Integrin signalling during tumour progression

A natural adhesive-based nanomedicine initiates photothermal-directed in situ immunotherapy with durability and maintenance

Tumor immunotherapies have emerged as a promising frontier in the realm of cancer treatment. However, challenges persist in achieving localized, durable immunostimulation while counteracting the tumor's immunosuppressive environment. Here, we develop a natural mussel foot protein-based nanomedicine with spatiotemporal control for tumor immunotherapy. In this nanomedicine, an immunoadjuvant prodrug and a photosensitizer are integrated, which is driven by their dynamic bonding and non-covalent assembling with the protein carrier. Harnessing the protein carrier's bioadhesion, this nanomedicine achieves a drug co-delivery with spatiotemporal precision, by which it not only promotes tumor photothermal ablation but also broadens tumor antigen repertoire, facilitating in situ immunotherapy with durability and maintenance. This nanomedicine also modulates the tumor microenvironment to overcome immunosuppression, thereby amplifying antitumor responses against tumor progression. Our strategy underscores a mussel foot protein-derived design philosophy of drug delivery aimed at refining combinatorial immunotherapy, offering insights into leveraging natural proteins for cancer treatment.

Biomaterials-Boosted Immunotherapy for Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary malignant bone tumor that emanates from mesenchymal cells, commonly found in the epiphyseal end of long bones. The highly recurrent and metastatic nature of OS poses significant challenges to the efficacy of treatment and negatively affects patient prognosis. Currently, available clinical treatment strategies primarily focus on maximizing tumor resection and reducing localized symptoms rather than the complete eradication of malignant tumor cells to achieve ideal outcomes. The biomaterials-boosted immunotherapy for OS is characterized by high effectiveness and a favorable safety profile. This therapeutic approach manipulates the tumor microenvironments at the cellular and molecular levels to impede tumor progression. This review delves into the mechanisms underlying the treatment of OS, emphasizing biomaterials-enhanced tumor immunity. Moreover, it summarizes the immune cell phenotype and tumor microenvironment regulation, along with the ability of immune checkpoint blockade to activate the autoimmune system. Gaining a profound comprehension of biomaterials-boosted OS immunotherapy is imperative to explore more efficacious immunotherapy protocols and treatment options in this setting.

A Comprehensive Review of Protein Biomarkers for Invasive Lung Cancer

Invasion and metastasis are important hallmarks of lung cancer, and affect patients' survival. Early diagnostics of metastatic potential are important for treatment management. Recent findings suggest that the transition to an invasive phenotype causes changes in the expression of 700-800 genes. In this context, the biomarkers restricted to the specific type of cancer, like lung cancer, are often overlooked. Some well-known protein biomarkers correlate with the progression of the disease and the immunogenicity of the tumor. Most of these biomarkers are not exclusive to lung cancer because of their significant role in tumorigenesis. The dysregulation of others does not necessarily indicate cell invasiveness, as they play an active role in cell division. Clinical studies of lung cancer use protein biomarkers to assess the invasiveness of cancer cells for therapeutic purposes. However, there is still a need to discover new biomarkers for lung cancer. In the future, minimally invasive techniques, such as blood or saliva analyses, may be sufficient for this purpose. Many researchers suggest unconventional biomarkers, like circulating nucleic acids, exosomal proteins, and autoantibodies. This review paper aims to discuss the advantages and limitations of protein biomarkers of invasiveness in lung cancer, to assess their prognostic value, and propose novel biomarker candidates.

Extracellular ISG15 triggers ISGylation via a type-I interferon independent non-canonical mechanism to regulate host response during virus infection

Type-I interferons (IFN) induce cellular proteins with antiviral activity. One such protein is Interferon Stimulated Gene 15 (ISG15). ISG15 is conjugated to proteins during ISGylation to confer antiviral activity and regulate cellular activities associated with inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Apart from ISGylation, unconjugated free ISG15 is also released from cells during various conditions, including virus infection. The role of extracellular ISG15 during virus infection was unknown. We show that extracellular ISG15 triggers ISGylation and acts as a soluble antiviral factor to restrict virus infection via an IFN-independent mechanism. Specifically, extracellular ISG15 acts post-translationally to markedly enhance the stability of basal intracellular ISG15 protein levels to support ISGylation. Furthermore, extracellular ISG15 interacts with cell surface integrin (α5β1 integrins) molecules via its RGD-like motif to activate the integrin-FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase) pathway resulting in IFN-independent ISGylation. Thus, our studies have identified extracellular ISG15 protein as a new soluble antiviral factor that confers IFN-independent non-canonical ISGylation via the integrin-FAK pathway by post-translational stabilization of intracellular ISG15 protein.

The Untapped Biomarker Potential of MicroRNAs for Health Risk-Benefit Analysis of Vaping vs. Smoking

Despite the popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) among adolescent never-smokers and adult smokers seeking a less pernicious substitute for tobacco cigarettes, the long-term health impact of vaping is largely unknown. Like cigarette smoke, e-cig vapor contains harmful and potentially harmful compounds, although in fewer numbers and at substantially lower concentrations. Many of the same constituents of e-cig vapor and cigarette smoke induce epigenetic changes that can lead to the dysregulation of disease-related genes. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression in health and disease states. Extensive research has shown that miRNAs play a prominent role in the regulation of genes involved in the pathogenesis of smoking-related diseases. However, the use of miRNAs for investigating the disease-causing potential of vaping has not been fully explored. This review article provides an overview of e-cigs as a highly consequential electronic nicotine delivery system, describes trends in e-cig use among adolescents and adults, and discusses the ongoing debate on the public health impact of vaping. Highlighting the significance of miRNAs in cell biology and disease, it summarizes the published and ongoing research on miRNAs in relation to gene regulation and disease pathogenesis in e-cig users and in vitro experimental settings. It identifies gaps in knowledge and priorities for future research while underscoring the need for empirical evidence that can inform the regulation of tobacco products to protect youth and promote public health.

EGFR- and Integrin αVβ3-Targeting Peptides as Potential Radiometal-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Theranostics

The burgeoning field of cancer theranostics has witnessed advancements through the development of targeted molecular agents, particularly peptides. These agents exploit the overexpression or mutations of specific receptors, such as the Epidermal Growth Factor receptor (EGFR) and αVβ3 integrin, which are pivotal in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Despite the extensive research into and promising outcomes associated with antibody-based therapies, peptides offer a compelling alternative due to their smaller size, ease of modification, and rapid bioavailability, factors which potentially enhance tumor penetration and reduce systemic toxicity. However, the application of peptides in clinical settings has challenges. Their lower binding affinity and rapid clearance from the bloodstream compared to antibodies often limit their therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic accuracy. This overview sets the stage for a comprehensive review of the current research landscape as it relates to EGFR- and integrin αVβ3-targeting peptides. We aim to delve into their synthesis, radiolabeling techniques, and preclinical and clinical evaluations, highlighting their potential and limitations in cancer theranostics. This review not only synthesizes the extant literature to outline the advancements in peptide-based agents targeting EGFR and integrin αVβ3 but also identifies critical gaps that could inform future research directions. By addressing these gaps, we contribute to the broader discourse on enhancing the diagnostic precision and therapeutic outcomes of cancer treatments.

