Induction of IL-25 secretion from tumour-associated fibroblasts suppresses mammary tumour metastasis

Preparation of Dearomatized p-Coumaric Acid Derivatives as DNA Damage Response Inhibitors with Potent In Vitro Antitumor Effect

Our research group previously identified graviquinone (1) as a promising antitumor metabolite that is formed in situ when the antioxidant methyl caffeate scavenges free radicals. Furthermore, it exerted a DNA damaging effect on cancer cells and a DNA protective effect on normal keratinocytes. To expand and explore chemical space around qraviquinone, in the current work we synthesized 9 new alkyl-substituted derivatives and tested their in vitro antitumor potential. All new compounds bypassed ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance and showed highly different cell line specificity compared with 1. All compounds were more potent in MDA-MB-231 than on MCF-7 cells. The n-butyl-substituted derivatives 2 and 8 modulated the cell cycle and inhibited the ATR-mediated phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase-1 in MCF-7 cells. As a significant expansion of our previous findings, our results highlight the potential antitumor value of alkyl-substituted graviquinone derivatives.

Cancer associated fibroblasts and metabolic reprogramming: unraveling the intricate crosstalk in tumor evolution

Metabolic reprogramming provides tumors with an energy source and biofuel to support their survival in the malignant microenvironment. Extensive research into the intrinsic oncogenic mechanisms of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has established that cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) and metabolic reprogramming regulates tumor progression through numerous biological activities, including tumor immunosuppression, chronic inflammation, and ecological niche remodeling. Specifically, immunosuppressive TME formation is promoted and mediators released via CAFs and multiple immune cells that collectively support chronic inflammation, thereby inducing pre-metastatic ecological niche formation, and ultimately driving a vicious cycle of tumor proliferation and metastasis. This review comprehensively explores the process of CAFs and metabolic regulation of the dynamic evolution of tumor-adapted TME, with particular focus on the mechanisms by which CAFs promote the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment and support metastasis. Existing findings confirm that multiple components of the TME act cooperatively to accelerate the progression of tumor events. The potential applications and challenges of targeted therapies based on CAFs in the clinical setting are further discussed in the context of advancing research related to CAFs.

IL25+ macrophages are a key determinant of treatment resistance of IL17RB+ breast cancer

Recurrence and metastasis are resistant to multimodal treatments, and are the major causes of death in breast cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the IL17RB signaling pathway plays a key role in progression and metastasis of breast cancer. Clinical significance of the IL17RB positivity in tumor tissues has been also reported as a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the poor prognosis of patients with IL17RB+ breast cancer, particularly the immunological aspects, remain to be fully elucidated, and elimination of the IL17RB+ tumors has not been practically achieved in clinical settings. In this study, we identified a distinct molecular mechanism underlying the intractability of the IL17RB+ tumors through tumor biological and immunological investigation using mouse and human breast cancer cells transduced with il17rb gene. IL17RB overexpression in tumor cells confers cancer stemness, including high invasive and self-renewal abilities, and high resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors that have been considered as a promising agent for treating breast cancer despite the limited efficacy. In the mice implanted with the IL17RB+ tumors, IL25+ macrophages (Møs) are expanded locally in tumor tissues and systemically in spleen, and promote the IL17RB+ tumor progression directly by intensifying the tumor functions, and indirectly via impairment of anti-tumor effector CTLs and NK cells utilizing the secreted IL25. Blocking IL25 with the specific mAb, however, interferes the adverse events, and successfully elicits significant anti-tumor efficacy in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors providing better survival in murine mammary tumor models. These results suggest that the IL25+ Mø is a key determinant of building the solid treatment resistance of the IL17RB+ breast cancer. Targeting the IL17RB-IL25 axis may be a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes in the treatment of breast cancer patients, particularly with IL17RB+ tumors.

Dual Functions of T Lymphocytes in Breast Carcinoma: From Immune Protection to Orchestrating Tumor Progression and Metastasis

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer type in women and the second leading cause of death. Despite recent advances, the mortality rate of BC is still high, highlighting a need to develop new treatment strategies including the modulation of the immune system and immunotherapies. In this regard, understanding the complex function of the involved immune cells and their crosstalk with tumor cells is of great importance. T-cells are recognized as the most important cells in the tumor microenvironment and are divided into several subtypes including helper, cytotoxic, and regulatory T-cells according to their transcription factors, markers, and functions. This article attempts to provide a comprehensive review of the role of T-cell subsets in the prognosis and treatment of patients with BC, and crosstalk between tumor cells and T-cells. The literature overwhelmingly contains controversial findings mainly due to the plasticity of T-cell subsets within the inflammatory conditions and the use of different panels for their phenotyping. However, investigating the role of T-cells in BC immunity depends on a variety of factors including tumor types or subtypes, the stage of the disease, the localization of the cells in the tumor tissue and the presence of different cells or cytokines.

