Guggulsterone decreases proliferation and metastatic behavior of pancreatic cancer cells by modulating JAK/STAT and Src/FAK signaling. Cancer Lett. 2013;341:166-177. [PMID: 23920124 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.07.037]

Preclinical development and clinical studies of targeted JAK/STAT combined Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) binds to its ligand to help tumours evade the immune system and promote tumour progression. Although anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies show powerful effects in some patients, most patients are unable to benefit from this treatment due to treatment resistance. Therefore, it is important to overcome tumour resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. There is substantial evidence suggesting that the JAK/STAT signalling pathway plays a significant role in PD-1/PD-L1 expression and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. Herein, we describe the effects of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway on PD-1/PD-L1. Subsequently, the relationship between molecular mutations in the JAK/STAT signalling pathway and immune resistance was analysed. Finally, the latest advancements in drugs targeting the JAK/STAT pathway combined with PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors are summarised.

Farnesoid X receptor promotes non-small cell lung cancer metastasis by activating Jak2/STAT3 signaling via transactivation of IL-6ST and IL-6 genes

Metastasis accounts for the majority of cases of cancer recurrence and death in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) is a bile acid nuclear receptor that was recently found to be upregulated in NSCLC tissues. However, whether and how FXR regulates NSCLC metastasis remains unclear. In the present study, it was found that FXR promoted the migration, invasion, and angiogenic ability of NSCLC cells in vitro, and increased NSCLC metastasis in a mouse model in vivo. Mechanistic investigation demonstrated that FXR specifically bound to the promoters of IL-6ST and IL-6 genes to upregulate their transcription, thereby leading to activation of the Jak2/STAT3 signaling pathway, which facilitated tumor migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in NSCLC. Notably, Z-guggulsterone, a natural FXR inhibitor, significantly reduced FXRhigh NSCLC metastasis, and decreased the expression of FXR, IL-6, IL-6ST, and p-STAT3 in the mouse model. Clinical analysis verified that FXR was positively correlated with IL-6, IL-6ST and p-STAT3 expression in NSCLC patients, and was indicative of a poor prognosis. Collectively, these results highlight a novel FXR-induced IL-6/IL-6ST/Jak2/STAT3 axis in NSCLC metastasis, and a promising therapeutic means for treating FXRhigh metastatic NSCLC.

Current stage of preclinical and clinical development of guggulsterone in cancers: Challenges and promises

Throughout human history, the utilization of medicinal herbs has been recognized as a crucial defense against various ailments, including cancer. Natural products with potential anticancer properties, capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, have garnered substantial attention. One such agent under investigation is guggulsterone (GS), a phytosterol derived from the gum resin of the Commiphora mukul tree. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of recent studies elucidating the anticancer molecular mechanisms and molecular targets of GS, guiding future research and potential applications as an adjuvant drug in cancer therapy. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies have explored the biological activities of the active ingredients in Commiphora mukul. Specifically, GS emerges as a potential cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic agent. The investigations delve into the impact of GS on constitutively activated survival pathways, including Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), and PI3-kinase/AKT signaling pathways. These pathways regulate antiapoptotic and proinflammatory genes, exerting control over growth and inflammatory responses. The findings highlight the potential of GS in disrupting survival pathways crucial for cancer cell viability. The inhibition of JAK/STAT, NF-kB, and PI3-kinase/AKT signaling pathways positions GS as a promising candidate for cancer therapy. The review synthesizes evidence from diverse studies, underscoring the multifaceted biological activities of GS in cancer prevention and treatment. To advance our understanding, future clinical and translational studies are imperative to determine effective doses in humans. Additionally, there is a need for the development of new pharmaceutical forms of GS to optimize therapeutic effects. This comprehensive review provides a foundation for ongoing research, offering insights into the potential of GS as a valuable addition to the armamentarium against cancer.

Guggulsterone - a potent bioactive phytosteroid: synthesis, structural modification, and its improved bioactivities

Guggulsterone is a phytosteroid derived from the oleo-gum resin of the critically endangered plant Commiphora wightii. This molecule has attracted increasing attention due to its excellent biochemistry potential and the compound has consequently been evaluated in clinical trials. With a low concentration in natural resources but wide medicinal and therapeutic value, chemists have developed several synthetic routes for guggulsterone starting from various steroid precursors. Moreover, numerous studies have attempted to modify its structure to improve the biological properties. Nowadays, green and sustainable chemistry has also attracted more attention for advanced chemical processes and reactions in steroid chemistry. The present review aimed to summarize the literature and provide an update about the improvements in the chemical synthesis and structural modification of guggulsterone from the view of green chemistry. Moreover, this review encompasses the improved activities of structurally modified guggulsterone derivatives. We expect that the information provided here will be useful to researchers working in this field and on this molecule.

Cellular mechanotransduction in health and diseases: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic targets

Cellular mechanotransduction, a critical regulator of numerous biological processes, is the conversion from mechanical signals to biochemical signals regarding cell activities and metabolism. Typical mechanical cues in organisms include hydrostatic pressure, fluid shear stress, tensile force, extracellular matrix stiffness or tissue elasticity, and extracellular fluid viscosity. Mechanotransduction has been expected to trigger multiple biological processes, such as embryonic development, tissue repair and regeneration. However, prolonged excessive mechanical stimulation can result in pathological processes, such as multi-organ fibrosis, tumorigenesis, and cancer immunotherapy resistance. Although the associations between mechanical cues and normal tissue homeostasis or diseases have been identified, the regulatory mechanisms among different mechanical cues are not yet comprehensively illustrated, and no effective therapies are currently available targeting mechanical cue-related signaling. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of typical mechanical cues in normal conditions and diseases with the updated evidence. The key effectors responding to mechanical stimulations are listed, such as Piezo channels, integrins, Yes-associated protein (YAP) /transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). We also reviewed the key signaling pathways, therapeutic targets and cutting-edge clinical applications of diseases related to mechanical cues.

The role of lysosomal peptidases in glioma immune escape: underlying mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system, which has the characteristics of strong invasion, frequent recurrence, and rapid progression. These characteristics are inseparable from the evasion of glioma cells from immune killing, which makes immune escape a great obstacle to the treatment of glioma, and studies have confirmed that glioma patients with immune escape tend to have poor prognosis. The lysosomal peptidase lysosome family plays an important role in the immune escape process of glioma, which mainly includes aspartic acid cathepsin, serine cathepsin, asparagine endopeptidases, and cysteine cathepsins. Among them, the cysteine cathepsin family plays a prominent role in the immune escape of glioma. Numerous studies have confirmed that glioma immune escape mediated by lysosomal peptidases has something to do with autophagy, cell signaling pathways, immune cells, cytokines, and other mechanisms, especially lysosome organization. The relationship between protease and autophagy is more complicated, and the current research is neither complete nor in-depth. Therefore, this article reviews how lysosomal peptidases mediate the immune escape of glioma through the above mechanisms and explores the possibility of lysosomal peptidases as a target of glioma immunotherapy.

A PKM2 inhibitor induces apoptosis and autophagy through JAK2 in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

The enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is involved in glycolysis, which plays an important role in the regulation of tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of N-(4-(3-(3-(methylamino)-3-oxopropyl)-5-(4'-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)propiolamide (MTP), a PKM2 inhibitor, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. Our results showed that MTP inhibited cell growth with IC50 values of 0.59 μM and 0.78 μM in SCC2095 and HSC3 OSCC cells, respectively. MTP induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was associated with the modulation of PKM2 and oncogenic biomarkers epidermal growth factor receptor and β-catenin. In addition, MTP increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulated the expression of autophagic gene products, including LC3B-II and p62. Western blotting showed that MTP inhibited Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling, and JAK2 overexpression partially reversed MTP-mediated cytotoxicity. Taken together, these data indicate the potential use of MTP as a therapeutic agent for OSCC.