Exploring the Utility of Long Non-Coding RNAs for Assessing the Health Consequences of Vaping

Electronic cigarette (e-cig) use, otherwise known as "vaping", is widespread among adolescent never-smokers and adult smokers seeking a less-harmful alternative to combustible tobacco products. To date, however, the long-term health consequences of vaping are largely unknown. Many toxicants and carcinogens present in e-cig vapor and tobacco smoke exert their biological effects through epigenetic changes that can cause dysregulation of disease-related genes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as prime regulators of gene expression in health and disease states. A large body of research has shown that lncRNAs regulate genes involved in the pathogenesis of smoking-associated diseases; however, the utility of lncRNAs for assessing the disease-causing potential of vaping remains to be fully determined. A limited but growing number of studies has shown that lncRNAs mediate dysregulation of disease-related genes in cells and tissues of vapers as well as cells treated in vitro with e-cig aerosol extract. This review article provides an overview of the evolution of e-cig technology, trends in use, and controversies on the safety, efficacy, and health risks or potential benefits of vaping relative to smoking. While highlighting the importance of lncRNAs in cell biology and disease, it summarizes the current and ongoing research on the modulatory effects of lncRNAs on gene regulation and disease pathogenesis in e-cig users and in vitro experimental settings. The gaps in knowledge are identified, priorities for future research are highlighted, and the importance of empirical data for tobacco products regulation and public health is underscored.

Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 2 (CRABP2), Up-regulated by HPV E6/E7, Leads to Aberrant Activation of the Integrin β1/FAK/ERK Signaling Pathway and Aggravates the Malignant Phenotypes of Cervical Cancer

The ectopic expression of cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is associated with various tumorigenesis. However, the effects of CRABP2 on the progression of cervical cancer are still unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the role of CRABP2 in the malignant phenotypes of cervical cancer cells. CRABP2 was artificially regulated in CaSki, SiHa, and C-33A cells. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to assess the cell proliferation and apoptosis abilities, respectively. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were employed to measure the cell migration and invasion abilities, respectively. The results showed that CRABP2 was highly expressed in cervical carcinoma tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was associated with poor overall survival. Knockdown of CRABP2 promoted the cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cervical carcinoma cells, whereas CRABP2 overexpression exhibited the opposite results. Mechanically, CRABP2 silencing suppressed the Integrin β1/FAK/ERK signaling via HuR. Treatment with siITGB1 or a FAK inhibitor PF-562271 or an ERK inhibitor FR180204 reversed the promoting effects of CRABP2 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, the overexpression of CRABP2 reverted the HPV16 E6/E7 knockdown-induced inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cervical cancer cells. These results suggested that HPV16 E6/E7 promoted the malignant phenotypes of cervical cancer by upregulating the expression of CRABP2. In conclusion, CRABP2, upregulated by HPV E6/E7, promoted the progression of cervical cancer through activating the Integrin β1/FAK/ERK signaling pathway via HuR.

Muscone restores anoikis sensitivity in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells by suppressing TOP2A via the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is the main obstacle faced by glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. Muscone, one of the primary active pharmacological ingredients of Shexiang (Moschus), can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is being investigated as an antineoplastic medication. However, muscone treatment for GBM has received little research, and its possible mechanisms are still unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate the effect and the potential molecular mechanism of muscone on TMZ-resistant GBM cells.

METHODS

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TMZ-resistant GBM cells and TMZ-sensitive GBM cells were screened using GEO2R. By progressively raising the TMZ concentration, a relatively stable TMZ-resistant human GBM cell line was established. The drug-resistance traits of U251-TR cells were assessed via the CCK-8 assay and Western Blot analysis of MGMT and TOP2A expression. Cell viability, cell proliferation, cell migration ability, and drug synergism were detected by the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and drug interaction relationship test, respectively. Anoikis was quantified by Calcein-AM/EthD-1 staining, MTT assay, and flow cytometry. Measurements of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were performed using cell cycle staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling, JC-1 assay, and ROS assay, respectively. DNA damage was measured by TUNEL assay, alkaline comet assay, and γ-H2AX foci assay. GEPIA was used to investigate the link between the anoikis marker (FAK)/drug resistance gene and critical proteins in the EGFR/Integrin β1 signaling pathway. Molecular docking was used to anticipate the probable targets of muscone. The intracellular co-localization and expression of EGFR and FAK were shown using immunofluorescence. The U251-TR cell line stably overexpressing EGFR was constructed using lentiviral transduction to assess the involvement of EGFR-related signaling in anoikis resistance. Western Blot was employed to detect the expression of migration-related proteins, cyclins, anoikis-related proteins, DNA damage/repair-related proteins, and associated pathway proteins.

RESULTS

DEGs analysis identified 97 deregulated chemotherapy-resistant genes and 3779 upregulated genes in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. Subsequent experiments verified TMZ resistance and the hyper-expression of DNA repair-related genes (TOP2A and MGMT) in continuously low-dose TMZ-induced U251-TR cells. Muscone exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of U251-TR cell migration and proliferation, and its co-administration with TMZ showed the potential for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. By downregulating FAK, muscone reduced anoikis resistance in anchorage-independent U251-TR cells. It also caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase by upregulating p21 and downregulating CDK1, CDK2, and Cyclin E1. Muscone-induced anoikis was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, ROS production, an increase in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as elevated levels of Cytochrome c (Cyt c), cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3. These findings indicated that muscone might trigger mitochondrial-dependent anoikis via ROS generation. Moreover, significant DNA damage, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), the formation of γ-H2AX foci, and a reduction in TOP2A expression are also associated with muscone-induced anoikis. Overexpression of EGFR in U251-TR cells boosted the expression of Integrin β1, FAK, β-Catenin, and TOP2A, whereas muscone suppressed the expression levels of EGFR, Integrin β1, β-Catenin, FAK, and TOP2A. Muscone may influence the expression of the key DNA repair enzyme, TOP2A, by suppressing the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK pathway.

CONCLUSION

We first demonstrated that muscone suppressed TOP2A expression through the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK pathway, hence restoring anoikis sensitivity in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. These data suggest that muscone may be a promising co-therapeutic agent for enhancing GBM treatment, particularly in cases of TMZ-resistant GBM with elevated TOP2A expression.

Identification of RNF213 as a Potential Suppressor of Local Invasion in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a lethal cancer with poor survival especially when it spreads. The histopathology of its rare intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct type (IPNB) characteristically shows cancer cells originating within the confined bile duct space. These cells eventually invade and infiltrate the nearby liver tissues, making it a good model to study the mechanism of local invasion, which is the earliest step of metastasis. To discover potential suppressor genes of local invasion in ICC, we analyzed the somatic mutation profiles and performed clonal evolution analyses of the 11 pairs of macrodissected locally invasive IPNB tissues (LI-IPNB) and IPNB tissues without local invasion from the same patients. We identified a protein-truncating variant in an E3 ubiquitin ligase, RNF213 (c.6967C>T; p.Gln2323X; chr17: 78,319,102 [hg19], exon 29), as the most common protein-truncating variant event in LI-IPNB samples (4/11 patients). Knockdown of RNF213 in HuCCT1 and YSCCC cells showed increased migration and invasion, and reduced vasculogenic mimicry but maintained normal proliferation. Transcriptomic analysis of the RNF213-knockdown vs control cells was then performed in the HuCCT1, YSCCC, and KKU-100 cells. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of the common differentially expressed genes revealed significantly altered cytokine and oxidoreductase-oxidizing metal ion activities, as confirmed by Western blotting. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified the most enriched pathways being oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism, reactive oxygen species, adipogenesis, and angiogenesis. In sum, loss-of-function mutation of RNF213 is a common genetic alteration in LI-IPNB tissues. RNF213 knockdown leads to increased migration and invasion of ICC cells, potentially through malfunctions of the pathways related to inflammation and energy metabolisms.

