The complex interplay of gut microbiota with the five most common cancer types: From carcinogenesis to therapeutics to prognoses

Icaritin-curcumol activates CD8+ T cells through regulation of gut microbiota and the DNMT1/IGFBP2 axis to suppress the development of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and mortality rates are rising. Our previous research has shown that the combination of icariin (ICA) and curcumol (CUR) induced autophagy and ferroptosis in PCa cells, and altered lipid metabolism. We aimed to further explore the effects of the combination of ICA and CUR on gut microbiota, metabolism, and immunity in PCa.

METHODS

A mouse subcutaneous RM-1 cell tumor model was established. 16 S rRNA sequencing was performed to detect changes in fecal gut microbiota. SCFAs in mouse feces, and the effect of ICA-CUR on T-cell immunity, IGFBP2, and DNMT1 were examined. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was conducted to explore the mechanism of ICA-CUR. Si-IGFBP2 and si/oe-DNMT1 were transfected into RM-1 and DU145 cells, and the cells were treated with ICA-CUR to investigate the mechanism of ICA-CUR on PCa development.

RESULTS

After treatment with ICA-CUR, there was a decrease in tumor volume and weight, accompanied by changes in gut microbiota. ICA-CUR affected SCFAs and DNMT1/IGFBP2/EGFR/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway. ICA-CUR increased the positive rates of CD3+CD8+IFN-γ, CD3+CD8+Ki67 cells, and the levels of IFN-γ and IFN-α in the serum. After FMT (with donors from the ICA-CUR group), tumor volume and weight were decreased. SCFAs promote tumor development and the expression of IGFBP2. In vitro, DNMT1/IGFBP2 promotes cell migration and proliferation. ICA-CUR inhibits the expression of DNMT1/IGFBP2.

CONCLUSIONS

ICA-CUR mediates the interaction between gut microbiota and the DNMT1/IGFBP2 axis to inhibit the progression of PCa by regulating immune response and metabolism, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for PCa.

Influence of Gut Microbiota-Mediated Immune Regulation on Response to Chemotherapy

The involvement of the gut microbiota in anti-cancer treatment has gained increasing attention. Alterations to the structure and function of the gut bacteria are important factors in the development of cancer as well as the efficacy of chemotherapy. Recent studies have confirmed that the gut microbiota and related metabolites influence the pharmacological activity of chemotherapeutic agents through interactions with the immune system. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of how malignant tumor and chemotherapy affect the gut microbiota, how the gut microbiota regulates host immune response, and how interactions between the gut microbiota and host immune response influence the efficacy of chemotherapy. Recent advances in strategies for increasing the efficiency of chemotherapy based on the gut microbiota are also described. Deciphering the complex homeostasis maintained by the gut microbiota and host immunity provides a solid scientific basis for bacterial intervention in chemotherapy.

Multi-omics-based investigation of Bifidobacterium's inhibitory effect on glioma: regulation of tumor and gut microbiota, and MEK/ERK cascade

Glioma, the most prevalent primary tumor of the central nervous system, is characterized by a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. The interplay between microbes, such as gut and tumor microbiota, and the host has underscored the significant impact of microorganisms on disease progression. Bifidobacterium, a beneficial bacterial strain found in the human and animal intestines, exhibits inhibitory effects against various diseases. However, the existing body of evidence pertaining to the influence of Bifidobacterium on glioma remains insufficient. Here, we found that Bifidobacterium reduces tumor volume and prolongs survival time in an orthotopic mouse model of glioma. Experiments elucidated that Bifidobacterium suppresses the MEK/ERK cascade. Additionally, we noted an increase in the α-diversity of the tumor microbiota, along with an augmented relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in the gut microbiota. This rise in Bifidobacterium levels within the intestine may be attributed to a concurrent increase in Bifidobacterium within the glioma. Additionally, Bifidobacterium induced alterations in serum metabolites, particularly those comprised of organonitrogen compounds. Thus, our findings showed that Bifidobacterium can suppress glioma growth by inhibiting the MEK/ERK cascade and regulating tumor, and gut microbiota, and serum metabolites in mice, indicating the promising therapeutic prospects of Bifidobacterium against glioma.