Synthesis and Biological Studies of Benzo[b]furan Derivatives: A Review from 2011 to 2022

The importance of the benzo[b]furan motif becomes evident in the remarkable results of numerous biological investigations, establishing its potential as a robust therapeutic option. This review presents an overview of the synthesis of and exhaustive biological studies conducted on benzo[b]furan derivatives from 2011 to 2022, accentuating their exceptional promise as anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal agents. Initially, the discussion focuses on chemical synthesis, molecular docking simulations, and both in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, we provide an analysis of the intricate interplay between structure and activity, thereby facilitating comparisons and profoundly emphasizing the applications of the benzo[b]furan motif within the realms of drug discovery and medicinal chemistry.

New insights into the function of Interleukin-25 in disease pathogenesis

Interleukin-25 (IL-25), also known as IL-17E, is a cytokine belonging to the IL-17 family. IL-25 is abundantly expressed by Th2 cells and various kinds of epithelial cells. IL-25 is an alarm signal generated upon cell injury or tissue damage to activate immune cells through the interaction with IL-17RA and IL-17RB receptors. The binding of IL-25 to IL-17RA/IL-17RB complex not only initiates and maintains type 2 immunity but also regulates other immune cells (e.g., macrophages and mast cells) via various signaling pathways. It has been well-documented that IL-25 is critically involved in the development of allergic disorders (e.g., asthma). However, the roles of IL-25 in the pathogenesis of other diseases and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. This review presents current evidence on the roles of IL-25 in cancers, allergic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, we discuss the unanswered key questions underlying IL-25-mediated disease pathology, which will provide new insights into the targeted therapy of this cytokine in clinical treatment.

Pan-Cancer analysis and experimental validation identify the oncogenic nature of ESPL1: Potential therapeutic target in colorectal cancer

Introduction

Extra spindle pole bodies like 1 (ESPL1) are required to continue the cell cycle, and its primary role is to initiate the final segregation of sister chromatids. Although prior research has revealed a link between ESPL1 and the development of cancer, no systematic pan-cancer analysis has been conducted. Combining multi-omics data with bioinformatics, we have thoroughly described the function of ESPL1 in cancer. In addition, we examined the impact of ESPL1 on the proliferation of numerous cancer cell lines. In addition, the connection between ESPL1 and medication sensitivity was verified using organoids obtained from colorectal cancer patients. All these results confirm the oncogene nature of ESPL1.

Methods

Herein, we downloaded raw data from numerous publicly available databases and then applied R software and online tools to explore the association of ESPL1 expression with prognosis, survival, tumor microenvironment, tumor heterogeneity, and mutational profiles. To validate the oncogene nature of ESPL1, we have performed a knockdown of the target gene in various cancer cell lines to verify the effect of ESPL1 on proliferation and migration. In addition, patients’ derived organoids were used to verify drug sensitivity.

Results

The study found that ESPL1 expression was markedly upregulated in tumorous tissues compared to normal tissues, and high expression of ESPL1 was significantly associated with poor prognosis in a range of cancers. Furthermore, the study revealed that tumors with high ESPL1 expression tended to be more heterogeneous based on various tumor heterogeneity indicators. Enrichment analysis showed that ESPL1 is involved in mediating multiple cancer-related pathways. Notably, the study found that interference with ESPL1 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells. Additionally, the higher the expression of ESPL1 in organoids, the greater the sensitivity to PHA-793887, PAC-1, and AZD7762.

Discussion

Taken together, our study provides evidence that ESPL1 may implicate tumorigenesis and disease progression across multiple cancer types, highlighting its potential utility as both a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target.

TSLP, IL-33, and IL-25: Not just for allergy and helminth infection

The release of cytokines from epithelial and stromal cells is critical for the initiation and maintenance of tissue immunity. Three such cytokines, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-33, and IL-25, are important regulators of type 2 immune responses triggered by parasitic worms and allergens. In particular, these cytokines activate group 2 innate lymphoid cells, TH2 cells, and myeloid cells, which drive hallmarks of type 2 immunity. However, emerging data indicate that these tissue-associated cytokines are not only involved in canonical type 2 responses but are also important in the context of viral infections, cancer, and even homeostasis. Here, we provide a brief review of the roles of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-33, and IL-25 in diverse immune contexts, while highlighting their relative contributions in tissue-specific responses. We also emphasize a biologically motivated framework for thinking about the integration of multiple immune signals, including the 3 featured in this review.

Scavengome of an antioxidant

The term "scavengome" refers to the chemical space of all the metabolites that may be formed from an antioxidant upon scavenging reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). This chemical space covers a wide variety of free radical metabolites with drug discovery potential. It is very rich in structures representing an increased chemical complexity as compared to the parent antioxidant: a wide range of unusual heterocyclic structures, new CC bonds, etc. may be formed. Further, in a biological environment, this increased chemical complexity is directly translated from the localized conditions of oxidative stress that determines the amounts and types of ROS/RNS present. Biomimetic oxidative chemistry provides an excellent tool to model chemical reactions between antioxidants and ROS/RNS. In this chapter, we provide an overview on the known metabolites obtained by biomimetic oxidation of a few selected natural antioxidants, i.e., a stilbene (resveratrol), a pair of hydroxycinnamates (caffeic acid and methyl caffeate), and a flavonol (quercetin), and discuss the drug discovery perspectives of the related chemical space.

