EIF3D promotes sunitinib resistance of renal cell carcinoma by interacting with GRP78 and inhibiting its degradation

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-a key guardian in cancer

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a cellular stress response characterized by excessive contraction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is a pathological hallmark of many diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the unique growth characteristic and varied microenvironment of cancer, high levels of stress are necessary to maintain the rapid proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. This process is closely related to ERS, which enhances the ability of tumor cells to adapt to unfavorable environments and promotes the malignant progression of cancer. In this paper, we review the roles and mechanisms of ERS in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, cellular metabolism, and immune response. We found that ERS can modulate tumor progression via the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling of IRE1, PERK, and ATF6. Targeting the ERS may be a new strategy to attenuate the protective effects of ERS on cancer. This manuscript explores the potential of ERS-targeted therapies, detailing the mechanisms through which ERS influences cancer progression and highlighting experimental and clinical evidence supporting these strategies. Through this review, we aim to deepen our understanding of the role of ER stress in cancer development and provide new insights for cancer therapy.

GRP78 blockade overcomes acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer

AIMS

While significant upregulation of GRP78 has been documented in lung cancer patients, its association with resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) remains underexamined. Our study aimed to elucidate the functional importance of GRP78 in acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target.

MAIN METHODS

Immunoblot analysis or flow cytometry was employed to assess several markers for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis. Ru(II) complex I and HA15, two known GRP78 inhibitors, were used to evaluate the functional role of GRP78. A Xenograft assay was performed to evaluate the in vivo anti-cancer effects of the GRP78 inhibitors.

KEY FINDINGS

We validated a significant increase in GRP78 protein levels in HCC827-GR, H1993-GR, and H1993-ER cells. The EGFR-TKI-resistant cells overexpressing GRP78 exhibited significantly higher cell proliferation rates than did their parental counterparts. Notably, GRP78 inhibition resulted in a more profound anti-proliferative and apoptotic response via heightened ER stress and subsequent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in EGFR-TKI-resistant cell lines compared with their parental cells. In xenograft models implanted with HCC827-GR, both Ru(II) complex I and HA15 significantly suppressed tumor growth and reduced tumor weight. Additionally, we confirmed that GRP78 plays a critical role in the proliferation of H1975, an EGFR-TKI-resistant T790M-mutant cell line, relative to other NSCLC cell lines.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings strongly support targeting of GRP78 as a promising therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs.

N6-Methyladenosine Methylation of mRNA in Cell Apoptosis

Apoptosis, a highly controlled homeostatic mechanism that eliminates single cells without destroying tissue function, occurs during growing development and senescence. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), as the most common internal modification of eukaryotic mRNA, fine-tunes gene expression by regulating many aspects of mRNA metabolism, such as splicing, nucleation, stability, translation, and degradation. Remarkably, recent reports have indicated that aberrant methylation of m6A-related RNA may directly or indirectly influence the expression of apoptosis-related genes, thus regulating the process of cell apoptosis. In this review, we summarized the relationship between m6A modification and cell apoptosis, especially its role in the nervous system, and analyzed the limitations of the current research.

GRP78 Downregulation in Keratinocytes Promotes Skin Inflammation through the Recruitment and Activation of CCR6+ IL-17A-Producing γδ T Cells

The migration of γδ T lymphocytes toward skin lesions and their concomitant pathogenic IL-17A production play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of IL-17A production by γδ T cells and their migration remain to be fully explored. Intracellular GRP78 is a molecular chaperone that regulates endoplasmic reticulum stress, whereas secretory GRP78, as a member of the resolution-associated molecular patterns, exerts immunoregulatory effects. In this study, we reported that both the intracellular GRP78 in skin lesions and secretory GRP78 in the serum were significantly decreased in patients with psoriasis. A GRP78 knockdown exacerbated imiquimod-induced skin inflammation, whereas the application of recombinant GRP78 protein or BIP inducer X (a GRP78 inducer) attenuated the dermatitis. Mechanistically, the GRP78 knockdown in keratinocytes enhanced the production of chemokines, specifically CCL20, which regulates γδ T-cell migration. Moreover, recombinant GRP78 was found to directly bind to γδ T cells to suppress its migration ability and proinflammatory capacities by downregulating the CCR6 and IL-17A expression. Collectively, our results uncovered a pivotal role of GRP78 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, which was mainly exerted by regulating the interaction between keratinocytes and γδ T cells, and might provide a promising target for psoriasis therapy.