Bladder Cancer and the Urinary Microbiome-New Insights and Future Directions: A Review

The presence of a microbiome in the urinary system has been established through recent advancements in technology and investigation of microbial communities in the human body. The study of the taxonomic and genomic ecology of microbial communities has been greatly improved by the use of metagenomics. The research in this area has expanded our understanding of microbial ecosystems and shows that the urinary tract contains over 100 species from over 50 genera, with Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, and Streptococcus being the most common. Previous studies have suggested that the microbiota in the urinary tract may play a role in carcinogenesis by causing chronic inflammation and genotoxicity, but more research is needed to reach a definite conclusion. This is a narrative review. We conducted a search for relevant publications by using the databases Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar. The search was based on keywords such as "urinary microbiome," "bladder cancer," "carcinogenesis," "urothelial carcinoma," and "next-generation sequencing." The retrieved publications were then reviewed to study the contribution of the urinary microbiome in the development of bladder cancer. The results have been categorized into four sections to enhance understanding of the urinary microbiome and to highlight its role in the emergence of bladder cancer through alterations in the immune response that involve T-cells and antibodies. The immune system and microbiome play crucial roles in maintaining health and preventing disease. Manipulating the immune system is a key aspect of various cancer treatments, and certain gut bacteria have been linked to positive responses to immunotherapies. However, the impact of these treatments on the urinary microbiome, and how diet and lifestyle affect it, are not well understood. Research in this area could have significant implications for improving bladder cancer treatment and patient outcomes.

The postbiotic sodium butyrate synergizes the antiproliferative effects of dexamethasone against the AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells

A growing body of literature underlines the fundamental role of gut microbiota in the occurrence, treatment, and prognosis of cancer. In particular, the activity of gut microbial metabolites (also known as postbiotics) against different cancer types has been recently reported in several studies. However, their in-depth molecular mechanisms of action and potential interactions with standard chemotherapeutic drugs remain to be fully understood. This research investigates the antiproliferative activities of postbiotics- short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) salts, specifically magnesium acetate (MgA), sodium propionate (NaP), and sodium butyrate (NaB), against the AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, the potential synergistic interactions between the most active SCFA salt-NaB and the standard drug dexamethasone (Dex) were explored using the combination index model. The molecular mechanisms of the synergy were investigated using reactive oxygen species (ROS), flow cytometry and biochemometric and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-driven proteomics analyses. NaB exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect (p < 0.05) among the tested SCFA salts against the AGS gastric cancer cells. Additionally, Dex and NaB exhibited strong synergy at a 2:8 ratio (40 μg/mL Dex + 2,400 μg/mL NaB) with significantly greater inhibitory activity (p < 0.05) compared to the mono treatments against the AGS gastric cancer cells. MgA and NaP reduced ROS production, while NaB exhibited pro-oxidative properties. Dex displayed antioxidative effects, and the combination of Dex and NaB (2,8) demonstrated a unique pattern, potentially counteracting the pro-oxidative effects of NaB, highlighting an interaction. Dex and NaB individually and in combination (Dex:NaB 40:2400 μg/mL) induced significant changes in cell populations, suggesting a shift toward apoptosis (p < 0.0001). Analysis of dysregulated proteins in the AGS cells treated with the synergistic combination revealed notable downregulation of the oncogene TNS4, suggesting a potential mechanism for the observed antiproliferative effects. These findings propose the potential implementation of NaB as an adjuvant therapy with Dex. Further investigations into additional combination therapies, in-depth studies of the molecular mechanisms, and in vivo research will provide deeper insights into the use of these postbiotics in cancer, particularly in gastric malignancies.