The critical role of the phytosterols in modulating tumor microenvironment via multiple signaling: A comprehensive molecular approach

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and its cases are rapidly increasing every year. Several factors contribute to the development of tumorigenesis. including radiation, dietary lifestyle, smoking, environmental, and genetic factors. The cell cycle is regulated by a variety of molecular signaling proteins. However, when the proteins involved in the cell cycle regulation are altered, cellular growth and proliferation are significantly affected. Natural products provide an important source of new drug development for a variety of ailments. including cancer. Phytosterols (PSs) are an important class of natural compounds reported for numerous pharmacological activities, including cancer. Various PSs, such as ergosterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, withaferin A, etc., have been reported for their anti-cancer activities against a variety of cancer by modulating the tumor microenvironment via molecular signaling pathways discussed within the article. These signaling pathways are associated with the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, growth factors, chemokines, and pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes. These mediators and their upstream signaling are very active within the variety of tumors and by modulating these signalings, thus PS exhibits promising anti-cancer activities. However, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy as well the safety of the phytosterols.

Guggulsterone inhibits migration and invasion through proteasomal and lysosomal degradation in human glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a deadly brain malignancy, and current therapies offer limited survival benefit. The phytosterol guggulsterone (GS) has been shown to exhibit antitumor efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GS on migration and invasion and its underlying mechanisms in human GBM cell lines. After GS treatment, the survival rate of GBM cells was reduced, and the migration and invasion abilities of GBM cells were significantly decreased. There was also concomitant decreased expression of focal adhesion complex, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), MMP9 and cathepsin B. Furthermore, GS induced ERK phosphorylation and autophagy, with increased p62 and LC3B-II expression. Notably, treatment of in GBM cells with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 or the lysosome inhibitor NH4Cl reversed the GS-mediated inhibition of migration and invasion. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, immunohistochemical staining of brain tumor tissues demonstrated that MMP2 and cathepsin B expression was reduced in GS-treated mice. GS treatment inhibited GBM cell migration and invasion via proteasomal and lysosomal degradation, suggesting its therapeutic potential in clinical use in the future.

Anti-cancer activity of guggulsterone by modulating apoptotic markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Guggulsterone (pregna-4,17-diene-3,16-dione; C₂₁H₂₈O₂) is an effective phytosterol isolated from the gum resin of the tree Commiphora wightii (Family Burseraceae) and is responsible for many of the properties of guggul. This plant is widely used as traditional medicine in Ayurveda and Unani system of medicine. It exhibits several pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-septic and anticancer. In this article, the activities of Guggulsterone against cancerous cells were determined and summarized. Methods: Using 7 databases (PubMed, PMC, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Cochrane and Ctri.gov), the literature search was conducted since conception until June 2021. Extensive literature search yielded 55,280 studies from all the databases. A total of 40 articles were included in the systematic review and of them, 23 articles were included in the meta-analysis.The cancerous cell lines used in the studies were for pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, prostrate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, gut derived adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, glioblastoma, histiocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and non-small cell lung cancer. The reliability of the selected studies was assessed using ToxRTool. Results: Based on this review, guggulsterone significantly affected pancreatic cancer (MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1, PC-Sw, CD18/HPAF, Capan1, PC-3), hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC/PRF/5R), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC4, UM-22b, 1483), cholangiocarcinoma (HuCC-T1, RBE, Sk-ChA-1, Mz-ChA-1) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CP-18821, OE19), prostrate cancer (PC-3), colon cancer (HT-29), breast cancer (MCF7/DOX), gut derived adenocarcinoma (Bic-1), gastric cancer (SGC-7901), colorectal cancer (HCT116), bladder cancer (T24, TSGH8301), glioblastoma (A172, U87MG, T98G), histiocytic leukemia (U937), acute myeloid leukemia (HL60, U937) and non-small cell lung cancer (A549, H1975) by inducing apoptotic pathways, inhibiting cell proliferation, and regulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis. Guggulsterone is known to have therapeutic and preventive effects on various categories of cancers. It can inhibit the progression of tumors and can even reduce their size by inducing apoptosis, exerting anti-angiogenic effects, and modulating various signaling cascades. In vitro studies reveal that Guggulsterone inhibits and suppresses the proliferation of an extensive range of cancer cells by decreasing intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis, regulating NF-kB/STAT3/β-Catenin/PI3K/Akt/CHOP pathway, modulating the expression of associated genes/proteins, and inhibiting angiogenesis. Furthermore, Guggulsterone reduces the production of inflammatory markers, such as CDX2 and COX-2. The other mechanism of the Guggulsterone activity is the reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance. Twenty three studies were selected for meta-analysis following the PRISMA statements. Fixed effect model was used for reporting the odds ratio. The primary endpoint was percentage apoptosis. 11 of 23 studies reported the apoptotic effect at t = 24 h and pooled odds ratio was 3.984 (CI 3.263 to 4.865, p < 0.001). 12 studies used Guggulsterone for t > 24 h and the odds ratio was 11.171 (CI 9.148 to 13.643, 95% CI, p < 0.001). The sub-group analysis based on cancer type, Guggulsterone dose, and treatment effects. Significant alterations in the level of apoptotic markers were reported by Guggulsterone treatment. Conclusion: This study suggested that Guggulsterone has apoptotic effects against various cancer types. Further investigation of its pharmacological activity and mechanism of action should be conducted. In vivo experiments and clinical trials are required to confirm the anticancer activity.

Nucleoside transporters and immunosuppressive adenosine signaling in the tumor microenvironment: Potential therapeutic opportunities

Adenosine compartmentalization has a profound impact on immune cell function by regulating adenosine localization and, therefore, extracellular signaling capabilities, which suppresses immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment. Nucleoside transporters, responsible for the translocation and cellular compartmentalization of hydrophilic adenosine, represent an understudied yet crucial component of adenosine disposition in the tumor microenvironment. In this review article, we will summarize what is known regarding nucleoside transporter's function within the purinome in relation to currently devised points of intervention (i.e., ectonucleotidases, adenosine receptors) for cancer immunotherapy, alterations in nucleoside transporter expression reported in cancer, and potential avenues for targeting of nucleoside transporters for the desired modulation of adenosine compartmentalization and action. Further, we put forward that nucleoside transporters are an unexplored therapeutic opportunity, and modulation of nucleoside transport processes could attenuate the pathogenic buildup of immunosuppressive adenosine in solid tumors, particularly those enriched with nucleoside transport proteins.

