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Leitch IM, Gerometta M, Eichenbaum D, Finger RP, Steinle NC, Baldwin ME. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C and D Signaling Pathways as Potential Targets for the Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Narrative Review. Ophthalmol Ther 2024; 13:1857-1875. [PMID: 38824253 PMCID: PMC11178757 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-024-00973-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of treatments targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways have traditionally been firstly investigated in oncology and then advanced into retinal disease indications. Members of the VEGF family of endogenous ligands and their respective receptors play a central role in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during both development and physiological homeostasis. They can also play a pathogenic role in cancer and retinal diseases. Therapeutic approaches have mostly focused on targeting VEGF-A signaling; however, research has shown that VEGF-C and VEGF-D signaling pathways are also important to the disease pathogenesis of tumors and retinal diseases. This review highlights the important therapeutic advances and the remaining unmet need for improved therapies targeting additional mechanisms beyond VEGF-A. Additionally, it provides an overview of alternative VEGF-C and VEGF-D signaling involvement in both health and disease, highlighting their key contributions in the multifactorial pathophysiology of retinal disease including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Strategies for targeting VEGF-C/-D signaling pathways will also be reviewed, with an emphasis on agents currently being developed for the treatment of nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M Leitch
- Opthea Limited, 650 Chapel Street, Level 4, Melbourne, VIC, 3141, Australia.
| | - Michael Gerometta
- Opthea Limited, 650 Chapel Street, Level 4, Melbourne, VIC, 3141, Australia
| | - David Eichenbaum
- Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, 33711, USA
| | - Robert P Finger
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Megan E Baldwin
- Opthea Limited, 650 Chapel Street, Level 4, Melbourne, VIC, 3141, Australia
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Zhao J, Li Z, Zhang H, Qin T, Zhao J, Pei Q. Recombinant hirudin suppresses angiogenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through regulation of the PAR-1-VEGF. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14533. [PMID: 38684373 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Hirudin is one of the specific inhibitors of thrombin, which has been confirmed to have strong bioactivities, including inhibiting tumors. However, the function and mechanism of hirudin and protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have not been clear. Detecting the expression PAR-1 in DLBCL tissues and cells by RT-qPCR and IHC. Transfected sh-NC, sh-PAR-1, or pcDNA3.1-PAR-1 in DLBCL cells or processed DLBCL cells through added thrombin, Vorapaxar, Recombinant hirudin (RH), or Na2S2O4 and co-culture with EA.hy926. And built DLBCL mice observed tumor growth. Detecting the expression of related genes by RT-qPCR, Western blot, IHC, and immunofluorescence, measured the cellular hypoxia with Hypoxyprobe-1 Kit, and estimated the cell inflammatory factors, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis by ELISA, CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound-healing and Transwell. Co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down measurement were used to verify the relationship. PAR-1 was highly expressed in DLBCL tissues and cells, especially in SUDHL2. Na2S2O4 induced SUDHL2 hypoxia, and PAR-1 did not influence thrombin-activated hypoxia. PAR-1 could promote SUDHL2 proliferation, migration, and invasion, and it was unrelated to cellular hypoxia. PAR-1 promoted proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of EA.hy926 or SUDHL2 through up-regulation vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). RH inhibited tumor growth, cell proliferation, and migration, promoted apoptosis of DLBCL, and inhibited angiogenesis by down-regulating PAR-1-VEGF. RH inhibits proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of DLBCL cells by down-regulating PAR-1-VEGF.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Hirudins/pharmacology
- Receptor, PAR-1/metabolism
- Receptor, PAR-1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/metabolism
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
- Animals
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics
- Mice
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Angiogenesis
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zihui Li
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Haixi Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Center for Hematologic Disease, Kunming, China
| | - Tao Qin
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Center for Hematologic Disease, Kunming, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Center for Hematologic Disease, Kunming, China
| | - Qiang Pei
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Center for Hematologic Disease, Kunming, China
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Xue J, Deng J, Qin H, Yan S, Zhao Z, Qin L, Liu J, Wang H. The interaction of platelet-related factors with tumor cells promotes tumor metastasis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:371. [PMID: 38637802 PMCID: PMC11025228 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05126-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Platelets not only participate in thrombosis and hemostasis but also interact with tumor cells and protect them from mechanical damage caused by hemodynamic shear stress and natural killer cell lysis, thereby promoting their colonization and metastasis to distant organs. Platelets can affect the tumor microenvironment via interactions between platelet-related factors and tumor cells. Metastasis is a key event in cancer-related death and is associated with platelet-related factors in lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. Although the factors that promote platelet expression vary slightly in terms of their type and mode of action, they all contribute to the overall process. Recognizing the correlation and mechanisms between these factors is crucial for studying the colonization of distant target organs and developing targeted therapies for these three types of tumors. This paper reviews studies on major platelet-related factors closely associated with metastasis in lung, breast, and colorectal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xue
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Central Hospital of Qingdao Jiaozhou, 99 Yunxi River South Road, Qingdao, 266300, Shandong, China
| | - Jianzhao Deng
- Clinical Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Qingdao Jiaozhou, 99 Yunxi River South Road, Qingdao, 266300, Shandong, China
| | - Hongwei Qin
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Central Hospital of Qingdao Jiaozhou, 99 Yunxi River South Road, Qingdao, 266300, Shandong, China
| | - Songxia Yan
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Lifeng Qin
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Jiao Liu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
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Pawlik VE, Sonntag SR, Grisanti S, Tura A, Kakkassery V, Ranjbar M. Impact of Nintedanib and Anti-Angiogenic Agents on Uveal Melanoma Cell Behavior. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:30. [PMID: 38381412 PMCID: PMC10893901 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.2.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct impact of the combined angiokinase inhibitor nintedanib as well as the anti-angiogenic agents ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept on the primary uveal melanoma (UM) cell line Mel270 and liver metastasis UM cell line OMM2.5. Methods The metabolic activity, viability, and oxidative stress levels were analyzed by the Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT), LIVE/DEAD, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. Expression of intracellular VEGF-A165 and VEGF receptor-2 was detected by immunofluorescent staining. The secretion of VEGF-A165 into the cell culture supernatants was evaluated by VEGF-A165 ELISA. Results Nintedanib, at a concentration of 1 µg/mL, resulted in a median reduction of metabolic activity (for Mel270 of approximately 38% and for OMM2.5 of 46% compared to the untreated control) without exerting toxicity in either cell line, whereas the other 3 substances did not result in any changes (which also means that none of the 4 substances led to an increased cell death). Moreover, nintedanib (1 µg/mL) induced oxidative stress in the Mel270 by approximately 1.2 to 1.5-fold compared to the untreated control, but not the OMM2.5 cells. Conclusions Nintedanib could suppress the growth of UM cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The metastatic UM cell line OMM2.5 was not sensitive to the pro-oxidant activity of nintedanib. This study was the first to investigate nintedanib in the context of UM. We propose further investigation of this substance to elucidate its effects on this tumor entity with the hope of identifying advantageous therapeutic options for future adjuvant tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera E. Pawlik
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | | | - Aysegül Tura
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Mahdy Ranjbar
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Ayoup MS, Ammar A, Abdel-Hamid H, Amer A, Abu-Serie MM, Nasr SA, Ghareeb DA, Teleb M, Tageldin GN. Challenging the anticolorectal cancer capacity of quinoxaline-based scaffold via triazole ligation unveiled new efficient dual VEGFR-2/MAO-B inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107102. [PMID: 38211551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) are promoters of colorectal cancer (CRC) and central signaling nodes in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by activating hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Herein, a novel series of rationally designed triazole-tethered quinoxalines were synthesized and evaluated against HCT-116 CRC cells. The tailored scaffolds combine the pharmacophoric themes of both VEGFR-2 inhibitors and MAO inhibitors. All the synthesized derivatives were screened utilizing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for their possible cytotoxic effects on normal human colonocytes, then evaluated for their anticancer activities against HCT-116 cells overexpressing MAOs. The hit derivatives 11 and 14 exhibited IC50 = 18.04 and 7.850 µM, respectively, against HCT-116cells within their EC100 doses on normal human colonocytes. Wound healing assay revealed their efficient CRC antimetastatic activities recording HCT-116 cell migration inhibition exceeding 75 %. In vitro enzymatic assays demonstrated that both 11 and 14 efficiently inhibited VEGFR-2 (IC50 = 88.79 and 9.910 nM), MAO-A (IC50 = 0.763 and 629.1 nM) and MAO-B (IC50 = 0.488 and 209.6 nM) with observed MAO-B over MAO-A selectivity (SI = 1.546 and 3.001), respectively. Enzyme kinetics studies were performed for both compounds to identify their mode of MAO-B inhibition. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the hits efficiently downregulated HIF-1α in HCT-116cells by 3.420 and 16.96 folds relative to untreated cells. Docking studies simulated their possible binding modes within the active sites of VEGFR-2 and MAO-B to highlight their essential structural determinants of activities. Finally, they recorded in silico drug-like absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiles as well as ligand efficiency metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Salah Ayoup
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria 21321, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed Ammar
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria 21321, Egypt
| | - Hamida Abdel-Hamid
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria 21321, Egypt
| | - Adel Amer
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria 21321, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Marwa M Abu-Serie
- Medical Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Egypt
| | - Samah A Nasr
- Bio-screening and Preclinical Trial Lab, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21511 Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Doaa A Ghareeb
- Bio-screening and Preclinical Trial Lab, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21511 Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Teleb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Gina N Tageldin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
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6
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Chen Z, Ding W, Yang X, Lu T, Liu Y. Isoliquiritigenin, a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of inflammation-associated diseases. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 318:117059. [PMID: 37604329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Licorice is a medicinal herb with a 2000-year history of applications in traditional Chinese medicine. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a bioactive chalcone compound isolated from licorice. It has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to its excellent anti-inflammatory activity. AIM OF THE STUDY This study is to provide a comprehensive summary of the anti-inflammatory activity of ISL and the underlying molecular mechanisms, and discuss new insights for its potential clinical applications as an anti-inflammation agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined literatures published in the past twenty years from PubMed, Research Gate, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SciFinder, with single or combined key words of "isoliquiritigenin", "inflammation", and "anti-inflammatory". RESULTS ISL elicits its anti-inflammatory activity by mediating various cellular processes. It inhibits the upstream of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and activates the nuclear factor erythroid related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. In addition, it suppresses the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway and restrains the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. CONCLUSIONS Current studies indicate a great therapeutical potential of ISL as a drug candidate for treatment of inflammation-associated diseases. However, the pharmacokinetics, biosafety, and bioavailability of ISL remain to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenwen Ding
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tiangong Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