Role of the intestinal microbiota and diet in the onset and progression of colorectal and breast cancers and the interconnection between both types of tumours

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of mortality in adults of both sexes worldwide, while breast cancer (BC) is among the leading causes of death in women. In addition to age, gender, and genetic predisposition, environmental and lifestyle factors exert a strong influence. Global diet, including alcohol consumption, is one of the most important modifiable factors affecting the risk of CRC and BC. Western dietary patterns promoting high intakes of xenobiotics from food processing and ethanol have been associated with increased cancer risk, whereas the Mediterranean diet, generally leading to a higher intake of polyphenols and fibre, has been associated with a protective effect. Gut dysbiosis is a common feature in CRC, where the usual microbiota is progressively replaced by opportunistic pathogens and the gut metabolome is altered. The relationship between microbiota and BC has been less studied. The estrobolome is the collection of genes from intestinal bacteria that can metabolize oestrogens. In a dysbiosis condition, microbial deconjugating enzymes can reactivate conjugated-deactivated oestrogens, increasing the risk of BC. In contrast, intestinal microorganisms can increase the biological activity and bioavailability of dietary phytochemicals through diverse microbial metabolic transformations, potentiating their anticancer activity. Members of the intestinal microbiota can increase the toxicity of xenobiotics through metabolic transformations. However, most of the microorganisms involved in diet-microbiota interactions remain poorly characterized. Here, we provide an overview of the associations between microbiota and diet in BC and CRC, considering the diverse types and heterogeneity of these cancers and their relationship between them and with gut microbiota.

Potential role of gut microbiota in prostate cancer: immunity, metabolites, pathways of action?

The gut microbiota helps to reveal the relationship between diseases, but the role of gut microbiota in prostate cancer (PCa) is still unclear. Recent studies have found that the composition and abundance of specific gut microbiota are significantly different between PCa and non-PCa, and the gut microbiota may have common and unique characteristics between different diseases. Intestinal microorganisms are affected by various factors and interact with the host in a variety of ways. In the complex interaction model, the regulation of intestinal microbial metabolites and the host immune system is particularly important, and they play a key role in maintaining the ecological balance of intestinal microorganisms and metabolites. However, specific changes in the composition of intestinal microflora may promote intestinal mucosal immune imbalance, leading to the formation of tumors. Therefore, this review analyzes the immune regulation of intestinal flora and the production of metabolites, as well as their effects and mechanisms on tumors, and briefly summarizes that specific intestinal flora can play an indirect role in PCa through their metabolites, genes, immunity, and pharmacology, and directly participate in the occurrence, development, and treatment of tumors through bacterial and toxin translocation. We also discussed markers of high risk PCa for intestinal microbiota screening and the possibility of probiotic ingestion and fecal microbiota transplantation, in order to provide better treatment options for clinic patients. Finally, after summarizing a number of studies, we found that changes in immunity, metabolites.

Microbiota Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Carcinogenesis through Altered Immune Response

The microbiota is present in many parts of the human body and plays essential roles. The most typical case is the occurrence and development of cancer. Pancreatic cancer (PC), one of the most aggressive and lethal types of cancer, has recently attracted the attention of researchers. Recent research has revealed that the microbiota regulates PC carcinogenesis via an altered immune response. Specifically, the microbiota, in several sites, including the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreatic tissue, along with the numerous small molecules and metabolites it produces, influences cancer progression and treatment by activating oncogenic signaling, enhancing oncogenic metabolic pathways, altering cancer cell proliferation, and triggering chronic inflammation that suppresses tumor immunity. Diagnostics and treatments based on or in combination with the microbiota offer novel insights to improve efficiency compared with existing therapies.

Gut microbiota is associated with response to 131I therapy in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

PURPOSE

Radioactive iodine (¹³¹I) therapy is a conventional post-surgery treatment widely used for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Since ¹³¹I is orally administered, we hypothesize that it may affect gut microbiome. This study aims to investigate alterations of intestinal microbiome caused by ¹³¹I therapy in PTC patients and explore its association with response to ¹³¹I therapy.

