KIFC3 Regulates the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer via Notch1 pathway

Identifying the function of kinesin superfamily proteins in gastric cancer: Implications for signal transduction, clinical significance, and potential therapeutic approaches

Gastric cancer (GC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, poses a significant global health challenge. Given its complex etiology, understanding the molecular pathways driving GC progression is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic strategies. Among the diverse proteins involved in cellular transport and mitotic regulation, kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) have emerged as key players in tumor biology. These motor proteins mediate intracellular transport along microtubules and are essential for processes such as cell division, signaling, and organelle distribution. Evidence indicates that specific KIFs are dysregulated in GC, potentially driving cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Moreover, aberrant KIF expression has been associated with poorer prognoses, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. This review explores the roles of KIFs in GC and assesses their implications for research and clinical applications. By elucidating the significance of KIFs in GC, this discussion aims to inspire novel insights in cancer biology and advance targeted therapeutic strategies.

Estrogen Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Endometrial Cancer Through the GPER-Mediated NOTCH Pathway

This study aims to investigate the expression of GPER in EC, assess the impact of estrogen on the proliferation and migration of EC via GPER, and examine the potential role of GPER in mediating the NOTCH pathway to influence EC proliferation and migration. The expression of GPER and its correlation with clinicopathological features were investigated using clinical data. Cell proliferation was assessed through MTT and EdU assays, while cell migration ability was evaluated using wound healing and transwell assays. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect proteins associated with the GPER and NOTCH signaling pathways. Additionally, xenograft tumor models were established to investigate the potential role of estrogen in mediating the NOTCH pathway via GPER. The results demonstrated a significant upregulation of GPER expression in EC, which was associated with clinical stage and metastasis. In vitro experiments provided evidence that estrogen promotes EC cell proliferation and metastasis by enhancing the expression levels of GPER, Notch1, and Hes-1 proteins. Conversely, knocking down or suppressing GPER effectively reverses these effects. Furthermore, treatment with JAG-1, an agonist for the NOTCH pathway, counteracts si-GPER's inhibitory impact on both proliferation and migration abilities of EC cells while increasing Notch1 and Hes-1 protein expression levels; however, it does not alter GPER expression. In vivo experiments have substantiated that estrogen facilitates EC proliferation via the GPER-mediated NOTCH pathway.

KIFC3 promotes the progression of non-small cell lung cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt pathway

BACKGROUND

Kinesin family member C3 (KIFC3), as reported, plays important roles in several tumor types. Nevertheless, it is unknown whether KIFC3 has effects on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

KIFC3 expression was detected by RT-PCR, and its correlation with prognosis was analyzed by GEPIA website. Small interfering RNA against KIFC3 were adopted for modulating KIFC3 expression in NSCLC cells. KIFC3 effects on NSCLC cell proliferation were determined using the MTT and clone formation assay. Matrigel invasion and wound healing assays were adopted for measuring the invasion and migration capability of NSCLC cells. Western blot was applied for measuring the levels of proteins associated with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway in NSCLC cells.

RESULTS

KIFC3 was markedly increased in NSCLC samples and cells. KIFC3 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration in NSCLC. Mechanically, KIFC3 silencing suppressed NSCLC progression through inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

KIFC3 lack suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration which works, at least partially, by the PI3K/Akt pathway. These findings suggest that targeting KIFC3 via the PI3K/Akt pathway may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.

Dysregulation of autophagy in gastric carcinoma: Pathways to tumor progression and resistance to therapy

The considerable death rates and lack of symptoms in early stages of gastric cancer (GC) make it a major health problem worldwide. One of the most prominent risk factors is infection with Helicobacter pylori. Many biological processes, including those linked with cell death, are disrupted in GC. The cellular "self-digestion" mechanism necessary for regular balance maintenance, autophagy, is at the center of this disturbance. Misregulation of autophagy, however, plays a role in the development of GC. In this review, we will examine how autophagy interacts with other cell death processes, such as apoptosis and ferroptosis, and how it affects the progression of GC. In addition to wonderful its role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, it is engaged in GC metastasis. The role of autophagy in GC in promoting drug resistance stands out. There is growing interest in modulating autophagy for GC treatment, with research focusing on natural compounds, small-molecule inhibitors, and nanoparticles. These approaches could lead to breakthroughs in GC therapy, offering new hope in the fight against this challenging disease.

Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and has the fourth highest death rate among all cancers. There is a lack of studies examining the impact of liver metastases on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in individuals diagnosed with GC.

AIM

To investigate the influence of liver metastases on the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in patients with advanced GC.

METHODS

This retrospective investigation collected clinical data of patients with advanced stomach cancer who had immunotherapy at our hospital from February 2021 to January 2023. The baseline attributes were compared using either the Chi-square test or the Fisher exact probability method. The chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and survival duration in GC patients with and without liver metastases.

RESULTS

The analysis comprised 48 patients diagnosed with advanced GC, who were categorized into two groups: A liver metastasis cohort (n = 20) and a non-liver metastatic cohort (n = 28). Patients with liver metastasis exhibited a more deteriorated physical condition compared to those without liver metastasis. The objective response rates in the cohort with metastasis and the cohort without metastasis were 15.0% and 35.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. Similarly, the disease control rates in these two cohorts were 65.0% and 82.1% (P > 0.05), respectively. The median progression-free survival was 5.0 months in one group and 11.2 months in the other group, with a hazard ratio of 0.40 and a significance level (P) less than 0.05. The median overall survival was 12.0 months in one group and 19.0 months in the other group, with a significance level (P) greater than 0.05.

CONCLUSION

Immunotherapy is less effective in GC patients with liver metastases compared to those without liver metastasis.

Modulation of Notch Signaling by Small-Molecular Compounds and Its Potential in Anticancer Studies

Notch signaling is responsible for conveying messages between cells through direct contact, playing a pivotal role in tissue development and homeostasis. The modulation of Notch-related processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, viability, and cell fate, offer opportunities to better understand and prevent disease progression, including cancer. Currently, research efforts are mainly focused on attempts to inhibit Notch signaling in tumors with strong oncogenic, gain-of-function (GoF) or hyperactivation of Notch signaling. The goal is to reduce the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, interfere with neo-angiogenesis, increase chemosensitivity, potentially target cancer stem cells, tumor dormancy, and invasion, and induce apoptosis. Attempts to pharmacologically enhance or restore disturbed Notch signaling for anticancer therapies are less frequent. However, in some cancer types, such as squamous cell carcinomas, preferentially, loss-of-function (LoF) mutations have been confirmed, and restoring but not blocking Notch functions may be beneficial for therapy. The modulation of Notch signaling can be performed at several key levels related to NOTCH receptor expression, translation, posttranslational (proteolytic) processing, glycosylation, transport, and activation. This further includes blocking the interaction with Notch-related nuclear DNA transcription. Examples of small-molecular chemical compounds, that modulate individual elements of Notch signaling at the mentioned levels, have been described in the recent literature.