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Lee HG, Lim GH, An JH, Park SM, Seo KW, Youn HY. In vitro evaluation of the antitumor activity of axitinib in canine mammary gland tumor cell lines. J Vet Sci 2024; 25:e1. [PMID: 38311316 PMCID: PMC10839173 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.23191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Axitinib, a potent and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase 1,2 and 3, is used in chemotherapy because it inhibits tumor angiogenesis by blocking the VEGF/VEGFR pathway. In veterinary medicine, attempts have been made to apply tyrosine kinase inhibitors with anti-angiogenic effects to tumor patients, but there are no studies on axitinib in canine mammary gland tumors (MGTs). OBJECTIVES This study aimed to confirm the antitumor activity of axitinib in canine mammary gland cell lines. METHODS We treated canine MGT cell lines (CIPp and CIPm) with axitinib and conducted CCK, wound healing, apoptosis, and cell cycle assays. Additionally, we evaluated the expression levels of angiogenesis-associated factors, including VEGFs, PDGF-A, FGF-2, and TGF-β1, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we collected canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), activated them with concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and then treated them with axitinib to investigate changes in viability. RESULTS When axitinib was administered to CIPp and CIPm, cell viability significantly decreased at 24, 48, and 72 h (p < 0.001), and migration was markedly reduced (6 h, p < 0.05; 12 h, p < 0.005). The apoptosis rate significantly increased (p < 0.01), and the G2/M phase ratio showed a significant increase (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was no significant change in the viability of canine PBMCs treated with LPS and ConA. CONCLUSION In this study, we confirmed the antitumor activity of axitinib against canine MGT cell lines. Accordingly, we suggest that axitinib can be applied as a new treatment for patients with canine MGTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Gyu Lee
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Ga-Hyun Lim
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun An
- Department of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Su-Min Park
- Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital, Seongnam 13590, Korea
| | - Kyoung-Won Seo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hwa-Young Youn
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
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Liu L, Xue W. Thalidomide suppresses migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting HOXB7-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14434. [PMID: 38230780 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Heaps of studies have verified the effects of thalidomide (THA) on colorectal cancer (CRC). Howbeit, the corresponding mechanism awaits illustration, which is the foothold of this study. Following the treatment of 0, 1.94, 7.75, or 19.36 μM THA, CRC cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were evaluated by methyl tetrazolium, flow cytometry, wound-healing, and transwell assays. Homeobox B7 (HOXB7) expression in CRC was analyzed and detected by bioinformatics analysis, quantitative real-time PCR or western blot. After the corresponding transfection or treatment with inhibitor of catenin-responsive transcription-3 (iCRT-3), abovementioned CRC cell biological behaviors as well as expression levels of HOXB7 and β-catenin were evaluated. 7.75 and 19.36 μM THA dwindled CRC cell viability, migration, and invasion, and facilitated apoptosis. HOXB7 upregulation was detected in CRC cells, which promoted the viability, migration, invasion, and β-catenin expression, and weakened the apoptosis of CRC cells. Also, HOXB7 upregulation counteracted the effects of THA on CRC cells. iCRT-3 restrained β-catenin expression, viability, migration, and invasion, whereas promoting the apoptosis of CRC cells. In addition, iCRT-3 antagonized the effects of overexpressed HOXB7 on CRC cells. THA inhibits the migration and invasion of CRC cells, which is achieved by suppressing HOXB7-mediated activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyang Liu
- Department of Anoretal, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wusong Xue
- Department of Anoretal, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Ghosh S, Fan F, Powell RT, Roszik J, Park YS, Stephan C, Sebastian M, Tan L, Sorokin AV, Lorenzi PL, Kopetz S, Ellis LM, Bhattacharya R. Vincristine Enhances the Efficacy of MEK Inhibitors in Preclinical Models of KRAS-mutant Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:962-975. [PMID: 37310170 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in KRAS are found in more than 50% of tumors from patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, direct targeting of most KRAS mutations is difficult; even the recently developed KRASG12C inhibitors failed to show significant benefit in patients with mCRC. Single agents targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), a downstream mediator of RAS, have also been ineffective in colorectal cancer. To identify drugs that can enhance the efficacy of MEK inhibitors, we performed unbiased high-throughput screening using colorectal cancer spheroids. We used trametinib as the anchor drug and examined combinations of trametinib with the NCI-approved Oncology Library version 5. The initial screen, and following focused validation screens, identified vincristine as being strongly synergistic with trametinib. In vitro, the combination strongly inhibited cell growth, reduced clonogenic survival, and enhanced apoptosis compared with monotherapies in multiple KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cell lines. Furthermore, this combination significantly inhibited tumor growth, reduced cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis in multiple KRAS-mutant patient-derived xenograft mouse models. In vivo studies using drug doses that reflect clinically achievable doses demonstrated that the combination was well tolerated by mice. We further determined that the mechanism underlying the synergistic effect of the combination was due to enhanced intracellular accumulation of vincristine associated with MEK inhibition. The combination also significantly decreased p-mTOR levels in vitro, indicating that it inhibits both RAS-RAF-MEK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR survival pathways. Our data thus provide strong evidence that the combination of trametinib and vincristine represents a novel therapeutic option to be studied in clinical trials for patients with KRAS-mutant mCRC. SIGNIFICANCE Our unbiased preclinical studies have identified vincristine as an effective combination partner for the MEK inhibitor trametinib and provide a novel therapeutic option to be studied in patients with KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Ghosh
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Fan Fan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Reid T Powell
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas
| | - Jason Roszik
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yong Sung Park
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas
| | - Clifford Stephan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas
| | - Manu Sebastian
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Lin Tan
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Alexey V Sorokin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Philip L Lorenzi
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Scott Kopetz
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Lee M Ellis
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Rajat Bhattacharya
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Manzi J, Hoff CO, Ferreira R, Pimentel A, Datta J, Livingstone AS, Vianna R, Abreu P. Targeted Therapies in Colorectal Cancer: Recent Advances in Biomarkers, Landmark Trials, and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15113023. [PMID: 37296986 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2022, approximately 600,000 cancer deaths were expected; more than 50,000 of those deaths would be from colorectal cancer (CRC). The CRC mortality rate in the US has decreased in recent decades, with a 51% drop between 1976 and 2014. This drop is attributed, in part, to the tremendous therapeutic improvements, especially after the 2000s, in addition to increased social awareness regarding risk factors and diagnostic improvement. Five-fluorouracil, irinotecan, capecitabine, and later oxaliplatin were the mainstays of mCRC treatment from the 1960s to 2002. Since then, more than a dozen drugs have been approved for the disease, betting on a new chapter in medicine, precision oncology, which uses patient and tumor characteristics to guide the therapeutic choice. Thus, this review will summarize the current literature on targeted therapies, highlighting the molecular biomarkers involved and their pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao Manzi
- Miami Transplant Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Camilla O Hoff
- Miami Transplant Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Raphaella Ferreira
- Miami Transplant Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Agustin Pimentel
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jashodeep Datta
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alan S Livingstone
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Rodrigo Vianna
- Miami Transplant Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Phillipe Abreu
- Miami Transplant Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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11
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Fan X, Meng M, Li B, Chen H, Tan J, Xu K, Xiao S, Kwan HY, Liu Z, Su T. Brevilin A is a potent anti-metastatic CRC agent that targets the VEGF-IL6-STAT3 axis in the HSCs-CRC interplay. J Transl Med 2023; 21:260. [PMID: 37062842 PMCID: PMC10105967 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04087-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than half of the colorectal cancer (CRC) patients will develop liver metastasis that underlies the cancer mortality. In the hepatic tumor microenvironment, the interplay between CRC cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and the activation of HSCs to become carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) will further promote the cancer development. Nevertheless, the critical signaling molecule that involved in these processes remains unknown, which hinders the development of effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of metastatic CRC (mCRC). METHODS Conditioned medium system and co-cultured system were used to examine the interplay between CRC cells and HSCs. Luminex liquid suspension chip detection and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to screen for the mediators in the conditioned medium that facilitated the CRC-HSCs interplay and HSCs-to-CAFs differentiation. Cell and animal models were used to examine whether brevilin A inhibited CRC liver metastasis via the VEGF-IL6-STAT3 axis. RESULTS In the CRC-HSCs interplay, CRC promoted HSCs-to-CAFs differentiation by releasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); and HSCs released interleukin 6 (IL6) that activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the CRC and hence increased the cancer metastatic potential. The functions of the VEGF-IL6-STAT3 axis in the HSCs-CRC interplay were further validated by VEGF recombinant protein and IL6 neutralizing antibody. More importantly, brevilin A, an active compound isolated from Centipeda minima (L.) A. Br. et Aschers, targeted the VEGF-IL6-STAT3 axis in the CRC-HSCs interplay, hence significantly inhibited colorectal liver metastasis and cancer growth both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS We are the first to demonstrate brevilin A possesses potent anti-mCRC effect by targeting the VEGF-IL6-STAT3 axis in the CRC-HSCs interplay. Our findings not only support the development of brevilin A as a novel therapeutic agent for mCRC treatment, but also pave the path for the development of other VEGF-IL6-STAT3 targeting therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingjing Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Baoting Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Jincheng Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Keyang Xu
- Centre for Cancer & Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shilin Xiao
- Centre for Cancer & Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hiu-Yee Kwan
- Centre for Cancer & Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Zhongqiu Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Tao Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, Joint International Research Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicines, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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12
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Fitzgerald KN, Motzer RJ, Lee CH. Adjuvant therapy options in renal cell carcinoma - targeting the metastatic cascade. Nat Rev Urol 2023; 20:179-193. [PMID: 36369389 PMCID: PMC10921989 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-022-00666-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is primarily managed with nephrectomy, which is performed with curative intent. However, disease recurs in ~20% of patients. Treatment with adjuvant therapies is used after surgery with the intention of curing additional patients by disrupting the establishment, maturation or survival of micrometastases, processes collectively referred to as the metastatic cascade. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown efficacy in the treatment of metastatic RCC, increasing the interest in the utility of these agents in the adjuvant setting. Pembrolizumab, an inhibitor of the immune checkpoint PD1, is now approved by the FDA and is under review by European regulatory agencies for the adjuvant treatment of patients with localized resected clear cell RCC based on the results of the KEYNOTE-564 trial. However, the optimal use of immunotherapy and VEGFR-targeting TKIs for adjuvant treatment of RCC is not completely understood. These agents disrupt the metastatic cascade at multiple steps, providing biological rationale for further investigating the applications of these therapeutics in the adjuvant setting. Clinical trials to evaluate adjuvant therapeutics in RCC are ongoing, and clinical considerations must guide the practical use of immunotherapy and TKI agents for the adjuvant treatment of localized resected RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly N Fitzgerald
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert J Motzer
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chung-Han Lee