METHODS

Fecal samples of 60 PTC patients pre- and post-¹³¹I therapy were collected to characterize the ¹³¹I therapy-induced gut microbiota alterations using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. According to the inclusion criteria, sequence data of 40 out of the 60 patients, divided into excellent response (ER) group and non-excellent response (NER) group, were recruited to investigate the possible connection between gut microbiota and response to ¹³¹I therapy. Multivariate binary logistic regression was employed to construct a predictive model for response to ¹³¹I therapy.

RESULTS

Microbial richness, diversity, and composition were tremendously altered by ¹³¹I therapy. A significant decline of Firmicutes to Bacteroides (F/B) ratio was observed post-¹³¹I therapy. ¹³¹I therapy also led to changes of gut microbiome-related metabolic pathways. Discrepancies in β diversity were found between ER and NER groups both pre- and post-¹³¹I therapy. Furthermore, a predictive model for response to ¹³¹I therapy with a p value of 0.003 and an overall percentage correct of 80.0% was established, with three variables including lymph node metastasis, relative abundance of g_Bifidobacterium and g_Dorea. Among them, g_Dorea was identified to be an in independent predictor of response to ¹³¹I therapy (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

For the first time, the present study demonstrates the gut microbial dysbiosis caused by ¹³¹I therapy in post-surgery PTC patients and reveals a previously undefined role of gut microbiome as predictor for ¹³¹I ablation response. G_Dorea and g_Bifidobacterium may be potential targets for clinical intervention to improve response to ¹³¹I in post-operative PTC patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2100048000. Registered 28 June 2021.

The Fight against the Carcinogenic Epstein-Barr Virus: Gut Microbiota, Natural Medicines, and Beyond

Despite recent advances in oncology, cancer has remained an enormous global health burden, accounting for about 10 million deaths in 2020. A third of the cancer cases in developing counties are caused by microbial infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and hepatitis B and C viruses. EBV, a member of the human gamma herpesvirus family, is a double-stranded DNA virus and the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis. Most EBV infections cause no long-term complications. However, it was reported that EBV infection is responsible for around 200,000 malignancies worldwide every year. Currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs for the prophylaxis or treatment of EBV infection. Recently, the gut microbiota has been investigated for its pivotal roles in pathogen protection and regulating metabolic, endocrine, and immune functions. Several studies have investigated the efficacy of antiviral agents, gut microbial metabolites, and natural products against EBV infection. In this review, we aim to summarise and analyse the reported molecular mechanistic and clinical studies on the activities of gut microbial metabolites and natural medicines against carcinogenic viruses, with a particular emphasis on EBV. Gut microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids were reported to activate the EBV lytic cycle, while bacteriocins, produced by Enterococcus durans strains, have shown antiviral properties. Furthermore, several natural products and dietary bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, resveratrol, moronic acid, and andrographolide, have shown antiviral activity against EBV. In this review, we proposed several exciting future directions for research on carcinogenic viruses.

Gut Microbiota, the Potential Biological Medicine for Prevention, Intervention and Drug Sensitization to Fight Diseases

As the largest “immune organ” of human beings, the gut microbiota is symbiotic and mutually beneficial with the human host, playing multiple physiological functions. Studies have long shown that dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated with almost all human diseases, mainly including type II diabetes, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, autism spectrum disorder, and kidney diseases. As a novel and potential biological medicine for disease prevention, intervention and drug sensitization, the gut microbiota has attracted more and more attention recently. Although the gut microbiota is a comprehensive microbial community, several star bacteria have emerged as possible tools to fight against various diseases. This review aims to elucidate the relevance of gut microbiota dysbiosis with disease occurrence and progression, and mainly summarizes four well-known genera with therapeutic and sensitizing potential, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Parabacteroides, thoroughly elucidate their potential value as biological drugs to treat diverse disease.

