Radiosensitivity-Specific Proteomic and Signaling Pathway Network of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Investigating the anti-lung cancer properties of Zhuang medicine Cycas revoluta Thunb. leaves targeting ion channels and transporters through a comprehensive strategy

BACKGROUND

Cycas revoluta Thunb., known for its ornamental, economic, and medicinal value, has leaves often discarded as waste. However, in ethnic regions of China, the leaves (CRL) are used in folk medicine for anti-tumor properties, particularly for regulating pathways related to cancer. Recent studies on ion channels and transporters (ICTs) highlight their therapeutic potential against cancer, making it vital to identify CRL's active constituents targeting ICTs in lung cancer.

PURPOSE

This study aims to uncover bioactive substances in CRL and their mechanisms in regulating ICTs for lung cancer treatment using network pharmacology, bioinformatics, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, in vitro cell assays and HPLC.

METHODS

We analyzed 62 CRL compounds, predicted targets using PubChem and SwissTargetPrediction, identified lung cancer and ICT targets via GeneCards, and visualized overlaps with R software. Interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape and STRING. Gene expression, GO, and KEGG analyses were performed using R software. TCGA data provided insights into differential, correlation, survival, and immune analyses. Key interactions were validated through molecular docking and MD simulations. Main biflavonoids were quantified using HPLC, and in vitro cell viability assays were conducted for key biflavonoids.

RESULTS

Venn diagram analysis identified 52 intersecting targets and ten active CRL compounds. The PPI network highlighted seven key targets. GO and KEGG analysis showed CRL-targeted ICTs involved in synaptic transmission, GABAergic synapse, and proteoglycans in cancer. Differential expression and correlation analysis revealed significant differences in five core targets in lung cancer tissues. Survival analysis linked EGFR and GABRG2 with overall survival, and immune infiltration analysis associated the core targets with most immune cell types. Molecular docking indicated strong binding of CRL ingredients to core targets. HPLC revealed amentoflavone as the most abundant biflavonoid, followed by hinokiflavone, sciadopitysin, and podocarpusflavone A. MD simulations showed that podocarpusflavone A and amentoflavone had better binding stability with GABRG2, and the cell viability assay also proved that they had better anti-lung cancer potential.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified potential active components, targets, and pathways of CRL-targeted ICTs for lung cancer treatment, suggesting CRL's utility in drug development and its potential beyond industrial waste.

Recent advances progress of targeted drugs combined with radiotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a review

Targeted drug therapy plays an important role in the clinical application of non-small cell lung cancer, especially adenocarcinoma. However, for patients with advanced disease, drug resistance after targeted therapy, unclear target, and other reasons that cannot or do not want surgery, the combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunity, etc. is often used. The synergistic effect of targeted drugs and radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer has shown good clinical efficacy. This article reviews the clinical progress of targeted drug therapy combined with radiotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer in recent years, in order to provide new ideas for further clinical research of this treatment mode.

MAPK11 (p38β) is a major determinant of cellular radiosensitivity by controlling ionizing radiation-associated senescence: An in vitro study

Background and purpose

MAPKs are among the most relevant signalling pathways involved in coordinating cell responses to different stimuli. This group includes p38MAPKs, constituted by 4 different proteins with a high sequence homology: MAPK14 (p38α), MAPK11 (p38β), MAPK12 (p38γ) and MAPK13 (p38δ). Despite their high similarity, each member shows unique expression patterns and even exclusive functions. Thus, analysing protein-specific functions of MAPK members is necessary to unequivocally uncover the roles of this signalling pathway. Here, we investigate the possible role of MAPK11 in the cell response to ionizing radiation (IR).

Materials and methods

We developed MAPK11/14 knockdown through shRNA and CRISPR interference gene perturbation approaches and analysed the downstream effects on cell responses to ionizing radiation in A549, HCT-116 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Specifically, we assessed IR toxicity by clonogenic assays; DNA damage response activity by immunocytochemistry; apoptosis and cell cycle by flow cytometry (Annexin V and propidium iodide, respectively); DNA repair by comet assay; and senescence induction by both X-Gal staining and gene expression of senescence-associated genes by RT-qPCR.

Results

Our findings demonstrate a critical role of MAPK11 in the cellular response to IR by controlling the associated senescent phenotype, and without observable effects on DNA damage response, apoptosis, cell cycle or DNA damage repair.

Conclusion

Our results highlight MAPK11 as a novel mediator of the cellular response to ionizing radiation through the control exerted onto IR-associated senescence.