Dissecting the multifaceted roles of autophagy in cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic applications

Autophagy is a cytoplasmic defense mechanism that cells use to break and reprocess their intracellular components. This utilization of autophagy is regarded as a savior in nutrient-deficient and other stressful conditions. Hence, autophagy keeps contact with and responds to miscellaneous cellular tensions and diverse pathways of signal transductions, such as growth signaling and cellular death. Importantly, autophagy is regarded as an effective tumor suppressor because regular autophagic breakdown is essential for cellular maintenance and minimizing cellular damage. However, paradoxically, autophagy has also been observed to promote the events of malignancies. This review discussed the dual role of autophagy in cancer, emphasizing its influence on tumor survival and progression. Possessing such a dual contribution to the malignant establishment, the prevention of autophagy can potentially advocate for the advancement of malignant transformation. In contrast, for the context of the instituted tumor, the agents of preventing autophagy potently inhibit the advancement of the tumor. Key regulators, including calpain 1, mTORC1, and AMPK, modulate autophagy in response to nutritional conditions and stress. Oncogenic mutations like RAS and B-RAF underscore autophagy's pivotal role in cancer development. The review also delves into autophagy's context-dependent roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME). It also discusses the therapeutic effectiveness of autophagy for several cancers. The recent implication of autophagy in the control of both innate and antibody-mediated immune systems made it a center of attention to evaluating its role concerning tumor antigens and treatments of cancer.

A mechanobiological model of bone metastasis reveals that mechanical stimulation inhibits the pro-osteolytic effects of breast cancer cells

Bone is highly susceptible to cancer metastasis, and both tumor and bone cells enable tumor invasion through a "vicious cycle" of biochemical signaling. Tumor metastasis into bone also alters biophysical cues to both tumor and bone cells, which are highly sensitive to their mechanical environment. However, the mechanobiological feedback between these cells that perpetuate this cycle has not been studied. Here, we develop highly advanced in vitro and computational models to provide an advanced understanding of how tumor growth is regulated by the synergistic influence of tumor-bone cell signaling and mechanobiological cues. In particular, we develop a multicellular healthy and metastatic bone model that can account for physiological mechanical signals within a custom bioreactor. These models successfully recapitulated mineralization, mechanobiological responses, osteolysis, and metastatic activity. Ultimately, we demonstrate that mechanical stimulus provided protective effects against tumor-induced osteolysis, confirming the importance of mechanobiological factors in bone metastasis development.

Roles for epithelial integrin α3β1 in regulation of the microenvironment during normal and pathological tissue remodeling

Integrin receptors for the extracellular matrix activate intracellular signaling pathways that are critical for tissue development, homeostasis, and regeneration/repair, and their loss or dysregulation contributes to many developmental defects and tissue pathologies. This review will focus on tissue remodeling roles for integrin α3β1, a receptor for laminins found in the basement membranes (BMs) that underlie epithelial cell layers. As a paradigm, we will discuss literature that supports a role for α3β1 in promoting ability of epidermal keratinocytes to modify their tissue microenvironment during skin development, wound healing, or tumorigenesis. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that this role depends largely on ability of α3β1 to govern the keratinocyte's repertoire of secreted proteins, or the "secretome," including 1) matrix proteins and proteases involved in matrix remodeling and 2) paracrine-acting growth factors/cytokines that stimulate other cells with important tissue remodeling functions (e.g., endothelial cells, fibroblasts, inflammatory cells). Moreover, α3β1 signaling controls gene expression that helps epithelial cells carry out these functions, including genes that encode secreted matrix proteins, proteases, growth factors, or cytokines. We will review what is known about α3β1-dependent gene regulation through both transcription and posttranscriptional mRNA stability. Regarding the latter, we will discuss examples of α3β1-dependent alternative splicing (AS) or alternative polyadenylation (APA) that prevents inclusion of cis-acting mRNA sequences that would otherwise target the transcript for degradation via nonsense-mediated decay or destabilizing AU-rich elements (AREs) in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Finally, we will discuss prospects and anticipated challenges of exploiting α3β1 as a clinical target for the treatment of cancer or wound healing.

Identification of Key Genes Associated with Tumor Microenvironment Infiltration and Survival in Gastric Adenocarcinoma via Bioinformatics Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The tumor microenvironment plays a significant role in the pathogenesis, prognosis, and response to immunotherapy. However, the immune-related molecular mechanisms underlying GC remain elusive. Bioinformatics analysis of the gene expression of GC and paracancerous healthy tissues from the same patient was performed to identify the key genes and signaling pathways, as well as their correlation to the infiltration of the tumor microenvironment (TME) by various immune cells related to GC development.

METHODS

We employed GSE19826, a gene expression profile from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), for our analysis. Functional enrichment analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) was conducted using the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database.

RESULTS

Cytoscape software facilitated the identification of nine hub DEGs, namely, FN1, COL1A1, COL1A2, THBS2, COL3A1, COL5A1, APOE, SPP1, and BGN. Various network analysis algorithms were applied to determine their high connectivity. Among these hub genes, FN1, COL1A2, THBS2, COL3A1, COL5A1, and BGN were found to be associated with a poor prognosis for GC patients. Subsequent analysis using the TIMER database revealed the infiltration status of the TME concerning the overexpression of these six genes. Specifically, the abovementioned genes demonstrated direct correlations with cancer-associated fibroblasts, M1 and M2 macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and activated dendritic cells.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the identified hub genes, particularly BGN, FN1, COL1A2, THBS2, COL3A1, and COL5A1, play crucial roles in GC prognosis and TME cell infiltration. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying GC development and may contribute to the identification of potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for GC patients.

Unveiling the potential effects of resveratrol in lung cancer treatment: Mechanisms and nanoparticle-based drug delivery strategies

Lung cancer ranks among the most prevalent forms of cancer and remains a significant factor in cancer-related mortality across the world. It poses significant challenges to healthcare systems and society as a whole due to its high incidence, mortality rates, and late-stage diagnosis. Resveratrol (RV), a natural compound found in various plants, has shown potential as a nanomedicine for lung cancer treatment. RV has varied effects on cancer cells, including promoting apoptosis by increasing pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and Bak) and decreasing anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2). It also hinders cell proliferation by influencing important signaling pathways (MAPK, mTOR, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt/β-catenin) that govern cancer progression. In addition, RV acts as a potent antioxidant, diminishing oxidative stress and safeguarding cells against DNA damage. However, using RV alone in cancer treatment has drawbacks, such as low bioavailability, lack of targeting ability, and susceptibility to degradation. In contrast, nanoparticle-based delivery systems address these limitations and hold promise for improving treatment outcomes in lung cancer; nanoparticle formulations of RV offer advantages such as improved drug delivery, increased stability, controlled release, and targeted delivery to lung cancer cells. This article will provide an overview of lung cancer, explore the potential of RV as a therapeutic agent, discuss the benefits and challenges of nanoparticle-based drug delivery, and highlight the promise of RV nanoparticles for cancer treatment, including lung cancer. By optimizing these systems for clinical application, future studies aim to enhance overall treatment outcomes and improve the prognosis for lung cancer patients.

Kisspeptin Regulates Cell Invasion and Migration in Endometrial Cancer

Kisspeptin (a product of the KISS1 gene and its receptor) plays an important role in obstetrics, gynecology, and cancer cell metastasis and behavior. In hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and placentation, Kisspeptin/Kisspeptin receptor affects hormone release and represses trophoblast invasion into maternal deciduae. Endometrial cancer is one of the common gynecological cancers and is usually accompanied by metastasis, the risk factor that causes death. Recently, research has demonstrated that Kisspeptin/Kisspeptin receptor expression in aggressive-stage endometrial cancer tissues. However, the detailed mechanism of Kisspeptin/Kisspeptin receptor in regulating the motility of endometrial cancers is not well understood. In this study, we use endometrial cancer cell lines RL95-2, Ishikawa, HEC-1-A, and HEC-1-B as models to explore the molecular mechanism of Kisspeptin on cell motility. First, we discovered that Kisspeptin/Kisspeptin receptor was expressed in endometrial cancer cells, and Kisspeptin significantly regulated the migration and invasion of endometrial cancer cells. Furthermore, we explored the epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression and the underlying signals were regulated on Kisspeptin treatment. In conclusion, we suggest that Kisspeptin regulates endometrial cancer cell motility via FAK and Src expression and the ERK1/2, N-Cadherin, E-Cadherin, beta-Catenin, Twist, and matrix metalloproteinase signaling pathways. We expect these molecules could be candidates for the development of new approaches and therapeutic targets.