Anti-aging effects and mechanisms of anthocyanins and their intestinal microflora metabolites

Aging, a natural and inevitable physiological process, is the primary risk factor for all age-related diseases; it severely threatens the health of individuals and places a heavy burden on the public health-care system. Thus, strategies to extend the lifespan and prevent and treat age-related diseases have been gaining increasing scientific interest. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are a subclass of flavonoids widely distributed in fruits and vegetables. Growing evidence suggests that ACNs delay aging and relieve age-related diseases. However, owing to the low bioavailability of ACNs, their gut metabolites have been proposed to play a critical role in mediating health benefits. In this review, we introduce the biological fate of ACNs after consumption and highlight ACNs metabolites (phenolic acids) from intestinal microorganisms. Additionally, ACNs and gut metabolites exhibit outstanding anti-aging ability in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and mouse models, probably associated with increasing antioxidation, anti-inflammation, protein homeostasis, antiglycation, mitochondrial function, and inhibition of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). ACNs and gut metabolites have great application prospects as functional foods and drugs to delay aging and manage age-related diseases. Further investigation should focus on the interaction between ACNs and gut microbiota, including clarifying the complex metabolic pathway and maximizing the health effects of ACNs.

Association of abnormal bowel health with major chronic diseases and risk of mortality

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore the association of chronic constipation and diarrhea with major chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes, as well as with mortality risk. In addition, we characterized the interrelationship of inflammation with abnormal bowel health, major chronic diseases, and mortality.

METHODS

Demographic characteristics, physical and laboratory examinations were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database 2005-2010. Chronic constipation or diarrhea was diagnosed by the shape and frequency of defecation. The number of samples used for the cancer, CVD, diabetes, and mortality analyses were 11,217, 11,168, 11,555, and 14,316, respectively. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association among abnormal bowel health, major chronic diseases, dietary inflammatory index (DII), and C-reactive protein (CRP). A Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to assess risk of all-cause mortality, and the Fine and Gray models were subsequently employed to calculate the cancer and CVD mortality risks.

RESULTS

There were statistically positive associations of chronic diarrhea or constipation with breast and colon cancer, CVD, risks of all-cause mortality, and CVD mortality. Particularly in participants younger than 60, in addition to the positive correlations of chronic diarrhea with three major chronic diseases and all-cause mortality risk, chronic constipation also contributed to an elevated risk of CVD mortality. With respect to inflammation markers, an increased DII or CRP level was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of abnormal bowel health and major chronic diseases, and a higher mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants with abnormal bowel health were more likely linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, CVD, and risks of all-cause and CVD mortality. Moreover, inflammation may have a potential role in associations among abnormal bowel health, major chronic diseases and mortality. However, these findings need to be confirmed by further prospective studies.

Gut Metabolites and Breast Cancer: The Continuum of Dysbiosis, Breast Cancer Risk, and Potential Breast Cancer Therapy

The complex association between the gut microbiome and cancer development has been an emerging field of study in recent years. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the overall maintenance of human health and interacts closely with the host immune system to prevent and fight infection. This review was designed to draw a comprehensive assessment and summary of recent research assessing the anticancer activity of the metabolites (produced by the gut microbiota) specifically against breast cancer. In this review, a total of 2701 articles were screened from different scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science) with 72 relevant articles included based on the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Metabolites produced by the gut microbial communities have been researched for their health benefits and potential anticancer activity. For instance, the short-chain fatty acid, butyrate, has been evaluated against multiple cancer types, including breast cancer, and has demonstrated anticancer potential via various molecular pathways. Similarly, nisin, a bacteriocin, has presented with a range of anticancer properties primarily against gastrointestinal cancers, with nominal evidence supporting its use against breast cancer. Comparatively, a natural purine nucleoside, inosine, though it has not been thoroughly investigated as a natural anticancer agent, has shown promise in recent studies. Additionally, recent studies demonstrated that gut microbial metabolites influence the efficacy of standard chemotherapeutics and potentially be implemented as a combination therapy. Despite the promising evidence supporting the anticancer action of gut metabolites on different cancer types, the molecular mechanisms of action of this activity are not well established, especially against breast cancer and warrant further investigation. As such, future research must prioritise determining the dose-response relationship, molecular mechanisms, and conducting animal and clinical studies to validate in vitro findings. This review also highlights the potential future directions of this field.

