Matrix metalloproteinase 2 is a target of the RAN-GTP pathway and mediates migration, invasion and metastasis in human breast cancer

The role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancers

The gut microbiota present in the human digestive system is incredibly varied and is home to trillions of microorganisms. The gut microbiome is shaped at birth, while numerous genetic, dietary, and environmental variables primarily influence the microbiome composition. The importance of gut microbiota on host health is becoming more widely acknowledged. Digestion, intestinal permeability, and immunological and metabolism responses can all be affected by changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiota. There is mounting evidence that the microbial population's complex traits are important biomarkers and indicators of patient outcomes in cancer and its therapies. Numerous studies have demonstrated that changed commensal gut microorganisms contribute to the development and spread of cancer through various routes. Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal cancer, accumulating evidence points to a potentially far more intricate connection than a simple cause-and-effect relationship. SIMPLE SUMMARY: Due to their high frequency and fatality rate, gastrointestinal cancers are regarded as a severe public health issue with complex medical and economic burdens. The gut microbiota may directly or indirectly interact with existing therapies like immunotherapy and chemotherapy, affecting how well a treatment works. The gut microbiome influences the immune response's activity, function, and development. Generally, certain gut bacteria impact the antitumor actions during cancer by creating particular metabolites or triggering T-cell responses. Yet, certain bacterial species have been found to promote cellular proliferation and metastasis in cancer, and comprehending these interactions in the context of cancer may help identify possible treatment targets. Notwithstanding the improvements in the field, additional research is still required to comprehend the underlying processes, examine the effects on existing therapies, and pinpoint certain bacteria and immune cells that can cause this interaction.

Research progress in the role and mechanism of Leucine in regulating animal growth and development

Leucine, a branched-chain amino acid, is essential in regulating animal growth and development. Recent research has uncovered the mechanisms underlying Leucine's anabolic effects on muscle and other tissues, including its ability to stimulate protein synthesis by activating the mTORC1 signaling pathway. The co-ingestion of carbohydrates and essential amino acids enhances Leucine's anabolic effects. Moreover, Leucine has been shown to benefit lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity, making it a promising strategy for preventing and treating metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. While emerging evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms may mediate Leucine's effects on growth and development, more research is needed to elucidate its mechanisms of action fully. Specific studies have demonstrated that Leucine promotes muscle growth and metabolic health in animals and humans, making it a promising therapeutic agent. However, it is essential to note that Leucine supplementation may cause digestive issues or interact with certain medications, and More study is required to determine definitively optimal dosages. Therefore, it is important to understand how Leucine interacts with other nutrients, dietary factors, and lifestyle habits to maximize its benefits. Overall, Leucine's importance in human nutrition is far-reaching, and its potential to prevent muscle loss and enhance athletic performance warrants further investigation.

Development and validation of Ran as a prognostic marker in stage I and stage II primary breast cancer

PURPOSE

Existing prognostic biomarkers are inadequate for stratifying breast cancer patients with the highest risk of tumor progression at the time of diagnosis. Here, we demonstrate that the small GTPase Ran has predictive value for breast cancer (BC) patients as a whole, and for specific BC subtypes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ran expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry in 263 patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed at the Breast Unit, Royal Liverpool Hospital. Additionally as an independent validation, we also analyzed the mRNA expressions of Ran, ER, PR, and Cerb-2, the triple-negative endocrine receptors, and their associations with patient survival in a combined patient cohorts of multiple public datasets (n = 1079). We analyzed the data with Spearman's rank correlation and Kaplan-Meier plots coupled with Wilcoxon-Gehan tests, respectively. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Ran nuclear, cytoplasmic, and total staining are substantially associated with poor survival, independent of conventional prognostic markers such as estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and lymph node status. According to the datasets, Ran was significantly correlated with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).

CONCLUSION

We found that Ran expression is a unique predictive biomarker for patient survival, metastasis, and tumor relapse. This biomarker could be used for diagnostic purposes, using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy samples from breast cancer patients in the early stages.

A novel microenvironment regulated system CAR-T (MRS.CAR-T) for immunotherapeutic treatment of esophageal squamous carcinoma

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy has achieved promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, there are still many obstacles, including on-target off-tumor antigen expression, that prevent successful application to solid tumors. We designed a tumor microenvironment (TME) regulated system chimeric antigen receptor T (MRS.CAR-T) which can only be auto-activated in the solid TME. B7-H3 was selected as the target antigen for esophageal carcinoma. An element comprising a human serum albumin (HSA) binding peptide and a matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) cleavage site was inserted between the 5' terminal signal peptide and single chain fragment variable (scFv) of the CAR skeleton. Upon administration, HSA bound the binding peptide in MRS.B7-H3.CAR-T effectively and promoted proliferation and differentiation into memory cells. MRS.B7-H3.CAR-T was not cytotoxic in normal tissues expressing B7-H3 as the antigen recognition site in the scFv was cloaked by HSA. The anti-tumor function of MRS.B7-H3.CAR-T was recovered once the cleavage site was cleaved by MMPs in the TME. The anti-tumor efficacy associated with MRS.B7-H3.CAR-T cells was improved compared to classic B7-H3.CAR-T cells in vitro and less IFN-γ was released, suggesting a treatment that may induce less extent of cytokine release syndrome-mediated toxicity. In vivo, MRS.B7-H3.CAR-T cells had strong anti-tumor activity and were safe. MRS.CAR-T represents a novel strategy to improve the efficacy and safety of CAR-T therapy in solid tumors.

Aptamers Versus Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF): A New Battle against Ovarian Cancer

Cancer is one of the diseases that causes a high mortality as it involves unregulated and abnormal cell growth proliferation that can manifest in any body region. One of the typical ovarian cancer symptoms is damage to the female reproductive system. The death rate can be reduced through early detection of the ovarian cancer. Promising probes that can detect ovarian cancer are suitable aptamers. Aptamers, i.e., so-called chemical antibodies, have a strong affinity for the target biomarker and can typically be identified starting from a random library of oligonucleotides. Compared with other probes, ovarian cancer targeting using aptamers has demonstrated superior detection effectiveness. Various aptamers have been selected to detect the ovarian tumor biomarker, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The present review highlights the development of particular aptamers that target VEGF and detect ovarian cancer at its earliest stages. The therapeutic efficacy of aptamers in ovarian cancer treatment is also discussed.

RanBP1: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Cancer Stem Cells in Lung Cancer and Glioma

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to be one of the factors that make cancer treatment difficult. Many researchers are thus conducting research to efficiently destroy CSCs. Therefore, we sought to suggest a new target that can efficiently suppress CSCs. In this study, we observed a high expression of Ran-binding protein 1 (RanBP1) in lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and glioma stem cells (GSCs). Upregulated RanBP1 expression is strongly associated with the expression of CSC marker proteins and CSC regulators. In addition, an elevated RanBP1 expression is strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. CSCs have the ability to resist radiation, and RanBP1 regulates this ability. RanBP1 also affects the metastasis-associated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon. EMT marker proteins and regulatory proteins are affected by RanBP1 expression, and cell motility was regulated according to RanBP1 expression. The cancer microenvironment influences cancer growth, metastasis, and cancer treatment. RanBP1 can modulate the cancer microenvironment by regulating the cytokine IL-18. Secreted IL-18 acts on cancer cells and promotes cancer malignancy. Our results reveal, for the first time, that RanBP1 is an important regulator in LCSCs and GSCs, suggesting that it holds potential for use as a potential therapeutic target.