ITGB1 and DDR activation as novel mediators in acquired resistance to osimertinib and MEK inhibitors in EGFR-mutant NSCLC

Osimertinib is a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor clinically approved for first-line treatment of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Although an impressive drug response is initially observed, in most of tumors, resistance occurs after different time and an alternative therapeutic strategy to induce regression disease is currently lacking. The hyperactivation of MEK/MAPKs, is one the most common event identified in osimertinib-resistant (OR) NSCLC cells. However, in response to selective drug pressure, the occurrence of multiple mechanisms of resistance may contribute to treatment failure. In particular, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the impaired DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways are recognized as additional cause of resistance in NSCLC thus promoting tumor progression. Here we showed that concurrent upregulation of ITGB1 and DDR family proteins may be associated with an increase of EMT pathways and linked to both osimertinib and MEK inhibitor resistance to cell death. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the existence of an interplay between ITGB1 and DDR and highlighted, for the first time, that combined treatment of MEK inhibitor with DDRi may be relevant to downregulate ITGB1 levels and increase cell death in OR NSCLC cells.

Unraveling dedifferentiation and metastasis traces in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ductal cells: Insights from single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of ITGB4 and C19orf33

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) ranks among the most prevalent gastrointestinal malignancies, with risk factors including smoking, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, obesity, age, family history, and genetic predisposition. Extensive research has focused on unraveling biomarkers and molecular intricacies associated with PDAC. Leveraging data from the Gene Expression Omnibus microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing datasets, our study identified ITGB4 and C19orf33 as potentially differentially expressed genes in PDAC samples when contrasted with non-malignant tissues. Notably, these genes exhibited a strong correlative expression pattern, primarily within ductal cells. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis corroborated our findings, further confirming the correlation between ITGB4 and C19orf33. Additionally, we conducted experiments involving two pivotal PDAC-related cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1, treated with oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil. We also assessed the expression of these candidate genes in PDAC samples in comparison to adjacent normal tissues. Our findings revealed that C19orf33 is upregulated in PDAC samples, and treatment of PDAC cells with chemotherapeutic agents led to a correlated decrease in the expression of both ITGB4 and C19orf33. These co-expressed and correlated genes are implicated in relevant signaling pathways, suggesting shared biological activities that may contribute to the promotion of metastasis within malignant ductal cells. This study identifies ITGB4 and C19orf33 as key genes potentially shedding light on the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and metastasis in PDAC. These genes hold promise as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets, offering valuable insights into the management of this challenging disease.

Oncoviruses: Induction of cancer development and metastasis by increasing anoikis resistance

The phenomenon of cell death is a vital aspect in the regulation of aberrant cells such as cancer cells. Anoikis is a kind of cell death that occurs when cells get separated from the extracellular matrix. Some cancer cells can inhibit anoikis in order to progress metastasis. One of the key variables that might be implicated in anoikis resistance (AR) is viral infections. The most important viruses involved in this process are Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, human herpes virus 8, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, and hepatitis C virus. A better understanding of how carcinogenic viruses suppress anoikis might be helpful in developing an effective treatment for virus-associated cancers. In the current study, we review the role of the mentioned viruses and their gene products in anoikis inhibition.

Tumor-Derived Membrane Vesicles Restrain Migration in Gliomas By Altering Collective Polarization

Mechanobiology is a cornerstone in physiology. However, its role in biomedical applications remains considerably undermined. In this study, we employed cell membrane vesicles (CMVs), which are currently being used as nanodrug carriers, as tactile cues for mechano-regulation of collective cell behaviors. Gliomas, which are among the most resilient brain tumors and have a low patient survival rate, were used as the cell model. We observed that mechanical responses due to the application of glioma- or microglia-derived CMVs resulted in the doubling of the traction stress of glioma cell collectives with a 10-fold increase in the CMV concentration. Glioma-CMVs constrained cell protrusions and hindered their collective migration, with the migration speed of such cells declining by almost 40% compared to the untreated cells. We speculated that the alteration of collective polarization leads to migration speed changes, and this phenomenon was elucidated using the cellular Potts model. In addition to intracellular force modulation and cytoskeletal reorganization, glioma-CMVs altered drug diffusion within glioma spheroids by downregulating the mechano-signaling protein YAP-1 while also marginally enhancing the associated apoptotic events. Our results suggest that glioma-CMVs can be applied as an adjuvant to current treatment approaches to restrict tumor invasion and enhance the penetration of reagents within tumors. Considering the broad impact of mechano-transduction on cell functions, the regulation of cell mechanics through CMVs can provide a foundation for alternative therapeutic strategies.

Potential roles of tumor microenvironment in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer: A narrative review

During the course of treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant, gefitinib resistance (GR) is unavoidable. As the environment for tumor cells to grow and survive, tumor microenvironment (TME) can significantly affect therapeutic response and clinical outcomes, offering new opportunities for addressing GR. Dynamic changes within the TME were identified during the treatment of gefitinib, suggesting the close relationship between TME and GR. Various dynamic processes like angiogenesis, hypoxia-pathway activation, and immune evasion can be blocked so as to synergistically enhance the therapeutic effects of gefitinib or reverse GR. Besides, cellular components like macrophages can be reprogrammed for the same purpose. In this review, we summarized recently proposed therapeutic targets to provide an overview of the potential roles of TME in treating gefitinib-resistant NSCLC, and discussed the difficulty of applying these targets in cancer treatment.

Cancer metastasis: Molecular mechanisms and clinical perspectives

Metastatic progression combined with non-responsiveness towards systemic therapy often shapes the course of disease for cancer patients and commonly determines its lethal outcome. The complex molecular events that promote metastasis are a combination of both, the acquired pro-metastatic properties of cancer cells and a metastasis-permissive or -supportive tumor micro-environment (TME). Yet, dissemination is a challenging process for cancer cells that requires a series of events to enable cancer cell survival and growth. Metastatic cancer cells have to initially detach themselves from primary tumors, overcome the challenges of their intravasal journey and colonize distant sites that are suited for their metastases. The implicated obstacles including anoikis and immune surveillance, can be overcome by intricate intra- and extracellular signaling pathways, which we will summarize and discuss in this review. Further, emerging modulators of metastasis, like the immune-microenvironment, microbiome, sublethal cell death engagement, or the nervous system will be integrated into the existing working model of metastasis.

Integrin signaling in cancer: bidirectional mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that possess distinct ligand-binding specificities in the extracellular domain and signaling properties in the cytoplasmic domain. While most integrins have a short cytoplasmic tail, integrin β4 has a long cytoplasmic tail that can indirectly interact with the actin cytoskeleton. Additionally, 'inside-out' signals can induce integrins to adopt a high-affinity extended conformation for their appropriate ligands. These properties enable integrins to transmit bidirectional cellular signals, making it a critical regulator of various biological processes.Integrin expression and function are tightly linked to various aspects of tumor progression, including initiation, angiogenesis, cell motility, invasion, and metastasis. Certain integrins have been shown to drive tumorigenesis or amplify oncogenic signals by interacting with corresponding receptors, while others have marginal or even suppressive effects. Additionally, different α/β subtypes of integrins can exhibit opposite effects. Integrin-mediated signaling pathways including Ras- and Rho-GTPase, TGFβ, Hippo, Wnt, Notch, and sonic hedgehog (Shh) are involved in various stages of tumorigenesis. Therefore, understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms and molecular specificities of integrins are crucial to delaying cancer progression and suppressing tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the development of integrin-based therapeutics for cancer are of great importance.This review provides an overview of integrin-dependent bidirectional signaling mechanisms in cancer that can either support or oppose tumorigenesis by interacting with various signaling pathways. Finally, we focus on the future opportunities for emergent therapeutics based on integrin agonists. Video Abstract.