Nano-delivery of salvianolic acid B induces the quiescence of tumor-associated fibroblasts via interfering with TGF-β1/Smad signaling to facilitate chemo- and immunotherapy in desmoplastic tumor

As the key stromal cells that mediate the desmoplastic reaction, tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) play a critical role in the limited nanoparticle penetration and suppressive immune tumor microenvironment. Herein, we found that salvianolic acid B-loaded PEGylated liposomes (PEG-SAB-Lip) can interfere with the activation of TAFs by inhibiting the secretion of TGF-β1. After inhibiting the activation of TAFs, collagen deposition in tumors was reduced, and the penetration of nanoparticles in tumors was enhanced. The results of RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining showed the high expression of Th1 cytokines and chemokines (CXCL9 and CXCL10) and the recruitment of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T cells, and M1 macrophages in the tumor area. At the same time, the low expression of Th2 cytokine and chemokine CXCL13, as well as the decrease of MDSCs, Tregs, and M2 macrophages were also observed in the tumor area. These results were related to the inactivation of TAFs. The combined treatment of PEG-SAB-Lip and docetaxel-loaded PEG-modified liposomes (PEG-DTX-Lip) can significantly inhibit tumor growth. Moreover, PEG-SAB-Lip further inhibited tumor metastasis to the lung. Therefore, our results showed that PEG-SAB-Lip can remodel the tumor microenvironment and improve the efficacy of nanoparticles.

Cellular and Molecular Signaling as Targets for Cancer Vaccine Therapeutics

Plenty of evidence has recently shown that various inflammatory activities at the local tissue, organ, or even the whole body (systemic) level are strongly linked to many life-threatening chronic diseases, most notably various cancers. However, only very limited information is available for making good use of our supporting immune-modulatory therapeutics for the treatment of cancers. This may result from a lack of studies on specific remedies for efficacious control or modulatory suppression of inflammation-related cancerous diseases. Our group and laboratories were fortunate to have initiated and consistently pursued an integrated team-work program project, aimed at investigating selected medicinal herbs and the derived, purified phytochemical compounds. We focused on the study of key and specific immune-signaling mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. We were fortunate to obtain a series of fruitful research results. We believe that our key findings reported herein may be helpful for proposing future thematic and integrated research projects that aim to develop future phytochemical drugs against cancers. The mechanisms of the cellular and molecular systems involved in inflammation are becoming increasingly recognized as keystones for the development of future therapeutic approaches for many chronic and cancerous diseases. Recently, the immune checkpoint inhibitors such as antibodies against PD-1 and/or PD-L1 have been shown to be too expensive for general clinical use, and their effects far from optimal, often showing little or no effect or only short-term efficacy. These results point to the need for developing future immune-regulatory or modulatory therapeutics.

A co-delivery nanoplatform for a lignan-derived compound and perfluorocarbon tuning IL-25 secretion and the oxygen level in tumor microenvironments for meliorative tumor radiotherapy

A hypoxic environment in tumors hampers the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy. Moreover, radiotherapy, a localized treatment technique, can barely control tumor metastases. Herein, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) was used to encapsulate perfluorocarbon (PFC) for increasing the oxygen level and a lignan-derived compound (Q1) for enhancing IL-25 secretion from fibroblasts, thereby boosting the radiotherapeutic effect on local and distant tumors. The prepared co-delivery nanoplatform, PFC-Q1@PLGA, has a nano-scale size of around 160 nm and a negative zeta potential (about -13 mV). PFC-Q1@PLGA treatment leads to an arrest of the G2 phase (4n) in the cell cycle and reduces the mitochondria membrane potential. A high expression level of IL-25 in fibroblasts is detected after the cells are treated with PFC-Q1@PLGA, which increases the late apoptosis percentage of 4T1 cells after treatment with IL-25-containing conditional medium from fibroblasts. The oxygen level in tumors is significantly promoted to about 52.3% after injection of oxygen-saturated PFC-Q1@PLGA (O₂), which is confirmed from the functional magnetic resonance images of the tumor site in mice. The in vivo study demonstrates that the injection of PFC-Q1@PLGA (O₂) into local tumors significantly enhances the radiotherapeutic effect on local tumors and also inhibits the growth of remote tumors by an enhanced abscopal effect. This study presents a novel radiotherapy strategy to enable synergistic whole-body therapeutic responses after localized treatment with PFC-Q1@PLGA (O₂).

Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts and targeted therapy for cancer

To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and progression because of their versatile roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, maintenance of stemness, blood vessel formation, modulation of tumor metabolism, immune response, and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous stromal cells and their crosstalk with cancer cells is mediated by a complex and intricate signaling network consisting of transforming growth factor-beta, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, epidermal growth factor receptor, Hippo, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, etc., signaling pathways. These signals in CAFs exhibit their own special characteristics during the cancer progression and have the potential to be targeted for anticancer therapy. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling cascades in interactions between cancer cells and CAFs is necessary to fully realize the pivotal roles of CAFs in cancers. Herein, in this review, we will summarize the enormous amounts of findings on the signals mediating crosstalk of CAFs with cancer cells and its related targets or trials. Further, we hypothesize three potential targeting strategies, including, namely, epithelial-mesenchymal common targets, sequential target perturbation, and crosstalk-directed signaling targets, paving the way for CAF-directed or host cell-directed antitumor therapy.

AAPH or Peroxynitrite-Induced Biorelevant Oxidation of Methyl Caffeate Yields a Potent Antitumor Metabolite

Hydroxycinnamic acids represent a versatile group of dietary plant antioxidants. Oxidation of methyl-p-coumarate (pcm) and methyl caffeate (cm) was previously found to yield potent antitumor metabolites. Here, we report the formation of potentially bioactive products of pcm and cm oxidized with peroxynitrite (ONOO¯), a biologically relevant reactive nitrogen species (RNS), or with α,α'-azodiisobutyramidine dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a chemical model for reactive oxygen species (ROS). A continuous flow system was developed to achieve reproducible in situ ONOO¯ formation. Reaction mixtures were tested for their cytotoxic effect on HeLa, SiHa, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The reaction of pcm with ONOO¯ produced two fragments, an o-nitrophenol derivative, and a new chlorinated compound. Bioactivity-guided isolation from the reaction mixture of cm with AAPH produced two dimerization products, including a dihydrobenzofuran lignan that exerted strong antitumor activity in vitro, and has potent in vivo antimetastatic activity which was previously reported. This compound was also detected from the reaction between cm and ONOO¯. Our results demonstrate the ROS/RNS dependent formation of chemically stable metabolites, including a potent antitumor agent (5), from hydroxycinnamic acids. This suggests that diversity-oriented synthesis using ROS/RNS to obtain oxidized antioxidant metabolite mixtures may serve as a valid natural product-based drug discovery strategy.

Much More Than IL-17A: Cytokines of the IL-17 Family Between Microbiota and Cancer

The interleukin-(IL-)17 family of cytokines is composed of six members named IL-17A, IL-17B, IL-17C, IL-17D, IL-17E, and IL-17F. IL-17A is the prototype of this family, and it was the first to be discovered and targeted in the clinic. IL-17A is essential for modulating the interplay between commensal microbes and epithelial cells at our borders (i.e., skin and mucosae), and yet, for protecting us from microbial invaders, thus preserving mucosal and skin integrity. Interactions between the microbiota and cells producing IL-17A have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune mediated inflammatory diseases and cancer. While interactions between microbiota and IL-17B-to-F have only partially been investigated, they are by no means less relevant. The cellular source of IL-17B-to-F, their main targets, and their function in homeostasis and disease distinguish IL-17B-to-F from IL-17A. Here, we intentionally overlook IL-17A, and we focus instead on the role of the other cytokines of the IL-17 family in the interplay between microbiota and epithelial cells that may contribute to cancer pathogenesis and immune surveillance. We also underscore differences and similarities between IL-17A and IL-17B-to-F in the microbiota-immunity-cancer axis, and we highlight therapeutic strategies that directly or indirectly target IL-17 cytokines in diseases.

Interleukin 25 (IL-25) expression in cholangiocarcinoma

Various cytokines are involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Some tumor cells produce cytokines by themselves. Using secretome analysis, a high expression of APEX-1 was found in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell lines. During this secretome analysis, it was found that CCA cell lines overexpressed some cytokines and related molecules, including interleukin 25 (IL-25). In the present study, we first performed precise secretome analysis on cytokines and related molecules in CCA cell lines and identified that IL-25 was overexpressed in CCA cell lines. Then, using immunohistochemical methods, we investigated the expression of IL-25 in the cancer tissues from 20 CCA patients in Northeast Thailand. Correlation between IL-25 expression levels and patients' clinical parameters were analyzed. The results showed that IL-25 expression was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in cancerous tissues than in the normal bile ducts and in the adjacent tissues. Overexpression of IL-25 protein in CCA tissue was confirmed using western blot analysis. Moreover, IL-25 expression in cancerous tissues was significantly (P<0.0015) higher in CCA patients with metastasis than in CCA patients without metastasis. Survival analysis revealed that a high expression of IL-25 was correlated with shorter survival time of CCA patients (P=0.0260). Aberrant expression of IL-25 in CCA tissue was associated with tumor metastasis and poor prognosis, suggesting that IL-25 is a potential prognostic biomarker. Biological roles of IL-25 in CCA genesis and progression should be explored in future.