Z-Guggulsterone Is a Potential Lead Molecule of Dawa-ul-Kurkum against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

An ancient saffron-based polyherbal formulation, Dawa-ul-Kurkum (DuK), has been used to treat liver ailments and other diseases and was recently evaluated for its anticancer potential against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by our research team. To gain further insight into the lead molecule of DuK, we selected ten active constituents belonging to its seven herbal constituents (crocin, crocetin, safranal, jatamansone, isovaleric acid, cinnamaldehyde, coumaric acid, citral, guggulsterone and dehydrocostus lactone). We docked them with 32 prominent proteins that play important roles in the development, progression and suppression of HCC and those involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress to identify the binding interactions between them. Three reference drugs for HCC (sorafenib, regorafenib, and nivolumab) were also examined for comparison. The in silico studies revealed that, out of the ten compounds, three of them—viz., Z-guggulsterone, dehydrocostus lactone and crocin—showed good binding efficiency with the HCC and ER stress proteins. Comparison of binding affinity with standard drugs was followed by preliminary in vitro screening of these selected compounds in human liver cancer cell lines. The results provided the basis for selecting Z-guggulsterone as the best-acting phytoconstituent amongst the 10 studied. Further validation of the binding efficiency of Z-guggulsterone was undertaking using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. The effects of Z-guggulsterone on clone formation and cell cycle progression were also assessed. The anti-oxidant potential of Z-guggulsterone was analyzed through DPPH and FRAP assays. qRTPCR was utilized to check the results at the in vitro level. These results indicate that Z-guggulsterone should be considered as the main constituent of DuK instead of the crocin in saffron, as previously hypothesized.

Exploration of the System-Level Mechanisms of the Herbal Drug FDY003 for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: A Network Pharmacological Investigation

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most lethal cancer with the lowest survival rate globally. Although the prescription of herbal drugs against PC is gaining increasing attention, their polypharmacological therapeutic mechanisms are yet to be fully understood. Based on network pharmacology, we explored the anti-PC properties and system-level mechanisms of the herbal drug FDY003. FDY003 decreased the viability of human PC cells and strengthened their chemosensitivity. Network pharmacological analysis of FDY003 indicated the presence of 16 active phytochemical components and 123 PC-related pharmacological targets. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the PC-related targets of FDY003 participate in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation, cell cycle process, cell survival, and cell death. In addition, FDY003 was shown to target diverse key pathways associated with PC pathophysiology, namely, the PIK3-Akt, MAPK, FoxO, focal adhesion, TNF, p53, HIF-1, and Ras pathways. Our network pharmacological findings advance the mechanistic understanding of the anti-PC properties of FDY003 from a system perspective.

TNFSF9 promotes metastasis of pancreatic cancer by regulating M2 polarization of macrophages through Src/FAK/p-Akt/IL-1β signaling

The effect of tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 9 (TNFSF9) on the metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. We studied the expression of TNFSF9 in pancreatic cancer and its relationship with immune cells. We further explored the effect of TNFSF9 on pancreatic cancer metastasis by inducing macrophage polarization, and evaluated the expression of Src/FAK/p-Akt/IL-1β signals in macrophages after knocking down TNFSF9. The data shows that TNFSF9 expression is elevated in pancreatic cancer and is related to the poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. In addition, TNFSF9 may induce the M2 polarization of macrophages through Src/FAK/p-Akt/IL-1β signals, thereby promoting the migration of pancreatic cancer cells. In conclusion, our data reveals that TNFSF9 may become a predictive biomarker of pancreatic cancer and provides a new intervention target for the immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer.

Role of human nucleoside transporters in pancreatic cancer and chemoresistance

The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is poor with the overall 5-year survival rate of less than 5% changing minimally over the past decades and future projections predicting it developing into the second leading cause of cancer related mortality within the next decade. Investigations into the mechanisms of pancreatic cancer development, progression and acquired chemoresistance have been constant for the past few decades, thus resulting in the identification of human nucleoside transporters and factors affecting cytotoxic uptake via said transporters. This review summaries the aberrant expression and role of human nucleoside transports in pancreatic cancer, more specifically human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1/2 (hENT1, hENT2), and human concentrative nucleoside transporter 1/3 (hCNT1, hCNT3), while briefly discussing the connection and importance between these nucleoside transporters and mucins that have also been identified as being aberrantly expressed in pancreatic cancer. The review also discusses the incidence, current diagnostic techniques as well as the current therapeutic treatments for pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we address the importance of chemoresistance in nucleoside analogue drugs, in particular, gemcitabine and we discuss prospective therapeutic treatments and strategies for overcoming acquired chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer by the enhancement of human nucleoside transporters as well as the potential targeting of mucins using a combination of mucolytic compounds with cytotoxic agents.

Prognostic values and clinical relationship of TYK2 in laryngeal squamous cell cancer

ABSTRACT

Laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) is the second most common head and neck cancer with the increasing mortality. The tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) has previously been reported to play an important role in various cancers excepting LSCC. We used available data from the cancer genome atlas program (TCGA), gene expression omnibus, and gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) to evaluate the role of TYK2 in LSCC.The difference of TYK2 expression level between normal and tumor samples was analyzed based on TCGA, gene expression omnibus, and GEPIA databases. The relationship between clinical features and TYK2 were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. We applied Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method to finding which clinical characteristics is associated with overall survival. Also, we used GEPIA database to validate the relationship between TYK2 and overall survival. At last, we performed gene set enrichment analysis based on TCGA data set.The expression level of TYK2 in LSCC was significantly associated with gender, lymph node status and metastasis (P-values <.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, as same as GEPIA validation, demonstrated that LSCC with TYK2-low had a worse prognosis than that with TYK2-high. The univariate analysis showed that TYK2-high correlated significantly with a better overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.351, 95% confidence interval: 0.194-0.637, P < .001). The multivariate analysis revealed that TYK2 remained independently associated with overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.185-0.699, P = .003). Gene set enrichment analysis shows that Janus kinases-STAT signaling pathway, p53 signalling pathway and natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, etc are enriched in TYK2 high expression phenotype.Gene TYK2 may be a potential prognostic molecular marker for LSCC. Moreover, the Janus kinases-STAT signaling pathway and p53 signaling pathway are probably the key pathway associated with TYK2 in LC.

Synergistic Effect of Gefitinib and Temozolomide on U87MG Glioblastoma Angiogenesis

One of the most common and deadly brain tumors is Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Due to recent advances in angiogenesis and its related key factors, this process as a hallmark in glioblastoma has attracted more consideration from the research community. Temozolomide (TMZ) as the first-line treatment used to treat GBM but, resistance to TMZ limits its effectiveness and the need for better treatments is still felt. Therefore, we aimed to examine the Synergistic effects of Gefitinib (GFI) in combination with Temozolomide on VEGF and MMPs in glioma cell line (U87MG). Our results displayed that GFI could induce cytotoxic effects in U87MG with IC50 values of 11 μM. U87MG cells produced large amounts of VEGF without any stimuli, and the results showed that GFI in combination with TMZ caused a significant decrease in VEGF production in these cells. In this study, we demonstrated that after treating with TMZ and GFI, there was more decrease in the levels of MMP 2 and 9 secretions in cells than treatment with GFI and TMZ doses alone. This study indicates synergistic effects of GFI plus TMZ against glioma are mediated by the potentiated anti-angiogenesis. Therefore, it can be considered as a promising plan for future studies.

Guggulsterone induces apoptosis and inhibits lysosomal-dependent migration in human bladder cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The survival rate and therapeutic options for patients with bladder cancer have improved little in recent decades. Guggulsterone (GS), a phytoestrogen, has been investigated as an anticancer drug in various malignancies.

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of E-isomer and Z-isomer GS in the human bladder cancer cell lines TSGH8301 (low-grade) and T24 (high-grade) and their underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

The cell survival effect of GS was investigated by the MTT and colony formation assays in bladder cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle and cell death. Migration ability was measured by wound healing and transwell assays. Protein expression was determined by Western blot after GS treatment. The potency of GS on subcutaneous TSGH8301 bladder tumors was evaluated using an in vivo imaging system.