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Patel SA, Nilsson MB, Le X, Cascone T, Jain RK, Heymach JV. Molecular Mechanisms and Future Implications of VEGF/VEGFR in Cancer Therapy. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:30-39. [PMID: 35969170 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-1366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the sprouting of new blood vessels from existing vessels, is one of six known mechanisms employed by solid tumors to recruit blood vessels necessary for their initiation, growth, and metastatic spread. The vascular network within the tumor facilitates the transport of nutrients, oxygen, and immune cells and is regulated by pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Nearly four decades ago, VEGF was identified as a critical factor promoting vascular permeability and angiogenesis, followed by identification of VEGF family ligands and their receptors (VEGFR). Since then, over a dozen drugs targeting the VEGF/VEGFR pathway have been approved for approximately 20 solid tumor types, usually in combination with other therapies. Initially designed to starve tumors, these agents transiently "normalize" tumor vessels in preclinical and clinical studies, and in the clinic, increased tumor blood perfusion or oxygenation in response to these agents is associated with improved outcomes. Nevertheless, the survival benefit has been modest in most tumor types, and there are currently no biomarkers in routine clinical use for identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment. However, the ability of these agents to reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immunostimulatory milieu has rekindled interest and has led to the FDA approval of seven different combinations of VEGF/VEGFR pathway inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockers for many solid tumors in the past 3 years. In this review, we discuss our understanding of the mechanisms of response and resistance to blocking VEGF/VEGFR, and potential strategies to develop more effective therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia A Patel
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Monique B Nilsson
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiuning Le
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Tina Cascone
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John V Heymach
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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14
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Fan F, Ghosh S, Powell R, Roszik J, Park Y, Sobieski M, Sorokin A, Stephan C, Kopetz S, Ellis LM, Bhattacharya R. Combining MEK and SRC inhibitors for treatment of colorectal cancer demonstrate increased efficacy in vitro but not in vivo. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281063. [PMID: 36952536 PMCID: PMC10035898 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. More than 50% of patients with mCRC harbor mutations of the oncogenic driver RAS (KRAS or NRAS). Because directly targeting most mutations of RAS is technically challenging, researchers have concentrated on targeting MEK, a downstream mediator of RAS. However, targeting MEK as single-agent therapy is ineffective in patients with mCRC. We hypothesize that combining a MEK inhibitor with other agents can enhance the efficacy of MEK targeting in mCRC. Unbiased high-throughput screening (HTS) was performed to identify drugs that enhance the efficacy of MEK inhibitors. HTS was performed with KRAS-mutated CRC cells using the MEK inhibitor trametinib as a "backbone" and two "clinically ready" compound libraries approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or in clinical trials. HTS demonstrated that the combination of the SRC inhibitor dasatinib and trametinib was synergistic in CRC cells in vitro (MTT and colony formation assays). Analysis of markers for cell proliferation and apoptosis using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, reverse-phase protein array, or Western blotting demonstrated decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death when targeting both SRC and MEK as compared to single agents in multiple CRC cell lines. However, combining dasatinib and trametinib in vivo at doses in mice equivalent to doses used in humans failed to significantly enhance the antitumor activity of trametinib when compared to that of trametinib alone. These results underscore the importance of performing careful preclinical in vivo validation studies using clinically relevant doses as a prerequisite for translating in vitro findings to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Fan
- Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Susmita Ghosh
- Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Reid Powell
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jason Roszik
- Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yongsun Park
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mary Sobieski
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alexey Sorokin
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Clifford Stephan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Scott Kopetz
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lee M Ellis
- Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rajat Bhattacharya
- Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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15
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Pharmacological Mechanism of Pingxiao Formula against Colorectal Cancer. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:7884740. [PMID: 36582768 PMCID: PMC9794442 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7884740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer worldwide and develops due to a broad range of causative factors. Pingxiao (PX) formula and Xihuang (XH) formula are two commonly used drugs to treat CRC, especially as an alternative therapy for those patients who could not suffer surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, namely, elder or advanced CRC patients. However, the pertinent pharmacological mechanisms are still elusive. The investigation was designed to explain the pharmacological mechanisms of the PX formula. A murine model of CRC was established by injecting CT26.WT cells into the caecum of 4-week-old male Balb/c mice, following PX or XH treatment for 30 days. Network pharmacology analysis combined with weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) predicted the pharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic value. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing determined the alterations in the gut microbiota communities. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry examined the influence of PX on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Injection of CT26.WT-induced CRC in Balb/c mice was markedly attenuated by PX treatment. Compared with XH administration, PX exhibited a stronger antitumor effect, such as smaller tumor volume, lower interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) serum levels, and higher interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) concentration. Network pharmacology analysis demonstrated that both PX and XH targets were enriched in cancers and inflammatory responses. RNA sequencing confirmed that PX treatment induced cancer cell apoptosis and inhibited inflammatory reactions within the tumor. Moreover, the PX formula considerably restored homeostasis of the gut microbiota, which was not observed in the XH group. PX targets, those associated with the survival probability of CRC patients, correlated with macrophage (Mφ) infiltration, which presented an independent risk factor for the CRC outcome. PX treatment promoted the transition of alternatively activated Mφs (M2 Mφs) to classically activated Mφs (M1 Mφs). Moreover, the peritoneal Mφs from the PX group inhibited the migration of CW26.WT cells, as evidenced by the wound healing experiment and transwell assay, which was consistent with the decreased expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, the coculturing system confirmed that PX-treated Mφs suppressed colorectal tumor-derived organoid proliferation. PX formula exhibits a potential antitumor effect against CRC by suppressing the colonization of pathological microorganisms, reshaping Mφ effector functions and hence inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.
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Rawal P, Tripathi D, Nain V, Kaur S. VEGF‑mediated tumour growth and EMT in 2D and 3D cell culture models of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2022; 24:315. [PMID: 35949600 PMCID: PMC9353766 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on tumorigenic properties in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures of hepatoma cells. The proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells was assessed using wound healing, chemotaxis Transwell, invasion, tube-forming and hanging drop assays in both 2D and 3D cultures. The expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness markers were analysed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for mRNA expression and immunofluorescence assay for protein expression. To validate the role of VEGF in tumour growth, a VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor (sorafenib) was used. The results demonstrated that the hepatoma cells formed 3D spheroids that differed in size and density in the absence and presence of the growth factor, VEGF. In all spheroids, invasion and angiogenesis were more aggressive in 3D cultures in comparison to 2D conditions following treatment with VEGF. Mechanistically, the VEGF-mediated increase in the levels of EMT markers, including Vimentin, N-cadherin 2 (Cadherin 2) and Thy-1 Cell Surface Antigen was observed in the 2D and 3D cultures. Sorafenib treatment for 24 h culminated in a marked reduction in cell migration, cell-cell adhesion, spheroid compaction and EMT gene expression in 3D models as compared to the 2D models. On the whole, the findings of the present study suggested that as compared to the 2D cell cultures, 3D cell cultures model may be used as a more realistic model for the study of tumour growth and invasion in the presence of angiogenic factors, as well as for tumour inhibitor screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preety Rawal
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201312, India
| | - Dinesh Tripathi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi 110070, India
| | - Vikrant Nain
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201312, India
| | - Savneet Kaur
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi 110070, India
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17
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Oliveira S, Pereira SS, Costa MM, Monteiro MP, Pignatelli D. Ang-Tie Angiogenic Pathway Is Distinctively Expressed in Benign and Malignant Adrenocortical Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105579. [PMID: 35628389 PMCID: PMC9146687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The differential diagnosis between adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) and adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) relies on unspecific clinical, imaging and histological features, and, so far, no single molecular biomarker has proved to improve diagnostic accuracy. Similarly, prognostic factors have an insufficient capacity to predict the heterogeneity of ACC clinical outcomes, which consequently lead to inadequate treatment strategies. Angiogenesis is a biological process regulated by multiple signaling pathways, including VEGF and the Ang–Tie pathway. Many studies have stressed the importance of angiogenesis in cancer development and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of VEGF and Ang–Tie pathway mediators in adrenocortical tumors (ACTs), with the ultimate goal of assessing whether these molecules could be useful biomarkers to improve diagnostic accuracy and/or prognosis prediction in ACC. The expression of the proteins involved in angiogenesis, namely CD34, VEGF, VEGF-R2, Ang1, Ang2, Tie1 and Tie2, was assessed by immunohistochemistry in ACC (n = 22), ACA with Cushing syndrome (n = 8) and non-functioning ACA (n = 13). ACC presented a significantly higher Ang1 and Ang2 expression when compared to ACA. Tie1 expression was higher in ACC with venous invasion and in patients with shorter overall survival. In conclusion, although none of these biomarkers showed to be useful for ACT diagnosis, the Ang–Tie pathway is active in ACT and may play a role in regulating ACT angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Oliveira
- UMIB–Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.O.); (M.M.C.); (M.P.M.)
| | - Sofia S. Pereira
- UMIB–Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.O.); (M.M.C.); (M.P.M.)
- ITR–Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-220-428-106
| | - Madalena M. Costa
- UMIB–Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.O.); (M.M.C.); (M.P.M.)
- ITR–Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana P. Monteiro
- UMIB–Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.O.); (M.M.C.); (M.P.M.)
- ITR–Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - Duarte Pignatelli
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital S. João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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Cytospin-A Regulates Colorectal Cancer Cell Division and Migration by Modulating Stability of Microtubules and Actin Filaments. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081977. [PMID: 35454887 PMCID: PMC9026928 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, we report the effects of depleting cytospin-A (CYTSA), also known as the sperm antigen with calponin homology and coiled-coil domain (SPECC1L) protein, on the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Mutations in this protein have been previously linked to different developmental disorders. In our studies, depletion of CYTSA in various CRC cells led to significant decreases in proliferation, increases in cell death, and increased formation of multinucleated cells. Knocking down CYTSA also led to severe inhibition of CRC cell migration and invasion. These effects could be related to a significant decrease in the stability of microtubules and alterations in polymerized actin filaments in CYTSA depleted CRC cells. Our studies, for the first time, provide evidence suggesting that targeting CYTSA may be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with CRC. Abstract Proteins that interact with cytoskeletal elements play important roles in cell division and are potentially important targets for therapy in cancer. Cytospin-A (CYTSA), a protein known to interact with actin and microtubules, has been previously described to be important in various developmental disorders, including oblique facial clefting. We hypothesized that CYTSA plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell division. The effects of CYTSA depletion on CRC cell proliferation were analyzed using cell growth assays, microscopic analyses of live and fixed cells, and time-lapse imaging. CYTSA depletion led to inhibition of cell proliferation, significant increases in CRC cell death, and accumulation of doublet cells during and following cell division. Depletion of CYTSA also resulted in strong inhibition of CRC cell migration and invasion. Mechanistically, CYTSA depletion resulted in significant decreases in the stability of microtubules and altered polymerization of actin filaments in CRC cells. Finally, bioinformatic analyses were performed to determine the correlation between CYTSA expression and survival of patients with CRC. Interestingly, a strong correlation between high CYTSA expression and poor survival was observed in the TCGA adenocarcinoma data set but not in an independent data set. Since inhibiting CYTSA significantly reduces CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, targeting CYTSA may be a potential novel therapeutic option for patients with metastatic CRC.