Targeting the tumor immune microenvironment with "nutraceuticals": From bench to clinical trials

The occurrence of immune effector cells in the tissue microenvironment during neoplastic progression is critical in determining tumor growth outcomes. On the other hand, tumors may also avoid immune system-mediated elimination by recruiting immunosuppressive leukocytes and soluble factors, which coordinate a tumor microenvironment that counteracts the efficiency of the antitumor immune response. Checkpoint inhibitor therapy results have indicated a way forward via activation of the immune system against cancer. Widespread evidence has shown that different compounds in foods, when administered as purified substances, can act as immunomodulators in humans and animals. Although there is no universally accepted definition of nutraceuticals, the term identifies a wide category of natural compounds that may impact health and disease statuses and includes purified substances from natural sources, plant extracts, dietary supplements, vitamins, phytonutrients, and various products with combinations of functional ingredients. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of nutraceuticals with a special focus on the cancer microenvironment, highlighting the conceptual benefits or drawbacks and subtle cell-specific effects of nutraceuticals for envisioning future therapies employing nutraceuticals as chemoadjuvants.

A Potential Herbal Adjuvant Combined With a Peptide-Based Vaccine Acts Against HPV-Related Tumors Through Enhancing Effector and Memory T-Cell Immune Responses

Viral infection is associated with many types of tumorigenesis, including human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cervical cancer. The induction of a specific T-cell response against virus-infected cells is desired to develop an efficient therapeutic approach for virus-associated cancer. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has a long history in the treatment of cancer patients in Asian countries. Hedyotis diffusa Willd (Bai Hua She She Cao, BHSSC) is frequently used clinically and has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in vitro. However, in vivo data demonstrating the antitumor efficacy of BHSSC are still lacking. We showed that BHSSC induces murine and human antigen-presenting cell (APC) activation via the MAPK signaling pathway and enhances antigen presentation in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. Furthermore, we identified that treatment with BHSSC leads to improved specific effector and memory T-cell responses in vivo. Variant peptide-based vaccines combined with BHSSC improved antitumor activity in preventive, therapeutic, and recurrent HPV-related tumor models. Furthermore, we showed that rutin, one of the ingredients in BHSSC, induces a strong specific immune response against HPV-related tumors in vivo. In summary, we demonstrated that BHSSC extract and its active compound, rutin, can be used as adjuvants in peptide-based vaccines to increase immunogenicity and to bypass the requirement of a conditional adjuvant.

Biocompatibility of common implantable sensor materials in a tumor xenograft model

Real-time monitoring of tumor microenvironment parameters using an implanted biosensor could provide valuable information on the dynamic nature of a tumor's biology and its response to treatment. However, following implantation biosensors may lose functionality due to biofouling caused by the foreign body response (FBR). This study developed a novel tumor xenograft model to evaluate the potential of six biomaterials (silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, Parylene-C, Nafion, biocompatible EPOTEK epoxy resin, and platinum) to trigger a FBR when implanted into a solid tumor. Biomaterials were chosen based on their use in the construction of a novel biosensor, designed to measure spatial and temporal changes in intra-tumoral O2 , and pH. None of the biomaterials had any detrimental effect on tumor growth or body weight of the murine host. Immunohistochemistry showed no significant changes in tumor necrosis, hypoxic cell number, proliferation, apoptosis, immune cell infiltration, or collagen deposition. The absence of biofouling supports the use of these materials in biosensors; future investigations in preclinical cancer models are required, with a view to eventual applications in humans. To our knowledge this is the first documented investigation of the effects of modern biomaterials, used in the production of implantable sensors, on tumor tissue after implantation. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1620-1633, 2019.

Comprehensive genomic and prognostic analysis of the IL‑17 family genes in lung cancer