Development of anoikis-related long non-coding RNA signature associated with prognosis and immune landscape in cutaneous melanoma patients

BACKGROUND

Anoikis is involved in many critical biological processes in tumors; however, function in CM is still unknown. In this study, the relevance between Anoikis-related lncRNAs (ARLs) and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with CM was comprehensively assessed.

METHODS

Through analysis of TCGA dataset, ARLs were identified by using TCGA dataset. Based on the ARLs, a risk model was established to anticipate the prognosis of patients with CM, besides, the prediction accuracy of the model was evaluated. The immune infiltration landscape of patients with CM was assessed comprehensively, and the correlation between ARLs and immunity was elucidated. Immunotherapy and drug sensitivity analyses were applied to analyze the treatment response in patients with CM with diverse risk scores. Different subgroups were distinguished among the patients using consensus cluster analysis.

RESULTS

A risk model based on six ARLs was set up to obtain an accurate prediction of the prognosis of patients with CM. There were distinctions in the immune landscape among CM patients with diverse risk scores and subgroups. Six prognosis-related ARLs were highly correlated with the number of immune cells. Patients with CM with different risk scores have various sensitivities to immunotherapy and antitumor drug treatments.

CONCLUSION

Our newly risk model associated with ARLs has considerable prognostic value for patients with CM. Not only has the risk model high prediction accuracy but it also indicates the immune status of CM patients, which will provide a new direction for the individualized therapy of patients with CM.

Molecular basis of conformational changes and mechanics of integrins

Integrin, as a mechanotransducer, establishes the mechanical reciprocity between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells at integrin-mediated adhesion sites. This study used steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to investigate the mechanical responses of integrin α_vβ₃ with and without 10th type III fibronectin (FnIII₁₀) binding for tensile, bending and torsional loading conditions. The ligand-binding integrin confirmed the integrin activation during equilibration and altered the integrin dynamics by changing the interface interaction between β-tail, hybrid and epidermal growth factor domains during initial tensile loading. The tensile deformation in integrin molecules indicated that fibronectin ligand binding modulates its mechanical responses in the folded and unfolded conformation states. The bending deformation responses of extended integrin models reveal the change in behaviour of integrin molecules in the presence of Mn²⁺ ion and ligand based on the application of force in the folding and unfolding directions of integrin. Furthermore, these SMD simulation results were used to predict the mechanical properties of integrin underlying the mechanism of integrin-based adhesion. The evaluation of integrin mechanics provides new insights into understanding the mechanotransmission (force transmission) between cells and ECM and contributes to developing an accurate model for integrin-mediated adhesion. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Supercomputing simulations of advanced materials'.

High Rate of Mutations of Adhesion Molecules and Extracellular Matrix Glycoproteins in Patients with Adult-Onset Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

(1) Background: Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a pattern of injury that results from podocyte loss in the setting of a wide variety of injurious mechanisms. These include both acquired and genetic as well as primary and secondary causes, or a combination thereof, without optimal therapy, and a high rate of patients develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Genetic studies have helped improve the global understanding of FSGS syndrome; thus, we hypothesize that patients with primary FSGS may have underlying alterations in adhesion molecules or extracellular matrix glycoproteins related to previously unreported mutations that may be studied through next-generation sequencing (NGS). (2) Methods: We developed an NGS panel with 29 genes related to adhesion and extracellular matrix glycoproteins. DNA was extracted from twenty-three FSGS patients diagnosed by renal biopsy; (3) Results: The average number of accumulated variants in FSGS patients was high. We describe the missense variant ITGB3c.1199G>A, which is considered pathogenic; in addition, we discovered the nonsense variant CDH1c.499G>T, which lacks a Reference SNP (rs) Report and is considered likely pathogenic. (4) Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first account of a high rate of change in extracellular matrix glycoproteins and adhesion molecules in individuals with adult-onset FSGS. The combined effect of all these variations may result in a genotype that is vulnerable to the pathogenesis of glomerulopathy.

Molecular basis for the recognition of 24-(S)-hydroxycholesterol by integrin αvβ3

A growing body of evidence suggests that oxysterols such as 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) are biologically active and involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Our previous study demonstrated that 25HC induces an innate immune response during viral infections by activating the integrin-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway. 25HC produced the proinflammatory response by binding directly to integrins at a novel binding site (site II) and triggering the production of proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). 24-(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24HC), a structural isomer of 25HC, plays a critical role in cholesterol homeostasis in the human brain and is implicated in multiple inflammatory conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. However, whether 24HC can induce a proinflammatory response like 25HC in non-neuronal cells has not been studied and remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine whether 24HC produces such an immune response using in silico and in vitro experiments. Our results indicate that despite being a structural isomer of 25HC, 24HC binds at site II in a distinct binding mode, engages in varied residue interactions, and produces significant conformational changes in the specificity-determining loop (SDL). In addition, our surface plasmon resonance (SPR) study reveals that 24HC could directly bind to integrin αvβ3, with a binding affinity three-fold lower than 25HC. Furthermore, our in vitro studies with macrophages support the involvement of FAK and NFκB signaling pathways in triggering 24HC-mediated production of TNF. Thus, we have identified 24HC as another oxysterol that binds to integrin αvβ3 and promotes a proinflammatory response via the integrin-FAK-NFκB pathway.

Phosphatase regenerating liver 3 participates in Integrinβ1/FAK-Src/MAPK signaling pathway and contributes to the regulation of malignant behaviors in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Phosphatase regenerating liver 3 (PRL-3) was associated with cancer metastasis. However, the significance of PRL-3 in the prognosis of HCC remains elusive. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of PRL-3 in HCC metastasis and its prognosis.

METHODS

The expressions of PRL-3 in cancer tissues isolated from 114 HCC patients, who underwent curative hepatectomy from May to November in 2008, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and its prognostic significance was evaluated. Thereafter, the migration, invasion, and metastatic alterations in MHCC97H cells with PRL-3 overexpression or knockdown were explored and compared with the tumor size and lung metastasis in orthotopic HCC model of nude mice derived from MHCC97H cells with PRL-3 overexpression or knockdown. The underlying mechanism involving PRL-3-mediated effect on HCC migration, invasion, and metastasis was further examined.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated PRL-3 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of the HCC patients. Increased PRL-3 expression in MHCC97H cells was in accordance with the enhanced metastasis potential. PRL-3 knockdown inhibited the migration, invasiveness, and clone forming ability in MHCC97H cells, whereas PRL-3 overexpression reverted the above behavior. The growth of xenograft tumor in the liver was suppressed, and the lung metastasis in nude mice was inhibited by PRL-3 downregulation. The knockdown of PRL-3 could downregulate the expressions of Integrinβ1 and p-Src (Tyr416), p-Erk (Thr202/Tyr204) activation, and reduce MMP9 expression. Both MEK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) and Src inhibitor could repress PRL-3-induced invasiveness and migration in MHCC97H cells.

CONCLUSIONS

PRL-3 was significantly overexpressed and an independent prognostic factor to predict the death of HCC patients. Mechanically, PRL-3 plays a critical role in HCC invasive and metastasis via Integrinβ1/FAK-Src/RasMAPK signaling. Validation of PRL-3 as a clinical prediction marker in HCC warrants further research.