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Chen Y, Ling C, Xu Y, Liu J, Tang W. Evaluation of Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of hsa_circ_0084927 and Analysis of Associated ceRNA Network in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:4357-4377. [PMID: 35493197 PMCID: PMC9043269 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s355043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Object This study aims to analyze the differentially expressed circRNA in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and evaluate its diagnostic and prognostic value. Analyze associated circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in COAD. Methods and Materials Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) was used to verify differentially expressed circRNA in COAD tissues and cells; Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluating its diagnostic and prognostic value; Meanwhile we conducted CCK-8, invasion, and migration experiments in cell lines to explore the function of circRNA. In addition, a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was established using bioinformatics methods to explore its prognostic value and potential functional mechanisms. Results Our study found that hsa_circ_0084927 is highly expressed in COAD tissues and cell lines. Plasma hsa_circ_0084927 can be used as a diagnostic marker for COAD patients; hsa_circ_0084927 can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of COAD cells. In addition, we effectively constructed a ceRNA: network has_circ_0084927/miR-106b-5p/VEGFA. The ceRNA network indicates that hsa_circ_0084927 may affect the prognosis of COAD through the regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis and other pathways. Conclusion Our research results indicate that hsa_circ_0084927 has a cancer-promoting effect and may be used as a circulating tumor marker for COAD prognosis. In addition, this study proposes a new ceRNA network to provide new insights for the targeted therapy of COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, People’s Republic of China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunrun Ling
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yansong Xu
- Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Junjie Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Junjie Liu; Weizhong Tang, Tel +86 15177130616; +86 13978126442, Email ;
| | - Weizhong Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, People’s Republic of China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, People’s Republic of China
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Dash P, Ghatak S, Topi G, Satapathy SR, Ek F, Hellman K, Olsson R, Mehdawi LM, Sjölander A. High PGD 2 receptor 2 levels are associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients and induce VEGF expression in colon cancer cells and migration in a zebrafish xenograft model. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:586-597. [PMID: 34750492 PMCID: PMC8854381 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01595-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite intense research, the prognosis for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poor. The prostaglandin D2 receptors DP1 and DP2 are explored here as potential therapeutic targets for advanced CRC. METHODS A CRC cohort was analysed to determine whether DP1 and DP2 receptor expression correlates with patient survival. Four colon cancer cell lines and a zebrafish metastasis model were used to explore how DP1/DP2 receptor expression correlates with CRC progression. RESULTS Analysis of the clinical CRC cohort revealed high DP2 expression in tumour tissue, whereas DP1 expression was low. High DP2 expression negatively correlated with overall survival. Other pathological indicators, such as TNM stage and metastasis, positively correlated with DP2 but not DP1 expression. In accordance, the in vitro results showed high DP2 expression in four CC-cell lines, but only one expressed DP1. DP2 stimulation resulted in increased proliferation, p-ERK1/2 and VEGF expression/secretion. DP2-stimulated cells exhibited increased migration in the zebrafish metastasis model. CONCLUSION Our results support DP2 receptor expression and signalling as a therapeutic target in CRC progression based on its expression in CRC tissue correlating with poor patient survival and that it triggers proliferation, p-ERK1/2 and VEGF expression and release and increased metastatic activity in CC-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pujarini Dash
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Division of Cell Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Souvik Ghatak
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Division of Cell Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Geriolda Topi
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Division of Cell Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Shakti Ranjan Satapathy
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Division of Cell Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Ek
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Chemical Biology & Therapeutics Group, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Hellman
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Chemical Biology & Therapeutics Group, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Roger Olsson
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Chemical Biology & Therapeutics Group, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lubna M. Mehdawi
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Division of Cell Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anita Sjölander
- Division of Cell Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
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21
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Smit MM, Feller KJ, You L, Storteboom J, Begce Y, Beerens C, Chien MP. Spatially Annotated Single Cell Sequencing for Unraveling Intratumor Heterogeneity. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:829509. [PMID: 35273957 PMCID: PMC8902076 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.829509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Intratumor heterogeneity is a major obstacle to effective cancer treatment. Current methods to study intratumor heterogeneity using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) lack information on the spatial organization of cells. While state-of-the art spatial transcriptomics methods capture the spatial distribution, they either lack single cell resolution or have relatively low transcript counts. Here, we introduce spatially annotated single cell sequencing, based on the previously developed functional single cell sequencing (FUNseq) technique, to spatially profile tumor cells with deep scRNA-seq and single cell resolution. Using our approach, we profiled cells located at different distances from the center of a 2D epithelial cell mass. By profiling the cell patch in concentric bands of varying width, we showed that cells at the outermost edge of the patch responded strongest to their local microenvironment, behaved most invasively, and activated the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to migrate to low-confluence areas. We inferred cell-cell communication networks and demonstrated that cells in the outermost ∼10 cell wide band, which we termed the invasive edge, induced similar phenotypic plasticity in neighboring regions. Applying FUNseq to spatially annotate and profile tumor cells enables deep characterization of tumor subpopulations, thereby unraveling the mechanistic basis for intratumor heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrthe M. Smit
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kate J. Feller
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Li You
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jelle Storteboom
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yasin Begce
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cecile Beerens
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Miao-Ping Chien
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Miao-Ping Chien,
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22
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Xia T, Guo J, Zhang B, Song C, Zhao Q, Cui B, Liu Y. Bisphenol A Promotes the Progression of Colon Cancer Through Dual-Targeting of NADPH Oxidase and Mitochondrial Electron-Transport Chain to Produce ROS and Activating HIF-1α/VEGF/PI3K/AKT Axis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:933051. [PMID: 35860704 PMCID: PMC9289207 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.933051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume industrial chemical. Despite recent research conducted on its carcinogenicity, its role in the development of colon cancer (CC) has been rarely studied. This study aims to evaluate the effects of BPA on the migration and invasion of CC cells. First, we clinically verified that patients with CC exhibit higher serum BPA level than healthy donors. Subsequently, different CC cell lines were exposed to a series of BPA concentrations, and the migration and invasion of cells were detected by the wound healing test and transwell assay. Finally, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and siHIF-1α intervention was used to explore the effects of ROS and HIF-1α on cell migration and invasion, respectively. The results demonstrated that the occurrence of BPA-induced migration and invasion were dependent on the dose and time and was most pronounced in DLD1 cells. ROS production was jointly driven by NADPH oxidase (NOX) and mitochondrial electron-transport chain (ETC). Furthermore, the intervention of NAC and siHIF-1α blocked the HIF-1α/VEGF/PI3K/AKT axis and inhibited cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, our results suggest that BPA exposure promotes the excessive production of ROS induced by NOX and ETC, which in turn activates the HIF-1α/VEGF/PI3K/AKT axis to promote the migration and invasion of CC cells. This study provides new insights into the carcinogenic effects of BPA on CC and warns people to pay attention to environmental pollution and the harm caused to human health by low-dose BPA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Binbin Cui
- *Correspondence: Binbin Cui, ; Yanlong Liu,
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23
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Prasad CB, Singh D, Pandey LK, Pradhan S, Singh S, Narayan G. VEGFa/VEGFR2 autocrine and paracrine signaling promotes cervical carcinogenesis via β-catenin and snail. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2022; 142:106122. [PMID: 34826615 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
VEGF secretion into the tumor microenvironment by cancer cells regulates several oncogenic signaling pathways and cancer-regulated angiogenesis. VEGFR receptors are exclusively present on endothelial cells to maintain their biological homeostasis. The acquisition of unique VEGFR2 receptor and VEGFa in cervical cancer (CC) cells reflects VEGFa/VEGFR2 autocrine machinery. Given the critical role of VEGFR2 in endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, we explored its function in CC epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. Here we report that VEGFR2 regulates cancer-induced angiogenesis and EMT-linked stemness in CC cells via AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin and Snail pathway. Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (RTKi) of VEGFR, Pazopanib (PAZ), shows potential anti-VEGFR2 activity and inhibits VEGFa induced metastatic events such as migration, invasion, and anoikis resistance in CC cells. Similarly, PAZ also attenuates cancer-regulated angiogenesis by inhibiting VE-cadherin internalization in endothelial cells followed by inhibition of endothelial cell migration. Selective depletion of VEGFR2 ligand VEGFa in CC cells also attenuates EMT, metastatic events, and inhibition of cancer-induced angiogenesis. In addition, blocking of VEGFR2 signaling in CC cells via PAZ or shRNA alters the formation of cervical tumorspheres (TS) and their successive generation. Collectively, inhibition of functional VEGFa/VEGFR2 autocrine and paracrine axis ceases the cancer-promoting events in cervical cancer cells. Based on the finding in this study, this oncogenic pathways could be used as a potential therapeutic target in a clinical setting with conventional radio-chemotherapy to achieve synergistic killing of CC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Bhushan Prasad
- Cancer Genetics Lab, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Deepika Singh
- Cancer Genetics Lab, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Laxmi Kant Pandey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Satyajit Pradhan
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Medicine, Institute of Medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Sunita Singh
- Department of Zoology, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Gopeshwar Narayan
- Cancer Genetics Lab, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
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24
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Abdollahi S, Dehghanian SZ, Hung LY, Yang SJ, Chen DP, Medeiros LJ, Chiang JH, Chang KC. Deciphering genes associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with lymphomatous effusions: A mutational accumulation scoring approach. Biomark Res 2021; 9:74. [PMID: 34635181 PMCID: PMC8504051 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00330-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Earlier studies have shown that lymphomatous effusions in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are associated with a very poor prognosis, even worse than for non-effusion-associated patients with stage IV disease. We hypothesized that certain genetic abnormalities were associated with lymphomatous effusions, which would help to identify related pathways, oncogenic mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. Methods We compared whole-exome sequencing on DLBCL samples involving solid organs (n = 22) and involving effusions (n = 9). We designed a mutational accumulation-based approach to score each gene and used mutation interpreters to identify candidate pathogenic genes associated with lymphomatous effusions. Moreover, we performed gene-set enrichment analysis from a microarray comparison of effusion-associated versus non-effusion-associated DLBCL cases to extract the related pathways. Results We found that genes involved in identified pathways or with high accumulation scores in the effusion-based DLBCL cases were associated with migration/invasion. We validated expression of 8 selected genes in DLBCL cell lines and clinical samples: MUC4, SLC35G6, TP53BP2, ARAP3, IL13RA1, PDIA4, HDAC1 and MDM2, and validated expression of 3 proteins (MUC4, HDAC1 and MDM2) in an independent cohort of DLBCL cases with (n = 31) and without (n = 20) lymphomatous effusions. We found that overexpression of HDAC1 and MDM2 correlated with the presence of lymphomatous effusions, and HDAC1 overexpression was associated with the poorest prognosis. Conclusion Our findings suggest that DLBCL associated with lymphomatous effusions may be associated mechanistically with TP53-MDM2 pathway and HDAC-related chromatin remodeling mechanisms. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40364-021-00330-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Abdollahi
- Intelligent Information Retrieval Lab, Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 701, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | - Liang-Yi Hung
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shiang-Jie Yang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Dao-Peng Chen
- Kim Forest Enterprise Co., Ltd, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - L Jeffrey Medeiros
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jung-Hsien Chiang
- Intelligent Information Retrieval Lab, Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 701, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Institute of Medical Informatics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Kung-Chao Chang
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, 704, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. .,Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. .,Center for Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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25
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Sorolla MA, Hidalgo I, Sorolla A, Montal R, Pallisé O, Salud A, Parisi E. Microenvironmental Reactive Oxygen Species in Colorectal Cancer: Involved Processes and Therapeutic Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5037. [PMID: 34680186 PMCID: PMC8534037 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Although screening programs have reduced mortality rates, there is a need for research focused on finding the main factors that lead primary CRC to progress and metastasize. During tumor progression, malignant cells modify their habitat, corrupting or transforming cells of different origins and creating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cells forming the TME like macrophages, neutrophils, and fibroblasts generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that modify the cancer niche. The effects of ROS in cancer are very diverse: they promote cellular proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), evasion of cell death programs, migration, and angiogenesis. Due to the multifaceted role of ROS in cancer cell survival and function, ROS-modulating agents such as antioxidants or pro-oxidants could have therapeutic potential in cancer prevention and/or as a complement to systemic treatments. In this review, we will examine the main ROS producer cells and their effects on cancer progression and metastasis. Furthermore, we will enumerate the latest clinical trials where pro-oxidants and antioxidants have therapeutic uses in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alba Sorolla
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Ivan Hidalgo
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Anabel Sorolla
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Robert Montal
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Ona Pallisé
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Antonieta Salud
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (HUAV), 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Eva Parisi
- Research Group of Cancer Biomarkers, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain; (M.A.S.); (I.H.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (O.P.); (A.S.)
