Prognostic and diagnostic implications of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF-α expressions in colorectal cancer

Prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are critical components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with CRC.

METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis of cohort studies with available data on the effect of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression on both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) by the risk ratios (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies were subgrouped based on the different tissue types, including cancer tissue and normal tissue, and the subgroup effect of MMP expression in different tissues was analyzed through meta-regression. To ensure the quality and reduce the risk of bias, the Newcastle‒Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the included studies. A sensitivity analysis was randomly performed to assess the potential impact of each study on our results.

RESULTS

Eighteen trials were selected (Table 1) and included a total of 3944 patients. According to our primary meta-analysis, the expression of MMP-2 was significantly associated with a decrease in OS (RR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.34 to 2.29, P < 0.001) and DFS (RR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.25 to 5.49, P < 0.001), and the expression of MMP-9 was not significantly associated with a decrease in OS (RR = 1.48, 95% CI = 0.97 to 2.24, P = 0.069) or DFS (RR = 1.60, 95% CI = 0.87 to 2.94, P = 0.133). According to the subgroup analysis of MMPs in different tissues, high MMP-2 expression in cancer tissue (RR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.29 to 2.79) and normal tissue (RR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.17 to 2.17) were significant indicators of poor OS. High MMP-2 expression in cancer tissue was significant indicator of poor DFS (RR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.09 to 4.11). MMP-9 expression was also associated with poor OS (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 0.85 to 2.29), but the difference in OS between the high and low expression groups was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

High MMP-2 expression, especially in cancer tissue, is significantly associated with both poor DFS and poor OS in patients with CRC. High MMP-9 expression tended to indicate a poor prognosis of CRC but the correlation was not significant.

High M2-TAM Infiltration and STAT3/NF-κB Signaling Pathway as a Predictive Factor for Tumor Progression and Death in Cervical Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression, invasion, and metastasis of cervical carcinoma (CC). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are significant components of the CC TME, but studies on their correlation with CC progression are still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between TAM infiltration, the STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway, and Overall Survival (OS) in CC patients.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, 691 CC patients who had received a definitive histopathologic diagnosis of CC scored by the FIGO staging system and not undergone preoperative treatment were selected from a database. The effect of TAM infiltration on tumor progression biomarkers using Tissue Microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry was evaluated. Furthermore, the impact of the expression of these biomarkers and clinical-pathological parameters on recurrence-free (RF) and OS using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression methods was also analyzed.

RESULTS

High stromal CD163 + 204 + TAMs density and via STAT3 and NF-κB pathways was relevant to the expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP9, VEGFα, Bcl-2, Ki-67, CD25, MIF, FOXP3, and IL-17 (all p < 0.0001). In addition, elevated TNM staging IV had a strong association correlation with STAT3 and NF-κB pathways (p < 0.0001), CD25 (p < 0.001), VEGFα (p < 0.001), MIF (p < 0.0001), and Ki-67 (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, overall and recurrence survival was shown to be strongly influenced by the expression of SNAIL (HR = 1.52), E-cadherin (HR = 1.78), and Ki-67 (HR = 1.44).

CONCLUSION

M2-TAM and via STAT3/NF-κB pathways had a strong effect on CC tumor progression which reverberated in the severity of clinicopathological findings, becoming an important factor of poor prognosis.

Genistein-Aspirin Combination Exerts Cytotoxic and Anti-Migratory Effects in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogenous pathology with high incidence and mortality rates globally, but it is also preventable so finding the most promising candidates (natural compounds or repurposed drugs) to be chemopreventive alternatives has become a topic of interest in recent years. The present work aims to elucidate the potential effects of a combination between genistein (GEN), an isoflavone of natural origin, and aspirin (ASA) in CRC prevention/treatment by performing an in vitro evaluation in human colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) and an in ovo analysis using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Cell viability was verified by an MTT (migratory potential by scratch) assay, and the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were analyzed using RT-qPCR. Our results indicated a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of ASA (2.5 mM) + GEN (10-75 µM) combination characterized by reduced cell viability and morphological changes (actin skeleton reorganization and nuclei deterioration), an inhibition of HCT-116 cells' migratory potential by down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expressions, and an antiangiogenic effect by modifying the vascular network. These promising results raise the possibility of future in-depth investigations regarding the chemopreventive/therapeutical potential of ASA+GEN combination.

The preventive effects of inulin, cellulose, and their mixture on colorectal cancer liver metastasis in mice by regulating gut microbiota

Many studies have found that dietary fiber can protect against colorectal cancer (CRC). Survival in CRC patients is significantly reduced due to metastasis. However, little is known regarding the impact of dietary fiber on the CRC metastasis. In this study, we analyzed the effects of inulin, cellulose, and their mixture on CRC metastasis in a murine orthotopic transplantation model. BALB/C male mice were divided into the normal control (NC) (AIN-93 M diet), MOD (AIN-93 M diet), INU (10% w/w inulin), CEL (10% w/w cellulose), and MIX (5% w/w inulin + 5% w/w cellulose) groups. Dietary fiber intake inhibited the weights of the orthotopic tumors, liver weights, and liver metastasis area (p < 0.05) and improved the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. Compared to the NC, the expression of β-catenin and the epithelial marker E-cadherin were lower, and that of mesenchymal markers, such as N-cadherin, MMP-9, and VEGF, were higher in the MOD group. All inulin, cellulose, and their mixture restored the gut microbiota diversity, and they, respectively, increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriales, Lactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae. Inulin restored the levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, and butyric acid. Spearman correlation analysis results showed that there was a positive correlation between five genera and six short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (adjusted p < 0.05). In conclusion, all inulin, cellulose, and their mixture have inhibitory effects on CRC metastasis, which may be achieved by the regulation of gut microbiota, the production of SCFAs, and the inhibition of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process. Among the three dietary fiber intervention groups, the inhibitory effect of inulin is more significant.

Perivascular mast cells and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, laminin-332 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in human colorectal neoplasms

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, and significantly contributes to cancer-related deaths. Most cases arise from adenomatous polyps. Biomarkers currently play an important role in tumor progression. Our aim was to identify perivascular mast cells and analyze the expression of laminin-332, MMP-9, and VEGF in cases of adenoma and CRC in humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were selected at the Coloproctology Service and samples were obtained through biopsies. Adenoma and CRC slides were examined, utilizing immunohistochemistry to detect molecules, and were processed, using 1% Alcian Blue (pH 0.5) for mast cell staining.

RESULTS

Higher density of perivascular mast cells was observed in adenomas. Laminin-332 expression revealed basement membrane discontinuity associated with tumor invasion in CRC. MMP-9 immunostaining in adenoma was detected in glandular epithelium and lining epithelium, in areas close to the basement membrane, whereas in CRC, the enzyme was found in the cytoplasm of invasive clusters. VEGF expression was associated with cell atypia in adenoma and in areas of disorganization of the epithelium-connective tissue interface in CRC. VEGF has also been detected in endothelial cells from microvessels.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the different patterns of perivascular mast cells and molecular expression in colorectal neoplasms. Those analyses favor the recognition of the predisposition to the disease, or its early stage, and have the potential to define the molecular profile of the lesions.

Clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and pathological indexes in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

EVIDENCE OBTAINED

The database was searched in PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Web of Science databases for relevant clinical trials. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) show the effect of MMP-9 expression and age, tumour size, gender, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and TNM (tumour, lymph node, metastasis) stage. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Stata 17.0.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 1433 patients with PTC were included in this meta-analysis. MMP-9 expression was significantly correlated with LNM (OR = 3.92, 95% CI = 2.71-5.65, P = 0.000), tumour size (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.13-2.52, P = 0.011), and TNM stage (OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 2.10-4.13, P = 0.000), but not with gender (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.66-1.22, P = 0.487) and age (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.93-1.98, P = 0.115).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis showed that MMP-9 was significantly associated with LNM, tumour size, and TNM stage; therefore, MMP-9 may be a reliable prognostic biomarker for patients with PTC. However, more high-quality studies are needed to support these findings further.

Retinoic acid-loaded PLGA nanocarriers targeting cell cholesterol potentialize the antitumour effect of PD-L1 antibody by preventing epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by M2-TAM in colorectal cancer

Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) often promote cancer progression through immunosuppression in the tumour microenvironment (TME). However, the signalling pathways crosstalk responsible for this mechanism remain unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the interaction between TAMs and colorectal cancer cells could be down-regulated by nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with retinoic acid (RA) and coated with cholesterol (CHO), in combination with an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Tumours were evaluated by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry from allographic tumour growth model. In addition, human tumours were evaluated by Tissue Microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry. Complementary analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, and macrophage polarisation were evaluated in vitro. We showed that the IL-10R/IL-10 axis is involved in overstimulation of the STAT3 pathway as well as downregulation of the NF-κB signalling pathway, which supports a loop of immunosuppressive cytokines that induces the M2-TAM phenotype. Furthermore, our combined findings suggest that the upregulation of STAT3/NF-κB pathways crosstalk mediated by immunosuppressive cytokines, such as IL-10/PD-L1/TGF-β, via M2-TAMs in the TME, leads to immunosuppression and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition of the colorectal cancer for stimulating Vimentin, CXCL12 and CD163 in the primary tumours. Importantly, NPs holding RA and coated with CHO in combination with anti-PD-L1 were more efficient in blocking this signalling pathway. These results contribute to our understanding of the immunological mechanisms, especially the re-educating of TAMs, and provide a novel management strategy for aggressive colorectal cancers using anti-PD-L1-conjugated nanocarriers.

Progress in the relationship between P2X7R and colorectal cancer

Purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor (P2X7R) is a nonselective cation channel of the purinergic receptor family. P2X7R is activated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and plays a significant role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases by triggering cellular signal transduction. More importantly, P2X7R is abnormally expressed in many tumor cells and is involved in the progression of various tumor cells. Studies have shown that the irregular expression of P2X7R in colorectal cancer (CRC) can not only indirectly affect the occurrence and development of CRC by promoting inflammatory bowel disease but also directly affect the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells. P2X7R plays a bidirectional role in cancer induction and inhibition by mediating complex signaling pathways in CRC, and its expression level is closely related to the overall survival of CRC patients. Therefore, P2X7R may be a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for the development and prognosis of CRC. In this paper, we review the research progress on P2X7R in CRC.

Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Decrease the Proliferation, Invasion, and Secretion of Clinically Relevant Cytokines by Cultured Human Colon Cancer Cells

Alkaloids isolated from members of the Amaryllidaceae plant family are promising anticancer agents. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the isocarbostyrils narciclasine, pancratistatin, lycorane, lycorine, crinane, and haemanthamine inhibit phenomena related to cancer progression in vitro. To achieve this, we examined the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of cultured human colon cancer cells via MTT assay and Matrigel-coated Boyden chambers. In addition, Luminex assays were used to quantify the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and cytokines associated with poor clinical outcomes. We found that all alkaloids decreased cell proliferation regardless of TP53 status, with narciclasine exhibiting the greatest potency. The effects on cell proliferation also appear to be specific to cancer cells. Narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decrease both adhesion and invasion but with various potencies depending on the cell line. In addition, narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decreased the secretion of MMP-1, -2, and -7, as well as the secretion of the cytokines pentraxin 3 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In conclusion, the present study shows that Amaryllidaceae alkaloids decrease phenomena and cytokines associated with colorectal cancer progression, supporting future investigations regarding their potential as multifaceted drug candidates.

Tumor cell-conditioned media drives collagen remodeling via fibroblast and pericyte activation in an in vitro premetastatic niche model

Primary tumors secrete large quantities of cytokines and exosomes into the bloodstream, which are uptaken at downstream sites and induce a pro-fibrotic, pro-inflammatory premetastatic niche. Niche development is associated with later increased metastatic burden, but the cellular and matrix changes in the niche that facilitate metastasis are yet unknown. Furthermore, there is no current standard model to study this phenomenon. Here, biofabricated collagen and hyaluronic acid hydrogel models were employed to identify matrix changes elicited by pericytes and fibroblasts after exposure to colorectal cancer-secreted factors. Focusing on myofibroblast activation and collagen remodeling, we report fibroblast activation and pericyte stunting in response to tumor signaling. In addition, we characterize contributions of both cell types to matrix dysregulation via collagen degradation, deposition, and architectural remodeling. With these findings, we discuss potential impacts on tissue stiffening and vascular leakiness and suggest pathways of interest for future mechanistic studies of metastatic cell-premetastatic niche interactions.

GB7 acetate, a galbulimima alkaloid from Galbulimima belgraveana, possesses anticancer effects in colorectal cancer cells

GB7 acetate is a galbulimima alkaloid obtained from Galbulimima belgraveana. However, information regarding its structure, biological activities, and related mechanisms is not entirely available. A series of spectroscopic analyses, structural degradation, interconversion, and crystallography were performed to identify the structure of GB7 acetate. The MTT assay was applied to measure cell proliferation on human colorectal cancer HCT 116 cells. The expressions of the related proteins were measured by Western blotting. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), acridine orange (AO) and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining were used to detect the presence of autophagic vesicles and autolysosomes. A transwell assay was performed to demonstrate metastatic capabilities. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) assays were performed to determine the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis activity of HCT 116 cells. The data showed that GB7 acetate suppressed the proliferation and colony-forming ability of HCT 116 cells. Pretreatment with GB7 acetate significantly induced the formation of autophagic vesicles and autolysosomes. GB7 acetate upregulated the expressions of LC3 and Thr172 phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase α (p-AMPKα), which are key elements of autophagy. In addition, GB7 acetate suppressed the metastatic capabilities of HCT 116 cells. Additionally, the production of matrix metallo-proteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 was reduced, whereas the expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) was upregulated. Furthermore, GB7 acetate significantly reduced mitochondrial OXPHOS and glycolysis. In conclusion, the structure of the novel Galbulimima alkaloid GB7 acetate was identified. GB7 acetate was shown to have anti-proliferative, pro-autophagic, anti-metastatic, and anti-metabolite capabilities in HCT 116 cells. This study might provide new insights into cancer treatment efficacy and cancer chemoprevention.