Knockdown of SQLE promotes CD8+ T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment

Cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism are critical aspects that shape the process of tumor development and associated microenvironmental conditions owing to the ability of cholesterol to drive tumor growth and invasion. Squalene Epoxidase (SQLE) is the second rate-limiting enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol. The functional role of SQLE within the tumor microenvironment, however, has yet to be established. Here we show that SQLE is distinctively expressed across most types of cancer, and the expression level is highly correlated with tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability. Accordingly, SQLE was identified as a prognostic risk factor in cancer patients. In addition, we observed a negative correlation between SQLE expression and immune cell infiltration across multiple cancers, and murine xenograft model further confirmed that SQLE knockdown was associated with enhanced intratumoral CD8+ T cell infiltration. Using next-generation sequencing, we identified 410 genes distinctively expressed in tumors exhibiting SQLE inhibition. KEGG and GO analysis further verified that SQLE altered the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we found that the metabolism and translation of proteins is the main binding factor with SQLE. Our findings ascertain that SQLE is a potential target in multiple cancers and suppressing SQLE establishes an essential mechanism for shaping tumor microenvironment.

EIF3D promoted cervical carcinoma through Warburg effect by interacting with GRP78

The incidence of cervical cancer ranks third among all female tumours globally and second in developing countries. However, the role of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D (EIF3D) in cervical carcinoma is unknown. This study investigated the effects of EIF3D on cell progression of cervical carcinoma and its underlying mechanism in vivo and vitro models. There were increases of EIF3D expression mRNA and protein expression levels in patients with cervical carcinoma. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall surviva (OS) of EIF3D lower expression in patients with cervical carcinoma was higher than those of EIF3D higher expression. EIF3D mRNA expression levels in cervical carcinoma cell lines (AV3, Hela229, CaSki and Hela cells) were up-regulated, compared with cervical normal cell line (UVECs). EIF3D promoted cell growth and Warburg effect in vitro model of cervical carcinoma. EIF3D interacting with GRP78 to reduce the activity of GRP78 in vitro model of cervical carcinoma. The inhibition of GRP78 reduced the effects of EIF3D on Warburg effect in vitro model of cervical carcinoma.Our work identifies EIF3D promoted cell growth and Warburg effect in vitro model of cervical carcinoma and the inhibition of EIF3D represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The incidence of cervical cancer ranks third among all female tumours globally and second in developing countries.What do the results of this study add? This study investigated the effects of EIF3D on cell progression of cervical carcinoma and its underlying mechanism in vivo and vitro models.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? EIF3D promoted cell growth and Warburg effect in vitro model of cervical carcinoma and the inhibition of EIF3D represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma.

Mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma and associated opportunities for therapeutics

Sunitinib is the first-line drug for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment. However, patients who received sunitinib treatment will ultimately develop drug resistance after 6-15 months, creating a huge obstacle to the current treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, it is urgent to clarify the mechanisms of sunitinib resistance and develop new strategies to overcome it. In this review, the mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma have been summarized based on five topics: activation of bypass or alternative pathway, inadequate drug accumulation, tumour microenvironment, metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, present and potential biomarkers, as well as potential treatment strategies for overcoming sunitinib resistance in renal cell carcinoma, are also covered.

Potential therapeutic target secretogranin II might cooperate with hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in sunitinib-resistant renal cell carcinoma

Multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, such as sunitinib, have been used as the primary targeted agents for patients with recurrent or distant metastasis of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, endogenous or acquired sunitinib resistance has become a significant therapeutic problem. Therefore, we focused on mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in RCC. First, we undertook RNA sequencing analysis using previously established sunitinib-resistant RCC (SUR-Caki1, SUR-ACHN, and SUR-A498) cells. The results showed increased expression of secretogranin II (SCG2, chromogranin C) in SUR-RCC cells compared to parental cells. The Cancer Genome Atlas database showed that SCG2 expression was increased in RCC compared to normal renal cells. In addition, the survival rate of the SCG2 high-expression group was significantly lower than that of the RCC low-expression group. Thus, we investigated the involvement of SCG2 in sunitinib-resistant RCC. In vitro analysis showed that migratory and invasive abilities were suppressed by SCG2 knockdown SUR cells. As SCG2 was previously reported to be associated with angiogenesis, we undertook a tube formation assay. The results showed that suppression of SCG2 inhibited angiogenesis. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation assays revealed a direct interaction between SCG2 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α). Expression levels of VEGF-A and VEGF-C downstream of HIF1α were found to be decreased in SCG2 knockdown SUR cells. In conclusion, SCG2 could be associated with sunitinib resistance through VEGF regulation in RCC cells. These findings could lead to a better understanding of the VHL/HIF/VEGF pathway and the development of new therapeutic strategies for sunitinib-resistant RCC.

Unveiling the dark side of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in cancers and other human pathology: a systematic review

Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78) is a chaperone protein that is predominantly expressed in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. GRP78 plays a crucial role in protein folding by assisting in the assembly of misfolded proteins. Under cellular stress conditions, GRP78 can translocate to the cell surface (csGRP78) were it interacts with different ligands to initiate various intracellular pathways. The expression of csGRP78 has been associated with tumor initiation and progression of multiple cancer types. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the existing evidence on the roles of GRP78 in various types of cancer and other human pathology. Additionally, the review discusses the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying GRP78's involvement in tumorigenesis and cancer advancement. Furthermore, we highlight recent innovative approaches employed in downregulating GRP78 expression in cancers as a potential therapeutic target.

A role for SETD2 loss in tumorigenesis through DNA methylation dysregulation

SETD2-dependent H3 Lysine-36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) has been recently linked to the deposition of de-novo DNA methylation. SETD2 is frequently mutated in cancer, however, the functional impact of SETD2 loss and depletion on DNA methylation across cancer types and tumorigenesis is currently unknown. Here, we perform a pan-cancer analysis and show that both SETD2 mutation and reduced expression are associated with DNA methylation dysregulation across 21 out of the 24 cancer types tested. In renal cancer, these DNA methylation changes are associated with altered gene expression of oncogenes, tumour suppressors, and genes involved in neoplasm invasiveness, including TP53, FOXO1, and CDK4. This suggests a new role for SETD2 loss in tumorigenesis and cancer aggressiveness through DNA methylation dysregulation. Moreover, using a robust machine learning methodology, we develop and validate a 3-CpG methylation signature which is sufficient to predict SETD2 mutation status with high accuracy and correlates with patient prognosis.

eIF3d: A driver of noncanonical cap-dependent translation of specific mRNAs and a trigger of biological/pathological processes

Eukaryotic initiation factor 3d (eIF3d), a known RNA-binding subunit of the eIF3 complex, is a 66 to 68-kDa protein with an RNA-binding motif and a cap-binding domain. Compared with other eIF3 subunits, eIF3d is relatively understudied. However, recent progress in studying eIF3d has revealed a number of intriguing findings on its role in maintaining eIF3 complex integrity, global protein synthesis, and in biological and pathological processes. It has also been reported that eIF3d has noncanonical functions in regulating translation of a subset of mRNAs by binding to 5'-UTRs or interacting with other proteins independent of the eIF3 complex and additional functions in regulating protein stability. The noncanonical regulation of mRNA translation or protein stability may contribute to the role of eIF3d in biological processes such as metabolic stress adaptation and in disease onset and progression including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, tumorigenesis, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. In this review, we critically evaluate the recent studies on these aspects of eIF3d and assess prospects in understanding the function of eIF3d in regulating protein synthesis and in biological and pathological processes.

Nonenzymatic Flexible Wearable Biosensors for Vitamin C Monitoring in Sweat

Nutritional status monitoring plays an important role in the maintenance of human health and disease prevention. Monitoring the intake of vitamins can support the improvement of diet behavior. In this work, a polyaniline (PANI) film-based nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor was prepared to track the vitamin C level in sweat. The PANI film was modified with organic acids (ethylformic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and phytic acid). The phytic acid-modified PANI film based on sensor has a wide detection range (0.5-500 μmol·L^-1), high sensitivity (665.5 and 326.2 μA·(mmol·L^-1)^-1·cm^-2), and low detection limit (0.17 μmol·L^-1) toward vitamin C in sweat. The phytate enhances the band transport between PANI chains, which increases the electrical conductivity of the film to improve the electrochemical properties of the sensor. In addition, we monitored changes of vitamin C levels in human body after taking vitamin C pills by detecting sweat or saliva. The ability to track the pharmacological profile demonstrates the potential of PANI film-based sensors for applications in personalized nutritional intake and tracking. And a simple and portable vitamin C detection system was developed to improve the practicability of the sensor. This work provides an idea for the application of wearable electrochemical sensing devices in nutrition guidance.

