatin enhances chemotherapy in cervical cancer via inhibition of multiple prenylation-dependent GTPases-regulated pathways. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2019; 34:32-40. [PMID: 31058344 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of GTPases is common in cervical cancer, and their proper biological functions largely depend on a post-translational modification termed prenylation. Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug via inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, thereby inhibiting protein prenylation. In this study, we show that simvastatin selectively inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in cervical cancer cells while sparing normal cervical epithelial cells. This is achieved by depleting geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, inhibiting prenylation, decreasing GTPases activities and suppressing the activation of downstream Ras and RhoA signaling. The combination of simvastatin and paclitaxel remarkably augments in vitro as well as in vivo efficacy of either drug alone in cellular system and xenograft mouse model. Importantly, we show that cervical cancer cells have higher level of HMG-CoA reductase and elevated activities of GTPases, suggesting that cervical cancer cells may be more dependent on prenylation than normal cervical epithelial cells. This might explain the selective inhibitory effects of simvastatin in cervical cancer. Since simvastatin is already available for clinic use, these results suggest that simvastatin is a promising drug candidate in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer. Our findings also emphasize the therapeutic value of prenylation inhibition and provide preclinical evidence to evaluate prenylation-targeted drugs in cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Pan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jingzhou Central Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China
| | - Jiazhen Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jingzhou Central Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Orthopaedics, Jingzhou Central Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China
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14
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Li J, Chen Q, Deng Z, Chen X, Liu H, Tao Y, Wang X, Lin S, Liu N. KRT17 confers paclitaxel-induced resistance and migration to cervical cancer cells. Life Sci 2019; 224:255-262. [PMID: 30928404 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.03.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
AIM To understand potential pro-oncological effects of lower dose paclitaxel treatment in cervical cancer cells, we investigated the potential roles of KRT17 on migration and proliferation of cervical cancer cells which might respond to cytoskeletal-based drugs treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS We extracted the clinic data of cervical cancer patients from TCGA database to investigate mRNA expression of different keratins. HPV genotypes were identified by reverse transcription PCR. krt17 mRNA and EMT markers were quantified by real-time PCR. krt17 and EMT markers protein were immunoblotted by western blot. Cell viability was detected by CCK8. Cell migration was performed by transwell migration assay. KEY FINDINGS Our results showed that HPV16 infection correlated with the expression of KRT17 in cervical cancer cell lines. KRT17 knockdown would decrease Snail2 and elevate E-Cadherin to inhibit migration of Caski cells and SiHa cells. Lower dose of paclitaxel promoted SiHa proliferation, it also significantly promoted the migration of Caski cells. Otherwise, colchicine and higher dose of paclitaxel dose-dependently suppressed the proliferation and migration of Caski cells and SiHa cells. Moreover, KRT17 knockdown significantly facilitated cytoskeletal-based drugs to inhibit migration and induce cytotoxicity in cervical cancer cells. SIGNIFICANCE KRT17 played pivotal oncogenic roles in cell survival, migration and paclitaxel-induced resistance of cervical cancer cells. Thus, KRT17 would serve as a promising target for compromising paclitaxel-induced resistance and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyuan Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, PR China
| | - Qiufang Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, PR China
| | - Zhendong Deng
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China
| | - Hong Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China
| | - Ying Tao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, PR China
| | - Shaoqiang Lin
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, PR China.
| | - Naihua Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China.