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Stefani C, Miricescu D, Stanescu-Spinu II, Nica RI, Greabu M, Totan AR, Jinga M. Growth Factors, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Colorectal Cancer Pathogenesis: Where Are We Now? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910260. [PMID: 34638601 PMCID: PMC8508474 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a predominant malignancy worldwide, being the fourth most common cause of mortality and morbidity. The CRC incidence in adolescents, young adults, and adult populations is increasing every year. In the pathogenesis of CRC, various factors are involved including diet, sedentary life, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, gut microbiota, diabetes, and genetic mutations. The CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) involves the complex cooperation between tumoral cells with stroma, immune, and endothelial cells. Cytokines and several growth factors (GFs) will sustain CRC cell proliferation, survival, motility, and invasion. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Insulin-like growth factor -1 receptor (IGF-1R), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor -A (VEGF-A) are overexpressed in various human cancers including CRC. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and all the three major subfamilies of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways may be activated by GFs and will further play key roles in CRC development. The main aim of this review is to present the CRC incidence, risk factors, pathogenesis, and the impact of GFs during its development. Moreover, the article describes the relationship between EGF, IGF, VEGF, GFs inhibitors, PI3K/AKT/mTOR-MAPK signaling pathways, and CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Stefani
- Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Base, ‘‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 051075 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Daniela Miricescu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (A.R.T.)
- Correspondence: (D.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Iulia-Ioana Stanescu-Spinu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (A.R.T.)
| | - Remus Iulian Nica
- Surgery 2, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 051075 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Maria Greabu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (A.R.T.)
- Correspondence: (D.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Alexandra Ripszky Totan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (A.R.T.)
| | - Mariana Jinga
- Department of Gastroenterology, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 051075 Bucharest, Romania;
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Chen Z, Chen M, Xue Z, Zhu X. Comprehensive Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles Identifies a P4HA1-Related Gene Panel as a Prognostic Model in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2021; 36:693-704. [PMID: 34520234 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2021.0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Growing evidence suggests that the current pathological staging system is inadequate for efficient and accurate prognosis. In this study, we aim to build a prognosis model to predict the survival outcome of CRC patients by using gene expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Materials and Methods: Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between clinical factors and P4HA1 expression regarding the prognosis of patients with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model was used to select prognostic differential expression genes (DEGs) for the construction of prognostic risk score model. Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) survival analysis were used to assess the performance of the model on both TCGA cohort and an independent dataset GSE39582. Results: Overexpression of P4HA1 was confirmed to be associated with poor clinical outcome of colon cancer patients in both TCGA and GSE39582 cohorts. Using the TCGA cohort, we identified 1528 DEGs related to elevated P4HA1 expression, and we established a 11-gene panel to construct the prognostic risk score model by LASSO Cox regression analysis based on their expression profiles. The 11-gene signature was further validated in the independent dataset GSE39582. Time-dependent ROC curves indicated good performance of our model in predicting 1, 2, and 3-years overall survival in COAD patients. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the 11-gene signature was related to pathways involved in tumor progression. Conclusions: Together, we have established a 11-gene signature significantly associated with prognosis in COAD patients, which could serve as a promising tool for clinical application in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangxing Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Meiyan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zengyan Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaosan Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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28
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Ren H, Gu LQ, Chen JJ. Prognostic value of changes in portal blood TXA2, VEGF, and CEA levels in patients with colorectal cancer after surgery. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2021; 29:1006-1013. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v29.i17.1006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, representing a major public health problem. It ranks the third among newly diagnosed cancers and is the fourth cause of cancer death. There is currently an urgent need to find effective indexes for predicting liver metastasis after CRC surgery. Early detection of CRC liver micrometastasis is helpful for effective intervention and comprehensive treatment, which will greatly improve the prognosis of patients.
AIM To explore the prognostic value of changes in portal vein thromboxane A2 (TXA2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in patients with CRC after surgery.
METHODS From May 2017 to November 2019, 112 CRC patients at our hospital were selected and divided into either an observation group (liver metastasis, n = 21) or a control group (no liver metastasis, n = 91) according to whether there were liver metastases 6 mo after surgery. The clinical data and the levels of TXA2, VEGF, and CEA in portal vein blood were compared between the two groups, and the influencing factors of liver metastasis in patients with CRC were analyzed. The correlation between the levels of portal venous blood indicators and clinicopathological parameters, their predictive value for postoperative liver metastasis in patients with CRC, and their correlation with the prognosis were evaluated.
RESULTS The levels of TXA2, VEGF, and CEA in portal vein blood were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Age, lesion size, histological grade, T stage, regional lymph node metastasis, vascular tumor thrombosis, surgical methods, adjuvant chemotherapy, and portal vein blood TXA2, VEGF, and CEA levels were all influential factors for postoperative liver metastasis in CRC patients (P < 0.05). Portal vein blood TXA2, VEGF, and CEA levels in patients with liver metastases after CRC were positively correlated with age, lesion size, T stage, regional lymph node metastasis, and tumor thrombus, and negatively correlated with histological grade (P < 0.05). The AUC of combined detection of TXA2, VEGF, and CEA in the prediction of postoperative liver metastasis in CRC patients was the largest (0.929). There was no statistically significant difference in the postoperative survival rate of patients with high levels of TXA2, VEGF, and CEA in portal vein blood and those with low levels (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION The high expression of TXA2, VEGF, and CEA in portal vein blood may be involved in the process of liver metastasis after CRC. The combined detection of the above indicators can provide data support for clinical prediction of liver metastasis and prognosis in patients with CRC after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ren
- Department of Surgery, Tianjin Ninghe District Hospital, Tianjin 300000
| | - Li-Qiang Gu
- Anorectal Treatment Center, Tianjin People's Hospital, Tianjin 300121, China
| | - Jing-Jing Chen
- Department of Surgery, Tianjin Ninghe District Hospital, Tianjin 300000
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29
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Han Z, Dong Y, Lu J, Yang F, Zheng Y, Yang H. Role of hypoxia in inhibiting dendritic cells by VEGF signaling in tumor microenvironments: mechanism and application. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:3777-3793. [PMID: 34522449 PMCID: PMC8414384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in tumor initiation, development, immune escape, and clinical treatment. Hypoxia, an important characteristic of the TME, mediates vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) signaling through direct or indirect mechanisms. Directly, hypoxia promotes the expression of VEGF through hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) induction. Indirectly, VEGF inhibits dendritic cell (DC) maturation and function by binding to VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) and co-receptors expressed on cell membranes. Additionally, HIF can bypass VEGF/VEGFR and activate downstream signaling factors to promote tumor development. Currently, DC vaccine, anti-HIF and anti-VEGF therapies are widely used in clinical treatment, but their long-term effects remain limited. Therefore, a further understanding of the effects of hypoxia and VEGF signaling on DCs will help in the development of innovative combination therapies and the identification of new targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziying Han
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNo. 1 Shuai-Fu-Yuan, Wang-Fu-Jing, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yucheng Dong
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNo. 1 Shuai-Fu-Yuan, Wang-Fu-Jing, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Jizhou Lu
- Department of Liver Surgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Gansu ProvinceNo. 763, Duanjiatan, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730020, Gansu, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical UniversityFengtai District, Youanmen West Headline 10, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yongchang Zheng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNo. 1 Shuai-Fu-Yuan, Wang-Fu-Jing, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Huayu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeNo. 1 Shuai-Fu-Yuan, Wang-Fu-Jing, Beijing 100730, China
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Exosomal lncRNA PVT1/VEGFA Axis Promotes Colon Cancer Metastasis and Stemness by Downregulation of Tumor Suppressor miR-152-3p. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9959807. [PMID: 34336125 PMCID: PMC8315867 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9959807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Treating advanced colon cancer remains challenging in clinical settings because of the development of drug resistance and distant metastasis. Mechanisms underlying the metastasis of colon cancer are complex and unclear. Methods Computational analysis was performed to determine genes associated with the exosomal long noncoding (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1)/vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) axis in patients with colon cancer. The biological importance of the exosomal lncRNA PVT1/VEGFA axis was examined in vitro by using HCT116 and LoVo cell lines and in vivo by using a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model through knockdown (by silencing of PVT1) and overexpression (by adding serum exosomes isolated from patients with distant metastasis (M-exo)). Results The in silico analysis demonstrated that PVT1 overexpression was associated with poor prognosis and increased expression of metastatic markers such as VEGFA and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This finding was further validated in a small cohort of patients with colon cancer in whom increased PVT1 expression was correlated with colon cancer incidence, disease recurrence, and distant metastasis. M-exo were enriched with PVT1 and VEGFA, and both migratory and invasive abilities of colon cancer cell lines increased when they were cocultured with M-exo. The metastasis-promoting effect was accompanied by increased expression of Twist1, vimentin, and MMP2. M-exo promoted metastasis in PDX mice. In vitro silencing of PVT1 reduced colon tumorigenic properties including migratory, invasive, colony forming, and tumorsphere generation abilities. Further analysis revealed that PVT1, VEGFA, and EGFR interact with and are regulated by miR-152-3p. Increased miR-152-3p expression reduced tumorigenesis, where increased tumorigenesis was observed when miR-152-3p expression was downregulated. Conclusion Exosomal PVT1 promotes colon cancer metastasis through its association with EGFR and VEGFA expression. miR-152-3p targets both PVT1 and VEGFA, and this regulatory pathway can be explored for drug development and as a prognostic biomarker.