Xihuang Pill enhances anticancer effect of anlotinib by regulating gut microbiota composition and tumor angiogenesis pathway

Lung cancer poses a serious threat to human health. Although targeted therapies have led to breakthroughs in the treatment of lung cancer, drug resistance and side effects limit their clinical applications. Xihuang pill (XHW), a classical anti-cancer traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been clinically proven to be an effective complementary therapy in the treatment of various of cancers. However, the underlying mechanism for its use in combination with anti-cancer drugs remains unclear. Here, we explored the anti-lung cancer effect of XHW combined with anlotinib in mice bearing Lewis lung cancer (LLC). We used gut microbiota and transcriptomics to elucidate the regulatory properties of XHW in improving anti-lung cancer effect of anlotinib. The results showed that combination treatment of XHW with Anlotinib significantly inhibited tumor growth in LLC-bearing mice. We found that XHW played a key role in the regulation of gut microbiota using 16 s rRNA sequencing analysis. Specifically, XHW increased the proportion of the beneficial bacteria Bacteroides and g_norank_f_Muribaculaceae. Based on transcriptomic analysis of tumor tissues, differentially expressed genes in the combination therapy group were related to biological processes concerning angiogenesis, such as regulation of blood vessel diameter, regulation of tube diameter, and regulation of tube size. Our data suggest that XWH enhances the anticancer effect of anlotinib by regulating gut microbiota composition and tumor angiogenesis pathway. Combination therapy with anlotinib and XHW may be a novel therapeutic strategy for lung cancer patients.

The role of key gut microbial metabolites in the development and treatment of cancer

In recent years, the role of gut microbial metabolites on the inhibition and progression of cancer has gained significant interest in anticancer research. It has been established that the gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in the development, treatment and prognosis of different cancer types which is often mediated through the gut microbial metabolites. For instance, gut microbial metabolites including bacteriocins, short-chain fatty acids and phenylpropanoid-derived metabolites have displayed direct and indirect anticancer activities through different molecular mechanisms. Despite the reported anticancer activity, some gut microbial metabolites including secondary bile acids have exhibited pro-carcinogenic properties. This review draws a critical summary and assessment of the current studies demonstrating the carcinogenic and anticancer activity of gut microbial metabolites and emphasises the need to further investigate the interactions of these metabolites with the immune system as well as the tumour microenvironment in molecular mechanistic and clinical studies.

Sturgeon Chondroitin Sulfate Restores the Balance of Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer Bearing Mice

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a well-known bioactive substance with multiple biological functions, which can be extracted from animal cartilage or bone. Sturgeon, the largest soft bone animal with ~20% cartilage content, is a great candidate for CS production. Our recent study confirmed the role of sturgeon chondroitin sulfate (SCS) in reducing colorectal cancer cell proliferation and tumor formation. Here, we further studied the effect of SCS on modulating gut microbiome structure in colorectal cancer bearing mice. In this study, the transplanted tumor mice model was constructed to demonstrate that SCS can effectively halt the growth of transplanted colorectal tumor cells. Next, we showed that SCS significantly altered the gut microbiome, such as the abundance of Lactobacillales, Gastranaerophilales, Ruminiclostridiun_5 and Ruminiclostridiun_6. According to linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and abundance map analysis of the microbial metabolic pathways, the changes in microbial abundance led to an increase of certain metabolites (e.g., Phe, Tyr, and Gly). Fecal metabolome results demonstrated that SCS can significantly reduce the amount of certain amino acids such as Phe, Pro, Ala, Tyr and Leu presented in the feces, suggesting that SCS might inhibit colorectal cancer growth by modulating the gut microbiome and altering the production of certain amino acids. Our results revealed the therapeutic potential of SCS to facilitate treatment of colorectal cancer. This study provides insights into the development of novel food-derived therapies for colorectal cancer.