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15
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Dun S, Gao L. Tanshinone I attenuates proliferation and chemoresistance of cervical cancer in a KRAS-dependent manner. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2018; 33:e22267. [PMID: 30506648 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a common occurrence during advanced or recurrent cervical cancer therapy when treated by conventional treatment, platinum-based chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of tanshinone I on attenuating proliferation and chemoresistance of cervical cancer cells. In cervical cancer cells, cell proliferation was examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), cell count, and soft-agar colony-formation assay. rVista analysis and luciferase reporter assay were used to explore the upstream regulator of KRAS, and the expression levels of key genes were also detected. Western blot analysis showed that tanshinone I significantly suppressed KRAS expression and inhibited AKT phosphorylation. rVista analysis and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that ELK1 can binds directly to KRAS promoter and positively regulates KRAS expression. MTT assay showed that KRAS or ELK1 overexpression significantly attenuated the suppressive effects of tanshinone I on HeLa cells proliferation. In addition, tanshinone I recovered the cisplatin sensitivity of HeLa CR cells, whereas KRAS or ELK1 overexpression significantly inhibited this phenomenon. Our results suggested that tanshinone I had anticancer effects on cervical cancer cells via inhibiting ELK1 and downregulating KRAS-AKT axis, which subsequently suppressed the proliferation and cisplatin resistance of cervical cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidi Dun
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Daqing Oilfield General Hospital, Daqing, China
| | - Lan Gao
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Daqing Oilfield General Hospital, Daqing, China
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16
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You L, Liu X, Fang Z, Xu Q, Zhang Q. Synthesis of multifunctional Fe 3O 4@PLGA-PEG nano-niosomes as a targeting carrier for treatment of cervical cancer. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2018; 94:291-302. [PMID: 30423711 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A new folic acid (FA)-conjugated poly (lactic-co-glycolicacid) (PLGA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nano-noisome was prepared. The noisome was employed as a drug delivery system to load curcumin (Cur) as a model drug and fluorescent probe for cervical cancer therapy and cell imaging. The Fe3O4@PLGA-PEG@FA noisomes were prepared through facile emulsion solvent evaporation and conjugation chemistry method, possessing the properties of high rapid magnetic separation and targeting character. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were adopted to characterize the chemical structure and properties of these niosomes. MTT assay revealed that the blank noisomes exhibited excellent biocompatibility. The in vitro drug loading and release behavior studier showed the as prepared nano-noisome presented ultrahigh performance as drug carrier. The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry (FCM) experiments demonstrated that Cur-loaded Fe3O4@PLGA-PEG@FA niosomes achieved significantly high targeting efficiency for cervical cancer. Additionally, the FA-targeted niosomes exhibited higher antitumor efficiency than free Cur. Cell morphology, the mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle changes indicated that Cur-loaded niosomes induced HeLa229 cells to apoptosis by destroying mitochondrion of cervical tumor cells, simultaneously changing nuclear morphology and blocking tumor cell proliferation. These results demonstrate that Fe3O4@PLGA-PEG@FA noisomes have promising applications as targeted drug delivery system for sustained drug release in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun You
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350001, China.
| | - Xiaocui Liu
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Zhexiang Fang
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Qianhui Xu
- College of Oral Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Qiqing Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350001, China.
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17
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Tian D, Li Y, Li X, Tian Z. Aloperine inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion and induces apoptosis by blocking the Ras signaling pathway in human breast cancer cells. Mol Med Rep 2018; 18:3699-3710. [PMID: 30132540 PMCID: PMC6131600 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aloperine (Alo), as a quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from S. alopecuroide, has the positive activities of anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, antitumor and anti-viral. However, the role and mechanism of Alo in breast cancer have not been studied yet. In the present study, Alo markedly inhibited the proliferation and suppressed the colony formation ability of the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in a dose-dependent manner by Cell Counting kit-8 and colony formation assays, respectively. In addition, the results of confocal microscopy analysis and flow cytometry detection revealed that Alo induced the apoptosis of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, and western blotting indicated that Alo upregulated the protein levels of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9, and downregulated the expression of Bcl-2. Furthermore, the results of wound healing, Transwell migration and invasion assays demonstrated that Alo inhibited the migration and invasion of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, and reduced the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Alo also downregulated the protein expressions of Ras, phosphorylated (p)-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase 1 and p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Furthermore, ISIS 2503, a Ras inhibitor, inhibited colony formation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed the migration and invasion of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. These effects were more marked in the presence of ISIS 2503 and Alo, when compared with those of either agent alone. In conclusion, the present study reported a novel use of Alo in inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion, and inducing the apoptosis of human breast cancer cells by blocking the Ras signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delong Tian
- Department of Rehabilitation, Binzhou Central Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 210557, P.R. China
| | - Yanhai Li
- Department of General Surgery, Binzhou Central Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 210557, P.R. China
| | - Xinxin Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, Binzhou Central Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 210557, P.R. China
| | - Zhenzhen Tian
- Department of Rehabilitation, Binzhou Central Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 210557, P.R. China
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18
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Liu Q, Chen J, Fu B, Dai J, Zhao Y, Lai L. Isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase regulates ovarian cancer cell response to chemotherapy and Ras activation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 501:556-562. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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