Role of Hemidesmosomes in Oral Carcinogenesis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Oral cancers have limited diagnostic tools to aid clinical management. Current evidence indicates that alterations in hemidesmosomes, the adhesion complexes primarily involved in epithelial attachment to the basement membrane, are correlated to cancer phenotype for multiple cancers. This systematic review aimed to assess the experimental evidence for hemidesmosomal alterations, specifically in relation to oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinomas.

METHODS

We conducted a systemic review to summarise the available literature on hemidesmosomal components and their role in oral pre-cancer and cancer. Relevant studies were retrieved from a comprehensive search of Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and Web of Science.

RESULTS

26 articles met the inclusion criteria, of which 19 were in vitro studies, 4 in vivo studies, 1 in vitro and in vivo study, and 2 in vitro and cohort studies. Among them, 15 studies discussed individual alpha-6 and/or beta-4 subunits, 12 studies discussed the alpha-6 beta-4 heterodimers, 6 studies discussed the entire hemidesmosome complex, 5 studies discussed bullous pemphigoid-180, 3 studies discussed plectin, 3 studies discussed bullous pemphigoid antigen-1 and 1 study discussed tetraspanin.

CONCLUSION

Heterogeneity in cell type, experimental models, and methods were observed. Alterations in hemidesmosomal components were shown to contribute to oral pre-cancer and cancer. We conclude that there is sufficient evidence for hemidesmosomes and their components to be potential biomarkers for evaluating oral carcinogenesis.

p73 activates transcriptional signatures of basal lineage identity and ciliogenesis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

During the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), tumor cells are known to acquire transcriptional and morphological properties of the basal (also known as squamous) epithelial lineage, which leads to more aggressive disease characteristics. Here, we show that a subset of basal-like PDAC tumors aberrantly express p73 (TA isoform), which is a known transcriptional activator of basal lineage identity, ciliogenesis, and tumor suppression in normal tissue development. Using gain- and loss- of function experiments, we show that p73 is necessary and sufficient to activate genes related to basal identity (e.g. KRT5), ciliogenesis (e.g. FOXJ1), and p53-like tumor suppression (e.g. CDKN1A) in human PDAC models. Owing to the paradoxical combination of oncogenic and tumor suppressive outputs of this transcription factor, we propose that PDAC cells express a low level of p73 that is optimal for promoting lineage plasticity without severe impairment of cell proliferation. Collectively, our study reinforces how PDAC cells exploit master regulators of the basal epithelial lineage during disease progression.

Patient-derived xenograft models in cancer therapy: technologies and applications

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, in which tumor tissues from patients are implanted into immunocompromised or humanized mice, have shown superiority in recapitulating the characteristics of cancer, such as the spatial structure of cancer and the intratumor heterogeneity of cancer. Moreover, PDX models retain the genomic features of patients across different stages, subtypes, and diversified treatment backgrounds. Optimized PDX engraftment procedures and modern technologies such as multi-omics and deep learning have enabled a more comprehensive depiction of the PDX molecular landscape and boosted the utilization of PDX models. These irreplaceable advantages make PDX models an ideal choice in cancer treatment studies, such as preclinical trials of novel drugs, validating novel drug combinations, screening drug-sensitive patients, and exploring drug resistance mechanisms. In this review, we gave an overview of the history of PDX models and the process of PDX model establishment. Subsequently, the review presents the strengths and weaknesses of PDX models and highlights the integration of novel technologies in PDX model research. Finally, we delineated the broad application of PDX models in chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and other novel therapies.

Macrophages promote anti-androgen resistance in prostate cancer bone disease

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC) is the final stage of PC that acquires resistance to androgen deprivation therapies (ADT). Despite progresses in understanding of disease mechanisms, the specific contribution of the metastatic microenvironment to ADT resistance remains largely unknown. The current study identified that the macrophage is the major microenvironmental component of bone-metastatic PC in patients. Using a novel in vivo model, we demonstrated that macrophages were critical for enzalutamide resistance through induction of a wound-healing-like response of ECM-receptor gene expression. Mechanistically, macrophages drove resistance through cytokine activin A that induced fibronectin (FN1)-integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5)-tyrosine kinase Src (SRC) signaling cascade in PC cells. This novel mechanism was strongly supported by bioinformatics analysis of patient transcriptomics datasets. Furthermore, macrophage depletion or SRC inhibition using a novel specific inhibitor significantly inhibited resistant growth. Together, our findings elucidated a novel mechanism of macrophage-induced anti-androgen resistance of metastatic PC and a promising therapeutic approach to treat this deadly disease.

Reshaping the Endogenous Electric Field to Boost Wound Repair via Electrogenerative Dressing

The endogenous electric field (EF) generated by transepithelial potential difference plays a decisive role in wound reepithelialization. For patients with large or chronic wounds, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is the most effective clinical method in inflammation control by continuously removing the necrotic tissues or infected substances, thus creating a proproliferative microenvironment beneficial for wound reepithelialization. However, continuous negative-pressure drainage causes electrolyte loss and weakens the endogenous EF, which in turn hinders wound reepithelialization. Here, an electrogenerative dressing (EGD) is developed by integrating triboelectric nanogenerators with NPWT. By converting the negative-pressure-induced mechanical deformation into electricity, EGD produces a stable and high-safety EF that can trigger a robust epithelial electrotactic response and drive the macrophages toward a reparative M2 phenotype in vitro. Translational medicine studies confirm that EGD completely reshapes the wound EF weakened by NPWT, and promotes wound closure by facilitating an earlier transition of inflammation/proliferation and guiding epithelial migration and proliferation to accelerate reepithelialization. Long-term EGD therapy remarkably advances tissue remodeling with mature epithelium, orderly extracellular matrix, and less scar formation. Compared with the golden standard of NPWT, EGD orchestrates all the essential wound stages in a noninvasive manner, presenting an excellent prospect in clinical wound therapy.

Tumour associated vasculature-on-a-chip for the evaluation of microbubble-mediated delivery of targeted liposomes

The vascular system is the primary route for the delivery of therapeutic drugs throughout the body and is an important barrier at the region of disease interest, such as a solid tumour. The development of complex 3D tumour cultures has progressed significantly in recent years however, the generation of perfusable vascularised tumour models still presents many challenges. This study presents a microfluidic-based vasculature system that can be induced to display properties of tumour-associated blood vessels without direct incorporation of tumour cells. Conditioning healthy endothelial-fibroblast cell vasculature co-cultures with media taken from tumour cell cultures was found to result in the formation of disorganised, tortuous networks which display characteristics consistent with those of tumour-associated vasculature. Integrin αvβ3, a cell adhesion receptor associated with angiogenesis, was found to be upregulated in vasculature co-cultures conditioned with tumour cell media (TCM) - consistent with the reported αvβ3 expression pattern in angiogenic tumour vasculature in vivo. Increased accumulation of liposomes (LSs) conjugated to antibodies against αvβ3 was observed in TCM networks compared to non-conditioned networks, indicating αvβ3 may be a potential target for the delivery of drugs specifically to tumour vasculature. Furthermore, the use of microbubbles (MBs) and ultrasound (US) to further enhance the delivery of LSs to TCM-conditioned vasculature was investigated. Quantification of fluorescent LS accumulation post-perfusion of the vascular network showed 3-fold increased accumulation with the use of MBs and US, suggesting that targeted LS delivery could be further improved with the use of locally administered MBs and US.

More than Just Skin-Deep: A Review of Imaging's Role in Guiding CAR T-Cell Therapy for Advanced Melanoma

Advanced melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers, owing to its invasiveness and its propensity to develop resistance to therapy. Surgery remains the first-line treatment for early-stage tumors but is often not an option for advanced-stage melanoma. Chemotherapy carries a poor prognosis, and despite advances in targeted therapy, the cancer can develop resistance. CAR T-cell therapy has demonstrated great success against hematological cancers, and clinical trials are deploying it against advanced melanoma. Though melanoma remains a challenging disease to treat, radiology will play an increasing role in monitoring both the CAR T-cells and response to therapy. We review the current imaging techniques for advanced melanoma, as well as novel PET tracers and radiomics, in order to guide CAR T-cell therapy and manage potential adverse events.

The next "sweet" spot for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Glycoprotein for early detection

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common neoplastic disease of the pancreas, accounting for more than 90% of all pancreatic malignancies. As a highly lethal malignancy, PDAC is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with a 5-year overall survival of less than 8%. The efficacy and outcome of PDAC treatment largely depend on the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis. Surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy remains the only possibly curative therapy, yet 80%-90% of PDAC patients present with nonresectable PDAC stages at the time of clinical presentation. Despite our advancing knowledge of PDAC, the prognosis remains strikingly poor, which is primarily due to the difficulty of diagnosing PDAC at the early stages. Recent advances in glycoproteomics and glycomics based on mass spectrometry have shown that aberrations in protein glycosylation plays a critical role in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, metastasis, chemoresistance, and immuno-response of PDAC and other types of cancers. A growing interest has thus been placed upon protein glycosylation as a potential early detection biomarker for PDAC. We herein take stock of the advancements in the early detection of PDAC that were carried out with mass spectrometry, with special focus on protein glycosylation.

Association between Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Osimertinib Tolerance in EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancer via Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Most epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells are killed within a few days after osimertinib treatment; however, surviving cells remain detectable and are called drug-tolerant cells. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was reported to be involved in chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic resistance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether PAI-1 is involved in osimertinib tolerance and whether it could be a therapeutic target for overcoming this tolerance. We showed that the PAI-1 mRNA expression levels and mesenchymal gene expression levels were significantly higher in drug-tolerant EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells than in control cells after 7 days of in vitro osimertinib treatment. Additionally, an RNA microarray analysis revealed upregulation of the integrin-induced EMT pathway in osimertinib-tolerant cells. Furthermore, we observed that PAI-1 inhibitors suppressed proliferation and the degree of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tolerant cells. Finally, in a subcutaneous tumor model, we showed that combining osimertinib with a PAI-1 inhibitor prevented the regrowth of tumors comprising EGFR-mutated cancer cells. The present study is the first to show PAI-1 to be involved in tolerance to osimertinib via EMT.

Myeloid cell heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic implications for childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common type of solid tumors in children and the leading cause of cancer deaths in ages 0-14. Recent advances in the field of tumor biology and immunology have underscored the disparate nature of these distinct CNS tumor types. In this review, we briefly introduce pediatric CNS tumors and discuss various components of the TME, with a particular focus on myeloid cells. Although most studies regarding myeloid cells have been done on adult CNS tumors and animal models, we discuss the role of myeloid cell heterogeneity in pediatric CNS tumors and describe how these cells may contribute to tumorigenesis and treatment response. In addition, we present studies within the last 5 years that highlight human CNS tumors, the utility of various murine CNS tumor models, and the latest multi-dimensional tools that can be leveraged to investigate myeloid cell infiltration in young adults and children diagnosed with select CNS tumors.

Bovine holo-lactoferrin inhibits migration and invasion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in developed countries and the main cause of deaths in women worldwide. Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding protein constituted for a single polypeptide chain that is folded into two symmetrical lobes that bind Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺. Lf has the ability to reversibly bind Fe³⁺ and is found free of Fe³⁺ (Apo-Lf) or associated with Fe³⁺ (Holo-Lf) with a different three-dimensional conformation. However, the role of bovine Apo-Lf (Apo-BLf) and bovine Holo-Lf (Holo-BLf) in the migration and invasion induced by linoleic acid (LA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS), as well as in the expression of mesenchymal and epithelial proteins in breast cancer cells has not been studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Scratch wound assays demonstrated that Holo-BLf and Apo-BLf do not induce migration, however they differentially inhibit the migration induced by FBS and LA in breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. Western blot, invasion, zymography and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy assays demonstrated that Holo-BLf partly inhibit the invasion, FAK phosphorylation at tyrosine (Tyr)-397 and MMP-9 secretion, whereas it increased the number and size of focal adhesions induced by FBS in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, Holo-BLf induced a slight increase of E-cadherin expression in MCF-7 cells, and inhibited vimentin expression in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

Holo-BLf inhibits cellular processes that mediate the invasion process in breast cancer cells.

Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition by tumor microenvironmental signals and its implication in cancer therapeutics

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in various aspects of tumor development, including tumor invasion and metastasis, cancer stemness, and therapy resistance. Diverse stroma cell types along with biochemical and biophysical factors in the tumor microenvironment impinge on the EMT program to impact tumor progression. Here we provide an in-depth review of various tumor microenvironmental signals that regulate EMT in cancer. We discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of EMT in therapy resistance and highlight new therapeutic approaches targeting the tumor microenvironment to impact EMT and tumor progression.

Comparative G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) Systems in Diabetic and Cancer Conditions: A Review

For many patients, diabetes Mellitus and Malignancy are frequently encountered comorbidities. Diabetes affects approximately 10.5% of the global population, while malignancy accounts for 29.4 million cases each year. These troubling statistics indicate that current treatment approaches for these diseases are insufficient. Alternative therapeutic strategies that consider unique signaling pathways in diabetic and malignancy patients could provide improved therapeutic outcomes. The G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is receiving attention for its role in disease pathogenesis and treatment outcomes. This review aims to critically examine GPER' s comparative role in diabetes mellitus and malignancy, identify research gaps that need to be filled, and highlight GPER's potential as a therapeutic target for diabetes and malignancy management. There is a scarcity of data on GPER expression patterns in diabetic models; however, for diabetes mellitus, altered expression of transport and signaling proteins has been linked to GPER signaling. In contrast, GPER expression in various malignancy types appears to be complex and debatable at the moment. Current data show inconclusive patterns of GPER expression in various malignancies, with some indicating upregulation and others demonstrating downregulation. Further research should be conducted to investigate GPER expression patterns and their relationship with signaling pathways in diabetes mellitus and various malignancies. We conclude that GPER has therapeutic potential for chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and malignancy.

Integrin beta1 (ITGB1) as a prognostic marker in esophageal adenocarcinoma

Today, individual prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (EAC) is based on post-surgical TNM staging and valid biomarkers are still not implemented. Integrin beta1 (ITGB1) is widely expressed in epithelial cells and promotes cell adhesion and growth. Its impact on tumor progression was described for different tumor entities before, data on its function as a potential biomarker in EAC is not available. Aim of the study is to evaluate the expression level of ITGB1 in a large collective of EAC and its impact on patients´ prognosis. 640 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically for ITGB1. The data was correlated with long term outcome, clinical, pathological and molecular data (TP53, HER2/neu, c-myc, GATA6, PIK3CA and KRAS). Of 640 patients to be analyzed, 127 (19.8%) showed expression of ITGB1. ITGB1 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, expression of integrin alphaV and KRAS mutation status. Patients with high ITGB1 expression showed impaired overall survival (22.5 months (95% CI 15.3-29.7 months), vs. 34.1 months (95% CI 25.3-42.4 months), P = 0.024). This effect was particularly evident in the group of patients undergoing primary surgery without prior neoadjuvant therapy (10.2 months (95% CI 1.9-41.7 months) vs. 31.4 months (95% CI 21.1-144.2 months, P = 0.008). ITGB1 was also an independent prognostic marker in multivariable analysis (HR 1.696 (95% CI 1.084-2.653, P = 0.021) in patients that underwent primary surgery. We demonstrate for the first time the prognostic significance of ITGB1 expression in a large EAC patient population.

Efficacy analysis of targeted nanodrug for non-small cell lung cancer therapy

Biological macromolecules have been widely used as biomedical carriers in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to their biocompatibility, targeting, biodegradability, and antitumor efficacy. Nanotechnology has been used in clinics to treat many diseases, including cancer. Nanoparticles (NPs) can accumulate drugs into tumors because of their enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects. However, the lack of active targeting ligands affects NPs drug delivery. Arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD), as a targeting ligand, has distinct advantages in targeting and safety. In the present study, an RGD peptide-modified nanogel called RGD−polyethylene glycol−poly (L-phenylalanine-co-L-cystine) (RGD−PEG−P (LP-co-LC−P (LP-co-LC) was investigated to deliver vincristine (VCR) as NSCLC therapy. The VCR-loaded targeted nanoparticle (RGD-NP/VCR) demonstrated excellent antitumor efficacy compared to the free drug (VCR) and untargeted nanoparticle (NP/VCR) without any significant side effects. RGD-NP/VCR has better tumor inhibition and fewer side effects, indicating its potential benefit in NSCLC treatment.

Roles of calcium signaling in cancer metastasis to bone

Bone metastasis is a frequent complication for cancers and an important reason for the mortality in cancer patients. After surviving in bone, cancer cells can cause severe pain, life-threatening hypercalcemia, pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and even death. However, the underlying mechanisms of bone metastasis were not clear. The role of calcium (Ca2+) in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion has been well established. Interestingly, emerging evidence indicates that Ca2+ signaling played a key role in bone metastasis, for it not only promotes cancer progression but also mediates osteoclasts and osteoblasts differentiation. Therefore, Ca2+ signaling has emerged as a novel therapeutical target for cancer bone metastasis treatments. Here, the role of Ca2+ channels and Ca2+-binding proteins including calmodulin and Ca2+-sensing receptor in bone metastasis, and the perspective of anti-cancer bone metastasis therapeutics via targeting the Ca2+ signaling pathway are summarized.

Nuclear fascin regulates cancer cell survival

Fascin is an important regulator of F-actin bundling leading to enhanced filopodia assembly. Fascin is also overexpressed in most solid tumours where it supports invasion through control of F-actin structures at the periphery and nuclear envelope. Recently, fascin has been identified in the nucleus of a broad range of cell types but the contributions of nuclear fascin to cancer cell behaviour remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that fascin bundles F-actin within the nucleus to support chromatin organisation and efficient DDR. Fascin associates directly with phosphorylated Histone H3 leading to regulated levels of nuclear fascin to support these phenotypes. Forcing nuclear fascin accumulation through the expression of nuclear-targeted fascin-specific nanobodies or inhibition of Histone H3 kinases results in enhanced and sustained nuclear F-actin bundling leading to reduced invasion, viability, and nuclear fascin-specific/driven apoptosis. These findings represent an additional important route through which fascin can support tumourigenesis and provide insight into potential pathways for targeted fascin-dependent cancer cell killing.

Integrin β1 transduces the signal for LY6D-induced macropinocytosis and mediates senescence-inducing stress-evoked vacuole formation via FAK

Cellular senescence is a highly stable cell cycle arrest induced by DNA damage and various cellular stresses. Recently, we have revealed that lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus D (LY6D) is responsible for senescence-inducing stress-evoked vacuole formation through induction of Src family kinase (SFK)-mediated macropinocytosis. However, the signaling molecule(s) transducing the macropinocytosis signal from extracellular LY6D to the cytoplasmic SFK are unknown. In this study, we identified integrin β1, a transmembrane signaling protein, as an interactor of LY6D by proteomic analysis and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Inhibition of integrin β1 impaired LY6D-induced macropinocytosis, and integrin β1 activated SFK through focal adhesion kinase to mediate macropinocytosis. These results indicate that integrin β1 is a crucial mediator of the LY6D-induced vacuole formation in senescent cells.

ITGA5 and ITGB1 contribute to Sorafenib resistance by promoting vasculogenic mimicry formation in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is labeled with high mortality and tolerance to chemotherapy. Sorafenib has been the first-line treatment option in HCC patients for past decades, while the therapeutic effect was limited in almost HCC patients.

METHODS

In this study, we analyzed public omics data of HCC patients with different responses to Sorafenib treatment. To confirm the role of integrins A5 and B1 (ITGA5 and ITGB1) in Sorafenib resistance, we generated the Sorafenib-resistant (Sor-R) cell lines and cells overexpressing ITGA5 or ITGB1. Hypoxia level was measured using Hypoxy probe by flow cytometry, while vasculogenic mimicry was detected and quantified by CD31 and periodic acid schiff staining.

RESULTS

Hypoxia was upregulated in non-responsive patients, accompanied with genes involved in encoding extracellular matrix components and angiogenesis such as ITGA5 and ITGB1. Sor-R hepatoma cell lines were constructed to measure expression and role of candidate genes. ITGA5 and ITGB1 were augmented in Sor-R cells. Upregulation of ITGA5 or ITGB1 reduced the sensitivity to Sorafenib in HepG2 and Huh7 cells, aggravated the hypoxic condition and resulted in formation of vascular mimicry.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that hypoxia associated vascular mimicry account for non-response to Sorafenib treatment in HCC patients. ITGA5 and ITGB1 may serve as effective predictors of HCC patients' outcome after Sorafenib treatment, which also provides a new target for HCC patients resistant to Sorafenib.

KRAS Mutants Upregulate Integrin β4 to Promote Invasion and Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer

KRAS mutation in colorectal cancer is associated with aggressive tumor behavior through increased invasiveness and higher rates of lung metastases, but the biological mechanisms behind these features are not fully understood. In this study, we show that KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer upregulates integrin α6β4 through ERK/MEK signaling. Knocking-out integrin β4 (ITGB4) specifically depleted the expression of integrin α6β4 and this resulted in a reduction in the invasion and migration ability of the cancer cells. We also observed a reduction in the number and area of lung metastatic foci in mice that were injected with ITGB4 knockout KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cells compared with the mice injected with ITGB4 wild-type KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cells, while no difference was observed in liver metastases. Inhibiting integrin α6β4 in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer could be a potential therapeutic target to diminish the KRAS-invasive phenotype and associated pulmonary metastasis rate.

IMPLICATIONS

Knocking-out ITGB4, which is overexpressed in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer and promotes tumor aggressiveness, diminishes local invasiveness and rates of pulmonary metastasis.

ERK phosphorylation is dependent on cell adhesion in a subset of pediatric sarcoma cell lines

Osteosarcoma (OS) and Pax-Foxo1 fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma (FN-RMS) are pediatric sarcomas with poor prognoses in patients with advanced disease. In both malignancies, an actin binding protein has been linked to poor prognosis. Integrin adhesion complexes (IACs) are closely coupled to actin networks and IAC-mediated signaling has been implicated in the progression of carcinomas. However, the relationship of IACs and actin cytoskeleton remodeling with cell signaling is understudied in pediatric sarcomas. Here, we tested the hypothesis that IAC dynamics affect ERK activation in OS and FN-RMS cell lines. Adhesion dependence of ERK activation differed among the OS and FN-RMS cells examined. In the OS cell lines, adhesion did not have a consistent effect on phospho-ERK (pERK). ERK phosphorylation in response to fetal calf serum or 1 ng/ml EGF was nearly as efficient in OS cell lines and one FN-RMS cell line in suspension as cells adherent to poly-l-lysine (PL) or fibronectin (FN). By contrast, adhesion to plastic, PL or FN increased ERK phosphorylation and was greater than additive with a 15 min exposure to 1 ng/ml EGF in three FN-RMS cell lines. Increases in pERK were partly dependent on FAK and PAK1/2 but independent of IAC maturation. As far as we are aware, this examination of adhesion-dependent signaling is the first in pediatric sarcomas and has led to the discovery of differences from the prevailing paradigms and differences in the degree of coupling between components in the signaling pathways among the cell lines.