MYC-driven U2SURP regulates alternative splicing of SAT1 to promote triple-negative breast cancer progression

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), although highly lethal, lacks validated therapeutic targets. Here, we report that U2 snRNP-associated SURP motif-containing protein (U2SURP), a poorly defined member of the serine/arginine rich protein family, was significantly upregulated in TNBC tissues, and its high expression was associated with poor prognosis of TNBC patients. MYC, a frequently amplified oncogene in TNBC tissues, enhanced U2SURP translation through an eIF3D (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D)-dependent mechanism, resulting in the accumulation of U2SURP in TNBC tissues. Functional assays revealed that U2SURP played an important role in facilitating tumorigenesis and metastasis of TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, U2SURP had no significant effects on proliferative, migratory, and invasive potential of normal mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, we found that U2SURP promoted alternative splicing of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1) pre-mRNA by removal of intron 3, resulting in an increase in the stability of SAT1 mRNA and subsequent protein expression levels. Importantly, spliced SAT1 promoted the oncogenic properties of TNBC cells, and re-expression of SAT1 in U2SURP-depleted cells partially rescued the impaired malignant phenotypes of TNBC cells caused by U2SURP knockdown both in vitro and in mice. Collectively, these findings reveal previously unknown functional and mechanism roles of the MYC-U2SURP-SAT1 signaling axis in TNBC progression and highlight U2SURP as a potential therapy target for TNBC.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Renal Cell Carcinoma

The endoplasmic reticulum is an organelle exerting crucial functions in protein production, metabolism homeostasis and cell signaling. Endoplasmic reticulum stress occurs when cells are damaged and the capacity of this organelle to perform its normal functions is reduced. Subsequently, specific signaling cascades, together forming the so-called unfolded protein response, are activated and deeply impact cell fate. In normal renal cells, these molecular pathways strive to either resolve cell injury or activate cell death, depending on the extent of cell damage. Therefore, the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway was suggested as an interesting therapeutic strategy for pathologies such as cancer. However, renal cancer cells are known to hijack these stress mechanisms and exploit them to their advantage in order to promote their survival through rewiring of their metabolism, activation of oxidative stress responses, autophagy, inhibition of apoptosis and senescence. Recent data strongly suggest that a certain threshold of endoplasmic reticulum stress activation needs to be attained in cancer cells in order to shift endoplasmic reticulum stress responses from a pro-survival to a pro-apoptotic outcome. Several endoplasmic reticulum stress pharmacological modulators of interest for therapeutic purposes are already available, but only a handful were tested in the case of renal carcinoma, and their effects in an in vivo setting remain poorly known. This review discusses the relevance of endoplasmic reticulum stress activation or suppression in renal cancer cell progression and the therapeutic potential of targeting this cellular process for this cancer.

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcriptomic Profiles Identified the Prediction of Prognosis and Drug Sensitivity of Aminopeptidase-Like 1 (NPEPL1) for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Aminopeptidase-like 1 (NPEPL1) is a member of the aminopeptidase group that plays a role in the development and progression of various diseases. Expression of NPEPL1 has been reported to be involved in prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers. However, the role and mechanism of NPEPL1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are unclear. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases were used to predict the relationship between clinicopathological features and NPEPL1 expression. Changes in immune status and drug sensitivity with NPEPL1 expression were analyzed by the "CIBERSORT" function in R software. The results found that NPEPL1 expression was upregulated in ccRCC tissues, with expression progressively increasing with ccRCC stage and grade. Patients with high NPEPL1 expression presented with a poor prognosis across different clinicopathological features. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that aberrant NPEPL1 expression was an independent risk factor for ccRCC. The nomogram showed that NPEPL1 expression improved the accuracy of predicting the prognosis of ccRCC patients. The Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that NPEPL1 may be involved in the development of ccRCC through the voltage-gated calcium channel complex, channel activity, cAMP signaling pathway, and oxytocin signaling pathway. The coexpression analysis found that NPEPL1 altered tumor characteristics by interacting with related genes. The "CIBERSORT" analysis showed that elevated NPEPL1 expression was followed by an enrichment of regulatory T cells and follicular helper T cells in the microenvironment. The drug sensitivity analysis found patients with high NPEPL1 expression had a higher benefit from axitinib, cisplatin, and GSK429286A. In conclusion, upregulation of NPEPL1 expression was involved in ccRCC prognosis and treatment. NPEPL1 could be used as a therapeutic target to guide clinical dosing.

Experimental verification and comprehensive analysis of m7G methylation regulators in the subcluster classification of ischemic stroke

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a fatal cerebrovascular disease involving several pathological mechanisms. Modification of 7-methylguanosine (m7G) has multiple regulatory functions. However, the expression pattern and mechanism of m7G in IS remain unknown. Herein, we aimed to explore the effect of m7G modification on IS. Methods: We screened significantly different m7G-regulated genes in Gene Expression Omnibus datasets, GSE58294 and GSE22255. The random forest (RF) algorithm was selected to identify key m7G-regulated genes that were subsequently validated using the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). A risk model was subsequently generated using key m7G-regulated genes. Then, "ConsensusClusterPlus" package was used to distinguish different m7G clusters of patients with IS. Simultaneously, between two m7G clusters, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immune infiltration differences were also explored. Finally, we investigated functional enrichment and the mRNA-miRNA-transcription factor network of DEGs. Results: RF and qPCR confirmed that EIF3D, CYFIP2, NCBP2, DCPS, and NUDT1 were key m7G-related genes in IS that could accurately predict clinical risk (area under the curve = 0.967). NCBP2 was the most significantly associated gene with immune infiltration. Based on the expression profiles of these key m7G-related genes, the IS group could be divided into two clusters. According to the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis algorithm, four types of immune cells (immature dendritic cells, macrophages, natural killer T cells, and TH1 cells) were significantly different in the two m7G clusters. The functional enrichment of 282 DEGs between the two clusters was mainly concentrated in the "regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway," "cellular response to DNA damage stimulus," "adaptive immune system," and "pyroptosis." The miR-214-LTF-FOXJ1 axis may be a key regulatory pathway for IS. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that EIF3D, CYFIP2, NCBP2, DCPS, and NUDT1 may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers for IS and that the m7G clusters developed by these genes provide more evidence for the regulation of m7G in IS.

EIF3D promotes resistance to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer through upregulating RUVBL1

BACKGROUND

As EIF3D is oncogenic in colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with multidrug resistance, this study aims to investigate whether and how EIF3D regulates resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) in CRC.

METHODS

EIF3D-associated genes in CRC were predicted using bioinformatics tools. CRC cells and nude mice received 5-Fu treatment. Then, the impacts of EIF3D and the interaction between EIF3D and RUVBL1 on cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, and DNA damage were detected through MTT, colony formation, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence assays, and those on in vivo tumorigenesis through murine xenograft assay. IC50 value of 5-Fu for CRC cells was determined by probit regression analysis. Expressions of EIF3D, eIF4E, EIF3D-associated genes, γH2AX, Bcl-2, Bax, and Cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 in CRC tissues, cells, and/or xenograft tumors were analyzed by qRT-PCR and/or Western blot.

RESULTS

EIF3D and RUVBL1 were highly expressed and positively correlated with CRC tissues/cells. In CRC cells, except for eIF4E, both EIF3D and RUVBL1 levels were upregulated by 5-Fu treatment; in addition to that, RUVBL1 level was downregulated by EIF3D silencing rather than eIF4E. Meanwhile, EIF3D silencing diminished IC50 value of 5-Fu and potentiated 5-Fu-induced viability decrease, colony formation inhibition, apoptosis promotion, Bcl-2 downregulation, and γH2AX, Bax, and Cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 upregulation but reversed 5-Fu-triggered RUVBL1 upregulation. RUVBL1 overexpression offsets EIF3D silencing-induced viability decrease and apoptosis promotion of 5-Fu-treated CRC cells, and tumorigenesis suppression and apoptosis promotion in 5-Fu-treated mice.

CONCLUSION

EIF3D promotes resistance to 5-Fu in CRC through upregulating RUVBL1 level.

A novel prognostic 7-methylguanosine signature reflects immune microenvironment and alternative splicing in glioma based on multi-omics analysis

Glioma is the most common type of central nervous system tumor with increasing incidence. 7-methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the diverse RNA modifications that is known to regulate RNA metabolism and its dysregulation was associated with various cancers. However, the expression pattern of m7G regulators and their roles in regulating tumor immune microenvironments (TIMEs) as well as alternative splicing events (ASEs) in glioma has not been reported. In this study, we showed that m7G regulators displayed a close correlation with each other and most of them were differentially expressed between normal and glioma tissues. Two m7G signatures were then constructed to predict the overall survival of both GBM and LGG patients with moderate predictive performance. The risk score calculated from the regression coefficient and expression level of signature genes was proved to be an independent prognostic factor for patients with LGG, thus, a nomogram was established on the risk score and other independent clinical parameters to predict the survival probability of LGG patients. We also investigated the correlation of m7G signatures with TIMEs in terms of immune scores, expression levels of HLA and immune checkpoint genes, immune cell composition, and immune-related functions. While exploring the correlation between signature genes and the ASEs in glioma, we found that EIF4E1B was a key regulator and might play dual roles depending on glioma grade. By incorporating spatial transcriptomic data, we found a cluster of cells featured by high expression of PTN exhibited the highest m7G score and may communicate with adjacent cancer cells via SPP1 and PTN signaling pathways. In conclusion, our work brought novel insights into the roles of m7G modification in TIMEs and ASEs in glioma, suggesting that evaluation of m7G in glioma could predict prognosis. Moreover, our data suggested that blocking SPP1 and PTN pathways might be a strategy for combating glioma.

Advances in Renal Cell Carcinoma Drug Resistance Models

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer. Systemic therapy is the preferred method to eliminate residual cancer cells after surgery and prolong the survival of patients with inoperable RCC. A variety of molecular targeted and immunological therapies have been developed to improve the survival rate and prognosis of RCC patients based on their chemotherapy-resistant properties. However, owing to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance, targeted and immunological therapies lack complete and durable anti-tumor responses; therefore, understanding the mechanisms of systemic therapy resistance and improving clinical curative effects in the treatment of RCC remain challenging. In vitro models with traditional RCC cell lines or primary cell culture, as well as in vivo models with cell or patient-derived xenografts, are used to explore the drug resistance mechanisms of RCC and screen new targeted therapeutic drugs. Here, we review the established methods and applications of in vivo and in vitro RCC drug resistance models, with the aim of improving our understanding of its resistance mechanisms, increasing the efficacy of combination medications, and providing a theoretical foundation for the development and application of new drugs, drug screening, and treatment guidelines for RCC patients.

Role of Sam68 in Sunitinib induced renal cell carcinoma apoptosis

Sunitinib is one of the first‐line targeted drugs for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with dual effects of antiangiogensis and proapoptosis. Sam68 (Src‐associated in mitosis, 68 KDa), is found being involved in cell apoptosis. This article reveals that Sam68 impacts the sensitivity to sunitinib by mediating the apoptosis of RCC cells. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the Sam68 expression levels in sunitinib sensitive tumor tissues were markedly higher than those in sunitinib resistant tumor tissues. Sunitinib induced RCC cell apoptosis in a concentration‐dependent manner and inhibited the expression of total and phosphorylated Sam68 (p‐Sam68). Downregulation of Sam68 expression inhibited RCC cell apoptosis induced by sunitinib. While upregulation of Sam68 expression could enhance apoptosis induced by sunitinib. Xenograft models showed that tumors in the Sam68‐knockdown group did not shrink as much as those in the control group after treatment with sunitinib for 4 weeks. Together, our results suggest that Sam68 expression is associated with the sensitivity of ccRCC patients to sunitinib. Sam68 may promote cell apoptosis induced by sunitinib, and the Sam68 expression level may be a biomarker for predicting sunitinib sensitivity in ccRCC patients.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals MYH9 promotes renal cell carcinoma development and sunitinib resistance via AKT signaling pathway

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a serious threat to human health worldwide, while its heterogeneity limits therapeutic success and leads to poor survival outcomes. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is an important technology, which provides deep insights into the genetic characteristics of carcinoma. In this study, we profiled the gene expression of single cells from human ccRCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues using the scRNA-seq. We found that MYH9 was commonly upregulated in the ccRCC cell subgroup. Additionally, MYH9 was of highly expression in ccRCC tissues and predicted poor prognosis of ccRCC patients. MYH9 knockdown in ccRCC cells dampened their proliferative and metastatic potentials, whereas MYH9 overexpression enhanced these properties. In vivo, MYH9 also promoted ccRCC growth. Mechanistic studies showed that MYH9 played these vital roles through AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, MYH9/AKT axis determined the responses of ccRCC cells to sunitinib treatment and might serve as a biomarker for sunitinib benefits in ccRCC patients. Thus, MYH9 might be a novel therapeutic target and prognostic predictor for ccRCC.

Overexpression of Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3D induces stem cell-like properties and metastasis in cervix cancer by activating FAK through inhibiting degradation of GRP78

Cervix cancer (CC) is the most common gynecological malignancy and the leading cause of morbidity among women worldwide. Previous study indicated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) existed in cervix cancer, and suppressing CSC characteristics of cervix cancer is needed to combat this disease. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (EIF3) is one of the most complex eukaryotic translation initiation factors containing 13 subunits (EIF3A-EIF3M) and it regulates eukaryotic translation. One member of EIF3, EIF3D, plays a role in the progression and development of multiple tumors. However, its possible role in cervix cancer progression is still unclear. In this study, we found the high EIF3D expression in human cervix cancer tissues. We further found that downregulation of EIF3D suppressed the proliferation and motility of cervix cancer cells. Furthermore, its downregulation restrained the stem cell-like properties of cervix cancer cells. Mechanically, we found that EIF3D promoted FAK activation through GRP78 in cervix cancer cells, thus contributing to the progression of cervix cancer. Therefore our results suggested that EIF3D could serve as a promising target of cervix cancer.

Similarities and Differences of Hsp70, hsc70, Grp78 and Mortalin as Cancer Biomarkers and Drug Targets

Background: Upregulation of Heath Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) chaperones supports cancer cell survival. Their high homology causes a challenge to differentiate them in experimental or prevention and treatment strategies. The objective of this investigation was to determine similarities and differences of Hsp70, hsc70, Grp78 and Mortalin members of the HSP70 family encoded by HSPA1, HSPA8, HSPA5 and HSPA9 genes, respectively. Methods: Literature reviews were conducted using HSPA1, HSPA5, HSPA8 and HSPA9 gene or protein names or synonyms combined with biological or cancer-relevant terms. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to identify and compare profiles of proteins that directly bind individual chaperones and their associated pathways. TCGA data was probed to identify associations of hsc70 with cancer patient survival. ClinicalTrials.gov was used to identify HSP70 family studies. Results: The chaperones have similar protein folding functions. Their different cellular effects are determined by co-chaperones and client proteins combined with their intra- and extra-cellular localizations. Their upregulation is associated with worse patient prognosis in multiple cancers and can stimulate tumor immune responses or drug resistance. Their inhibition selectively kills cancer over healthy cells. Conclusions: Differences in Hsp70, hsc70, Grp78 and mortalin provide opportunities to calibrate HSP70 inhibitors for individual cancers and combination therapies.

Non-coding RNA-mediated autophagy in cancer: A protumor or antitumor factor?

Autophagy, usually referred to as macroautophagy, is a cytoprotective behavior that helps cells, especially cancer cells, escape crises. However, the role of autophagy in cancer remains controversial. The induction of autophagy is favorable for tumor growth, as it can degrade damaged cell components accumulated during nutrient deficiency, chemotherapy, or other stresses in a timely manner. Whereas the antitumor effect of autophagy might be closely related to its crosstalk with metabolism, immunomodulation, and other pathways. Recent studies have verified that lncRNAs and circRNAs modulate autophagy in carcinogenesis, cancer cells proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and chemoresistance via multiple mechanisms. A comprehensive understanding of the regulatory relationships between ncRNAs and autophagy in cancer might resolve chemoresistance and also offer intervention strategies for cancer therapy. This review systematically displays the regulatory effects of lncRNAs and circRNAs on autophagy in the contexts of cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to chemo- or radiotherapy and provides a novel insight into cancer therapy.