The six members of the interleukin (IL)‑17 gene family (IL‑17A‑F) have been identified in various types of cancer. Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‑related death worldwide and IL‑17A was found to play a critical role in lung cancer, there is little knowledge concerning the association between the other five members of the IL‑17 family and lung cancer. The genetic mutations and expression of IL‑17 family members were investigated using the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), Oncomine, and cBio Cancer Genomics Portal (cBioPortal) databases. Prognostic values and interaction networks of the members were assessed by the Kaplan‑Meier plotter, Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and FunRich software. The results found that, across 5,238 lung cancer patients in the cBioPortal, the results of IL‑17 family gene alteration frequencies and types showed that IL‑17A, IL‑25 and IL‑17F exhibited higher alteration frequencies (2, 2.1 and 1.9%, respectively), and gene amplification accounted for the majority of changes. IL‑17B, IL‑17C and IL‑17D exhibited lower alteration frequencies (0.8, 1.1 and 1.1%, respectively), and deep deletion accounted for the majority of changes. The rates of point mutations in IL‑17A through IL‑17F family genes in lung cancer were 0.66, 0.18, 0.13, 0.09, 0.27 and 0.44% in the COSMIC database. Within the Oncomine database, five datasets showed that IL‑17D was significantly decreased in lung cancer, while no dataset showed a significant difference in the expression of IL‑17A, IL‑17B, IL‑17C, IL‑25 or IL17‑F between lung cancer and normal controls. The frequencies of IL‑17A, IL‑17B and IL‑17C mRNA upregulation in lung squamous cell carcinoma were lower than those in lung adenocarcinoma (2.7, 1.9 and 2.1%, respectively), whereas the frequencies of IL‑17D, IL‑25 and IL‑17F mRNA upregulation were higher in lung squamous cell carcinoma than those in lung adenocarcinoma (3, 6 and 6%, respectively). IL‑17A and IL‑17B were unrelated to overall survival (p=0.11; P=0.17), whereas IL‑17C, IL‑17D, IL‑25 and IL‑17F influenced prognosis (P=0.0023, P=0.0059, P=0.039 and P=0.0017, respectively) according to the Kaplan‑Meier plotter. Moreover, the expression level of IL‑17C was the highest in lung tissues, and IL‑17 family genes mainly participate in the 'IFN‑γ pathway' according to the STRING database and Funrich software. In conclusion, we performed the first comprehensive investigation of the IL‑17 gene family in lung cancer, including gene mutation, mRNA expression levels, prognostic values and network pathways. Our results revealed that IL‑17 family gene mutation rates were in general low and that amplification and deep deletion were the main mutation type. The expression and function of IL‑17A and IL‑17B in lung cancer are still not fully elucidated and warrant research with larger sample sizes. IL‑17D was significantly decreased in lung cancer and was correlated with better OS. Studies of IL‑17C‑F in lung cancer are limited. Further experimental studies on the association between IL‑17D and lung cancer progression are needed to identify more effective therapeutic targets for lung cancer.

Adjunctive Chinese herbal medicine therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Clinical evidence and experimental validation

BACKGROUND

To investigate the benefits of adjunctive Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

We included all patients diagnosed with NPC during 1997-2009 and followed until 2011 in Taiwan. We used 1:1 frequency matching by age, sex, comorbidity, conventional treatment, and index year to compare the CHM users and non-CHM users (n = 2542 each). The prescribed CHM was further investigated with regard to its cytotoxicity.

RESULTS

Compared with non-CHM users, adjunctive CHM users had a lower hazard ratio of mortality risk, and a better survival probability. Gan-Lu-Yin (GLY) was the most commonly prescribed CHM, and it reduced cell viability, inhibited tumor proliferation, and induced apoptosis through the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase-3-dependent pathway in human NPC TW01 cells. Oral administration of GLY retarded NPC-TW01 tumor growth in the xenograft nude mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Real-world data and laboratory experiments implied that adjunctive CHM might be beneficial for NPC patients.

Time series assessment of the effects of hypoxic stress on glioma tumorsphere development within engineered microscale niches

A rapidly outgrowing tumor mass is liable to suffer from a shortage of oxygen and nutrients due to the diffusion limit. These features evidently prevail in glioblastoma, resulting in extensive hypoxic regions throughout the tumor mass. While there may be a strong link between hypoxic regions and glioblastoma malignancy, the effects of hypoxia stress on each tumorigenic step and their interrelation during the progression remain unexplored due to the limited information from current assay platforms. Here, we suggest a tumor microenvironment array platform (TMAP) to describe a time series assessment of glioblastoma tumorsphere (TS) within a microscale niche. TMAP enables to observe the overall tumorigenic process of glioblastoma TSs over the cultivation time, simultaneously quantifying the features with the biophysical parameters. Through the time series assessment, we observed the induction of hypoxic stress within the mature TSs, which rendered intratumoral phenotypic changes to become more malignant and modulated their microenvironmental niches to enhance angiogenic proliferation, immune recruitment, and even drug response. Based on the finding that the tumorigenic parameters were highly correlated only in mature TSs, we conclude that the effects of hypoxic stress systematically affect the process that drives a glioblastoma to higher malignancy.

Intervenolin suppresses gastric cancer cell growth through the induction of TSP-1 secretion from fibroblast-like stromal cells