RESULTS

E-isomer GS reduced the survival rate of both low- and high-grade human bladder cancer cells. GS caused cell cycle arrest, accompanied by the decrease and increase in cyclin A and p21 levels, respectively. Additionally, caspase-dependent apoptosis was observed following GS treatment. Furthermore, GS treatment downregulated mTOR-Akt signaling and induced autophagy with p62 and LC3β-II expression. Moreover, the farnesoid X receptor was involved in GS-inhibited cell growth. In addition, GS reduced the migration ability with a decrease in integrin-focal adhesion kinase and myosin light chain. Interestingly, the suppression of GS-mediated migration was prevented by the lysosomal inhibitor ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). GS also reduced TSGH8301 bladder cancer cell progression by increasing the level of p21, cleaved caspase 3, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and LC3β-II in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings suggest that GS treatment may serve as a potential anticancer therapy for different grades of urothelial carcinoma.

Guggulsterone ameliorates ethidium bromide-induced experimental model of multiple sclerosis via restoration of behavioral, molecular, neurochemical and morphological alterations in rat brain

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with clinical signs of neuroinflammation and the central nervous system's demyelination. Numerous studies have identified the role of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) overexpression and the low level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) in MS pathogenesis. Guggulsterone (GST), an active component derived from 'Commiphora Mukul,' has been used to treat various diseases. Traditional uses indicate that GST is a suitable agent for anti-inflammatory action. Therefore, we assessed the therapeutic potential of GST (30 and 60 mg/kg) in ethidium bromide (EB) induced demyelination in experimental rats and investigated the molecular mechanism by modulating the JAK/STAT and PPAR-γ receptor signaling. Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6). EB (0.1%/10 μl) was injected selectively in the intracerebropeduncle (ICP) region for seven days to cause MS-like manifestations. The present study reveals that long-term administration of GST for 28 days has a neuroprotective effect by improving behavioral deficits (spatial cognition memory, grip, and motor coordination) associated with lower STAT-3 levels. While elevating PPAR-γ and myelin basic protein levels in rat brains are consistent with the functioning of both signaling pathways. Also, GST modulates the neurotransmitter level by increasing Ach, dopamine, serotonin and by reducing glutamate. Moreover, GST ameliorates inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1β), and oxidative stress markers (AchE, SOD, catalase, MDA, GSH, nitrite). In addition, GST prevented apoptosis, as demonstrated by the reduction of caspase-3 and Bax. Simultaneously, Bcl-2 elevation and the restoration of gross morphology alterations are also recovered by long-term GST treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that GST may be a potential alternative drug candidate for MS-related motor neuron dysfunctions.

UXT antisense RNA 1 sever as a novel prognostic long non-coding RNA in early stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients after receiving pancreaticoduodenectomy

Objective: The principal objective of this project was to investigate the prognostic value of UXT antisense RNA 1 (UXT-AS1) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), as well as its biological function mechanisms and the screening of targeted drugs using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) PDAC genome-wide RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) dataset.

Methods: We used TCGA 112 early stage PDAC patients to screen the prognostic value of UXT-AS1. Biological functions and mechanisms of UXT-AS1 were investigated by co-expression analysis, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and gene set enrichment analysis, while targeted drug screening was investigated by connectivity Map (CMap).

Results: By analyzing the dataset from TCGA cohort, we found that UXT-AS1 was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer tissues. Multivariate survival analysis demonstrated that PDAC patients with high UXT-AS1 expression had an unfavourable prognosis (adjusted P=0.033, HR=1.830, 95%CI=1.051-3.188). Genome-wide co-expression analysis and gene set enrichment analysis suggested that UXT-AS1 may act as a pivotal part in PDAC by participating in nuclear factor kappa beta, regulation of tumor necrosis factor, cell adhesion, T cell receptor signaling pathway, and numerous immune-related biological processes and signaling pathways. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs between high- and low-UXT-AS1 expression groups suggested that these DEGs were significant enriched in B cell receptor complex, response to drug chemical carcinogenesis and drug metabolism-cytochrome P450. CMap analysis revealed that quipazine and terazosin may be targeted drugs for UXT-AS1 in PDAC.

Conclusion: Our current study has identified UXT-AS1 as a novel biomarker for the prognosis of early stage PDAC. We also clarified its biological functional mechanisms and identified two targeted drugs of UXT-AS1 in PDAC.

Z-guggulsterone induces PD-L1 upregulation partly mediated by FXR, Akt and Erk1/2 signaling pathways in non-small cell lung cancer

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule, that is overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has been associated with the response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Z-guggulsterone (Z-GS), an active compound extracted from the gumresin of the Commiphora mukul tree, has been shown to have anti-tumor effects in NSCLC in our previous study. However, whether Z-GS could affect PD-L1 expression levels in tumor cells remains unknown. In this study, we verified the inhibitory effects of Z-GS on NSCLC cell viability and cell cycle progression in vitro, and mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor growth in vivo. Notably, Z-GS treatment increased PD-L1 surface and mRNA expression levels, and gene transcription in NSCLC cells, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistic experiments showed that the upregulation of PD-L1 was mediated, partly by farnesoid X receptor inhibition, and partly by the activation of the Akt and Erk1/2 signaling pathways in Z-GS-treated NSCLC cells. In vivo, Z-GS treatment dose-dependently increased PD-L1 expression levels in mouse LLC tumor models. Overall, our findings demonstrated a promoting role for Z-GS in PD-L1 expression in NSCLC and provided mechanistic insights, that may be used for further investigation into synergistic combined therapies.

Farnesoid X receptor activation induces antitumour activity in colorectal cancer by suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signalling via transactivation of SOCS3 gene

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR, encoded by NR1H4), a bile acid‐activated nuclear receptor, is widely implicated in human tumorigenesis. The FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) has preliminarily displayed tumour suppressor potential. However, the anticancer effects of this agent on colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. In this study, the treatment of colon cancer cells with OCA inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, retarded tumour growth in vivo and prevented the G₀/G₁ to S phase transition. Moreover, the expression of active caspase‐3, p21 and E‐cadherin was up‐regulated and the expression of cyclin D1, c‐Myc, vimentin, N‐cadherin and MMP9 was down‐regulated in OCA‐treated colon cancer cells. Mechanistic studies indicated that OCA treatment suppressed the activity of JAK2/STAT3 pathway by up‐regulating SOCS3 expression. Colivelin, an agonist of JAK2/STAT3 pathway, antagonized the tumour‐suppressive effect of OCA on colon cancer cells. Dual‐luciferase reporter and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (qChIP) assays further confirmed that OCA promoted SOCS3 transcription by enhancing the binding of FXR to the FXRE/IR9 of the SOCS3 promoter. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that targeting FXR and improving its function might be a promising strategy for CRC treatment.

Potential of guggulsterone, a farnesoid X receptor antagonist, in the prevention and treatment of cancer

Cancer is one of the most dreadful diseases in the world with a mortality of 9.6 million annually. Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment during the last couple of decades, it still remains a serious concern due to the limitations associated with currently available cancer management strategies. Therefore, alternative strategies are highly required to overcome these glitches. The importance of medicinal plants as primary healthcare has been well-known from time immemorial against various human diseases, including cancer. Commiphora wightii that belongs to Burseraceae family is one such plant which has been used to cure various ailments in traditional systems of medicine. This plant has diverse pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antimutagenic, and antitumor which mostly owes to the presence of its active compound guggulsterone (GS) that exists in the form of Z- and E-isomers. Mounting evidence suggests that this compound has promising anticancer activities and was shown to suppress several cancer signaling pathways such as NF-κB/ERK/MAPK/AKT/STAT and modulate the expression of numerous signaling molecules such as the farnesoid X receptor, cyclin D1, survivin, caspases, HIF-1α, MMP-9, EMT proteins, tumor suppressor proteins, angiogenic proteins, and apoptotic proteins. The current review is an attempt to summarize the biological activities and diverse anticancer activities (both in vitro and in vivo) of the compound GS and its derivatives, along with its associated mechanism against various cancers.

Skullcapflavone I has a potent anti-pancreatic cancer activity by targeting miR-23a

Baicalein has been widely studied and showed a potent activity against pancreatic cancer in both in vivo and in vitro studies. Little is known regarding the effects of Skullcapflavone I (SFI), despite they have similar structures. So, this study was to explore the function of SFI on human pancreatic cancer. Panc-1 cells were transfected with miR-23a precursor, miR-23a inhibitor or the negative controls, and subsequently treated by SFI. Cell viability, Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cell rate, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and related protein expression were assessed by utilizing Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), BrdU staining, apoptosis assessment, transwell assay, and western blot. SFI significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as induced apoptosis of Panc-1 cells. MiR-23a, miR-21, and miR-155 were lowly expressed while miR-145 and miR-146a were highly expressed in SFI-treated cell. Of note, the antitumor effects of SFI were promoted by miR-23a suppression whereas attenuated by miR-23a overexpression. JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways were inhibited by SFI. Also, the pathway inhibition in SFI-treated cells was reversed by miR-23a overexpression. SFI might be a promising anti-pancreatic cancer agent by inhibiting cancer cells growth and motility. The anticancer activities of SFI might be through downregulation of miR-23a, as well as inhibition of JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways.

MicroRNA-301a promotes pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis through the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway by targeting SOCS5

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal digestive malignant tumors. We had previously found that microRNA-301a (miR-301a) is a oncogenic microRNA whose recognized conduce to nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in pancreatic cancer, yet the underlying mechanisms of miR-301a in promoting pancreatic cancer invasion and migration is obscure. In this work we found that high expression of miR-301a in human pancreatic cancer patients is related to poor survival. Overexpression of miR-301a enhances pancreatic cancer cell invasion, angiogenesis and migration, whereas inhibition of miR-301a suppresses pancreatic cancer cell invasion and reduces orthotopic pancreatic tumor growth and metastasis. Furthermore, suppressor of cytokine signaling 5 (SOCS5) is identified as a target gene of miR-301a. We found that miR-301a suppressed the expression of SOCS5 leads to janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) activation and is related to poor overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Taken together, our data show for the first time that the feedback loop between miR-301a and JAK/STAT3 pathway may play a significant role in pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis. Targeting the loop may prove beneficial to prevent metastasis and provide a more effective therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.

The role of JAK/STAT signaling pathway and its inhibitors in diseases

The JAK/STAT signaling pathway is an universally expressed intracellular signal transduction pathway and involved in many crucial biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune regulation. It provides a direct mechanism for extracellular factors-regulated gene expression. Current researches on this pathway have been focusing on the inflammatory and neoplastic diseases and related drug. The mechanism of JAK/STAT signaling is relatively simple. However, the biological consequences of the pathway are complicated due to its crosstalk with other signaling pathways. In addition, there is increasing evidence indicates that the persistent activation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway is closely related to many immune and inflammatory diseases, yet the specific mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to study the detailed mechanisms of JAK/STAT signaling in disease formation to provide critical reference for clinical treatments of the diseases. In this review, we focus on the structure of JAKs and STATs, the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and its negative regulators, the associated diseases, and the JAK inhibitors for the clinical therapy.

Novel Mechanistic Insight into the Anticancer Activity of Cucurbitacin D against Pancreatic Cancer (Cuc D Attenuates Pancreatic Cancer)

Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is one of the leading causes of death from cancer in the United States. The current standard treatment for pancreatic cancer is gemcitabine, but its success is poor due to the emergence of drug resistance. Natural products have been widely investigated as potential candidates in cancer therapies, and cucurbitacin D (Cuc D) has shown excellent anticancer properties in various models. However, there is no report on the therapeutic effect of Cuc D in PanCa. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Cuc D on PanCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Cuc D inhibited the viability of PanCa cells in a dose and time dependent manner, as evident by MTS assays. Furthermore, Cuc D treatment suppressed the colony formation, arrest cell cycle, and decreased the invasion and migration of PanCa cells. Notably, our findings suggest that mucin 13 (MUC13) is down-regulated upon Cuc D treatment, as demonstrated by Western blot and qPCR analyses. Furthermore, we report that the treatment with Cuc D restores miR-145 expression in PanCa cells/tissues. Cuc D treatment suppresses the proliferation of gemcitabine resistant PanCa cells and inhibits RRM1/2 expression. Treatment with Cuc D effectively inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors. Taken together, Cuc D could be utilized as a novel therapeutic agents for the treatment/sensitization of PanCa.

LINC00346 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via activating the JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the most common malignant tumor worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs can modulate various tumorigenic processes. In addition, growing evidence has indicated tha the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway is activated in multiple cancers, including HCC. Recently, it was found that LINC00346 can participate in several cancers. Nevertheless, the biological roles of LINC00346 in HCC have been barely investigated. In this study, the function of LINC00346 was specifically concentrated upon. We observed that LINC00346 was obviously elevated in HCC cells (Bel7404, Huh-6, HepG2, and QGY-7703 cells). Then, Bel7404 and HepG2 cells were overexpressed with LINC00346. Overexpression of LINC00346 repressed HCC cell survival and cell proliferation. In addition, apoptosis of Bel7404 and HepG2 cells was triggered by LINC00346 upregulation. Bel7404 and HepG2 cell cycle was arrested in the G1 phase by LINC00346. Meanwhile, we conducted wound-healing assay and Transwell invasion assays. As shown, we observed that the migratory and invasive capacities of Bel7404 and HepG2 cells were remarkably restrained by the increase of LINC00346. Moreover, we showed that LINC00346 overexpression activated the JAK-STAT3 pathway, which is involved in many cancers. Afterward, in vivo experiments were utilized and we proved that LINC00346 was able to induce HCC tumor growth via activating the JAK-STAT3 pathway. To conclude, we revealed the potential possibility of developing LINC00346 as an indicator for HCC.

Oncostatin M receptor, positively regulated by SP1, promotes gastric cancer growth and metastasis upon treatment with Oncostatin M

BACKGROUND

Oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) is a member of the interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor family that transduces signaling events of Oncostatin M (OSM). OSM-OSMR signaling plays a key role in inflammation and cancer progression. However, the role of OSM-OSMR in gastric cancer (GC) is still unknown.

METHODS

OSMR expression in GC was determined by real-time PCR (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot. The effects of OSM-OSMR on GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and metastasis in vivo were examined. The pathways underlying OSM-OSMR signaling were explored by Western blot. Regulatory mechanism between SP1 and OSMR was explored in vitro.