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Nadeem A, Aung KM, Ray T, Alam A, Persson K, Pal A, Uhlin BE, Wai SN. Suppression of β-catenin signaling in colon carcinoma cells by a bacterial protein. Int J Cancer 2021; 149:442-459. [PMID: 33720402 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene is mutated in hereditary colorectal tumors and in more than 80% of sporadic colorectal tumors. APC mutations impair β-catenin degradation, leading to its permanent stabilization and increased transcription of cancer-driving target genes. In colon cancer, impairment of β-catenin degradation leads to its cytoplasmic accumulation, nuclear translocation, and subsequent activation of tumor cell proliferation. Suppressing β-catenin signaling in cancer cells therefore appears to be a promising strategy for new anticancer strategies. Recently, we discovered a novel Vibrio cholerae cytotoxin, motility-associated killing factor A (MakA), that affects both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. It promotes bacterial survival and proliferation in invertebrate predators but has unknown biological role(s) in mammalian hosts. Here, we report that MakA can cause lethality of tumor cells via induction of apoptosis. Interestingly, MakA exhibited potent cytotoxic activity, in particular against several tested cancer cell lines, while appearing less toxic toward nontransformed cells. MakA bound to the tumor cell surface became internalized into the endolysosomal compartment and induced leakage of endolysosomal membranes, causing cytosolic release of cathepsins and activation of proapoptotic proteins. In addition, MakA altered β-catenin integrity in colon cancer cells, partly through a caspase- and proteasome-dependent mechanism. Importantly, MakA inhibited β-catenin-mediated tumor cell proliferation. Remarkably, intratumor injection of MakA significantly reduced tumor development in a colon cancer murine solid tumor model. These data identify MakA as a novel candidate to be considered in new strategies for development of therapeutic agents against colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aftab Nadeem
- Department of Molecular Biology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kyaw Min Aung
- Department of Molecular Biology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Tanusree Ray
- Division of Pathophysiology, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Athar Alam
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Karina Persson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Amit Pal
- Division of Pathophysiology, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Bernt Eric Uhlin
- Department of Molecular Biology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sun Nyunt Wai
- Department of Molecular Biology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine, Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Grigoletto A, Martinez G, Gabbia D, Tedeschini T, Scaffidi M, Martin SD, Pasut G. Folic Acid-Targeted Paclitaxel-Polymer Conjugates Exert Selective Cytotoxicity and Modulate Invasiveness of Colon Cancer Cells. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:929. [PMID: 34201494 PMCID: PMC8309175 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13070929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although selective tumor delivery of anticancer drugs has been sought by exploiting either passive targeting or by ligand-mediated targeting, a selective anticancer therapy remains an unmet medical need. Despite the advances which have been achieved by nanomedicines, nanosystems such as polymer-drug conjugates still miss the goal of clinical efficacy. In this study, we demonstrated that polymer-drug conjugates require a thoroughly chemical design and the right targeting agent/polymer ratio to be selective and effective towards cancer cells. In particular, two PEG conjugates carrying paclitaxel and targeted with different folic acid (FA)/PEG ratios (one or three) were investigated. The cytotoxicity study in positive (HT-29) and negative (HCT-15) FA receptor (FR)-cell lines demonstrated that the conjugates with one or three FAs were 4- or 28-fold more active in HT-29 cells, respectively. The higher activity of the 3-FA conjugate was confirmed by its strong impact on cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, FA targeting had a clear effect on migration and invasiveness of HT-29 cells, which were significantly reduced by both conjugates. Interestingly, the 3-FA conjugate showed also an improved pharmacokinetic profile in mice. The results of this study indicate that thorough investigations are needed to optimize and tune drug delivery and achieve the desired selectivity and activity towards cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sara De Martin
- Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences Department, University of Padua, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (G.M.); (D.G.); (T.T.); (M.S.)
| | - Gianfranco Pasut
- Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences Department, University of Padua, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (G.M.); (D.G.); (T.T.); (M.S.)
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Shaaban M, El-Hagrassi AM, Osman AF, Soltan MM. Bioactive compounds from Matricaria chamomilla: structure identification, in vitro antiproliferative, antimigratory, antiangiogenic, and antiadenoviral activities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 77:85-94. [PMID: 34463438 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2021-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
During our exploring the anticancer activity of some medicinal plants and their major metabolites, the aerial parts of the Egyptian Matricaria chamomilla (flowers and stems) were studied. GC-MS analysis of the organic soluble extracts of the flowers and stems fractions revealed the presence of 43 and 45 compounds, respectively. Individual chromatographic purification of the flowers and stems' extracts afforded three major compounds. Structures of these compounds were identified by 1D- and 2D-NMR and HRESI-MS spectroscopic data as bisabolol oxide A (1) and (E)-tonghaosu (2) (as mixture of ratio 2:1) from the flowers extract, meanwhile apigenin-7-β-d-glucoside (3) from the stems fraction. Biologically, the chamomile extracts announced significant antiproliferative activities exceeded in potency by ∼1.5 fold in case of the stem, recording GI50 13.16 and 17.04 μg/mL against Caco-2 and MCF-7, respectively. Both fractions were approximately equipotent against the migration of the same cell type down to 10 μg/mL together, compounds 1, 2 but not 3, showed considerable growth inhibition of the same cells at GI50 13.36 and 11.83 μg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, they were able to suppress Caco-2 colon cancer cells migration at 5.8 μg/mL and potently inactivate the VEGFR2 angiogenic enzyme (1.5-fold relative to sorafenib. The obtained compounds and corresponding chamomile extracts were evaluated against Adeno-7 virus, revealing that both chamomiles' extracts (flowers and stems) and their corresponding obtained compounds (1-3) were potent in their depletion to the Adeno 7 infectivity titer, however, the flower extract and compounds 1-2 were more effective than those of the stem extract and its end-product (3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Shaaban
- Chemistry of Natural Compounds Department, Division of Pharmaceutical Industries, National Research Centre, El-Behoos St. 33, Dokki-Cairo12622, Egypt
| | - Ali M El-Hagrassi
- Department of Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics, Division of Pharmaceutical Industries, National Research Centre, El-Behoos St. 33, Dokki-Cairo12622, Egypt
| | - Abeer F Osman
- Chemistry of Natural Compounds Department, Division of Pharmaceutical Industries, National Research Centre, El-Behoos St. 33, Dokki-Cairo12622, Egypt
| | - Maha M Soltan
- Biology Unit, Central Laboratory for Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, Chemistry of Medicinal Plants Department, National Research Centre, Dokki-Cairo, Egypt
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Du R, Zhao J, Wen Y, Zhu Y, Jiang L. Deferoxamine enhances the migration of dental pulp cells via hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:4780-4787. [PMID: 34150058 PMCID: PMC8205705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies, we found that deferoxamine (DFO) improved the migration of dental pulp cells (DPCs). The present study aimed to determine whether the effects of DFO on the migration of DPCs were regulated via hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the human HIF-1α gene (pAd-GFP-shRNA-HIF-1α) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were constructed. The expression of HIF-1α was inhibited by pAd-GFP-shRNA-HIF-1α at messenger RNA and protein levels. The secretion of stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in DPCs treated with 10 μM DFO was higher than that in the control condition. The migration of DPCs was enhanced by 10 μM DFO. However, the effects of DFO on DPCs were partially reversed by silencing the HIF-1α gene in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or migration assay. Cumulatively, we conclude that DFO upregulated the secretion of SDF-1α or VEGF in DPCs and improved the migration of DPCs through HIF-1α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Du
- Department of General Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, China
| | - Junjun Zhao
- Department of General Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Wen
- Department of General Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, China
| | - Yaqin Zhu
- Department of General Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, China
| | - Long Jiang
- Department of General Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, China
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Herrero A, Benedicto A, Romayor I, Olaso E, Arteta B. Inhibition of COX-2 Impairs Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis through Reduced Stromal Cell Reaction. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2021; 29:342-351. [PMID: 33455946 PMCID: PMC8094073 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2020.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver colonization is initiated through the interplay between tumor cells and adhesion molecules present in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). This crosstalk stimulates tumor COX-2 upregulation and PGE2 secretion. To elucidate the role of the LSEC intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the prometastatic response exerted by tumor and stromal COX-2, we utilized celecoxib (CLX) as a COX-2 inhibitory agent. We analyzed the in vitro proliferative and secretory responses of murine C26 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), cultured alone or with LSECs, and their effect on LSEC and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) migration and in vivo liver metastasis. CLX reduced sICAM-1-stimulated COX-2 activation and PGE2 secretion in C26 cells cultured alone or cocultured with LSECs. Moreover, CLX abrogated sICAM-1-induced C26 cell proliferation and C26 secretion of promigratory factors for LSECs and HSCs. Interestingly, CLX reduced the protumoral response of HSC, reducing their migratory potential when stimulated with C26 secretomes and impairing their secretion of chemotactic factors for LSECs and C26 cells and proliferative factors for C26 cells. In vivo, CLX abrogated the prometastatic ability of sICAM-1-activated C26 cells while reducing liver metastasis. COX-2 inhibition blocked the creation of a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) by hindering the intratumoral recruitment of activated HSCs and macrophages in addition to the accumulation of fibrillar collagen. These results point to COX-2 being a key modulator of processes initiated by host ICAM-1 during tumor cell/LSEC/HSC crosstalk, leading to the creation of a prometastatic TME in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Herrero
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Aitor Benedicto
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Irene Romayor
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Elvira Olaso
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Arteta
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
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Induction of Apoptosis, Inhibition of MCL-1, and VEGF-A Expression Are Associated with the Anti-Cancer Efficacy of Magnolol Combined with Regorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092066. [PMID: 33922992 PMCID: PMC8123296 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
While regorafenib was approved for the treatment of advanced HCC in 2017, with a partial response and survival benefit; other combination agents to facilitate the efficacy of regorafenib still need to be explored. Magnolol is a potential natural anti-tumor compound for many types of cancers. Combination indexes calculated on the basis of both in vitro and in vivo models have indicated a synergistic effect of the combination of regorafenib and magnolol. The overexpression of the VEGF-A protein significantly diminished regorafenib's inhibition of cell viability, while the transient knockdown of VEGF-A by siRNA effectively sensitized HCC cells to regorafenib. In addition, the inhibition of MCL-1 by siRNA combined with regorafenib allowed for a significantly greater inhibition of cell growth, compared to regorafenib alone. A lower protein expression level for VEGF-A and MCL-1 was found for the combination treatment of HCC in vitro and in vivo. A superior metastasis inhibition was also found in the combination group, as compared to the single-treatment groups, using a transwell assay, wound healing assay, and Western blotting. The caspase-dependent and -independent and DNA damage effects, as determined by flow cytometry and a comet assay, were increased by the combination therapy. Taken together, magnolol sensitized HCC to regorafenib, which was correlated with the reduction of VEGF-A and MCL-1 and the induction of apoptosis.
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Chen D, Wang Y, Liu M, Cheng J, Liu Z, Song Y, Du J. Visfatin promotes angiogenesis of RF/6A cells through upregulation of VEGF/VEGFR-2 under high-glucose conditions. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:389. [PMID: 33680111 PMCID: PMC7918108 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Visfatin is a type of adipocytokine that is highly expressed in the serum and vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of visfatin on angiogenesis in RF/6A monkey chorioretinal retinal endothelial cells under high glucose (HG) conditions in vitro. RF/6A cells were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, under high glucose (HG) group (25 mM D-glucose), visfatin group 1 (10 nM visfatin + 25 mM D-glucose), visfatin group 2 (20 nM visfatin + 25 mM D-glucose) and visfatin group 3 (30 nM visfatin + 25 mM D-glucose). After 24 and 48 h, a Cell Counting Kit-8, wound-healing assay and Matrigel tube formation assay were used to detect cell proliferation, migration and cell tube formation, respectively. Subsequently, the expression levels of VEGF and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) in cells of visfatin group 3 were observed by western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analyses. At 24 and 48 h, the cell proliferation and migration distance in the HG group were reduced compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with those in the HG group, the cell proliferation and migration distance in all visfatin groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), with the highest significance in visfatin group 3. Visfatin significantly promoted tube-like structure formation by RF/6A cells, particularly at the concentration of 30 nM. The protein and mRNA expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR-2 were significantly increased in the HG group as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, compared with those in the HG group, VEGF and VEGFR-2 protein and mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in visfatin group 3 (P<0.05). Overall, visfatin promoted the proliferation, migration and tube formation of RF/6A cells under HG conditions, suggesting that visfatin has a potent effect on retinal neovascularization and its mechanism may be associated with the promotion of VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression under HG conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjun Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing 100095, P.R. China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China
| | - Mengyi Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Nantaihu Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, P.R. China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing 100095, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Department of Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing 100095, P.R. China
| | - Junhui Du
- Department of Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China
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Fujino S, Miyoshi N, Ito A, Yasui M, Ohue M, Ogino T, Takahashi H, Uemura M, Matsuda C, Mizushima T, Doki Y, Eguchi H. Crenolanib Regulates ERK and AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathways in RAS/BRAF-Mutated Colorectal Cancer Cells and Organoids. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:812-822. [PMID: 33579816 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Recently developed molecularly targeted therapies such as EGFR inhibitors have notably improved the prognosis of patients with cancer. However, patients with KRAS and BRAF mutations do not currently benefit from these therapies. Here, we aimed to examine potential effects of crenolanib as a new molecularly targeted therapy in colorectal cancer. We used multiple colorectal cancer cell lines to investigate the growth-inhibitory effect of crenolanib and its effect in combination with other cytotoxic agents. Primary cultures of patient-derived organoids (PDO), a model that reflects the heterogeneity of clinical colorectal cancer, were used to further validate the effects of crenolanib. Unlike cetuximab, crenolanib remarkably suppressed ERK and AKT/mTOR pathways in HT29 cells with BRAF mutation and in HCT116 cells with KRAS mutation with corresponding growth-suppressing effects. Additive or synergistic effects were observed in treatments with combination of crenolanib and other cytotoxic drugs. Moreover, crenolanib suppressed the expression of stem cell markers, such as OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2. These observations were substantiated in seven PDOs with KRAS mutation and two PDOs without KRAS/BRAF mutations, with crenolanib suppressing the growth of all PDOs regardless of their KRAS mutation status. Furthermore, crenolanib abrogated PDGF- and TGFβ-induced increase of OCT4-positive cells in PDOs. Together, these findings suggest that crenolanib may have clinical utility for patients with colorectal cancer, especially patients with KRAS/BRAF mutations. IMPLICATIONS: These findings indicate that crenolanib can be a useful target agent for patients with colorectal cancer, especially patients with KRAS/BRAF mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiki Fujino
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan.,Innovative Oncology Research and Translational Medicine, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Norikatsu Miyoshi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan. .,Innovative Oncology Research and Translational Medicine, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Aya Ito
- Innovative Oncology Research and Translational Medicine, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Yasui
- Department of Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayuki Ohue
- Department of Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ogino
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mamoru Uemura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chu Matsuda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsunekazu Mizushima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-City, Osaka, Japan
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Wiszniak S, Schwarz Q. Exploring the Intracrine Functions of VEGF-A. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010128. [PMID: 33478167 PMCID: PMC7835749 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A or VEGF) is a highly conserved secreted signalling protein best known for its roles in vascular development and angiogenesis. Many non-endothelial roles for VEGF are now established, with the discovery that VEGF and its receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 are expressed in many non-vascular cell-types, as well as various cancers. In addition to secreted VEGF binding to its receptors in the extracellular space at the cell membrane (i.e., in a paracrine or autocrine mode), intracellularly localised VEGF is emerging as an important signalling molecule regulating cell growth, survival, and metabolism. This intracellular mode of signalling has been termed “intracrine”, and refers to the direct action of a signalling molecule within the cell without being secreted. In this review, we describe examples of intracrine VEGF signalling in regulating cell growth, differentiation and survival, both in normal cell homeostasis and development, as well as in cancer. We further discuss emerging evidence for the molecular mechanisms underpinning VEGF intracrine function, as well as the implications this intracellular mode of VEGF signalling may have for use and design of anti-VEGF cancer therapeutics.
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Cheng L, Han T, Zhang Z, Yi P, Zhang C, Zhang S, Peng W. Identification and Validation of Six Autophagy-related Long Non-coding RNAs as Prognostic Signature in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:88-98. [PMID: 33390777 PMCID: PMC7738973 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.49449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a commonly occurring tumour with poor prognosis. Autophagy-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have received much attention as biomarkers for cancer prognosis and diagnosis. However, few studies have focused on their prognostic predictive value specifically in CRC. This research aimed to construct a robust autophagy-related lncRNA prognostic signature for CRC. Autophagy-related lncRNAs from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were screened using univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and the resulting key lncRNAs were used to establish a prognostic risk score model. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to detect the expression of several lncRNAs in cancer tissues from CRC patients and in normal tissues adjacent to the cancer tissues. A prognostic signature comprising lncRNAs AC125603.2, LINC00909, AC016876.1, MIR210HG, AC009237.14, and LINC01063 was identified in patients with CRC. A graphical nomogram based on the autophagy-related lncRNA signature was developed to predict CRC patients' 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. Overall survival in patients with low risk scores was significantly better than in those with high risk scores (P < 0.0001); a similar result was obtained in an internal validation sample. The nomogram was shown to be suitable for clinical use and gave correct predictions. The 1- and 3-year values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.797 and 0.771 in the model sample, and 0.656 and 0.642 in the internal validation sample, respectively. The C-index values for the verification samples and training samples were 0.756 (95% CI = 0.668-0.762) and 0.715 (95% CI = 0.683-0.829), respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that the six autophagy-related lncRNAs were greatly enriched in CRC-related signalling pathways, including p53 and VEGF signalling. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of lncRNAs in CRC was higher than that in adjacent tissues, consistent with the expression trends of lncRNAs in the CRC data set. In summary, we established a signature of six autophagy-related lncRNAs that could effectively guide clinical prediction of prognosis in patients with CRC. This lncRNA signature has significant clinical implications for improving the prediction of outcomes and, with further prospective validation, could be used to guide tailored therapy for CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R.China
| | - Tong Han
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan410011, P.R. China
| | - Zheyu Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R.China
| | - Pengji Yi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R.China
| | - Chunhu Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R.China
| | - Sifang Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R.China
| | - Weijun Peng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R.China
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Yaghoubi N, Zahedi Avval F, Khazaei M, Aghaee-Bakhtiari SH. MicroRNAs as potential investigative and predictive biomarkers in colorectal cancer. Cell Signal 2020; 80:109910. [PMID: 33387618 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a noticeable reason of cancer-associated deaths with a high incidence and mortality rate. Countless effort have been put into the improving clinical management of CRC patients including more effective tools and a wide variety of biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic or predictive purposes. In recent years, dysregulated miRNAs have been emerged as highly sensitive and specific markers to manage CRC in an effective way. They can play key roles in carcinogenesis as potential oncogenes, tumor suppressors or regulators of cancer network. Therefore, miRNAs may serve as molecular tools that can be quantified and used in diagnostic and prognostic approaches. Growing evidence also suggests that forced expression of tumor suppressor miRNAs or inhibiting the oncogene ones, can be used as a novel treatment strategy. In this review, we focus on the clinical applications of miRNAs as promising biomarkers of early cancer detection, prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Yaghoubi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farnaz Zahedi Avval
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Hamid Aghaee-Bakhtiari
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Zhu Z, Hou Q, Guo H. NT5DC2 knockdown inhibits colorectal carcinoma progression by repressing metastasis, angiogenesis and tumor-associated macrophage recruitment: A mechanism involving VEGF signaling. Exp Cell Res 2020; 397:112311. [PMID: 32991874 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed tumors among human worldwide. Angiogenesis and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment are closely associated with CRC development. Nevertheless, the mechanisms revealing CRC progression are still not fully understood. 5'-Nucleotidase domain containing 2 (NT5DC2), a member of the NT5DC family, modulates various cellular events to mediate tumor growth, and thus serves as a disgnostic biomarker. Here, we explored the potential of NT5DC2 on tumor progression in CRC. We first found that NT5DC2 expression was significantly up-regulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. CRC patients with higher NT5DC2 expression showed poor overall survival. Furthermore, CRC cell lines stably transfected with shNT5DC2 lentivirus plasmids exhibited markedly reduced cell proliferation, migration and invasion compared with the negative control group. Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) expression levels were remarkably reduced in CRC cells with NT5DC2 deletion, along with evidently reduced tube formation in the HUVECs cultured in the collected conditional medium. The expression levels of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and its receptor CCR2 were found to be greatly down-regulated in CRC cells transfected with shNT5DC2. Moreover, NT5DC2 knockdown markedly suppressed the activation of protein kinase-B/nuclear transcription factor κB (AKT/NF-κB) signaling in CRC cells. Furthermore, we found that NT5DC2 deletion obviously reduced the TAM recruitments through suppressing CCL2/CCR2 and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways. Intriguingly, our in vitro experiments demonstrated that VEGF reduction was necessary for shNT5DC2-inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and TAM recruitment. In vivo studies also confirmed that NT5DC2 knockdown effectively reduced the tumor growth and VEGF expression in a xonegraft mouse model with CRC. Lung metastasis of CRC cells was also hindered by NT5DC2 deletion in vivo. Collectively, our results indicated a previously unrecognized NT5DC2/VEGF/CCL2 axis involved in CRC development and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Zhu
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Qingsheng Hou
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Hongliang Guo
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China.
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Geng W, Ren J, Shi H, Qin F, Xu X, Xiao S, Jiao Y, Wang A. RPL41 sensitizes retinoblastoma cells to chemotherapeutic drugs via ATF4 degradation. J Cell Physiol 2020; 236:2214-2225. [PMID: 32783256 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer with metastatic potential affecting infants and children. Although chemotherapy is available for retinoblastoma, side effects and drug resistance are frequent. Rpl41, encoding ribosomal protein L41 (RPL41), has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene, and its targeted degradation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) produces an antitumor effect. The goal of the present study is to provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of a small peptide regimen in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of retinoblastoma and to investigate the mechanism of their combined cytotoxicity. It was observed that treatment with the RPL41 peptide alone decreased the viability, migration, and invasion of retinoblastoma Y79 and Weri-Rb1 cells, in addition to promoting cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, RPL41 protein levels showed a significantly decreased trend in retinoblastoma specimens, whereas ATF4 protein levels tended to be increased. Mechanistically, ATF4 degradation as a result of RPL41 peptide treatment was observed in retinoblastoma Y79 and Weri-Rb1 cells. Most important, low-dose administration of the RPL41 peptide significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of carboplatin, and further analysis confirmed their synergistic effect as anti-retinoblastoma therapy, indicating that RPL41 sensitized Y79 and Weri-Rb1 retinoblastoma cells to carboplatin. Thus, our data provide a preclinical rationale for the exploration of the RPL41 peptide as a potential adjuvant to carboplatin treatment in retinoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Geng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiaxu Ren
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Huimin Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Feng Qin
- Department of Ophthamology, Shenyang Aier Eye Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaohe Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Sheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yisheng Jiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Aiyuan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shengyang, Liaoning, China
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Wu H, Wei M, Jiang X, Tan J, Xu W, Fan X, Zhang R, Ding C, Zhao F, Shao X, Zhang Z, Shi R, Zhang W, Wu G. lncRNA PVT1 Promotes Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer by Stabilizing miR-16-5p and Interacting with the VEGFA/VEGFR1/AKT Axis. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 20:438-450. [PMID: 32276209 PMCID: PMC7139143 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) was reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of several cancers, including human colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the molecular basis for cancer initiation, development, and progression remains unclear. In this study, we observe that upregulated PVT1 is associated with poor prognosis and bad clinicopathological features of CRC patients. In vitro means of PVT1 loss in a CRC cell line inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays indicated that PVT1 binds to miR-16-5p, which has been shown to play strong tumor suppressive roles in CRC. Targeted loss of miR-16-5p partially rescues the suppressive effect induced by PVT1 knockdown. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), a direct downstream target of miR-16-5p, was suppressed by PVT1 knockdown in CRC cells. Overexpression of VEGFA is known to modulate the AKT signaling cascade by activating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1). We, therefore, show that PVT1 loss combined with miR-16-5p overexpression reduces tumor volume maximally when propagated within a mouse xenograft model. We conclude that the PVT1-miR-16-5p/VEGFA/VEGFR1/AKT axis directly coordinates the response in CRC pathogenesis and suggest PVT1 as a novel target for potential CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailu Wu
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China; Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinglu Jiang
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiacheng Tan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xu
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Fan
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenbo Ding
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengfeng Zhao
- Center of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyu Shao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhigang Zhang
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruihua Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijia Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Guoqiu Wu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China.
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Instability of Non-Standard Microsatellites in Relation to Prognosis in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103532. [PMID: 32429465 PMCID: PMC7279028 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Very few data are reported in the literature on the association between elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST) and prognosis in advanced colorectal cancer. Moreover, there is no information available in relation to the response to antiangiogenic treatment. We analyzed EMAST and vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B) microsatellite status, together with standard microsatellite instability (MSI), in relation to prognosis in 141 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with chemotherapy (CT) alone (n = 51) or chemotherapy with bevacizumab (B) (CT + B; n = 90). High MSI (MSI-H) was detected in 3% of patients and was associated with progression-free survival (PFS; p = 0.005) and overall survival (OS; p < 0.0001). A total of 8% of cases showed EMAST instability, which was associated with worse PFS (p = 0.0006) and OS (p < 0.0001) in patients treated with CT + B. A total of 24.2% of patients showed VEGF-B instability associated with poorer outcome in (p = 0.005) in the CT arm. In conclusion, our analysis indicated that EMAST instability is associated with worse prognosis, particularly evident in patients receiving CT + B.
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Lamichhane P, Maiolini M, Alnafoosi O, Hussein S, Alnafoosi H, Umbela S, Richardson T, Alla N, Lamichhane N, Subhadra B, Deshmukh RR. Colorectal Cancer and Probiotics: Are Bugs Really Drugs? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051162. [PMID: 32380712 PMCID: PMC7281248 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. There are many factors that predispose a patient to the disease such as age, family history, ethnicity, and lifestyle. There are different genetic factors and diseases that also increase a person’s risk for developing CRC. Studies have found associations between gut microbiome and the risk for developing versus protection against CRC. Normal gut microbiome aid in daily functions of the human body such as absorption, metabolism, detoxification, and regulation of inflammation. While some species of bacteria prevent CRC development and aid in therapeutic responses to various treatment regiments, other species seem to promote CRC pathogenesis. In this regard, many studies have been conducted to not only understand the biology behind these opposing different bacterial species; but also to determine if supplementation of these tumor opposing bacterial species as probiotics lends toward decreased risk of CRC development and improved therapeutic responses in patients with CRC. In this literature review, we aim to discuss the basics on colorectal cancer (epidemiology, risk factors, targets, treatments), discuss associations between different bacterial strains and CRC, and discuss probiotics and their roles in CRC prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morgan Maiolini
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
| | - Omar Alnafoosi
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
| | - Sedra Hussein
- Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA;
| | - Hasan Alnafoosi
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
| | - Stewart Umbela
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
| | - Tayanna Richardson
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
| | - Nevien Alla
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
| | - Narottam Lamichhane
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Bobban Subhadra
- BIOM Pharmaceuticals, 2203 Industrial Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234, USA;
| | - Rahul R. Deshmukh
- LECOM School of Pharmacy, 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (M.M.); (O.A.); (H.A.); (S.U.); (T.R.); (N.A.)
- Correspondence:
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Ceci C, Atzori MG, Lacal PM, Graziani G. Role of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 Signaling and its Inhibition in Modulating Tumor Invasion: Experimental Evidence in Different Metastatic Cancer Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1388. [PMID: 32085654 PMCID: PMC7073125 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members, VEGF-A, placenta growth factor (PlGF), and to a lesser extent VEGF-B, play an essential role in tumor-associated angiogenesis, tissue infiltration, and metastasis formation. Although VEGF-A can activate both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 membrane receptors, PlGF and VEGF-B exclusively interact with VEGFR-1. Differently from VEGFR-2, which is involved both in physiological and pathological angiogenesis, in the adult VEGFR-1 is required only for pathological angiogenesis. Besides this role in tumor endothelium, ligand-mediated stimulation of VEGFR-1 expressed in tumor cells may directly induce cell chemotaxis and extracellular matrix invasion. Furthermore, VEGFR-1 activation in myeloid progenitors and tumor-associated macrophages favors cancer immune escape through the release of immunosuppressive cytokines. These properties have prompted a number of preclinical and clinical studies to analyze VEGFR-1 involvement in the metastatic process. The aim of the present review is to highlight the contribution of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 signaling in the progression of different tumor types and to provide an overview of the therapeutic approaches targeting VEGFR-1 currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Atzori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, “Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico”, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
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Ding A, Bian YY, Zhang ZH. SP1/TGF‑β1/SMAD2 pathway is involved in angiogenesis during osteogenesis. Mol Med Rep 2020; 21:1581-1589. [PMID: 32016481 PMCID: PMC7003058 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.10965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between osteoblasts and angiogenesis is vital for bone regeneration, especially mandibular and maxillary bones. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are closely related to angiogenesis; however, the regulatory mechanism between them remains unknown. The present study aimed to reveal this mechanism to provide novel insight for development of potential therapeutic opportunities. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to assess the protein and mRNA expression levels in MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells and HUVECs, ELISAs were used to detect the expression levels of secreted VEGF, MTT assays were used to assess the viability of the cells, migratory ability was assessed using Transwell assays, angiogenesis assays were used to analyze the formation of blood vessels, and TGF-β1 regulation was confirmed using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The overexpression of specificity protein 1 (SP1) or TGF-β1 increased VEGF expression levels and secretion, and promoted angiogenesis of co-cultured HUVECs. SP1 also promoted SMAD2 phosphorylation. These effects of SP1 were all reversed by the TGF-β1 inhibitor. The VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab also reduced the SP1/TGF-β1/SMAD2 pathway-induced angiogenesis of preosteoblasts. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that SP1 promoted TGF-β1 expression, activated the SMAD2 pathway and induced VEGF secretion, which may enhance angiogenic processes in preosteoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Ding
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Ying Bian
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Hong Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, P.R. China
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Xu WF, Liu F, Ma YC, Qian ZR, Shi L, Mu H, Ding F, Fu XQ, Li XH. Baicalin Regulates Proliferation, Apoptosis, Migration, and Invasion in Mesothelioma. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25:8172-8180. [PMID: 31670317 PMCID: PMC6844144 DOI: 10.12659/msm.919872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Baicalin, one of the main bioactive components extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine baical Skullcap root, has an anti-tumor activity which had been studied in several cancers. However, its role in human mesothelioma remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor mechanisms of baicalin in the mesothelioma cell line MESO924. Material/Methods Effects of baicalin on mesothelioma were assessed by measuring cell viability, apoptosis, migration, invasion, inactivation of signaling intermediates, and cell-cycle alterations. Results Baicalin inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human mesothelioma cells and increased their apoptosis, all in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, baicalin decreased the expression of p-EGFR, p-AKT, p-MAPK, p-S6, Bcl-2, and VEGF and increased the expression of Bax in mesothelioma cells. The suppressed mesothelioma cellular proliferation is due to the arrest of the S cell cycle by baicalin. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by a PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitor augmented the anti-proliferation effects induced by baicalin. In addition, baicalin increased the sensitivity of MESO924 to the chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin, cisplatin, and pemetrexed. Conclusions These results highlight the roles of baicalin in inhibiting cell growth, migration, and invasion of mesothelioma cells while increasing apoptosis and sensitizing cells to chemotherapeutic agents through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which indicates that baicalin could be a useful drug for mesothelioma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Fei Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China (mainland).,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Feng Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Yi-Cong Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Zhi-Rong Qian
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Long Shi
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Hang Mu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Feng Ding
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Xue-Qi Fu
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China (mainland)
| | - Xu-Hui Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
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Two Opposing Faces of Retinoic Acid: Induction of Stemness or Induction of Differentiation Depending on Cell-Type. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9100567. [PMID: 31590252 PMCID: PMC6843238 DOI: 10.3390/biom9100567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have the capacity of self-renewal and, through proliferation and differentiation, are responsible for the embryonic development, postnatal development, and the regeneration of tissues in the adult organism. Cancer stem cells, analogous to the physiological stem cells, have the capacity of self-renewal and may account for growth and recurrence of tumors. Development and regeneration of healthy tissues and tumors depend on the balance of different genomic and nongenomic signaling pathways that regulate stem cell quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation. During evolution, this balance became dependent on all-trans retinoic acid (RA), a molecule derived from the environmental factor vitamin A. Here we summarize some recent findings on the prominent role of RA on the proliferation of stem and progenitor cells, in addition to its well-known function as an inductor of cell differentiation. A better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of stemness and cell differentiation by RA may improve the therapeutic options of this molecule in regenerative medicine and cancer.
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