Protective effect of methanol extract of latex of Calotropis procera in an experimental model of colorectal cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plant, Calotropis procera, has been used for treating various gastrointestinal disorders and cancer. Some of these medicinal properties have been attributed to the latex produced by the plant.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the efficacy of methanol extract of air-dried latex (MeDL) of C. procera in the rat model of colorectal cancer (CRC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CRC was induced in the rats by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and the effect of MeDL was evaluated at two doses (50 and 150 mg/kg). MeDL and reference drug aspirin (60 mg/kg) were administered orally starting from 1 h before injecting DMH till 8 weeks after the second dose of DMH. The study also included experimental and normal control groups. Microscopic analysis was carried out to determine the count for aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and histology score whereas enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical analyses were performed for markers of carcinogenesis and angiogenesis. Other parameters that were evaluated include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, laddering, Bcl₂ and Bax immunoreactivity, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity.

RESULTS

Subcutaneous injection of DMH induced pre-neoplastic changes in the colon of rats with the appearance of ACF with multiple crypts (1-3, 4-6 or >6). In the experimental control group, total ACF count was 3.49 ± 0.23/cm of the colon length and the median histology score was 2.0 for architectural abnormalities, 2.0 for dilatation of crypts and 1.5 for hyperplasia/dysplasia against 1.0 for all the characteristics in normal rats. Oral administration of MeDL similar to aspirin, led to a reduction in ACF count and histology score of CRC concomitant with a decrease in the levels of markers of carcinogenesis - β-catenin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); markers of angiogenesis - matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and an increase in apoptotic DNA fragmentation.

CONCLUSION

MeDL confers protection in the rat model of CRC and the study suggests its therapeutic potential in this condition.

Faecal Diagnostic Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public health problem, being a major cause of cancer death worldwide. Hence, the identification of biomarkers able to support CRC detection is crucial. This work analyses a panel of six biomarkers, namely interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, haemoglobin (Hb) and M2-pyruvate kinase (M2-PK), in stool samples from patients with CRC, advanced adenomas, other lesions and healthy individuals. Our results indicate that the levels of Hb and M2-PK were increased in CRC patients in comparison to the controls. Moreover, the combination of these biomarkers increased the specificity or sensitivity for CRC detection and thus present potential for diagnosis of CRC.

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Cancer progression, including invasion and metastasis, is a major cause of death among CRC patients. Current methods for CRC screening commonly consist of a combination of faecal immunochemical test (FIT) for stool occult blood detection and invasive procedures such as colonoscopy. Considering the slow progression of CRC, and that symptoms usually emerge at advanced stages, its early diagnostic can limit cancer’s spread and provide a successful treatment. Biomarkers have a high potential for the diagnosis of CRC in either blood or stool samples. Methods: In this study, we analysed the diagnostic value of six different biomarkers in stool samples of patients with CRC, advanced adenomas, other lesions and healthy individuals. We have also assessed the overall performance of the combination of these biomarkers for CRC detection. Results: The results indicate that haemoglobin (Hb) and M2-pyruvate kinase (M2-PK) levels were increased in CRC patients in comparison to the controls. Conversely, the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were not significantly different between the tested groups. Conclusion: The combination of FIT-Hb with the M2-PK levels increased the specificity or sensitivity for CRC detection and thus present potential as faecal diagnostic biomarkers for CRC.

Extended Cheese Whey Fermentation Produces a Novel Casein-Derived Antibacterial Polypeptide That Also Inhibits Gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9

Our previous works produced a whey fermentation methodology that yielded antibacterial activity and potential inhibition of matrix metalloproteases (MMP)-2 and -9. Here, we evaluated if these activities were due to fermentation-produced peptides. Prolonged fermentation was carried out in the presence of our specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB) consortium. LAB fermentation yielded a total of 11 polypeptides, which were predominantly produced after 6 days of fermentation. One which was derived from beat casein presented a particularly high antibacterial activity against food pathogenic bacteria and was more effective than standard food disinfectants. This polypeptide was further studied and was also found to be active against several strains of pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in a dose-dependent manner. It also inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 whilst reducing HT29 cancer cell migration in vitro. Overall, this novel whey-derived polypeptide presents dual antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity, revealing a strong potential to be used in functional foods or as a nutraceutical. Its identification and further characterization can open novel perspectives in the field of preventive/curative diets related to gut microbiota, gut inflammation, and cancer prevention, particularly if used in in vivo studies.

The Trinity of Matrix Metalloproteinases, Inflammation, and Cancer: A Literature Review of Recent Updates

The critical link between cancer and inflammation has been known for many years. This complex network was further complexed by revealing the association of the matrix metalloproteinase family members with inflammatory cytokines, which were previously known to be responsible for the development of metastasis. This article summarizes the current studies which evaluate the relationship between cancer and inflammatory microenvironment as well as the roles of MMPs on invasion and metastasis together.

Receptor-Interacting Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase-2 as a Potential Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Cancer

Background and objectives: Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase-2 (RIPK2) is an important mediator in different pathways in the immune and inflammatory response system. RIPK2 was also shown to play different roles in different cancer types; however, in colorectal cancer (CRC), its role is not well established. This study aims at identifying the role of RIPK2 in CRC progression and survival. Materials and methods: Data of patients and mRNA protein expression level of genes associated with CRC (RIPK2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TRAF1, TRAF7, KLF6, interlukin-6 (Il6), interlukin-8 (Il8), vascular-endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), MKI67, TP53, nuclear factor-kappa B (NFKB), NFKB2, BCL2, XIAP, and RELA) were downloaded from the PrognoScan online public database. Patients were divided between low and high RIPK2 expression and different CRC characteristics were studied between the two groups. Survival curves were evaluated using a Kaplan-Meier estimator. The Pearson correlation was used to study the correlation between RIPK2 and the other factors. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25.0. The Human Protein Atlas was also used for the relationship between RIPK2 expression in CRC tissues and survival. Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 520 patients were downloaded from the PrognoScan database, and RIPK2 was found to correlate with MKI67, TRAF1, KLF6, TNF, Il6, Il8, VEGFA, NFKB2, BCL2, and RELA. High expression of RIPK2 was associated with high expression of VEGFA (p < 0.01) and increased mortality (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this study, RIPK2 is shown to be a potential prognostic factor in CRC; however, more studies are needed to assess and verify its potential role as a prognostic marker and in targeted therapy.

Flavonoid GL-V9 suppresses invasion and migration of human colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt and MMP-2/9 signaling

Tumor distant metastasis is the primary cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. GL-V9 is a newly synthesized flavonoid derivative with several beneficial biological functions including anti-tumor and anti-inflammation. However, the anti-metastatic effect of GL-V9 and related mechanisms in CRC remains unknown. In this study, the anti-invasive and anti-migratory activities of GL-V9 were investigated in CRC cells. Using MTT assay, cell wound healing assay, and transwell migration assay, we showed that GL-V9 suppressed CRC cell viability, migration, and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the protein expression levels as well as activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were significantly reduced after GL-V9 treatment. Further analysis of the underlying mechanism revealed that GL-V9 inhibited PI3K/Akt signaling pathway upstream of MMP-2 and MMP-9. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that GL-V9 could suppress CRC cell invasion and migration through PI3K/Ak and MMP-2/9 axis. Therefore, GL-V9 might be a potential novel therapeutic agent against CRC metastasis.

Overexpression of Tumour Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Protein 8 is Associated with Prognosis in Colon Cancer

Purpose

The present study aimed to examine the association of tumour necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8 (TIPE) expression levels with clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with colon cancer following surgery.

Patients and Methods

The present study included 200 patients with colon cancer who underwent colon resection between June 2011 and October 2012. All follow-ups were censored in July 2020, with a median follow-up time of 62.25 months. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to determine predictors for the overall survival rate.

Results

High expression of TIPE was associated with lymph node metastasis, higher Dukes' stage and right-sided colon cancer (RCC). An exploratory subgroup analysis found that high expression of TIPE was associated with age ≥65, lymphatic invasion and higher Dukes' stage only in the RCC group (P<0.05), whereas no similar trend was observed in the left-sided colon cancer (LCC) subgroup. Age ≥65, differentiation, lymph node metastasis and TIPE expression levels were independent prognostic factors influencing the survival rate of patients with colon cancer following surgery in multivariate Cox analysis (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the immunoreactive score of TIPE had good predictive value for five-year survival rates (AUC=0.727) and lymph node metastasis (AUC=0.760) among patients with RCC. Survival analysis revealed that the expression of TIPE had a significant impact on survival, and higher expression levels suggested a worse prognosis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that TIPE may be a novel biomarker for predicting the survival outcome and lymph node metastasis. TIPE was overexpressed in colon cancer tissue and significantly associated with poor patient survival, especially in patients with RCC.

Prognostic Value of Peroxiredoxin-1 Expression in Patients with Solid Tumors: a Meta-Analysis of Cohort Study

Methods

We comprehensively searched electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases up to December 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association between PRDX1 protein expression and the survival of patients with solid tumors. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were pooled to estimate the correlation between PRDX1 protein expression and clinicopathologic characteristics in the patients.

Results

Seventeen cohort studies that involved 2,858 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that positive PRDX1 expression was related to poor overall survival (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.24-2.27, P = 0.001) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.31-2.70, P = 0.001). In addition, high PRDX1 expression was associated with large tumor size (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07-2.68, P = 0.025), advanced TNM stage (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.24-4.13, P = 0.008), and poor tumor differentiation (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.44-0.81, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

PRDX1 overexpression is associated with poor outcomes of cancers and may serve as a prognostic biomarker for malignant patients. Hence, PRDX1 could be a new target for antitumor therapy.

Joint Lp-Norm and L2,1-Norm Constrained Graph Laplacian PCA for Robust Tumor Sample Clustering and Gene Network Module Discovery

The dimensionality reduction method accompanied by different norm constraints plays an important role in mining useful information from large-scale gene expression data. In this article, a novel method named Lp-norm and L2,1-norm constrained graph Laplacian principal component analysis (PL21GPCA) based on traditional principal component analysis (PCA) is proposed for robust tumor sample clustering and gene network module discovery. Three aspects are highlighted in the PL21GPCA method. First, to degrade the high sensitivity to outliers and noise, the non-convex proximal Lp-norm (0 < p < 1)constraint is applied on the loss function. Second, to enhance the sparsity of gene expression in cancer samples, the L2,1-norm constraint is used on one of the regularization terms. Third, to retain the geometric structure of the data, we introduce the graph Laplacian regularization item to the PL21GPCA optimization model. Extensive experiments on five gene expression datasets, including one benchmark dataset, two single-cancer datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and two integrated datasets of multiple cancers from TCGA, are performed to validate the effectiveness of our method. The experimental results demonstrate that the PL21GPCA method performs better than many other methods in terms of tumor sample clustering. Additionally, this method is used to discover the gene network modules for the purpose of finding key genes that may be associated with some cancers.

Overexpression of microRNA-29b inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis of colorectal cancer through the ETV4/ERK/EGFR axis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have reported the involvement of microRNA-29 (miR-29) family members in human cancers through their ability to regulate cellular functions. The present study investigated biological function of miR-29b in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected and the expression of ETV4 and miR-29b in the tissues were identified. The relationship between ETV4 and miR-29b or ETV4 expression and the EGFR promoter was identified using dual-luciferase reporter gene and CHIP assays. The proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of CRC HCT116 cells were assayed using MTT assay, Scratch test, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Also, expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, angiogenic factors, and vasculogenic mimicry formation were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

ETV4 was upregulated, while miR-29b expression was decreased in CRC tissues. ETV4 was identified as a target gene of miR-29b, which in turn inactivated the ERK signaling pathway by targeting ETV4 and inhibiting EGFR transcription. Transfection with miR-29b mimic, siRNA-ETV4, or ERK signaling pathway inhibitor U0126 increased expression of E-cadherin and TSP-1, and CRC cell apoptosis, yet reduced expression of ERK1/2, MMP-2, MMP-9, Vimentin, and VEGF, as well as inhibiting EMT, angiogenesis, and CRC cell migration and invasion. The EMT, angiogenesis and cancer progression induced by miR-29b inhibitor were reversed by siRNA-mediated ETV4 silencing.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-29b suppresses angiogenesis and EMT in CRC via the ETV4/ERK/EGFR axis.

TNM staging for GIT cancers is correlated with the level of MMPs and TGF-β1

Gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers represent the third common cancers worldwide, characterized by rapid progression and higher mortality rate. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in cancer metastases. The present study was conducted to estimate and evaluate the role of MMP-7, -9, -10 and -12 and TGF β1 along with conventional biomarkers (CEA and CA19-9) in gastric (GC), pancreatic (PC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) staging system according to tumor size (T), included lymph node (N) and metastasis (M). Seventy-five patients were divided into GC group (n = 25), PC group (n = 25), CRC group (n = 25) and twenty-five healthy subjects (control group). Serum levels of MMP-7, -10 and -12 were assayed simultaneously using luminex multiplex technique. Also, MMP-9, TGF-β1, CA19-9 and CEA were determined by ELISA. MMP-7,-9,-10, -12, TGF-β1 and CEA levels were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in GIT cancer groups compared with control. CA19-9 was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in PC and CRC groups compared with control. MMP-9 was positively correlated with TNM staging in PC patients. MMP-12 was negatively correlated with T in PC and positively correlated with M in CRC group. CA 19-9 was positively correlated with M grade in CRC. Depending on the estimated cutoff values of area under receiver curve; CA19-9 and MMP-7 were excellent diagnostic markers in PC, CEA and MMP-7 were excellent in CRC, and MMP-7 and MMP-9 were excellent in GC. Our findings indicated the clinical utility of MMPs in diagnosis and TNM staging of GIT cancers along with CEA and CA19-9.

Colorectal Cancer Invasion and Atrophy of the Enteric Nervous System: Potential Feedback and Impact on Cancer Progression

Colorectal cancer (CRC) invasion within the large intestine wall results in the replacement of normal tissue architecture by tumour mass. Cancer cells digest the extracellular matrix (ECM) by the release of proteolytic enzymes. The disintegration of matrix ground substance activates several deposited growth factors which stimulate cell proliferation. Stromal (mainly fibroblasts), immune and cancer cells dominate in this area and become involved in a network of multimodal interactions which significantly induce proliferation of colon cancer cells, inhibit their apoptosis and promote their spreading within the local tumour microenvironment. Cancer invasion destroys nerve fibres and neurons of the local enteric nervous system (ENS) and induces subsequent atrophy of the submucosal and myenteric plexuses in areas adjacent to the cancer boundary. Interestingly, the reduction of plexuses' size is accompanied by the increased number of galanin-immunoreactive neurons and increased galanin content in parts of the colon located close to the tumour. Galanin, a neuroprotective peptide, may inhibit the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis and in this way promote cancer cell survival. The possible role of acetylcholine and some ENS neuropeptides was also discussed. Invasion of cancer cells spreads along nerve fibres with the involvement of locally-released neutrophins which promote, via their specific receptors, cancer cell proliferation and pro-survival signalling pathways. Thus, during CRC development cancer cells and neurons of the ENS release many neurotransmitters/neuropeptides which affect key cellular signalling pathways promoting cancer cell proliferation and pro-survival phenotype. The multiple interactions between ENS neurons, cancer cells and other cell types present in the colon wall increase cancer cell invasiveness and have a negative impact on the course of CRC.

Effect of Oxaliplatin-Loaded Poly (d,l-Lactide-co-Glycolic Acid) (PLGA) Nanoparticles Combined with Retinoic Acid and Cholesterol on Apoptosis, Drug Resistance, and Metastasis Factors of Colorectal Cancer

Apoptosis signaling pathways, drug resistance, and metastasis are important targets to develop new cancer treatments. We developed cholesterol-coated Poly(d,l-Lactide-co-Glycolic Acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles for effective encapsulation and delivery of retinoic acid and oxaliplatin to analyze their antitumor activity in colorectal cancer. The cell viability and proliferation of tumoral cells lines (CT-26 and SW-480) decreased when compared to control in vitro after treatment with the nanoparticles. In addition, apoptosis of CT-26 cells increased. Importantly, cytoprotection of nontumor cells was detected. Expression of pro-apoptotic proteins was upregulated, while anti-apoptotic proteins were downregulated either in vitro or in vivo. In addition, drug resistance and metastasis factors were downregulated in vivo. Human colorectal tumors that highly expressed BCL-2 and Ki-67 had a greater tendency towards death within 60 months. Our results show that loading oxaliplatin combined with retinoic acid and cholesterol in a nanoparticle formulation enables determination of optimal antitumor activity and subsequent treatment efficacy.

B7-H4 facilitates proliferation and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma cell through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

B7-H4 is over-expressed in various tumors and may affect many aspects of cancer biology. Our previous studies have reported that the over-expressed B7-H4 in serum or tumor tissue of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients was closely related to CRC progression. However, B7-H4 in cell biological characteristics of CRC is not well studied. Here, we investigate the effect of the B7-H4 on cell proliferation, migration and its expression regulated by PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in CRC. Firstly, pSilencer 4.1-B7-H4-shRNA vector was constructed and stable transfection was performed on HT-29 cells. Secondly, cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell apoptosis and cell migration were evaluated after B7-H4 silencing, and the expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was also measured. Finally, the regulation of B7-H4 by PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was measured followed by treatment with or without PI3K/Akt and mTOR inhibitor. The results showed that the viability of HT-29 cells was significantly decreased after B7-H4 silencing (P < 0.05). B7-H4 silencing significantly increased the apoptosis rate and caspase-3 protein expression while decreased Bcl-2 protein expression (P all < 0.05). B7-H4 silencing also significantly reduced the migration of HT-29 cells (P < 0.01) and the secretion of MMP-2 or MMP-9 (P all < 0.05). Following treatment with PI3K/Akt and mTOR inhibitor in HT-29 cells, the expression of B7-H4 was significantly downregulated compared with untreated group (P all < 0.05). Our results strongly suggest that B7-H4 may be involved in cell proliferation and migration by PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, blocking B7-H4 signaling might be a novel treatment strategy for CRC.

Assessment of CMKLR1 level in colorectal cancer and its correlation with angiogenic markers

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common malignant neoplasm in men and third in women. It is also the third leading cause of cancer-related death, killing annually >700,000 patients in the world. The global burden of CRC is expected to increase by 60% to >2.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths by 2030. The pathogenesis of cancer mainly depends on angiogenesis. This process plays a key role in the growth and infiltration of tumors which is essential for distant metastases. A large number of biochemical pathways is involved in the regulation of angiogenesis. As a subject of our study, we chose chemerin/chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) pathway which is responsible for the angiogenic processes in malignant neoplasms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the CMKLR1 level and the concentrations of the two markers of angiogenesis, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, in tumor and margin tissues of CRC in relation to histological grade and TNM classification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study used 47 samples of tumor and margin tissues derived from CRC patients. To determine the concentration of CMKLR1, MMP-9, and VCAM-1, we used the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

RESULTS

We found a significantly higher concentration of CMKLR1 and MMP-9 in tumor tissue compared to margin. There was no difference in VCAM-1 concentration between tumor and margin. The margin concentration of CMKLR1 was significantly correlated with that of both MMP-9 and VCAM-1. The margin concentration of VCAM-1 was correlated with that of MMP-9. Additionally, we observed that the tumor levels of CMKLR1 and MMP-9 were positively correlated with the tumor size (T parameter).

CONCLUSION

CMKLR1 activity may be associated with the angiogenic process in CRC via MMP-9 activity. Further research, involving a larger sample, may verify whether chemerin/CMKLR1 axis could be considered as a suitable target in novel molecular therapies.

LINC00858 promotes colorectal cancer by sponging miR-4766-5p to regulate PAK2

OBJECTIVES

LncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) have been reported to critically regulate colorectal cancer (CRC). We prospectively investigated effects and mechanisms of lncRNA LINC00858 on regulation of CRC progression.

METHODS

Expression of LINC00858 and its target were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. MTT and bromodeoxyuridine/5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) staining to assess cell proliferation ability. Flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays were conducted to evaluate cell apoptosis, migration, and invasion, respectively. Interaction between LINC00858 and its target was confirmed by luciferase activity assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model was established and employed to detect tumorigenic functions of LINC00858, and further evaluated by qRT-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTS

With a predicted poor prognosis, LINC00858 was upregulated in CRC patients. LINC00858 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities, meanwhile induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, LINC00858 could target and inhibit the miR-4766-5p expression, thus promoting CRC progression. miR-4766-5p further suppressed serine/threonine kinase PAK2. Interestingly, interference of LINC00858 suppressed tumorigenic ability of CRC in vivo by downregulating PAK2.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00858 promoted CRC progression by sponging miR-4766 to upregulate PAK2, shedding lights on LINC00858 as a potential therapeutic target candidate in CRC treatment from bench to clinic.