Fibroblast-like stromal cells modulate the growth of cancer cells, both positively and negatively. Growth modulation is achieved through the secretion of regulatory factors as well as by proteins within the extracellular matrix. Those cellular interactions present attractive targets for cancer chemotherapy. It was demonsrated a novel natural compound, intervenolin (ITV), inhibited the in vitro growth of human gastric cancer cells when co-cultured with stromal cells. Importantly, the inhibition was enhanced by the presence of stromal cells. The present study reported a mechanism of ITV action. Human gastric fibroblast-like stromal cells (Hs738) were treated with ITV. The resultant conditioned medium (ITV CM) inhibited the growth of human gastric cancer cells and suppressed the level of c-Myc protein. This result suggested that ITV negatively modulated cancer cell growth by upregulating the secretion of factors originating from stromal cells in the co-culture system. To better understand the mechanism, ITV CM was subjected to proteomic analysis. The data revealed that one of the candidate regulators was thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). Recombinant human TSP-1 protein inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells. Moreover, the growth-inhibitory activities of ITV CM as well as that of recombinant TSP-1 were blocked by neutralizing antibody targeting TSP-1. These results suggested that ITV inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells through its modulation of stromal cell function.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals a controlling mechanism for NLRP3 and IL-17A in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has markedly increased. Our research findings during the past showed that medicinal plant extracts and the derived phytochemical components from Wedelia chinensis (WC) can have strong anti-colitis activities. Here, we further identified the key component phytochemicals from active fractions of different WC preparations (WCHA) that are responsible for the protective effect of WCHA in colitis mice. Of the 3 major compounds (wedelolactone, luteolin and apigenin) in this fraction, luteolin had the highest anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. Using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) (e.g., RNA-seq) system to analyze the transcriptome of colorectal cells/tissues in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis with/without phytochemicals treatment, luteolin was found to strongly suppress the DSS-activated IL-17 pathway in colon tissue. In addition, co-treatment with wedelolactone and luteolin had a synergistic effect on the expression level of some IL-17 pathway-related genes. Interestingly, our NGS analyses also indicated that luteolin and wedelolactone can specifically suppress the expression of NLRP3 and NLRP1. Using a 3-dimensional cell co-culture system, we further demonstrated that luteolin could efficiently suppress NLRP3 expression via disruption of IL-17A signaling in inflamed colon tissue, which also indicates the pharmacological potential of luteolin and wedelolactone in treating IBD.

Trial Watch: Immunostimulation with recombinant cytokines for cancer therapy

Cytokines regulate virtually aspects of innate and adaptive immunity, including the initiation, execution and extinction of tumor-targeting immune responses. Over the past three decades, the possibility of using recombinant cytokines as a means to elicit or boost clinically relevant anticancer immune responses has attracted considerable attention. However, only three cytokines have been approved so far by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for use in cancer patients, namely, recombinant interleukin (IL)-2 and two variants of recombinant interferon alpha 2 (IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b). Moreover, the use of these cytokines in the clinics is steadily decreasing, mostly as a consequence of: (1) the elevated pleiotropism of IL-2, IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b, resulting in multiple unwarranted effects; and (2) the development of highly effective immunostimulatory therapeutics, such as immune checkpoint blockers. Despite this and other obstacles, research in the field continues as alternative cytokines with restricted effects on specific cell populations are being evaluated. Here, we summarize research preclinical and clinical developments on the use of recombinant cytokines for immunostimulation in cancer patients.

IL-17E synergizes with EGF and confers in vitro resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies in TNBC cells

Estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor- and HER2-negative breast cancers, also known as triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs), have poor prognoses and are refractory to current therapeutic agents, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Resistance to anti-EGFR therapeutic agents is often associated with sustained kinase phosphorylation, which promotes EGFR activation and translocation to the nucleus and prevents these agents from acting on their targets. The mechanisms underlying this resistance have not been fully elucidated. In addition, the IL-17E receptor is overexpressed in TNBC tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. We have previously reported that IL-17E promotes TNBC resistance to anti-mitotic therapies. Here, we investigated whether IL-17E promotes TNBC resistance to anti-EGFR therapeutic agents by exploring the link between the IL-17E/IL-17E receptor axis and EGF signaling. We found that IL-17E, similarly to EGF, activates the EGFR in TNBC cells that are resistant to EGFR inhibitors. It also activates the PYK-2, Src and STAT3 kinases, which are essential for EGFR activation and nuclear translocation. IL-17E binds its specific receptor, IL-17RA/IL17RB, on these TNBC cells and synergizes with the EGF signaling pathway, thereby inducing Src-dependent EGFR transactivation and pSTAT3 and pEGFR translocation to the nucleus. Collectively, our data indicate that the IL-17E/IL-17E receptor axis may underlie TNBC resistance to EGFR inhibitors and suggest that inhibiting IL-17E or its receptor in combination with EGFR inhibitor administration may improve TNBC management.