An Analytical Method Based on Electrochemical Sensor for the Assessment of Insect Infestation in Flour

Uric acid is an important indicator of the insect infestation assessment in flour. In this work, we propose a method for uric acid detection based on voltammetry. This technique is particularly considered for the physicochemical properties of flour and contains a simple pretreatment process to rapidly achieve extraction and adsorption of uric acid in flour. To achieve specific recognition of uric acid, graphene and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were used for the adsorption and concentration of uric acid in flour. The adsorbed mixture was immobilized on the surface of a screen-printed electrode for highly sensitive detection of the uric acid. The results showed that electrocatalytic oxidation of uric acid could be achieved after adsorption by graphene and PEDOT. This electrocatalytic reaction allows its oxidation peak to be distinguished from those of other substances that commonly possess electrochemical activity. This voltammetry-based detection method is a portable and disposable analytical method. Because it is simple to operate, requires no professional training, and is inexpensive, it is a field analysis method that can be promoted.

Ubiquitin-proteasome system-targeted therapy for uveal melanoma: what is the evidence?

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare ocular tumor. The loss of BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) and the aberrant activation of G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ)/G protein subunit alpha 11 (GNA11) contribute to the frequent metastasis of UM. Thus far, limited molecular-targeted therapies have been developed for the clinical treatment of UM. However, an increasing number of studies have revealed the close relationship between the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and the malignancy of UM. UPS consists of a three-enzyme cascade, i.e. ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1s); ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s); and ubiquitin-protein ligases (E3s), as well as 26S proteasome and deubiquitinases (DUBs), which work coordinately to dictate the fate of intracellular proteins through regulating ubiquitination, thus influencing cell viability. Due to the critical role of UPS in tumors, we here provide an overview of the crosstalk between UPS and the malignancy of UM, discuss the current UPS-targeted therapies in UM and highlight its potential in developing novel regimens for UM.

The Potential Roles of RNA N6-Methyladenosine in Urological Tumors

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is regarded as the most abundant, prevalent and conserved internal mRNA modification in mammalian cells. M⁶A can be catalyzed by m⁶A methyltransferases METTL3, METTL14 and WTAP (writers), reverted by demethylases ALKBH5 and FTO (erasers), and recognized by m⁶A -binding proteins such as YTHDF1/2/3, IGF2BP1/2/3 and HNRNPA2B1 (readers). Emerging evidence suggests that m⁶A modification is significant for regulating many biological and cellular processes and participates in the pathological development of various diseases, including tumors. This article reviews recent studies on the biological function of m⁶A modification and the methylation modification of m⁶A in urological tumors.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Enriched Fish Oil and Selenium Combination Modulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Elements and Reverses Acquired Gefitinib Resistance in HCC827 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-carrying specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations can be effectively treated by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor such as gefitinib. However, the inevitable development of acquired resistance leads to the eventual failure of therapy. In this study, we show the combination effect of omega-3 fatty acid-enriched fish oil (FO) and selenium (Se) on reversing the acquired gefitinib-resistance of HCC827 NSCLC cells. The gefitinib-resistant subline HCC827GR possesses lowered proapoptotic CHOP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein) and elevated cytoprotective GRP78 (glucose regulated protein of a 78 kDa molecular weight) endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response elements, and it has elevated β-catenin and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels. Combining FO and Se counteracts the above features of HCC827GR cells, accompanied by the suppression of their raised epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem markers, such as vimentin, AXL, N-cadherin, CD133, CD44, and ABCG2. Accordingly, an FO and Se combination augments the gefitinib-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis of HCC827GR cells, along with the enhanced activation of caspase -3, -9, and ER stress-related caspase-4. Intriguingly, gefitinib further increases the elevated ABCG2 and cancer stem-like side population in HCC827GR cells, which can also be diminished by the FO and Se combination. The results suggest the potential of combining FO and Se in relieving the acquired resistance of NSCLC patients to targeted therapy.