MiR-214-3p regulates the viability, invasion, migration and EMT of TNBC cells by targeting ST6GAL1

MiR-214-3p is concerned with the outcomes of various tumors, such as liver cancer, bladder cancer, etc. However, the role and target of miR-214-3p in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is not fully understood. This study took this as the entry point, with a view to find a potential target for TNBC. The expressions of miR-214-3p in TNBC tissues and cell lines were detected, and the effects of miR-214-3p inhibitor on the viability, migration, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of TNBC cells were further analyzed. The potential target of miR-214-3p were predicted and verified, as well as the effects of target silencing on the TNBC cells were also measured. MiR-214-3p was abnormally elevated in both TNBC tissues and cell lines, especially in MDA-MB-468 cells. Low-expression of miR-214-3p restrained the survival, migration, invasion and EMT of TNBC cells. ST6GAL1 was the target gene of miR-214-3p, and its expression level increased with the low-expression of miR-214-3p. ST6GAL1 expression was abnormally reduced in both TNBC tissues and cell lines. The silence of ST6GAL1 promoted the viability, migration, invasion and EMT of TNBC cells, which could be reversed by miR-214-3p inhibitor. The down-regulation of miR-214-3p could suppress the viability, migration, invasion and EMT of TNBC cells though targeting ST6GAL1, which might be a potential target for future treatment of TNBC. Up-regulation of miR-214-3p could promote the EMT of non-TNBC cells.

4-XL-PPD, a novel ginsenoside derivative, as potential therapeutic agents for gastric cancer shows anti-cancer activity via inducing cell apoptosis medicated generation of reactive oxygen species and inhibiting migratory and invasive

(20R)-Dammarane-3β, 12β, 20, 25-tetrol (25-OH-PPD) is a ginsenoside isolated from Panax ginseng (C. A. Meyer). Previous research shows that the compound exhibits anti-cancer activities on many human cancer cell lines. In an attempt to enhance 25-OH-PPD activity, some derivatives were synthesized. Through screening of the derivative compounds for anti-cancer activity against gastric carcinoma cells, 12β-O-(L-Chloracetyl)-dammar-20(22)-ene-3β, 25-diol (4-XL-PPD) was selected as a strong anti-cancer agent. In this study, the anti-cancer mechanisms of 4-XL-PPD were investigated. The results showed that compound 4-XL-PPD resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cells viability in gastric cancer cells, without affecting the viability of normal cell (human gastric epithelial cell line-GES-1). In BGC-803 cancer cells, 4-XL-PPD triggered apoptosis, and stimulated reactive oxygen species production. Apoptosis can be attenuated by the reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetylcysteine. Meantime, 4-XL-PPD effectively suppressed the migratory and invasive capabilities of BGC-803 cancer cell and inhibited the expression levels of proteins associated with migratory and invasive capabilities (MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin and CD34). All the results suggest that 4-XL-PPD exhibited remarkable anticancer activity base on inducing apoptosis via generating reactive oxygen species and inhibiting migratory and invasive, which support development of 4-XL-PPD as a potential agent for cancer therapy.

[The role of exosomal tetraspanins and proteases in tumor progression]

Major (CD9, CD63, CD81) and others (CD82, CD151, Tspan8) tetraspanins are widely represented in exosomes, where they interact with various proteins and form functional tetraspanin complexes. Tetraspanin complexes include proteases. Tetraspanin-associated exosomal proteases (ADAM proteases, MMPs, EMMPRIN) play an important role in the processes of cell motility, migration, invasion and formation of metastases. Also, a significant contribution to tumor progression is made by proteases that are not associated with tetraspanins. They destabilize intercellular contacts, promote migration and invasion of tumor cells, participate in the regulation of the expression IGF-I, VEGF and transcription factors activation/deactivation. The role of other proteases of exosomes in the processes of tumor progression is being clarified.

Low-Dose Radiation Enhanced Inhibition of Breast Tumor Xenograft and Reduced Myocardial Injury Induced by Doxorubicin

We reported that low-dose radiation (LDR) alleviated cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX) via inhibiting myocardial cell apoptosis and oxidative stress in vivo. Here, we tested whether LDR could enhance chemotherapeutic effect of DOX and alleviate myocardial injury induced by DOX by observing cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis of heterotopic tumor in vivo. Mice implanted with 4T1 breast carcinoma cells were given 7.5 mg/kg DOX or 0.9% NaCl solution 72 hours after LDR (0 or 75 mGy). The histology of tumor tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, the apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, and the expression of Ki67, Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase3, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, and CD34 was detected by Western blot. Expression of Ki67 and CD34 was also detected by immunohistochemistry. Results showed that cell proliferation of the breast tumor and protein expression of the metastasis-related molecules were significantly reduced and the apoptosis of tumor cells was significantly increased in the LDR + DOX-treated tumor-bearing mice. Pretreatment with LDR significantly prevented DOX-induced cardiotoxicity likely through preventing DOX-induced mitochondrial Bcl2/Bax dyshomeostasis-induced caspase-3 cleavage-dependent apoptosis. These results suggested that LDR not only enhances DOX antitumor effect but also reduces DOX cardiotoxicity, which may potentially overcome the limitation for DOX clinical usage.

Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression and tumor location and invasion in patients with colorectal cancer

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) has been observed as the predominant angiogenic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the assessment of microvessel density (MVD) has been used to quantify tumor neoangiogenesis. This study aimed to determine clinicopathological and prognostic significance of both angiogenic markers in the local CRC patients.

Methods

We analyzed tissue samples obtained from 81 cases with CRC. VEGF-A expression and MVD counts were immunohistochemically detected using anti VEGF-A and CD31. The assessments of both markers were classified as low and high. Correlation between VEGF-A expression and MVD value and clinicopathological characteristics were examined using Chi-square test. The overall survival (OS) was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

High VEGF-A expression was found more frequently in the rectal location (P=0.042) and T4 tumors (P=0.041) compared to their counterparts. Older patients tended to show a higher MVD value compared to younger cases (P=0.062). In addition, survival analysis showed that males had a worse OS compared to females (P=0.029), and VEGF-A expression and MVD count did not correlate with patients' survival.

Conclusions

There were significant differences of VEGF-A expression according to tumor location and T invasion. Sex, but not angiogenic markers, had an influence on the survival of CRC patients.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Activity Evaluation of S-Substituted 1H-5-Mercapto-1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives as Antiproliferative Agents in Colorectal Cancer

Colon cancer is a widespread pathology with complex biochemical etiology based on a significant number of intracellular signaling pathways that play important roles in carcinogenesis, tumor proliferation and metastasis. These pathways function due to the action of key enzymes that can be used as targets for new anticancer drug development. Herein we report the synthesis and biological antiproliferative evaluation of a series of novel S-substituted 1H-3-R-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles, on a colorectal cancer cell line, HT-29. Synthesized compounds were designed by docking based virtual screening (DBVS) of a previous constructed compound library against protein targets, known for their important role in colorectal cancer signaling: MEK1, ERK2, PDK1, VEGFR2. Among all synthesized structures, TZ55.7, which was retained as a possible PDK1 (phospholipid-dependent kinase 1) inhibitor, exhibited the most significant cytotoxic activity against HT-29 tumor cell line. The same compound alongside other two, TZ53.7 and TZ3a.7, led to a significant cell cycle arrest in both sub G0/G1 and G0/G1 phase. This study provides future perspectives for the development of new agents containing the 1,2,4-mercapto triazole scaffold with antiproliferative activities in colorectal cancer.