Cisplatin inhibits the growth, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells by down-regulating IL-17E/IL-17RB

Interleukin (IL)-17E mainly produced by immune cells, is a distinct member of the IL-17 cytokine family, which has multifarious immunomodulatory activities. As a potent anticancer drug, cisplatin is commonly used against various types of solid tumors. The present study was performed to investigate whether cisplatin regulates the expression of IL-17E and it receptor IL-17RB, and the role of IL17E in cervical cancer cells in vitro. The expression of IL-17E and IL-17RB in cervical cancer cells was detected by flow cytometry and ELISA. The viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells were analyzed by CCK8, Annexin V-7AAD apoptosis, transwell migration, wound healing, and matrigel invasion assays. Here, we found that cervical cancer cells co-expressed IL-17E and IL-17RB, especially HeLa and SiHa cells. Recombinant human IL-17E protein (rhIL-17E) enhanced the viability, migration and invasion of HeLa and SiHa cells, and blocking IL-17E with anti-human IL-17RE neutralizing antibody promoted the apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cells. Cisplatin significantly down-regulated the expression of IL-17E and IL-17RB, and further reversed the regulatory effects of rhIL-17E on viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion of HeLa and SiHa cells. The results suggest that cisplatin inhibits the viability, migration, invasion, and promotes the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells possibly by down-regulating IL-17E/17RB signaling. Cisplatin may be the first choice for cervical cancer patients with abnormally high IL-17E expression.

Phytochemicals Approach for Developing Cancer Immunotherapeutics

Phytochemicals or their derived compounds are being increasingly recognized as potentially potent complementary treatments for cancer. Among them, some phytochemicals are being actively evaluated for use as adjuvants in anticancer therapies. For instance, shikonin and hypericin were found to induce immunogenic cell death of specific cancer cells, and this effect was able to further activate the recognition activity of tumor cells by the host immune system. On the other hand, some derivatives of phytochemicals, such as dihydrobenzofuran lignan (Q2-3) have been found to induce the secretion of an endogenous anticancer factor, namely IL-25, from non-malignant cells. These findings suggest that phytochemicals or their derivatives confer a spectrum of different pharmacological activities, which contrasts with the current cytotoxic anticancer drugs commonly used in clinics. In this review, we have collected together pertinent information from recent studies about the biochemical and cellular mechanisms through which specific phytochemicals regulate target immune systems in defined tumor microenvironments. We have further highlighted the potential application of these immunotherapeutic modifiers in cell-based cancer vaccine systems. This knowledge provides useful technological support and know how for future applications of phytochemicals in cancer immunotherapy.

Efficacy of melatonin, IL-25 and siIL-17B in tumorigenesis-associated properties of breast cancer cell lines

Mammary tumorigenesis can be modulated by melatonin, which has oncostatic action mediated by multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of the activity of transcription factors such as NF-κB and modulation of interleukins (ILs) expression. IL-25 is an active cytokine that induces apoptosis in tumor cells due to differential expression of its receptor (IL-17RB). IL-17B competes with IL-25 for binding to IL-17RB in tumor cells, promoting tumorigenesis. This study purpose is to address the possibility of engaging IL-25/IL-17RB signaling to enhance the effect of melatonin on breast cancer cells. Breast cancer cell lines were cultured monolayers and 3D structures and treated with melatonin, IL-25, siIL-17B, each alone or in combination. Cell viability, gene and protein expression of caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and VEGF-A were performed by qPCR and immunofluorescence. In addition, an apoptosis membrane array was performed in metastatic cells. Treatments with melatonin and IL-25 significantly reduced tumor cells viability at 1mM and 1ng/mL, respectively, but did not alter cell viability of a non-tumorigenic epithelial cell line (MCF-10A). All treatments, alone and combined, significantly increased cleaved caspase-3 in tumor cells grown as monolayers and 3D structures (p<0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of apoptosis pathway proteins showed an increase of CYTO-C, DR6, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, IGFPB-6, IGF-1, IGF-1R, Livin, P21, P53, TNFRII, XIAP and hTRA proteins and reduction of caspase-3 (p<0.05) after melatonin treatment. All treatments reduced VEGF-A protein expression in tumor cells (p<0.05). Our results suggest therapeutic potential, with oncostatic effectiveness, pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic properties for melatonin and IL-25-driven signaling in breast cancer cells.

Assessing the anticancer effects associated with food products and/or nutraceuticals using in vitro and in vivo preclinical development-related pharmacological tests

This review is part of a special issue entitled "Role of dietary pattern, foods, nutrients and nutraceuticals in supporting cancer prevention and treatment" and describes a pharmacological strategy to determine the potential contribution of food-related components as anticancer agents against established cancer. Therefore, this review does not relate to chemoprevention, which is analysed in several other reviews in the current special issue, but rather focuses on the following: i) the biological events that currently represent barriers against the treatment of certain types of cancers, primarily metastatic cancers; ii) the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological pre-clinical tests that can be used to analyse the potential anticancer effects of food-related components; and iii) several examples of food-related components with anticancer effects. This review does not represent a catalogue-based listing of food-related components with more or less anticancer activity. By contrast, this review proposes an original pharmacological strategy that researchers can use to analyse the potential anticancer activity of any food-related component-e.g., by considering the crucial characteristics of cancer biological aggressiveness. This review also highlights that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy should restrict the use of "food complements" without supervision by a medical nutritionist. By contrast, an equilibrated diet that includes the food-related components listed herein would be beneficial for cancer patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy.