Expression of CYP2S1 and CYP2W1 in breast cancer epithelial cells and modulation of their expression by synthetic methoxy stilbenes

CYP2S1 and CYP2W1 expression is associated with patient survival in breast cancer

The cytochrome P450 family of enzymes metabolise a wide range of compounds and play important roles in breast cancer pathogenesis due to their involvement in estrogen metabolism and the production of carcinogenic metabolites during this process. The orphan CYPs, CYP2S1, and CYP2W1 are reportedly upregulated in breast cancer. However, their expression and association with clinicopathological and survival parameters have not been previously assessed in a large cohort of breast cancers. Protein expression of CYP2S1 and CYP2W1 was assessed in early-stage invasive breast cancers (n = 1,426) using immunohistochemistry and correlated with various clinicopathological parameters and survival. mRNA expression of CYP2S1 and CYP2W1 was also assessed in the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) cohort. Low nuclear and cytoplasmic CYP2S1 was significantly associated with high-grade tumours (p ≤ 0.009), intermediate Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) group (p ≤ 0.025), high mitotic frequency (p ≤ 0.002), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease (p ≤ 0.011), and ductal carcinoma (p ≤ 0.022). Cytoplasmic CYP2S1 was additionally associated with patients ≥50 years (p < 0.001), estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumours (p = 0.011), and high nuclear pleomorphism (p = 0.003). Low cytoplasmic CYP2W1 was significantly associated with patients ≥50 years (p = 0.002), HER2-negative disease (p = 0.003), intermediate NPI (p = 0.013), and mitosis (p = 0.009). Low cytoplasmic CYP2S1 was significantly associated with adverse breast cancer specific survival (p = 0.034), which remained so in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.639; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.483-0.846; p = 0.002). Low nuclear CYP2W1 was significantly associated with adverse breast cancer specific survival (p = 0.012), with significance also maintained in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.677; 95% CI: 0.510-0.898; p = 0.007). No associations with survival were observed in the METABRIC cohort. CYP2S1 and CYP2W1 are associated with patient survival in breast cancer and may be important prognostic biomarkers.

Human Orphan Cytochromes P450: An Update

Orphan cytochromes P450 (CYP) are enzymes whose biological functions and substrates are unknown. However, the use of new experimental strategies has allowed obtaining more information about their relevance in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds. Likewise, the modulation of their expression and activity has been associated with pathogenesis and prognosis in different diseases. In this work, we review the regulatory pathways and the possible role of orphan CYP to provide evidence that allow us to stop considering some of them as orphan enzymes and to propose them as possible therapeutic targets in the design of new strategies for the treatment of diseases associated with CYP-mediated metabolism.

Circular RNA circ_0023404 serves as a miR-636 sponge to promote malignant behaviors in cervical cancer cells through upregulation of CYP2S1

Cervical cancer is the most common malignant gynecological tumor. Circular RNA (circRNA) circ_0023404 is reported to be upregulated in cervical cancer cells. This aim is to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0023404 in cervical cancer. circ_0023404, microRNA-636 (miR-636), and cytochrome P450 2S1 (CYP2S1) levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and cytometry assay. Protein levels of cyclin D1, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and CYP2S1 were examined by western blot assay. The binding relationship between miR-636 and circ_0023404 or CYP2S1 was predicted by Circinteractome or targetscan, and then verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. circ_0023404 and CYP2S1 expression were increased, and miR-636 was decreased in cervical cancer tissues and cells. Moreover, circ_0023404 knockdown could repress proliferation, migration, invasion, and promote apoptosis of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Mechanically, circ_0023404 could regulate CYP2S1 expression by sponging miR-636. circ_0023404 silencing could attenuate the progression of cervical cancer cells partly by targeting the miR-636/CYP2S1 axis, hinting at a promising therapeutic target for cervical cancer.

Hsa_circ_0001982 promotes the progression of breast cancer through miR-1287-5p/MUC19 axis under hypoxia

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly malignant tumor among women worldwide. Many studies have reported that circular RNAs (circRNAs) were participated in the regulation of multiple cancers development. However, the mechanism underlying hsa_circ_0001982 in breast cancer development is still unclear.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the levels of circ_0001982, microRNA-1287-5p (miR-1287-5p), and mucin 19 (MUC19) in BC tissues and cells under hypoxia. Moreover, glycolysis was evaluated by glucose consumption, lactic acid production, and hexokinase II (HK2) protein levels. The protein levels of cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and HK2 were determined by western blot assay. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-h-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell assays, respectively. The relationship between miR-1287-5p and circ_0001982 or MUC19 was predicted using starbase v3.0 or Targetscan, and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. The xenograft model in nude mice was established to examine the effect of circ_0001982 in vivo.

Results

The levels of circ_0001982 and MUC19 were upregulated, while miR-1287-5p was downregulated in BC tissues and cells under hypoxia. Knockdown of circ_0001982 hindered glycolysis, cell viability, migration, and invasion of BC cells under hypoxia. Mechanistic studies discovered that circ_0001982 could act as a sponge for miR-1287-5p to enhance MUC19 expression in BC cells. In addition, circ_0001982 silencing reduced xenograft tumor growth by regulating miR-1287-5p/MUC19 axis.

Conclusion

Circ_0001982 affected BC cells glycolysis, proliferation, migration, and invasion through miR-1287-5p/MUC19 axis under hypoxia.

Intratumoural Cytochrome P450 Expression in Breast Cancer: Impact on Standard of Care Treatment and New Efforts to Develop Tumour-Selective Therapies

Despite significant advances in treatment strategies over the past decade, selective treatment of breast cancer with limited side-effects still remains a great challenge. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of enzymes contribute to cancer cell proliferation, cell signaling and drug metabolism with implications for treatment outcomes. A clearer understanding of CYP expression is important in the pathogenesis of breast cancer as several isoforms play critical roles in metabolising steroid hormones and xenobiotics that contribute to the genesis of breast cancer. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on how the presence of CYPs impacts on standard of care (SoC) drugs used to treat breast cancer as well as discuss opportunities to exploit CYP expression for therapeutic intervention. Finally, we provide our thoughts on future work in CYP research with the aim of supporting ongoing efforts to develop drugs with improved therapeutic index for patient benefit.

Grapevine Cane Extracts: Raw Plant Material, Extraction Methods, Quantification, and Applications

Grapevine canes are viticulture waste that is usually discarded without any further use. However, recent studies have shown that they contain significant concentrations of health-promoting compounds, such as stilbenes, secondary metabolites of plants produced as a response to biotic and abiotic stress from fungal disease or dryness. Stilbenes have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties and they have been tested as potential treatments of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and even cancer, with promising results. Stilbenes have been described in the different genus of the Vitaceae family, the Vitis genera being one of the most widely studied due to its important applications and economic impact around the world. This review presents an in-depth study of the composition and concentration of stilbenes in grapevine canes. The results show that the concentration of stilbenes in grapevine canes is highly influenced by the Vitis genus and cultivar aspects (growing conditions, ultraviolet radiation, fungal attack, etc.). Different methods for extracting stilbenes from grapevine canes have been reviewed, and the extraction conditions have also been studied, underlining the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. After the stilbenes were extracted, they were analyzed to determine the stilbene composition and concentration. Analytical techniques have been employed with this aim, in most cases using liquid chromatography, coupled with others such as mass spectrometry and/or nuclear magnetic resonance to achieve the individual quantification. Finally, stilbene extracts may be applied in multiple fields based on their properties. The five most relevant are preservative, antifungal, insecticide, and biostimulant applications. The current state-of-the-art of the above applications and their prospects are discussed.