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Zhong YJ, Luo XM, Liu F, He ZQ, Yang SQ, Ma WJ, Wang JK, Dai YS, Zou RQ, Hu YF, Lv TR, Li FY, Hu HJ. Integrative analyses of bulk and single-cell transcriptomics reveals the infiltration and crosstalk of cancer-associated fibroblasts as a novel predictor for prognosis and microenvironment remodeling in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. J Transl Med 2024; 22:422. [PMID: 38702814 PMCID: PMC11071156 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05238-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly malignant neoplasm and characterized by desmoplastic matrix. The heterogeneity and crosstalk of tumor microenvironment remain incompletely understood. METHODS To address this gap, we performed Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify and construct a cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) infiltration biomarker. We also depicted the intercellular communication network and important receptor-ligand complexes using the single-cell transcriptomics analysis of tumor and Adjacent normal tissue. RESULTS Through the intersection of TCGA DEGs and WGCNA module genes, 784 differential genes related to CAFs infiltration were obtained. After a series of regression analyses, the CAFs score was generated by integrating the expressions of EVA1A, APBA2, LRRTM4, GOLGA8M, BPIFB2, and their corresponding coefficients. In the TCGA-CHOL, GSE89748, and 107,943 cohorts, the high CAFs score group showed unfavorable survival prognosis (p < 0.001, p = 0.0074, p = 0.028, respectively). Additionally, a series of drugs have been predicted to be more sensitive to the high-risk group (p < 0.05). Subsequent to dimension reduction and clustering, thirteen clusters were identified to construct the single-cell atlas. Cell-cell interaction analysis unveiled significant enhancement of signal transduction in tumor tissues, particularly from fibroblasts to malignant cells via diverse pathways. Moreover, SCENIC analysis indicated that HOXA5, WT1, and LHX2 are fibroblast specific motifs. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals the key role of fibroblasts - oncocytes interaction in the remodeling of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Subsequently, it may trigger cascade activation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT and Notch in tumor, thus initiating tumorigenesis. Targeted drugs aimed at disrupting fibroblasts-tumor cell interaction, along with associated enrichment pathways, show potential in mitigating the immunosuppressive microenvironment that facilitates tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jie Zhong
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xi-Mei Luo
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang He
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Si-Qi Yang
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wen-Jie Ma
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jun-Ke Wang
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yu-Shi Dai
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Rui-Qi Zou
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ya-Fei Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Tian-Run Lv
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Fu-Yu Li
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Hai-Jie Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
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Xia Y, Sun M, Huang H, Jin WL. Drug repurposing for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:92. [PMID: 38637540 PMCID: PMC11026526 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01808-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer, a complex and multifactorial disease, presents a significant challenge to global health. Despite significant advances in surgical, radiotherapeutic and immunological approaches, which have improved cancer treatment outcomes, drug therapy continues to serve as a key therapeutic strategy. However, the clinical efficacy of drug therapy is often constrained by drug resistance and severe toxic side effects, and thus there remains a critical need to develop novel cancer therapeutics. One promising strategy that has received widespread attention in recent years is drug repurposing: the identification of new applications for existing, clinically approved drugs. Drug repurposing possesses several inherent advantages in the context of cancer treatment since repurposed drugs are typically cost-effective, proven to be safe, and can significantly expedite the drug development process due to their already established safety profiles. In light of this, the present review offers a comprehensive overview of the various methods employed in drug repurposing, specifically focusing on the repurposing of drugs to treat cancer. We describe the antitumor properties of candidate drugs, and discuss in detail how they target both the hallmarks of cancer in tumor cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. In addition, we examine the innovative strategy of integrating drug repurposing with nanotechnology to enhance topical drug delivery. We also emphasize the critical role that repurposed drugs can play when used as part of a combination therapy regimen. To conclude, we outline the challenges associated with repurposing drugs and consider the future prospects of these repurposed drugs transitioning into clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xia
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, PR China
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Ming Sun
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
| | - Hai Huang
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China.
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China.
| | - Wei-Lin Jin
- Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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3
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Zhou MJ, Yang JJ, Ma TY, Feng GX, Wang XL, Wang LY, Ge YZ, Gao R, Liu HL, Shan L, Kong L, Chen XH. Increased retinoic acid signaling decreases lung metastasis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by inhibiting the noncanonical Notch1 pathway. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:597-611. [PMID: 36879115 PMCID: PMC10073150 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00957-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
MYB-NFIB fusion and NOTCH1 mutation are common hallmark genetic events in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). However, abnormal expression of MYB and NOTCH1 is also observed in patients without MYB-NFIB fusion and NOTCH1 mutation. Here, we explore in-depth the molecular mechanisms of lung metastasis through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and exome target capture sequencing in two SACC patients without MYB-NFIB fusion and NOTCH1 mutation. Twenty-five types of cells in primary and metastatic tissues were identified via Seurat clustering and categorized into four main stages ranging from near-normal to cancer-based on the abundance of each cell cluster in normal tissue. In this context, we identified the Notch signaling pathway enrichment in almost all cancer cells; RNA velocity, trajectory, and sub-clustering analyses were performed to deeply investigate cancer progenitor-like cell clusters in primary tumor-associated lung metastases, and signature genes of progenitor-like cells were enriched in the "MYC_TARGETS_V2" gene set. In vitro, we detected the NICD1-MYB-MYC complex by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and incidentally identified retinoic acid (RA) as an endogenous antagonist of genes in the "MYC_TARGETS_V2" gene set. Following this, we confirmed that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) suppresses the lung metastasis of SACC by correcting erroneous cell differentiation mainly caused by aberrant NOTCH1 or MYB expression. Bioinformatic, RNA-seq, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses of primary tissues and metastatic lung tissues from patients with SACC suggested that RA system insufficiency partially promotes lung metastasis. These findings imply the value of the RA system in diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Jiao Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Jia-Jie Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ting-Yao Ma
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ge-Xuan Feng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xue-Lian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Li-Yong Wang
- The Central Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yu-Ze Ge
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ran Gao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Hong-Liang Liu
- SHANDONG Longfine PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD, Shandong, 272622, China
| | - Lin Shan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Lu Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Xiao-Hong Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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4
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López-Otín C, Pietrocola F, Roiz-Valle D, Galluzzi L, Kroemer G. Meta-hallmarks of aging and cancer. Cell Metab 2023; 35:12-35. [PMID: 36599298 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 104.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Both aging and cancer are characterized by a series of partially overlapping "hallmarks" that we subject here to a meta-analysis. Several hallmarks of aging (i.e., genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis) are very similar to specific cancer hallmarks and hence constitute common "meta-hallmarks," while other features of aging (i.e., telomere attrition and stem cell exhaustion) act likely to suppress oncogenesis and hence can be viewed as preponderantly "antagonistic hallmarks." Disabled macroautophagy and cellular senescence are two hallmarks of aging that exert context-dependent oncosuppressive and pro-tumorigenic effects. Similarly, the equivalence or antagonism between aging-associated deregulated nutrient-sensing and cancer-relevant alterations of cellular metabolism is complex. The agonistic and antagonistic relationship between the processes that drive aging and cancer has bearings for the age-related increase and oldest age-related decrease of cancer morbidity and mortality, as well as for the therapeutic management of malignant disease in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos López-Otín
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Federico Pietrocola
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - David Roiz-Valle
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France; Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
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5
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HOXA5: A crucial transcriptional factor in cancer and a potential therapeutic target. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113800. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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6
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Xiong F, Liu W, Wang X, Wu G, Wang Q, Guo T, Huang W, Wang B, Chen Y. HOXA5 inhibits the proliferation of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells by enhancing MXD1 expression and activating the p53 pathway. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:829. [PMID: 36167790 PMCID: PMC9515223 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05279-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Homeobox A5 (HOXA5) is a transcription factor in mammalian and can regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis as well as tumorigenesis. However, little is known on whether and how HOXA5 can regulate the malignant behaviors of cholangiocarcinoma. The methylation levels of HOXA5 were evaluated by methylation microarray and bisulfite sequencing PCR. HOXA5 expression in tissue samples was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The proliferation of tumor cells was assessed by CCK-8, EdU, and nude mouse tumorigenicity assays. The invasion, apoptosis and cell cycling of tumor cells were evaluated by Wound healing assay and flow cytometry. The interaction between HOXA5 and the MXD1 promoter was examined by CUT & Tag assay, luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Hypermethylation in the HOXA5 promoter down-regulated HOXA5 expression in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECCA) tissues, which was correlated with worse overall survival. HOXA5 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation and tumor growth. HOXA5 overexpression enhanced MXD1 expression by directly binding to the MXD1 promoter in ECCA cells. MXD1 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and tumor growth while MXD1 silencing abrogated the HOXA5-mediated proliferation inhibition. HOXA5 overexpression increased p53 protein expression in an MXD1-dependent manner. HOXA5 and MXD1 acted as tumor suppressors to inhibit the mitosis of ECCA cells by enhancing the p53 signaling. Our findings may uncover molecular mechanisms by which the HOXA5/MXD1 axis regulates the progression of ECCA, suggesting that the HOXA5/MXD1 may be therapeutic targets for ECCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xiong
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Wenzheng Liu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Xin Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Departement of Pediatric Surgery, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei Wuhan, China
| | - Guanhua Wu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Qi Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Tong Guo
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Wenhua Huang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Bing Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Yongjun Chen
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary‑Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China
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7
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Ke Z, Pei T, Yang Z, Zhang X, Xu F, Xu Z, Ding J. Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking of N, N’-bis([1,2,4]triazole[4,3- b][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-6-yl)alkylamine derivatives as potent c-Met antagonists. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/17475198221123516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A series of N, N’-bis([1,2,4]triazole[4,3- b][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-6-yl)alkylamine derivatives is designed, synthesized and evaluated for their inhibition activities against three tumor cell lines and c-Met kinase activity in vitro. These compounds are fully characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS, IR and elemental analysis. Antitumor experiments indicate that some of these compounds exhibit significant inhibition activities against A549, Bewo and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Among them, the IC50 values of 4a indicate better antitumor activities against the A549 (1.21 μM), Bewo (0.68 μM) and MCF-7 (3.74 μM) cell lines than the positive agent cisplatin (9.97 μM for A549, 10.46 μM for Bewo, and 15.03 μM for MCF-7), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglu Ke
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Tianyun Pei
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
- National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-Efficiency Refining and High-Quality Utilization of Biomass, School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhenzhen Yang
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Xuanhe Zhang
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Zihang Xu
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Jixiang Ding
- School of Medicine & Pharmaceutical Engineering, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
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8
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Hanahan D. Hallmarks of Cancer: New Dimensions. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:31-46. [PMID: 35022204 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3296] [Impact Index Per Article: 1648.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The hallmarks of cancer conceptualization is a heuristic tool for distilling the vast complexity of cancer phenotypes and genotypes into a provisional set of underlying principles. As knowledge of cancer mechanisms has progressed, other facets of the disease have emerged as potential refinements. Herein, the prospect is raised that phenotypic plasticity and disrupted differentiation is a discrete hallmark capability, and that nonmutational epigenetic reprogramming and polymorphic microbiomes both constitute distinctive enabling characteristics that facilitate the acquisition of hallmark capabilities. Additionally, senescent cells, of varying origins, may be added to the roster of functionally important cell types in the tumor microenvironment. SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer is daunting in the breadth and scope of its diversity, spanning genetics, cell and tissue biology, pathology, and response to therapy. Ever more powerful experimental and computational tools and technologies are providing an avalanche of "big data" about the myriad manifestations of the diseases that cancer encompasses. The integrative concept embodied in the hallmarks of cancer is helping to distill this complexity into an increasingly logical science, and the provisional new dimensions presented in this perspective may add value to that endeavor, to more fully understand mechanisms of cancer development and malignant progression, and apply that knowledge to cancer medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Hanahan
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research - Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland. The Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) within the School of Life Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. The Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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9
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Gong D, Zhu H, Zeng L, Hu R, Hu J, Ding J. Overexpression of HOXA10 promotes the growth and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2454-2462. [PMID: 34293937 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211030854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of HOX transcription factor family has frequently been observed in multiple human cancers; however, their role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains largely unclear. In the present study, we found that HOX gene family is consistently upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and identified HOXA10 as one of the mostly upregulated HOX genes. Importantly, we show that HOXA10 overexpression is associated with transcriptional activation of multiple oncogenes essential for nasopharyngeal carcinoma carcinogenesis, including S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2), and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1). Mechanistically, the overexpression of SKP2 induces the degradation of cell cycle inhibitor p27, leading to rapid cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. The overexpression of CAMKK2 is associated with enhanced mTOR signaling activity to meet the increased demand for proteins synthesis in rapid growing nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Moreover, MMP1 overexpression facilitates nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell migration and invasion and contributes to cancer metastasis and progression. We thus concluded that HOXA10 overexpression promotes the growth and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by transcriptionally activating various oncogenic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Gong
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Department of Breast Cancer Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang 330029, China
| | - Lei Zeng
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Ronghuan Hu
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Jiali Hu
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Jianwu Ding
- Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang 330006, China
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Tsakiris N, Fauvet F, Ruby S, Puisieux A, Paquot A, Muccioli GG, Vigneron AM, Préat V. Combined nanomedicines targeting colorectal cancer stem cells and cancer cells. J Control Release 2020; 326:387-395. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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11
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Wu X, Xu F, Yang Z, Ke Z, Shi L, Ye C, Yan Q, Zhang S. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking of ((4-([1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- b][1,2,4,5]tetrazin-6-yl) piperazin-1-yl)methyl) benzohydrazide derivatives. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/1747519820911278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A series of ((4-([1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- b][1,2,4,5] methyl) benzo-hydrazide derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their inhibition activities against five tumor cells and c-Met kinase in vitro. These compounds were fully characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. Antitumor experiments indicated that some compounds exhibited significant inhibition activities against A549 and Bewo. Especially, the IC50 values of 5f (12 μM), 5h (7.1 μM), 6a (8.4 μM), and 6d (9.2 μM) demonstrated better antitumor activities against A549 than the positive agent cisplatin (13.3 μM), and the IC50 value of 6a (5.2 μM) exhibited better antitumor activity against Bewo than cisplatin (7.7 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wu
- Laboratory Department, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou university Hospital), Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Centre, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhenzhen Yang
- Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Centre, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhonglu Ke
- Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Centre, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Lei Shi
- Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Centre, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Can Ye
- Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Centre, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Qidong Yan
- Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Centre, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, P.R. China
| | - Shijie Zhang
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
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12
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Wen X, Wu Y, Awadasseid A, Tanaka Y, Zhang W. New Advances in Canonical Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:6987-6998. [PMID: 32821165 PMCID: PMC7418153 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s258645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin-mediated signaling is a key pathway regulating tissue growth and development, and tumorigenesis, and has received increasing attention in recent years. In addition to participating in healthy tissue and organ development, ectopic activation of the pathway can cause a variety of tumors and other pathologies. The pathway plays a critical role in many processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer cell stemness. The importance of the Wnt signal is self-evident. This review describes the underlying mechanism of Wnt signaling pathway and highlights the latest findings on the relationship between Wnt signaling pathway and tumorigenesis. In addition, the potential relationship between miRNAs and Wnt signaling is presented. Furthermore, we discuss the intrinsic link between Wnt signaling and cancer cell stemness, which shed light on the malignant progression of tumor cells. Finally, cancer treatment strategies based on the canonical Wnt signaling pathway are summarized, hoping to help clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolan Wen
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanling Wu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, People's Republic of China
| | - Annoor Awadasseid
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China.,Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yoshimasa Tanaka
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine, Center for Medical Innovation, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan
| | - Wen Zhang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China
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13
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Dziobek K, Oplawski M, Zmarzły N, Gabarek BO, Kiełbasiński R, Kiełbasiński K, Kieszkowski P, Talkowski K, Boroń D. Assessment of Expression of Homeobox A5 in Endometrial Cancer on the mRNA and Protein Level. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:635-641. [PMID: 31880256 PMCID: PMC7403687 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666191227121627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancer in the developed countries and occurs mainly in postmenopausal women. Angiogenesis is important for cancer formation as it provides nutrients for growing tumor mass. Most tumors do not show detectable Homeobox A5 (HOXA5 level), suggesting its potential role as a cancer suppressor. It was demonstrated that HOXA5 is involved in the progression of various types of cancer and the loss of its expression correlates with higher pathological grade and poorer outcome. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate HOXA5 expression at transcriptome and protein levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study enrolled 45 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 15 without neoplastic changes. The histopathological examination allowed us to divide cancer tissue samples according to the degree of histological differentiation: G1, 17; G2, 15; G3, 13. The expression of the HOXA5 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry. Microarray and RT-qPCR techniques were used to assess HOXA5 expression at the mRNA level. RESULTS The reaction to the HOXA5 protein was only visible in glandular cells in G1 endometrial cancer and was lower compared to the control. In grades 2 and 3, reactions were noted at the limit of the method's sensitivity. In addition, reduced HOXA5 expression was observed at the transcriptome level. CONCLUSION HOXA5 may become a potential complementary molecular marker, allowing early detection of neoplastic changes in the endometrium. It also seems that detection of HOXA5 at the mRNA and protein levels may be helpful in improving the accuracy of diagnosis and planning effective oncological therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Dziobek
- Address correspondence to this author at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology Krakow Branch, 11 Garncarska st. 31-115 Krakow, Krakow, Poland; E-mail:
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14
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Yu T, Chen D, Zhang L, Wan D. microRNA-26a-5p Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Osteosarcoma Cells by Targeting HOXA5 in vitro and in vivo. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:11555-11565. [PMID: 32021239 PMCID: PMC6941950 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s232100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are still unclear. miR-26a was an endogenous non-coding small RNAs that have been showed to play a critical role in regulating varieties of biological and pathological processes. In this study, we will investigate the function of miR-26a-5p in osteosarcoma cells. Methods In this study, we explored the role of miR-26a-5p in osteosarcoma cell lines using qPCR, detected the proliferation, cell cycle and cell migration by CCK-8, PI and transwell. Results We found that compared with noncancerous cells, miR-26a-5p was highly expressed in osteosarcoma cell lines, especially in U2OS cells. Overexpression of miR-26a-5p promotes cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell migration, but inhibits cell apoptosis. But down-regulation of miR-26a-5p in U2OS cells exhibits opposite effects. We also confirmed that miR-26a-5p directly targets HOXA5 in U2OS cells. Overexpression of HOXA5 reversed the effect of miR-26a-5p on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Besides, we showed in that knock-down of miR-26a-5p or overexpression of HOXA5 increased cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel. Conclusion These findings indicate that highly expressed miR-26a-5p in osteosarcoma cells, and promotes proliferation and migration, but inhibits apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting HOXA5 which suggest that miR-26a-5p could serve as a novel therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhua Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Institute of Harbin, The Fifth Hospital in Harbin, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Dexin Chen
- School of Materials Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Daqian Wan
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Institute of Harbin, The Fifth Hospital in Harbin, Harbin, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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15
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Yu M, Zhan J, Zhang H. HOX family transcription factors: Related signaling pathways and post-translational modifications in cancer. Cell Signal 2019; 66:109469. [PMID: 31733300 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
HOX family transcription factors belong to a highly conserved subgroup of the homeobox superfamily that determines cellular fates in embryonic morphogenesis and the maintenance of adult tissue architecture. HOX family transcription factors play key roles in numerous cellular processes including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, motility, and angiogenesis. As tumor promoters or suppressors HOX family members have been reported to be closely related with a variety of cancers. They closely regulate tumor initiation and growth, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, anti-cancer drug resistance and stem cell origin. Here, we firstly described the pivotal roles of HOX transcription factors in tumorigenesis. Then, we summarized the main signaling pathways regulated by HOX transcription factors, including Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor β, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and nuclear factor-κB signalings. Finally, we outlined the important post-translational modifications of HOX transcription factors and their regulation in cancers. Future research directions on the HOX transcription factors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Yu
- Peking University Health Science Center, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jun Zhan
- Peking University Health Science Center, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Hongquan Zhang
- Peking University Health Science Center, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Beijing 100191, China.
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16
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Wang J, Xing Y, Wang Y, He Y, Wang L, Peng S, Yang L, Xie J, Li X, Qiu W, Yi Z, Liu M. A novel BMI-1 inhibitor QW24 for the treatment of stem-like colorectal cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:422. [PMID: 31640758 PMCID: PMC6805542 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1392-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Cancer-initiating cell (CIC), a functionally homogeneous stem-like cell population, is resonsible for driving the tumor maintenance and metastasis, and is a source of chemotherapy and radiation-therapy resistance within tumors. Targeting CICs self-renewal has been proposed as a therapeutic goal and an effective approach to control tumor growth. BMI-1, a critical regulator of self-renewal in the maintenance of CICs, is identified as a potential target for colorectal cancer therapy. Methods Colorectal cancer stem-like cell lines HCT116 and HT29 were used for screening more than 500 synthetic compounds by sulforhodamine B (SRB) cell proliferation assay. The candidate compound was studied in vitro by SRB cell proliferation assay, western blotting, cell colony formation assay, quantitative real-time PCR, flow cytometry analysis, and transwell migration assay. Sphere formation assay and limiting dilution analysis (LDA) were performed for measuring the effect of compound on stemness properties. In vivo subcutaneous tumor growth xenograft model and liver metastasis model were performed to test the efficacy of the compound treatment. Student’s t test was applied for statistical analysis. Results We report the development and characterization of a small molecule inhibitor QW24 against BMI-1. QW24 potently down-regulates BMI-1 protein level through autophagy-lysosome degradation pathway without affecting the BMI-1 mRNA level. Moreover, QW24 significantly inhibits the self-renewal of colorectal CICs in stem-like colorectal cancer cell lines, resulting in the abrogation of their proliferation and metastasis. Notably, QW24 significantly suppresses the colorectal tumor growth without obvious toxicity in the subcutaneous xenograft model, as well as decreases the tumor metastasis and increases mice survival in the liver metastasis model. Moreover, QW24 exerts a better efficiency than the previously reported BMI-1 inhibitor PTC-209. Conclusions Our preclinical data show that QW24 exerts potent anti-tumor activity by down-regulating BMI-1 and abrogating colorectal CICs self-renewal without obvious toxicity in vivo, suggesting that QW24 could potentially be used as an effective therapeutic agent for clinical colorectal cancer treatment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1392-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Wang
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yajing Xing
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yundong He
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Liting Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Shihong Peng
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Lianfang Yang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jiuqing Xie
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xiaotao Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wenwei Qiu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Zhengfang Yi
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Mingyao Liu
- East China Normal University and Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital Joint Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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17
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Iyer DN, Sin WY, Ng L. Linking stemness with colorectal cancer initiation, progression, and therapy. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:519-534. [PMID: 31523371 PMCID: PMC6716088 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i8.519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of cancer stem cells caused a paradigm shift in the concepts of origin and development of colorectal cancer. Several unresolved questions remain in this field though. Are colorectal cancer stem cells the cause or an effect of the disease? How do cancer stem cells assist in colorectal tumor dissemination to distant organs? What are the molecular or environmental factors affecting the roles of these cells in colorectal cancer? Through this review, we investigate the key findings until now and attempt to elucidate the origins, physical properties, microenvironmental niches, as well as the molecular signaling network that support the existence, self-renewal, plasticity, quiescence, and the overall maintenance of cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer. Increasing data show that the cancer stem cells play a crucial role not only in the establishment of the primary colorectal tumor but also in the distant spread of the disease. Hence, we will also look at the mechanisms adopted by cancer stem cells to influence the development of metastasis and evade therapeutic targeting and its role in the overall disease prognosis. Finally, we will illustrate the importance of understanding the biology of these cells to develop improved clinical strategies to tackle colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Narayanan Iyer
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai-Yan Sin
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lui Ng
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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18
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Li B, Huang Q, Wei GH. The Role of HOX Transcription Factors in Cancer Predisposition and Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040528. [PMID: 31013831 PMCID: PMC6520925 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeobox (HOX) transcription factors, encoded by a subset of homeodomain superfamily genes, play pivotal roles in many aspects of cellular physiology, embryonic development, and tissue homeostasis. Findings over the past decade have revealed that mutations in HOX genes can lead to increased cancer predisposition, and HOX genes might mediate the effect of many other cancer susceptibility factors by recognizing or executing altered genetic information. Remarkably, several lines of evidence highlight the interplays between HOX transcription factors and cancer risk loci discovered by genome-wide association studies, thereby gaining molecular and biological insight into cancer etiology. In addition, deregulated HOX gene expression impacts various aspects of cancer progression, including tumor angiogenesis, cell autophagy, proliferation, apoptosis, tumor cell migration, and metabolism. In this review, we will discuss the fundamental roles of HOX genes in cancer susceptibility and progression, highlighting multiple molecular mechanisms of HOX involved gene misregulation, as well as their potential implications in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Qilai Huang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Gong-Hong Wei
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland.
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Li W, Lin X, Yang H, Cao Y, Zhang C, Fan Z. Depletion of HOXA5 inhibits the osteogenic differentiation and proliferation potential of stem cells from the apical papilla. Cell Biol Int 2017; 42:45-52. [PMID: 28833816 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a prospective cell source for tissue regeneration due to their self-renewal abilities and potential to differentiate into different cell lineages, but the molecular mechanisms of the directed differentiation and proliferation are still unknown. Recently, multiple studies have indicated the crucial role of HOX genes in MSC differentiation and proliferation. However, the role of HOXA5 in MSCs remains unknown. Here, we investigated HOXA5 function in stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs). After HOXA5 depletion, the results showed a significant decrease in ALP activity and a weakened mineralization ability of SCAPs. The real-time RT-PCR results showed prominently lessened expression of OPN and BSP. The CCK8 and CFSE results displayed inhibited proliferation of SCAPs, and flow cytometry assays revealed arrested cell cycle progression at the S phase. Furthermore, we found that depletion of HOXA5 upregulated p16INK4A and p18INK4C and downregulated the Cyclin A. Our research demonstrated that depletion of HOXA5 inhibited osteogenic differentiation and repressed cell proliferation by arresting cell cycle progression at the S phase via p16INK4A , p18INK4C , and Cyclin A in SCAPs, indicating that HOXA5 has a significant role in maintaining the proliferation and differentiation potential of dental-tissue-derived MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhi Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling and Stem Cells Therapy, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China.,Department of Endodontics, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling and Stem Cells Therapy, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China.,Department of Implant Dentistry, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Haoqing Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling and Stem Cells Therapy, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Yangyang Cao
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling and Stem Cells Therapy, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Endodontics, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhipeng Fan
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling and Stem Cells Therapy, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
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Bhatlekar S, Viswanathan V, Fields JZ, Boman BM. Overexpression of HOXA4 and HOXA9 genes promotes self-renewal and contributes to colon cancer stem cell overpopulation. J Cell Physiol 2017; 233:727-735. [PMID: 28464221 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Because HOX genes encode master regulatory transcription factors that regulate stem cells (SCs) during development and aberrant expression of HOX genes occurs in various cancers, our goal was to determine if dysregulation of HOX genes is involved in the SC origin of colorectal cancer (CRC). We previously reported that HOXA4 and HOXD10 are expressed in the colonic SC niche and are overexpressed in CRC. HOX gene expression was studied in SCs from human colon tissue and CRC cells (CSCs) using qPCR and immunostaining. siRNA-mediated knockdown of HOX expression was used to evaluate the role of HOX genes in modulating cancer SC (CSC) phenotype at the level of proliferation, SC marker expression, and sphere formation. All-trans-retinoic-acid (ATRA), a differentiation-inducing agent was evaluated for its effects on HOX expression and CSC growth. We found that HOXA4 and HOXA9 are up-regulated in CRC SCs. siRNA knockdown of HOXA4 and HOXA9 reduced: (i) proliferation and sphere-formation and (ii) gene expression of known SC markers (ALDH1, CD166, LGR5). These results indicate that proliferation and self-renewal ability of CRC SCs are reduced in HOXA4 and HOXA9 knockdown cells. ATRA decreased HOXA4, HOXA9, and HOXD10 expression in parallel with reduction in ALDH1 expression, self-renewal, and proliferation. Overall, our findings indicate that overexpression of HOXA4 and HOXA9 contributes to self-renewal and overpopulation of SCs in CRC. Strategies designed to modulate HOX expression may provide ways to target malignant SCs and to develop more effective therapies for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Bhatlekar
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, Delaware.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Vignesh Viswanathan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, Delaware.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | | | - Bruce M Boman
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, Delaware.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
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Synthesis, antitumor evaluation and molecular docking studies of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- b ][1,2,4,5]tetrazine derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:3042-3047. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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