Personalized Medicine for Prostate Cancer: Is Targeting Metabolism a Reality?

Prostate cancer invokes major shifts in gene transcription and metabolic signaling to mediate alterations in nutrient acquisition and metabolic substrate selection when compared to normal tissues. Exploiting such metabolic reprogramming is proposed to enable the development of targeted therapies for prostate cancer, yet there are several challenges to overcome before this becomes a reality. Herein, we outline the role of several nutrients known to contribute to prostate tumorigenesis, including fatty acids, glucose, lactate and glutamine, and discuss the major factors contributing to variability in prostate cancer metabolism, including cellular heterogeneity, genetic drivers and mutations, as well as complexity in the tumor microenvironment. The review draws from original studies employing immortalized prostate cancer cells, as well as more complex experimental models, including animals and humans, that more accurately reflect the complexity of the in vivo tumor microenvironment. In synthesizing this information, we consider the feasibility and potential limitations of implementing metabolic therapies for prostate cancer management.

Current Advances in Coptidis Rhizoma for Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers

Cancer is a serious disease with an increasing number of reported cases and high mortality worldwide. Gastrointestinal cancer defines a group of cancers in the digestive system, e.g., liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma (C. Rhizoma; Huanglian, in Chinese) is a classical Chinese medicinal botanical drug for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and has been shown to have a wide variety of pharmacological activity, including antifungal, antivirus, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective effects. Recent studies on C. Rhizoma present significant progress on its anticancer effects and the corresponding mechanisms as well as its clinical applications. Herein, keywords related to C. Rhizoma, cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and omics were searched in PubMed and the Web of Science databases, and more than three hundred recent publications were reviewed and discussed. C. Rhizoma extract along with its main components, berberine, palmatine, coptisine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, epiberberine, oxyepiberberine, oxyberberine, dihydroberberine, columbamine, limonin, and derivatives, are reviewed. We describe novel and classic anticancer mechanisms from various perspectives of pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and pharmaceutics. Researchers have transformed the chemical structures and drug delivery systems of these components to obtain better efficacy and bioavailability of C. Rhizoma. Furthermore, C. Rhizoma in combination with other drugs and their clinical application are also summarized. Taken together, C. Rhizoma has broad prospects as a potential adjuvant candidate against cancers, making it reasonable to conduct additional preclinical studies and clinical trials in gastrointestinal cancer in the future.

Radiotherapy-Induced Digestive Injury: Diagnosis, Treatment and Mechanisms

Radiotherapy is one of the main therapeutic methods for treating cancer. The digestive system consists of the gastrointestinal tract and the accessory organs of digestion (the tongue, salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gallbladder). The digestive system is easily impaired during radiotherapy, especially in thoracic and abdominal radiotherapy. In this review, we introduce the physical classification, basic pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, predictive/diagnostic factors, and possible treatment targets of radiotherapy-induced digestive injury. Radiotherapy-induced digestive injury complies with the dose-volume effect and has a radiation-based organ correlation. Computed tomography (CT), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound (US) and endoscopy can help diagnose and evaluate the radiation-induced lesion level. The latest treatment approaches include improvement in radiotherapy (such as shielding, hydrogel spacers and dose distribution), stem cell transplantation and drug administration. Gut microbiota modulation may become a novel approach to relieving radiogenic gastrointestinal syndrome. Finally, we summarized the possible mechanisms involved in treatment, but they remain varied. Radionuclide-labeled targeting molecules (RLTMs) are promising for more precise radiotherapy. These advances contribute to our understanding of the assessment and treatment of radiation-induced digestive injury.