Improving the efficacy of combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy: focusing on the effects of radiosensitivity

Cancer treatment is gradually entering an era of precision, with multitude studies in gene testing and immunotherapy. Tumor cells can be recognized and eliminated by the immune system through the expression of tumor-associated antigens, but when the cancer escapes or otherwise suppresses immunity, the balance between cancer cell proliferation and immune-induced cancer cell killing may be interrupted, resulting in tumor proliferation and progression. There has been significant attention to combining conventional cancer therapies (i.e., radiotherapy) with immunotherapy as opposed to treatment alone. The combination of radio-immunotherapy has been demonstrated in both basic research and clinical trials to provide more effective anti-tumor responses. However, the absolute benefits of radio-immunotherapy are dependent on individual characteristics and not all patients can benefit from radio-immunotherapy. At present, there are numerous articles about exploring the optimal models for combination radio-immunotherapy, but the factors affecting the efficacy of the combination, especially with regard to radiosensitivity remain inconclusive. Radiosensitivity is a measure of the response of cells, tissues, or individuals to ionizing radiation, and various studies have shown that the radiosensitivity index (RSI) will be a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy of combination radio-immunotherapy. The purpose of this review is to focus on the factors that influence and predict the radiosensitivity of tumor cells, and to evaluate the impact and predictive significance of radiosensitivity on the efficacy of radio-immunotherapy combination.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts facilitate DNA damage repair by promoting the glycolysis in non-small cell lung cancer

Radiotherapy is an essential treatment modality for the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Tumor radioresistance is the major factor limiting the efficacy of radiotherapy in NSCLC patients. Our study aimed to reveal whether cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), one main component of the tumor microenvironment, regulated DNA damage response of NSCLC cells following irradiation and clarify the involved mechanisms. We found CAFs inhibited irradiation-induced DNA damage while promoted DNA repair of NSCLC cells and caused cell cycle arrest in the radioresistant S phase. CAFs have the ability of up-regulating and stabilizing c-Myc, leading to the transcription activation of HK2 kinase, a key rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Attenuation of glycolysis significantly reversed the effect of CAFs on DNA damage response of NSCLC cells. By high-throughput screening of human cytokines/chemokines array, we found CAFs-secreted midkine led to the promotion of glycolysis by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway in NSCLC cells. In vivo, CAFs caused the radioresistance of NSCLC cells also by promoting the glycolysis in a β-catenin signaling-dependent manner. These findings may provide novel strategies for reversing the radioresistance of NSCLC cells.

Artificial intelligence in radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a discipline closely integrated with computer science. Artificial intelligence (AI) has developed rapidly over the past few years. With the explosive growth of medical big data, AI promises to revolutionize the field of radiotherapy through highly automated workflow, enhanced quality assurance, improved regional balances of expert experiences, and individualized treatment guided by multi-omics. In addition to independent researchers, the increasing number of large databases, biobanks, and open challenges significantly facilitated AI studies on radiation oncology. This article reviews the latest research, clinical applications, and challenges of AI in each part of radiotherapy including image processing, contouring, planning, quality assurance, motion management, and outcome prediction. By summarizing cutting-edge findings and challenges, we aim to inspire researchers to explore more future possibilities and accelerate the arrival of AI radiotherapy.

Application of two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis to identify protein changes between center, margin, and adjacent non-tumor tissues obtained from non-small-cell lung cancer with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma subtype

Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer-related mortality worldwide and the mechanism of its development is poorly understood. Proteomics has become a powerful tool offering vital knowledge related to cancer development. Using a two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) approach, we sought to compare tissue samples from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients taken from the tumor center and tumor margin. Two subtypes of NSCLC, adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were compared. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD032736 and PXD032962 for ADC and SCC, respectively. For ADC proteins, 26 significant canonical pathways were identified, including Rho signaling pathways, a semaphorin neuronal repulsive signaling pathway, and epithelial adherens junction signaling. For SCC proteins, nine significant canonical pathways were identified, including hypoxia-inducible factor-1α signaling, thyroid hormone biosynthesis, and phagosome maturation. Proteins differentiating the tumor center and tumor margin were linked to cancer invasion and progression, including cell migration, adhesion and invasion, cytoskeletal structure, protein folding, anaerobic metabolism, tumor angiogenesis, EMC transition, epithelial adherens junctions, and inflammatory responses. In conclusion, we identified several proteins that are important for the better characterization of tumor development and molecular specificity of both lung cancer subtypes. We also identified proteins that may be important as biomarkers and/or targets for anticancer therapy.