Peroxiredoxin 1 promoted tumor metastasis and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer

Peroxiredoxin1 (Prdx1) is a member of the PrdxS family, and it regulates cellular signaling and differentiation. The role of Prdx1in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relevance of Prdx1 in the metastasis and angiogenesis of CRC. The expression of Prdx1 in 60 cases human CRC tissues was detected through immunohistochemistry. The tumors that highly expressed Prdx1 (42/60) exhibited higher tumor grade and lymph node metastasis than those with low expression of Prdx1 (18/60) (p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the survival time of thePrdx1-positive group was shorter than that of thePrdx1-negative group (p = 0.046).Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was observed between the Prdx1 expression and microvessel density (p = 0.004). Transwell migration assay revealed that Prdx1 was down-regulated in the CRC cell line HCT116, thereby suppressing the invasion and migration capacities of tumor cells, whereas Prdx1was up-regulated in HT29 cells, thereby increasing the invasion and migration capacities of tumor cells. The tube formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured in 3D medium was increased after conditioned medium from overexpressed Prdx1cancer cells was added relative to that when down-regulated Prdx1 cell medium was added (p < 0.05). In addition, up-regulated Prdx1 increased the protein expression of MMP2, MMP9, and VEGFA. These data suggested that Prdx1 expression predicted poor prognosis by regulating the tumor metastasis and angiogenesis of CRC. Therefore, Prdx1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Kinesin Motor Protein KIFC1 Is a Target Protein of miR-338-3p and Is Associated With Poor Prognosis and Progression of Renal Cell Carcinoma

KIFC1 (kinesin family member C1) plays a critical role in clustering of extra centrosomes in various cancer cells and thus could be considered as a promising therapeutic target. However, whether KIFC1 is involved in the procession of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) still remains unclear. In this study, we found that KIFC1 was upregulated in RCC tissues and is responsible for RCC tumorigenesis (p < 0.001). The high expression of KIFC1 correlates with aggressive clinicopathologic parameters. Kaplan–Meier analysis suggested that KIFC1 was associated with poor survival prognosis in RCC. Silencing KIFC1 dramatically resulted in inhibition of proliferation, delayed the cell cycle at G₂/M phase, and suppressed cell invasion and migration in vitro. The antiproliferative effect of KIFC1 silencing was also observed in xenografted tumors in vivo. miR-338-3p could directly bind to the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of KIFC1, and ectopic miR-338-3p expression mimicked the inhibitory functions of KIFC1 silencing on RCC cells through inactivation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, these results revealed that KIFC1 may be a novel biomarker and an effective therapeutic target for the treatment of RCC.

Au-Se-Bond-Based Nanoprobe for Imaging MMP-2 in Tumor Cells under a High-Thiol Environment

The gold nanosensors based on the Au-S bond have been widely applied to biochemical detections. However, signal distortion caused by biothiols has been seldom mentioned and urgently needs to be solved. Herein, we designed a novel but easily assembled gold nanoprobe by coupling a selenol-modified peptide with FITC onto the gold nanoparticle's surface via an Au-Se bond for fluorescence imaging of a tumor marker matrix, metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2). Compared to the Au-S probes, the Au-Se probes display high thermal stability and a very good anti-interference ability toward glutathione under simulated physiological conditions. More importantly, the Au-Se nanoprobe exhibits a high-fidelity fluorescent signal toward MMP-2, effectively avoiding interference caused by high levels of thiol compounds in vivo. In addition, in vivo experiments further proved that no significant signal intensity change for the tumor cells treated by the Au-Se probes was observed before and after eliminating glutathione. Hence, we believe such Au-Se probes with in vivo glutathione interfering resistance offer new routes and perspectives in biology and medicine in the future.

Coptisine suppresses tumor growth and progression by down-regulating MFG-E8 in colorectal cancer

Treating colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a clinical challenge. Coptisine, an alkaloid derived from Coptis chinensis Franch. shows toxic effects on CRC cells, but its underlying mechanism remains elusive. MFG-E8 is involved in tumor growth and progression. Herein, we evaluated the effects of coptisine on MFG-E8 in CRC, and explored the mechanism. The expression of MFG-E8 in CRC and adjacent normal colon tissue samples from patients was detected. The effects of coptisine on CRC cells HCT116 in vitro were evaluated by CCK-8, adhesion and transwell assays. A xenograft tumor model was used to assess the effects of coptisine in vivo. The morphology of CRC tissue was observed by HE staining. Cell signaling was tested using western blotting and immunohistochemical assay. The expression of MFG-E8 in human CRC tissue samples significantly increased compared with that of adjacent normal ones. Coptisine significantly reduced the expressions of MFG-E8 in HCT116 cells and tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, coptisine suppressed the growth, adhesion and metastasis of CRC cells. Coptisine also suppressed the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, it inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transition in vivo and in vitro. Coptisine inhibited CRC growth and progression by down-regulating MFG-E8, and is a potential candidate for treatment.

Treating colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a clinical challenge. Coptisine, an alkaloid derived from Coptis chinensis Franch. shows toxic effects on CRC cells, but its underlying mechanism remains elusive.

Overexpression of CCDC34 in colorectal cancer and its involvement in tumor growth, apoptosis and invasion

It has been previously reported that increased expression of coiled-coil domain containing 34 (CCDC34), a member of the CCDCs family, may promote the proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The present study investigated CCDC34 expression in CRC tissues and determined the association between CCDC34 expression and biological characteristics in patients with CRC. Additionally, the variation of cell activity, apoptosis, invasion and associated mechanisms were evaluated following CCDC34 inhibition in SW620 cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA). The role of CCDC34 in CRC growth, apoptosis and invasion was investigated. In the current study, immunohistochemistry revealed an overexpression of CCDC34 in CRC tissues compared with paracancerous tissue (χ²=29.810; P<0.001). Furthermore, CCDC34 expression was revealed to be associated with tumor invasion depth and lymphatic metastasis (χ²=4.343, P=0.037; χ²=7.915, P=0.005). Additionally, the inhibition of CCDC34 expression in SW620 cells led to reduced tumor cell activity, increased apoptosis rate and reduced invasion ability, and expression of apoptosis and invasion-associated genes varied simultaneously which demonstrated that B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2, survivin, N-cadherin, and MMP-9 were decreased, whereas E-cadherin increased significantly in cells of CCDC34-siRNA group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Therefore, CCDC34 may contribute to CRC development by inhibiting apoptosis of cancer cells and promoting invasion.

Chemoprevention by artesunate in a preclinical model of colorectal cancer involves down regulation of β-catenin, suppression of angiogenesis, cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis

Use of anti-inflammatory drugs is well known to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer, one of the most common causes of cancer related mortality. In view of anti-inflammatory property of artesunate reported in various experimental models, the present study was carried out to evaluate its efficacy in rat model where colon carcinogenesis was induced by 1, 2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH). A time course study revealed that two injections of DMH given at an interval of one week resulted in appearance of multiple plaque lesions and aberrant crypt foci in the colon with a peak effect occurring at the end of 8 weeks. An efficacy study carried out with daily oral administration of artesunate (50 and 150 mg/kg) and aspirin (60 mg/kg) showed a marked reduction in pre-neoplastic changes with a significant decrease in the number of aberrant crypt foci, crypt multiplicity and restoration of histoarchitecture. Both the drugs down regulated β-catenin signaling, reduced the levels of angiogenic markers like VEGF, MMP-9 and inhibited cellular proliferation. The anti-cancer effect of these drugs was concomitant with the pro-apoptotic effect as revealed by increased DNA fragmentation, TUNEL positivity and Bax/Bcl₂ immunoreactivity. This is the first study to evaluate the inhibitory effect of artesunate on pre-neoplastic changes in colon where its chemopreventive effect was found to be comparable to that of aspirin. Our study strengthens the previous findings and shows that it has a preventive and therapeutic potential in the treatment of colon cancer.