RESULTS

OSMR was highly expressed in GC tissues and its expression level was closely associated with age, T stage, Lauren classification, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and worse prognosis of patients with GC. Knockdown of OSMR expression in GC cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and peritoneal metastasis in vivo induced by OSM. These effects mediated by OSM-OSMR were dependent on the activation of STAT3/FAK/Src signaling. SP1 could bind to the promoter region of human OSMR gene from - 255 to - 246 bp, and transcriptionally regulated OSMR overexpression in GC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

OSM-OSMR contributes to GC progression through activating STAT3/FAK/Src signaling, and OSMR is transcriptionally activated by SP1.

Prolactin Promotes Fibrosis and Pancreatic Cancer Progression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with significant fibrosis. Recent findings have highlighted the profibrotic activity of tissue-resident macrophages in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment. Here, we show that neoplastic pancreatic epithelium, as well as a subset of tissue-resident macrophages, expresses the prolactin-receptor (PRLR). High mobility group box 1-induced prolactin expression in the pancreas maintained FAK1 and STAT3 phosphorylation within the epithelium and stroma. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated the essential role of prolactin in promoting collagen deposition and fibrosis. Finally, the signaling cascade downstream of prolactin/PRLR activated STAT3 rather than STAT5 in PDAC. These findings suggest that targeting prolactin together with IL6, a known major activator of STAT3, could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating pancreatic cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: Prolactin is a key factor in the cross-talk between the stroma and neoplastic epithelium, functioning to promote fibrosis and PDAC progression.

Glycochenodeoxycholate promotes the metastasis of gallbladder cancer cells by inducing epithelial to mesenchymal transition via activation of SOCS3/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

The incidence of gallbladder cancer (GBC) is relatively rare but a high degree of malignancy. The migration and invasion potential of GBC severely affects the prognosis of patients with GBC. Glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) is one of the most important components in GBC-associated microenvironment. However, the role of GCDC in the metastatic feature of GBC cells is not fully understood. First, the results of this study found that GCDC could effectively enhance the metastasis of GBC cells. Furthermore, GCDC could lead to the enhancement of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in GBC cells, which is concerned to be an important mechanism of tumor metastasis. Further studies showed that GCDC treatment induced the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), MMP9, and SOCS3/JAK2/p-STAT3 signal pathway in GBC cells, which could regulate the level of EMT. Beside that, we also found the positive expression of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in GBC cells and inhibition of FXR could significantly block the effect of GCDC on the metastasis of GBC cells. These results indicated that GCDC promoted GBC cells metastasis by enhancing the level of EMT and inhibition of FXR could significantly block the effect of GCDC. On one hand, FXR might be an indicator for predicting the metastasis of patient with GBC. On the other hand, FXR might serve as a potential antimetastasis target in GBC therapy.

Afatinib and Temozolomide combination inhibits tumorigenesis by targeting EGFRvIII-cMet signaling in glioblastoma cells

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with universal recurrence and poor prognosis. The recurrence is largely driven by chemoradiation resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its mutant EGFRvIII are amplified in ~ 60% and ~ 30% of GBM patients, respectively; however, therapies targeting EGFR have failed to improve disease outcome. EGFRvIII-mediated cross-activation of tyrosine kinase receptor, cMET, regulates GBM CSC maintenance and promote tumor recurrence. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of pan-EGFR inhibitor afatinib and Temozolomide (TMZ) combination on GBM in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

We analyzed the effect of afatinib and temozolomide (TMZ) combination on GBM cells U87MG and U251 engineered to express wild type (WT) EGFR, EGFRvIII or EGFRvIII dead kinase, CSCs isolated from U87 and U87EGFRvIII in vitro. The therapeutic utility of the drug combination was investigated on tumor growth and progression using intracranially injected U87EGFRvIII GBM xenografts.

Results

Afatinib and TMZ combination synergistically inhibited the proliferation, clonogenic survival, motility, invasion and induced senescence of GBM cells compared to monotherapy. Mechanistically, afatinib decreased U87EGFRvIII GBM cell proliferation and motility/invasion by inhibiting EGFRvIII/AKT, EGFRvIII/JAK2/STAT3, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathways respectively. Interestingly, afatinib specifically inhibited EGFRvIII-cMET crosstalk in CSCs, resulting in decreased expression of Nanog and Oct3/4, and in combination with TMZ significantly decreased their self-renewal property in vitro. More interestingly, afatinib and TMZ combination significantly decreased the xenograft growth and progression compared to single drug alone.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated significant inhibition of GBM tumorigenicity, CSC maintenance in vitro, and delayed tumor growth and progression in vivo by combination of afatinib and TMZ. Our results warrant evaluation of this drug combination in EGFR and EGFRvIII amplified GBM patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1264-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

WITHDRAWN: Skullcapflavone I has a potent anti-pancreatic cancer activity by targeting miR-23a

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Oxymatrine exhibits anti-tumor activity in gastric cancer through inhibition of IL-21R-mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Oxymatrine (OMT) as a type of alkaloids collected from Sophora flavescens Ait exerts some biological functions including anticancer properties. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of OMT in gastric cancer cells (HGC 27 and AGS). As a result, the exposure of gastric cancer (GC) cells to OMT contributed to the suppression of cell proliferation and invasion. Interleukin 21 receptor (IL-21R) was identified to be differentially expressed between OMT treatment group (4 mg/mL) and control group (0 mg/mL), and knockdown of IL-21R repressed cell proliferation and invasion via inactivation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. The rescue experiment showed that IL-21R overexpression attenuated the anti-tumor effects of OMT through activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Moreover, the expression of IL-21R was significantly upregulated in GC samples compared with the adjacent normal tissues and associated with overall survival (OS) and tumor recurrence of GC patients. Taken together, in this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor effects of OMT on GC by investigating proliferation and invasion ability changes, and our findings show that OMT exhibits effects via regulation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Through the mechanism study, we may enlighten the potential therapeutic target for treatment of GC.

Subgroup analysis reveals molecular heterogeneity and provides potential precise treatment for pancreatic cancers

Background

The relationship between molecular heterogeneity and clinical features of pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In this study, pancreatic cancer was divided into different subgroups to explore its specific molecular characteristics and potential therapeutic targets.

Patients and methods

Expression profiling data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and standardized. Bioinformatics techniques such as unsupervised hierarchical clustering was used to explore the optimal molecular subgroups in pancreatic cancer. Clinical pathological features and pathways in each subgroup were also analyzed to find out the potential clinical applications and initial promotive mechanisms of pancreatic cancer.

Results

Pancreatic cancer was divided into three subgroups based on different gene expression features. Patients included in each subgroup had specific biological features and responded significantly different to chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Three distinct subgroups of pancreatic cancer were identified, which means that patients in each subgroup might benefit from targeted individual management.

Googling the Guggul (Commiphora and Boswellia) for Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Extensive research during last 2 decades has revealed that most drugs discovered today, although costs billions of dollars for discovery, and yet they are highly ineffective in their clinical response. For instance, the European Medicines Agency has approved 68 anti-cancer drugs, and out of which 39 has reached the market level with no indication of increased survival nor betterment of quality of life. Even when drugs did improve survival rate compared to available treatment strategies, most of these were found to be clinically insignificant. This is a fundamental problem with modern drug discovery which is based on thinking that most chronic diseases are caused by alteration of a single gene and thus most therapies are single gene-targeted therapies. However, extensive research has revealed that most chronic diseases are caused by multiple gene products. Although most drugs designed by man are mono-targeted therapies, however, those designed by "mother nature" and have been used for thousands of years, are "multi-targeted" therapies. In this review, we examine two agents that have been around for thousands of years, namely "guggul" from Commiphora and Boswellia. Although we are all familiar with the search engine "google," this is another type of "guggul" that has been used for centuries and being explored for its various biological activities. The current review summarizes the traditional uses, chemistry, in vitro and in vivo biological activities, molecular targets, and clinical trials performed with these agents.

Downregulation of Piwil3 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Recent studies reported that Piwil3 was overexpressed in various cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). This study was intended to investigate its function and mechanism in GC progress.

METHODS

Quantitative real time PCR(RT-PCR) and western blotting assays were utilized to measure mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. SiRNA transfection was performed to suppress the expression of Piwil3. CCK-8 assay, cell invasion and migration assays were used to determine the cell proliferative, cell invasive and migratory ability.

RESULTS

The expression of Piwil3 was significantly increased in GC tissues compared with matched normal tissues. The specific siRNA significantly inhibited the protein and mRNA expressions of Piwil3, and effectively inhibited the proliferation and induced G0/G1 phase arrest in GC cells. Downregulation of Piwil3 significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of GC cells. Moreover, the downregulation of Piwil3 also significantly suppressed the tumor volumes in nude mice. Mechanism investigation showed that the downregulation of Piwil3 significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of metastasis-related genes, including RhoC, MTA1, MMP2 and MMP9, and also modulated the phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 but not their protein levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that overexpression of Piwil3 promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells partially through JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway.

Targeting ubiquitin-proteasome pathway by natural, in particular polyphenols, anticancer agents: Lessons learned from clinical trials

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is the main non-lysosomal proteolytic system responsible for degradation of most intracellular proteins, specifically damaged and regulatory proteins. The UPP is implicated in all aspects of the cellular metabolic networks including physiological or pathological conditions. Alterations in the components of the UPP can lead to stabilization of oncoproteins or augmented degradation of tumour suppressor favouring cancer appearance and progression. Polyphenols are natural compounds that can modulate proteasome activity or the expression of proteasome subunits. All together and due to the pleiotropic functions of UPP, there is a great interest in this proteasome system as a promising therapeutic target for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs. In the present review, the main features of the UPP and its implication in cancer development and progression are described, highlighting the importance of bioactive polyphenols that target the UPP as potential anti-cancer agents.

Farnesoid X Receptor Activation Enhances Transforming Growth Factor β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a receptor for bile acids and plays an important role in the regulation of bile acid metabolism in the liver. Although FXR has been shown to affect hepatocarcinogenesis through both direct and indirect mechanisms, potential roles of FXR in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. We examined the effect of several FXR ligands on EMT-related morphological changes in HCC cell lines, such as HuH-7 and Hep3B cells. FXR agonists (chenodeoxycholic acid, GW4064, and obeticholic acid)—but not an antagonist (guggulsterone)—induced actin polymerization and expression of N-cadherin and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase, although they were less effective than transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). FXR agonist treatment enhanced TGF-β-induced EMT morphologic changes and FXR antagonist inhibited the effect of TGF-β. Thus, FXR activation enhances EMT in HCC and FXR antagonists may be EMT-suppressing drug candidates.

Emerging therapeutic potential of graviola and its constituents in cancers

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the USA and around the world. Although the current synthetic inhibitors used in targeted therapies have improved patient prognosis, toxicity and development of resistance to these agents remain a challenge. Plant-derived natural products and their derivatives have historically been used to treat various diseases, including cancer. Several leading chemotherapeutic agents are directly or indirectly based on botanical natural products. Beyond these important drugs, however, a number of crude herbal or botanical preparations have also shown promising utility for cancer and other disorders. One such natural resource is derived from certain plants of the family Annonaceae, which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Among the best known of these is Annona muricata, also known as soursop, graviola or guanabana. Extracts from the fruit, bark, seeds, roots and leaves of graviola, along with several other Annonaceous species, have been extensively investigated for anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Phytochemical studies have identified the acetogenins, a class of bioactive polyketide-derived constituents, from the extracts of Annonaceous species, and dozens of these compounds are present in different parts of graviola. This review summarizes current literature on the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of these constituents from A.muricata against cancer and many non-malignant diseases. Based on available data, there is good evidence that these long-used plants could have both chemopreventive and therapeutic potential. Appropriate attention to safety studies will be important to assess their effectiveness on various diseases caused or promoted by inflammation.

ATM‑JAK‑PD‑L1 signaling pathway inhibition decreases EMT and metastasis of androgen‑independent prostate cancer

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), also known as androgen-independent prostate cancer, frequently develops local and distant metastases, the underlying mechanisms of which remain undetermined. In the present study, surgical specimens obtained from patients with clinical prostate cancer were investigated, and it was revealed that the expression levels of ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) were significantly enhanced in prostate cancer tissues isolated from patients with CRPC compared with from patients with hormone-dependent prostate cancer. CRPC C4-2 and CWR22Rv1 cells lines were subsequently selected to establish prostate cancer models, and ATM knockout cells were established via lentivirus infection. The results of the present study demonstrated that the migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ATM knockout cells were significantly decreased, which suggested that ATM is closely associated with CRPC cell migration and EMT. To further investigate the mechanisms underlying this process, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was investigated in ATM knockout cells. In addition, inhibitors of Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3; Stattic) were added to C4-2-Sc and CWR22Rv1-Sc cells, and the results demonstrated that PD-L1 expression was significantly decreased following the addition of JAK inhibitor 1; however, no significant change was observed following the addition of Stattic. Furthermore, a PD-L1 antibody and JAK inhibitor 1 were added to C4-2-Sc and CWR22Rv1-Sc cells, and it was revealed that cell migration ability was significantly decreased and the expression of EMT-associated markers was effectively reversed. The results of the present study suggested that via inhibition of the ATM-JAK-PD-L1 signaling pathway, EMT, metastasis and progression of CRPC may be effectively suppressed, which may represent a novel therapeutic approach for targeted therapy for patients with CRPC.

IGF-1-induced MMP-11 expression promotes the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells through the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway

The present study aimed to investigate the association between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) expression in gastric cancer (GC) and the underlying mechanisms in SGC-7901 cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression of IGF-1 and MMP-11 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared with normal gastric tissue. Furthermore, IGF-1 significantly and dose-dependently promoted MMP-11. Western blotting revealed that the addition of IGF-1 to SGC-7901 cells led to an evident enhancement in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), IGF-1R and Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) phosphorylation at 20 and 40 min. A decrease in the extent of the elevated expression of MMP-11 and the enhanced phosphorylation of STAT3, JAK1 and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) induced by IGF-1 in SGC-7901 cells were observed following treatment with NT157 (an IGF-1R inhibitor). Furthermore, piceatannol (a JAK1 inhibitor) or small interfering RNA against STAT3 reduced the extent of the increased expression of MMP-11 induced by IGF-1 in SGC-7901 cells. Piceatannol treatment induced the dose-dependent decline in the enhancement of STAT3 phosphorylation induced by IGF-1, indicating that the JAK1/STAT3 pathway may be implicated in the elevated expression of MMP-11 induced by IGF-1 in SGC-7901 cells. Finally, IGF-1 treatment significantly promoted the proliferation and invasion of SGC-7901 cells, which was inhibited following NT157, piceatannol or si-STAT3 treatment. The present study therefore demonstrated that IGF-1-induced MMP-11 may have facilitated the proliferation and invasion of SGC-7901 cells via the JAK1/STAT3 pathway.

Afatinib radiosensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting cancer stem cells

The dismal prognosis of locally advanced and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is primarily due to the development of resistance to chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Deregulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling is involved in HNSCC pathogenesis by regulating cell survival, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and resistance to CRT. Here we investigated the radiosensitizing activity of the pan-EGFR inhibitor afatinib in HNSCC in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed strong antiproliferative effects of afatinib in HNSCC SCC1 and SCC10B cells, compared to immortalized normal oral epithelial cells MOE1a and MOE1b. Comparative analysis revealed stronger antitumor effects with afatinib than observed with erlotinib. Furthermore, afatinib enhanced in vitro radiosensitivity of SCC1 and SCC10B cells by inducing mesenchymal to epithelial transition, G1 cell cycle arrest, and the attenuating ionizing radiation (IR)-induced activation of DNA double strand break repair (DSB) ATM/ATR/CHK2/BRCA1 pathway. Our studies also revealed the effect of afatinib on tumor sphere- and colony-forming capabilities of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and decreased IR-induced CSC population in SCC1 and SCC10B cells. Furthermore, we observed that a combination of afatinib with IR significantly reduced SCC1 xenograft tumors (median weight of 168.25 ± 20.85 mg; p = 0.05) compared to afatinib (280.07 ± 20.54 mg) or IR alone (324.91 ± 28.08 mg). Immunohistochemical analysis of SCC1 tumor xenografts demonstrated downregulation of the expression of IR-induced pEGFR1, ALDH1 and upregulation of phosphorylated γH2AX by afatinib. Overall, afatinib reduces tumorigenicity and radiosensitizes HNSCC cells. It holds promise for future clinical development as a novel radiosensitizer by improving CSC eradication.

Characterization of RNA editome in primary and metastatic lung adenocarcinomas

RNA editing results in post-transcriptional modification and could potentially contribute to carcinogenesis. However, RNA editing in advanced lung adenocarcinomas has not yet been studied. Based on whole genome and transcriptome sequencing data, we identified 1,071,296 RNA editing events from matched normal, primary and metastatic samples contributed by 24 lung adenocarcinoma patients, with 91.3% A-to-G editing on average, and found significantly more RNA editing sites in tumors than in normal samples. To investigate cancer relevant editing events, we detected 67,851 hyper-editing sites in primary and 50,480 hyper-editing sites in metastatic samples. 46 genes with hyper-editing in coding regions were found to result in amino acid alterations, while hundreds of hyper-editing events in non-coding regions could modulate splicing or gene expression, including genes related to tumor stage or clinic prognosis. Comparing RNA editome of primary and metastatic samples, we also discovered hyper-edited genes that may promote metastasis development. These findings showed a landscape of RNA editing in matched normal, primary and metastatic tissues of lung adenocarcinomas for the first time and provided new insights to understand the molecular characterization of this disease.

MUC4 mucin- a therapeutic target for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by mucin overexpression. MUC4 is the most differentially overexpressed membrane-bound mucin that plays a functional role in disease progression and therapy resistance. Area covered: We describe the clinicopathological significance of MUC4, summarize mechanisms contributing to its deregulated expression, review preclinical studies aimed at inhibiting MUC4, and discuss how MUC4 overexpression provides opportunities for developing targeted therapies. Finally, we discuss the challenges for developing MUC4-based therapeutics, and identify areas where efforts should be directed to effectively exploit MUC4 as a therapeutic target for PC. Expert opinion: Studies demonstrating that abrogation of MUC4 expression reduces proliferation and metastasis of PC cells and enhances sensitivity to therapeutic agents affirm its utility as a therapeutic target. Emerging evidence also supports the suitability of MUC4 as a potential immunotherapy target. However, these studies have been limited to in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo approaches using xenograft tumors in immunodeficient murine models. For translational relevance, MUC4-targeted therapies should be evaluated in murine models with intact immune system and accurate tumor microenvironment. Additionally, future studies evaluating MUC4 as a target for immunotherapy must entail characterization of immune response in PC patients and investigate its association with immunosuppression and survival.

Farnesoid X receptor, a novel proto-oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer, promotes tumor growth via directly transactivating CCND1

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor for maintaining bile acid homeostasis, has been recognized as a tumor suppressor in enterohepatic tissues. However, its expression and functional role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. We report that FXR is significantly increased in NSCLC and that it predicts poor clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients. FXR knockdown in NSCLC cells inhibited in vitro cell proliferation, blocked xenograft growth in nude mice, and delayed the G1/S transition of the cell cycle, whereas ectopic overexpression of FXR promoted NSCLC cell proliferation. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that FXR could directly bind to an inverted repeat-0 sequence in the CCND1 promoter and activate its transcription. Cyclin D1 overexpression rescued NSCLC cells from the delayed G1/S transition and the impaired cell proliferation induced by FXR knockdown. Importantly, a positive correlation between the expression of FXR and cyclin D1 was confirmed in NSCLC samples, and patients with high expression of both FXR and cyclin D1 had the worst prognosis. In summary, our results suggest that FXR has oncogenic potential in NSCLC development, providing mechanistic insights that could be exploited for both prognostic and therapeutic purposes.

Effect of Combinatory Treatment With Resveratrol and Guggulsterone on Mild Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to assess the preventive/therapeutic effects of combined administration of resveratrol and guggulsterone on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

METHODS

Acute pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein in mice. Serum amylase assay and histology were performed to measure the severity of pancreatitis. Western blotting and multiplex cytokine/chemokine analysis were conducted to understand the action mechanisms of the reagents.

RESULTS

Serum amylase assay and histology revealed that the severity of acute pancreatitis was reduced by the combinatory treatment with resveratrol and guggulsterone, but the ratio of the band intensity implied that reduced nuclear factor-κB activation is primarily responsible for the effect. The reduced amounts of keratinocyte chemoattractant (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 1), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (C-X-C motif chemokine 10) and interleukin 6 expression in the sera could be involved in attenuated immune cell migration and reduced inflammation by these reagents.

CONCLUSIONS

Combinatory treatment with resveratrol and guggulsterone marginally reduced cerulein-induced mild acute pancreatitis in mice.

Multidrug-resistant cancer cells and cancer stem cells hijack cellular systems to circumvent systemic therapies, can natural products reverse this?

Chemotherapy is one of the most effective and broadly used approaches for cancer management and many modern regimes can eliminate the bulk of the cancer cells. However, recurrence and metastasis still remain a major obstacle leading to the failure of systemic cancer treatments. Therefore, to improve the long-term eradication of cancer, the cellular and molecular pathways that provide targets which play crucial roles in drug resistance should be identified and characterised. Multidrug resistance (MDR) and the existence of tumor-initiating cells, also referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs), are two major contributors to the failure of chemotherapy. MDR describes cancer cells that become resistant to structurally and functionally unrelated anti-cancer agents. CSCs are a small population of cells within cancer cells with the capacity of self-renewal, tumor metastasis, and cell differentiation. CSCs are also believed to be associated with chemoresistance. Thus, MDR and CSCs are the greatest challenges for cancer chemotherapy. A significant effort has been made to identify agents that specifically target MDR cells and CSCs. Consequently, some agents derived from nature have been developed with a view that they may overcome MDR and/or target CSCs. In this review, natural products-targeting MDR cancer cells and CSCs are summarized and clustered by their targets in different signaling pathways.