Down-regulated microRNA-375 expression as a predictive biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer brain metastasis and its prognostic significance

Brain metastases (BM) are common among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and have been associated with significant morbidity and limited survival. Early and sensitive detection of BM is essential for improving prognosis. Recently, microRNA-375(miR-375) which is specifically expressed in the brain has been found significantly dysregulated in many human cancers. However, there is still no data whether miR-375 is associated with higher risk of BM development in NSCLC. In this study, we detected the miR-375 expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and assessed its predictive and prognostic significance. Our result showed that miR-375 expression was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC patients with BM(BM+, N=30) compared with NSCLC without BM(BM-, N=30) (P<0.001). Statistical analysis indicated that low miR-375 expression was linked to advanced disease stage (P<0.001) and brain metastasis (P<0.001) in NSCLC patient. Survival analysis suggested that low-expression group had significantly shorter overall survival than high-expression group in NSCLC patients with BM(log-rank test: P<0.05) as well as the total cases(log-rank test: P<0.01). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis indicated that low miR-375 expression was independently linked to poor survival of patients with NSCLC (HR=5.48, 95% CI: 1.93-15.56, P=0.001). In addition, we found that VEGF and MMP-9 were over-expressed in down-regulated miR-375 expression cases. Collectively, this study demonstrated that miR-375 may play an important role as a predictive biomarker in brain metastasis and an independent prognostic factor in NSCLC. Over-expression of VEGF and MMP-9 may be the reason for poor prognosis of NSCLC patients with low miR-375 expression.

Overexpression of Rab1B and MMP9 predicts poor survival and good response to chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer

Rab1B has recently been reported to be involved in human cancer, but the role of Rab1B in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of Rab1B and MMP9 in CRC by qRT-PCR, immunoblot and immunohistochemistry and analyzed the clinical significance. The results show that Rab1B and MMP9 are increased at both mRNA and protein levels in CRC cell lines and tissues, as measured by qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. The high protein expression of Rab1B and MMP9 in 179 CRC tissues is associated with deep tumor invasion, lymph-node metastasis and advanced TNM stage. Survival analysis indicates that patients with overexpression of Rab1B or MMP9 have significantly worse overall survival and progression-free survival, but better response to chemotherapy than those with low expression of proteins, and that Rab1B is an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients. Furthermore, when Rab1B and MMP9 are combined into a new risk model, it has a remarkably better prediction of prognosis than each protein alone. In conclusion, Rab1B and MMP9 are potential prognostic biomarkers and their combination significantly improves predictive power for survival and chemotherapy response in CRC patients.

TCF21 functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer through inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a major public health problem, ranking as the third most common type of cancer. Our previous study has revealed that TCF21 is frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in both CRC cell lines and primary CRC, with TCF21 methylation being significantly correlated with lymph node invasion. In this study, we further analyze the expression of TCF21 in CRC tissues and investigate the role of TCF21 in CRC in vitro and in vivo. We also explore the possible pathway regulated by TCF21. We thus demonstrate that decreased levels of TCF21 are associated with the pathological stage, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis, indicating a poor prognosis in CRC patients; overexpression of TCF21 inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion in the colorectal cell lines HCT116 and HT29. Furthermore, TCF21 functions as a tumor suppressor probably through inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling and inhibition of MMPs. Our results suggest that enhancement of TCF21 levels may be a potential strategy to facilitate the prevention and treatment of CRC in the clinic.

Extracellular Matrix and Colorectal Cancer: How Surrounding Microenvironment Affects Cancer Cell Behavior?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) whit more than a million of new cases per year is one of the most common registered cancers worldwide with few treatment options especially for advanced and metastatic patients.The tumor microenvironment is composed by extracellular matrix (ECM), cells, and interstitial fluids. Among all these constituents, in the last years an increased interest around the ECM and its potential role in cancer tumorigenesis is arisen. During cancer progression the ECM structure and composition became disorganized, allowing cellular transformation and metastasis. Up to now, the focus has mainly been on the characterization of CRC microenvironment analyzing separately structural ECM components or cell secretome modifications. A more extensive view that interconnects these aspects should be addressed. In this review, biochemical (secretome) and biomechanical (structure and architecture) changes of tumor microenvironment will be discussed, giving suggestions on how these changes can affect cancer cell behavior. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 967-975, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A pilot study on faecal MMP-9: a new noninvasive diagnostic marker of colorectal cancer

Background:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies worldwide, therefore cheap noninvasive screening methods are of great importance. Matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has a role in the progression of CRC, and its level is elevated in tumour biopsies. Faecal MMP-9 levels are increased in active ulcerative colitis patients, but in CRC patients, they have never been measured. We aimed to assess the faecal MMP-9 levels in patients undergoing total colonoscopy according to endoscopic and histological diagnosis.

Methods:

One hundred and nine patients provided faecal samples for MMP-9 analysis. A total colonoscopy was performed; suspicious lesions were evaluated by histology. Faecal MMP-9 levels were measured by ELISA.

Results:

The number of patients allocated to different groups were: negative/diverticulosis: 34 (referred to as controls); hyperplastic polyps: 15; adenomas: 32 (22 at high risk); and CRC: 28. Faecal MMP-9 was significantly increased in CRC compared with all other groups (P<0.001). Faecal MMP-9 was suitable to distinguish CRC patients from controls (sensitivity: 89.3% specificity: 91.2%). By means of a lower cutoff level, faecal MMP-9 identified high-risk adenomas besides CRC (sensitivity: 76% specificity: 85.3%). This lower cutoff level screened 59% of high-risk adenomas.

Conclusions:

Faecal MMP-9 may be a promising new noninvasive marker in CRC.

Camptothecin suppresses expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in DU145 cells through PI3K/Akt-mediated inhibition of NF-κB activity and Nrf2-dependent induction of HO-1 expression

Though camptothecin (CPT) possesses potent anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancerous, and antiproliferative effects, little is known about the mechanism by which CPT regulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of CPT on the expression of MMP-9 and VEGF, which are important factors for the invasion of tumors. In vitro application of CPT resulted in a slight inhibition of cell proliferation and a significant reduction in the matrigel invasion of DU145 cells. Treatment with CPT also downregulated phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)- and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced MMP-9 and VEGF expression by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. Downregulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt phosphorylation in response to CPT was revealed as an upstream pathway regulating the expression of MMP-9 and VEGF accompanying the inhibition of NF-κB activity. We further confirmed that CPT inhibits PMA-induced MMP-9 and VEGF expression by upregulating nuclear factor-erythroid related factor-2 (Nrf2)-mediated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction. Taken together, these data indicate that CPT inhibits the invasion of cancer cells accompanied by suppression of MMP-9 and VEGF production by suppressing the PI3K/Akt-mediated NF-κB pathway and enhancing the Nrf2-dependent HO-1 pathway, suggesting that CPT may be a good candidate to inhibit MMP-9 and VEGF expression.